If you're staying in the South Hams — Kingsbridge, Salcombe, Dartmouth or one of the villages between — and want something creative to do, Designs Café is a pottery painting café and art studio at the Cider Press Centre in Dartington, South Devon. You choose a piece, paint it over speciality coffee and cake, and we glaze and fire it for you.
Where is Designs Café?
Unit 3A, Cider Press Centre, Shinner's Bridge, Dartington, Totnes TQ9 6TQ. We're on the Dartington estate. If you're coming by train, Totnes railway station is 1.3 miles away, about 5 minutes by car. The Cider Press Centre car park is free for the first two hours and paid after that, which covers a full painting session. The Shinner's Bridge bus stop is a one-minute walk away, and the route in is step-free and wheelchair accessible.
How much does pottery painting cost?
Pottery pieces cost £7–£50+, plus a £5 studio fee per piece that covers paints, brushes, glazing and firing. A session lasts two hours. While you paint, you get 10% off hot drinks.
Do I need to book?
Walk-ins are welcome whenever we have space; booking a table on our website guarantees one. If there are more than six of you, please email info@designscafe.uk first so we can set up seating.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. Beginners and children are welcome; children paint with adult supervision. During school terms we also run After School Creativity workshops for children aged 4+ — see our Workshops page for dates.
When will my piece be ready — what if I'm only here for a week?
Every piece is glazed and kiln-fired after you paint it, so it is ready to collect within two to four weeks. If you're heading home before then, pickup or local delivery is available once your pottery is kiln-ready — email info@designscafe.uk before your visit to check whether we can deliver to where you're staying, or if you need your piece sooner.
When are you open?
Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday 9am–4pm, Friday 9am–5pm, Sunday 10am–4pm, and from 1 November we're open seven days a week. On selected Friday evenings there is walk-in, bring-your-own-bottle pottery painting — the dates are on our Workshops page.
What else is there?
The café serves speciality coffee roasted by Voyager Coffee in Buckfastleigh, on the edge of Dartmoor, and cakes from Exploding Bakery in Exeter, including gluten-free and vegan cakes, with oat milk and decaf available. Well-behaved dogs are welcome. If you'd rather learn than paint pottery, our Watercolour Club meets on Friday evenings, and gift cards from £20 to £100 can be used for pottery painting, workshops and our shop. At Christmas there are bauble painting sessions for children and Sip & Paint bauble evenings for adults — see what's on at Christmas.
