Pottery painting and art workshops for children in Dartington, near Totnes
Looking for something creative to do with children near Totnes? At Designs Café, our pottery painting café in the Cider Press Centre, Dartington, children can paint their own mug, plate or figure while you have a coffee, and we glaze and fire it so it's ready to collect within two weeks. Children are welcome with adult supervision, walk-ins are welcome whenever we have space, and we're open Tuesday to Sunday. For children aged 4 and over we also run After School Creativity, a programme of themed workshops on weekday afternoons until 23 December.
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Can children paint pottery at Designs Café?
Yes. Children are welcome to paint with an adult alongside them, and no experience is needed. Choose a piece from our shelves, paint it however you like, and leave it with us: we glaze and kiln-fire every piece and let you know when it's ready, within two weeks. A painting session is about two hours, so there's plenty of time without rushing.
How much does it cost?
You pay for the piece you choose, between £7 and £50+, plus a £5 studio fee per piece, which covers paints, brushes, glazing and firing. Everyone who paints gets 10% off café food and drink while they're here.
Do we need to book, or can we just turn up?
Walk-ins are welcome whenever we have space. If you'd rather be sure of a table, book a pottery painting session on our website. For a group of more than six, please email us first at info@designscafe.uk.
What workshops are there for children?
After School Creativity is our programme of creative workshops for children aged 4+, a special bundle that is more affordable than our normal workshops. Every session runs from 4:00pm to 5:30pm and includes the materials:
Halloween Trick or Treat Bag Painting — Wednesday 21 and Wednesday 28 October, £15, including a tote bag, fabric paint, the studio charge and a children's hot chocolate.
Halloween Pumpkin Painting — Saturday 31 October, £10, with a hot drink.
Christmas Bauble Painting & Hot Chocolate — Wednesdays 11, 18 and 25 November and 2 and 9 December, £15, including the bauble, a children's hot chocolate and the kiln fee.
Coaster Painting — Wednesday 16 December, £18.
Night Before Christmas Story & Bookmark Painting — Wednesday 23 December, £15.
On Tuesday mornings from 3 November to 8 December, 9:00am to 11:00am, Hand & Footprint Pottery lets you decorate a piece with your little one's hand or footprint, and a hand or footprint bauble comes free with it — a Christmas keepsake that's glazed and fired to last.
What can we do with children this October half term?
Devon's October half term is 26 to 30 October 2026. On Wednesday 28 October there's a Ceramic Bubble Painting Masterclass from 10:00am to 12:00pm for families, children and adults (£5 ticket per person as your glazing and firing deposit, pottery priced separately), and Halloween Trick or Treat Bag Painting from 4:00pm to 5:30pm. On Friday 30 October there's a second Ceramic Bubble Painting Masterclass from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Pottery painting walk-ins are welcome every day we're open, and on Saturday 31 October there's Halloween Pumpkin Painting from 4:00pm.
Is it a good rainy-day activity?
Yes. Everything happens indoors at our tables in the Cider Press Centre, so the weather doesn't matter. Painting takes about two hours, there's coffee, cake and hot chocolate, and children go home with something they made.
Can we have a children's birthday party here?
Yes. The café can be booked for birthdays and family get-togethers. There's no fixed party package: each child pays for the piece they paint. Email info@designscafe.uk with the date, the number of children and their ages, and we'll arrange it with you.
Is the café step-free and easy to reach?
The café is wheelchair accessible, with a step-free route in. The Cider Press Centre car park is free for the first two hours and paid after that, and the Shinner's Bridge bus stop is about a minute's walk away. Well-behaved dogs are welcome too.
Where and when?
Designs Café, Unit 3A, Cider Press Centre, Shinner's Bridge, Dartington, Totnes TQ9 6TQ — five minutes by car from Totnes. Open Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday 9am–4pm, Friday 9am–5pm, Sunday 10am–4pm; closed on Mondays. Questions? Email info@designscafe.uk or send us a message on Instagram (@designscafeuk).