Frequently Asked Questions

Pottery Making FAQs

Should I go for a Clay Taster or a Wheel Taster?

Good question! We would always recommend a Clay Taster in the first instance as you get to try handbuilding, glazing and a go on the wheel. Sometimes customers are dead set on going straight for the Wheel Taster, but it is worth noting handbuilding is equally mesmerising and relaxing and you get to paint your handbuilt creations.

Most of our customers come for a Clay Taster first and then if they find they love the wheel, they come for a Wheel Taster to really get to grips with this skill.

But ultimately, you can do whatever you feel the urge to do!

I am a complete beginner, where do I start?

We have welcomed thousands of beginners since we first opened in 2001, so you are not alone!

And it doesn't matter if you are not arty, in fact if you are practical, you may be better on the wheel than arty types.

Keeeps Pottery teaches all levels with patience and humour, and our number one objective is to make sure everyone feels relaxed and at home.

We would recommend you start with either a Clay Taster class or a Pottery Painting class to get you into the spirit of pottery, and from there our team will guide you on next steps depending on what you enjoy and your availability.

What does Keeeps provide or include when I come for my class?

  • Pottery apron
  • Coffees, teas and biscuits
  • All pottery tools and equipment
  • Pottery class tuition by experienced tutor
  • On-site ceramic technician
  • Toilets are large enough for clothes changing if required
  • Clay
  • A selection of underglazes (not at Wheel Taster Class as we clear glaze your pots for you when they are dry)
  • Kiln firing to the pieces you make/paint at Keeeps
  • Fired pieces wrapped and ready for collection 4 to 6 weeks later

What can or should I bring to the class?

  • Water bottle
  • Clothes that you don’t mind getting dusty and dirty
  • Flat shoes/trainers, no open toe shoes
  • You will need to remove your rings so you may wish to leave these at home
  • Hair tied back
  • Sensible length nails if you are going on the pottery wheel
  • Something to make fun or pretty textures in the clay (optional)

Please arrive 10 minutes in advance of the start time as all pottery classes and courses start promptly

Can I bring my dog?

We are really sorry but we cannot have pooches in the studio during class time. They can come and visit for a tour but they are unable to stay for a class with their owner.

What's the cancellation policy?

You can cancel any group class or course up to 7 days in advance of the class or course start date, with a full refund provided.

You may reschedule any group class up to 4 days in advance.

To cancel or reschedule, simply click the relevant link that you will find on your email confirmation from Keeeps.

If you are unable to attend within 4 days of the event, we can open up the waitlist and see if someone will take your space. If someone does take the space, no refund is possible but we will transfer your booking to an alternative date. For a waitlist transfer request, please email us with full details of the booking.

When will the pottery I have made be ready for collection?

The pottery you have made will be ready to collect 4-6 weeks after your class. Each piece goes through the drying process, then two firings, and we clear glaze them for you to give them a lovely shiny finish. The team will contact you when your pieces are ready.

If more than 6 weeks has passed and you have not heard from us, please email the team

I can't get to Marlow to collect my pottery, can you post it?

We can absolutely post your pottery to you. The cost is £7.95 per parcel sent anywhere in the UK, and we can usually fit a few pieces in one parcel. For international posting, we will quote the price prior to booking.

If you wish to have your pottery posted, email us with your name, phone number, address for posting, booking name, and date/time of class. We will then send you a postage invoice and when this is paid your package will be sent.

Pottery Painting FAQs

What does the entry price include?

Unlike other pottery painting venues, there is no studio entry free, we just charge the price of one pot as your ticket price. Most people are happy with their one pot in the allocated time but if you finish quickly, you can choose and buy another pot to paint on the day.

There are no extra charges for using the underglazes (paints) or for firing - everything is included in the price of your pot.

What does Keeeps provide when I come for my pottery painting class?

  • Pottery apron
  • Coffees, teas and biscuits
  • Paint brushes, sponges and palettes
  • Pottery painting class tuition by experienced tutor(s)
  • Toilets are large enough for clothes changing if required
  • Fired pot per person to choose from our handmade selection (if you want to paint another pot you can for an additional charge but most people stick to the one pot)
  • A large selection of underglazes to paint with
  • Kiln firing to the pieces you paint at Keeeps (we will apply the final shiny clear glaze on them for you)
  • Fired pieces wrapped and ready for collection 2 to 3 weeks later for pottery painting

What can we paint?

We currently offer mugs of different shapes and sizes, little jugs and mini moon jars.

Each piece is handmade, dried and then bisque fired here in Marlow by our Keeeps potters. This is highly unusual as the vast majority of pottery painting venues provide you with pottery imported from abroad. This aligns with our objectives to create careers for artisans and to help reignite the UK pottery industry.

What's the cancellation policy?

You can cancel any group class or course up to 7 days in advance of the class or course start date, with a full refund provided.

You may reschedule any group class up to 4 days in advance.

To cancel or reschedule, simply click the relevant link that you will find on your email confirmation from us.

If you are unable to attend within 4 days of the event, we can open up the waitlist and see if someone will take your space. If someone does take the space, no refund is possible but we will transfer your booking to an alternative date. For a waitlist transfer request, please email us with full details of the booking.

Can I take the pottery home with me straight after the painting session?

After you have painted your pot, you will leave it with us and we will clear glaze it to make it look lovely and shiny, and then we will put it in for its glaze firing. Once it has cooled, it will be ready for you to collect and treasure!

The whole process takes a number of days and so we will contact you within 2-3 weeks to tell you it is ready to collect.

What is the paint you use? Could I finish my piece at home if I run out of time?

We use specialist underglazes that cannot be taken and used away from the studio. It is highly unlikely you will run out of time, and only if you paint more than one pot, but you can always come back to join another painting class to finish your piece.

When will the pottery I have painted be ready for collection?

The pottery you have painted will be ready to collect 2-3 weeks after your class. Each piece is fired in the kiln and we clear glaze them for you to give them a lovely shiny finish. The team will contact you when your pieces are ready. If more than 3 weeks has passed and you have not heard from us, please email the team

I can't get to Marlow to collect my pottery, can you post it?

We can absolutely post your pottery to you. The cost is £7.95 per parcel sent anywhere in the UK, and we can usually fit a few pieces in one parcel. For international posting, we will quote the price prior to booking.

If you wish to have your pottery posted, email us with your name, phone number, address for posting, booking name, and date/time of class. We will then send you a postage invoice and when this is paid your package will be sent.

What can or should I bring to the pottery painting class?

  • Water bottle
  • Clothes that you don’t mind getting a bit of paint on (don't worry, it will wash out)
  • Do not bring your own bisqueware pottery to the class as we do not mix clay types in our kilns
  • You are able to paint bisqueware from pots you have made in a class or course at Keeeps, that still need painting and glaze firing.

Please arrive 10 minutes in advance of the start time as all pottery classes and courses start promptly

Handmade Pottery FAQs

Is each product you sell a one-off?

In many respects, yes, as no two handmade pieces of ceramics are the same. Our potters are creatives following their passion, so they don’t usually want to be put under undue pressure to mass-produce identical items. Or certainly not for too long. Of course, our potters each have their own unique style, but they tend to still move along with the flow of life and their designs naturally change over time. Even if you have two potters with a similar style, they have different fingers and thumbs, plus glazes can sometimes be erratic and have a mind of their own!

All our collections are small batches sourced from cutting edge potters and sometimes we collaborate with the potter and have input into the designs. It is highly unlikely you will know anyone with an identical piece to yours. We know our customers are looking for stand-out homeware from talented artists and at Keeeps we spend hours in the relentless pursuit of the unique.

Is all the pottery you sell British?

All the potters whose work we stock are UK based. This is in line with our sustainable objectives and the desire to support British artisans and offer small batch studio pottery.

Can you gift wrap?

Yes, we would love to gift wrap your purchase if you need us to! Please note, we do not currently gift wrap larger items due to size restrictions. However, we stock a large range of small and medium sized items that can be gift wrapped. Simply check out our Gift Wrapped Collection for pieces that we can wrap and pop into our stylish gift boxes. Gift wrapping can be selected at checkout for an extra £5 (small box) or £6 (large box), depending on the size of the item. If you want to send it direct to the recipient and add a message then you can do that too. We also have stylish gift vouchers if you can’t decide what to buy. 

Can I put my Keeeps handmade pottery in the dishwasher?

We want all our items to be as practical as they are lovely, so you will find that a large number of them are perfectly safe to put in the dishwasher. This does, of course, depend entirely on each individual item and what techniques have been employed to lovingly craft it. Our website will contain further care instructions on each item so please make sure you check these details before purchasing.

I am worried my handmade pottery may break when you post it to me

No one wants you to receive broken pottery in the post, not us, not the potter and definitely not you. We have researched and practised packaging over and over again to make sure our pottery is safe and secure. We wrap twice and provide plenty of cushioning so there is no room for movement in the double-walled box. We use the best (not the cheapest), trusted, reliable delivery company - Parcelforce. So far (touch wood), we have not had anything break. If, in the unlikely event it does, we will offer you an immediate and full refund and, if you want, our team will call you and work out a way to source you alternative products as soon as possible.

Do you offer international deliveries?

Yes, we do! Simply email us and let us know: what you want to buy, your address, and timing requirement. We will then come back to you within 48 hours with a delivery quote.

Please note, as with all international deliveries, local customs fees may be charged on receipt of goods and you or the recipient would be responsible for these.

What do I do if I want to return the pottery?

Please refer to our Refunds & Returns page for full information.

Gift Card FAQs

How long before my gift card expires?

Keeeps gift cards are valid for 12 months from date of purchase.

How do I check my gift card balance?

For physical gift cards, contact us at hello@keeeps.co.uk with your gift card code and we will send you the balance update. For E-Gift Cards, click the link on the E-Voucher to see your balance.

If I don't spend the full amount, can I get cash back from my gift card balance?

Gift cards cannot be returned or refunded and we do not give cash back for any gift card balance. All balances must be spent at Keeeps.

What can you do if the gift card is damaged, lost or stolen?

We are really sorry, but we do not accept any liability for damaged, lost or stolen gift cards.

Location & Accessibility

Are you wheelchair friendly and how accessible are you?

We are located in a Listed Building that was built in the 1730s and so our accessibility is not as we would like it to be. Sadly, we are not accessible for wheelchairs.

We have 2 stone steps into the building without railings, and the studios upstairs are accessed via a staircase. There are handrails but only on one side, but our team will happily help anyone up the stairs who requires support. Please contact us on 01628 397000 for any accessibility queries or requests.

Where can I park in Marlow High Street?

Some 1-hour free street parking is available on the high street and there are a choice of 7 car parks in the town centre. The closest car park to the White House is in Institute Road, only a 2-minute walk away. Cost of parking in Marlow is currently around £2.50 for a 4-hour stay which is adequate time for most of our classes.

Click here to find all the parking and car park options in Marlow, Buckinghamshire

Please note, Marlow gets very busy at weekends and busy holiday periods, so always allow enough time for parking. Our classes all start promptly at the start time.

What are your opening hours?

Keeeps Pottery Studios in Marlow are open 7 days a week as well as some evenings. Check the class calendar for class timings and availability.

For pottery collections, you will need to come to Keeeps during shop opening times, which are available to view here.

Keeeps Kudos Points FAQs

How do I join the Keeeps Kudos Loyalty scheme?

Sign up here to earn points on all your purchases and earn rewards in other ways

What other benefits do I get from Keeeps Kudos Loyalty Scheme?

As well as earning 1 point for every £1 spent*, you will also
receive: 

  • A £5 KEEEPS KUDOS reward when you reach 100 points, to spend online
  • 100 points on your birthday
  • Invitations to exclusive events
  • Further reward opportunities

*Not including gift card payments

Do I earn Kudos Points for all my purchases with Keeeps?

Yes, you can earn points on all your purchases made online at Keeeps Pottery, excluding payments made by gift card. You will however earn points for purchasing gift cards and gift experience cards.

How many Kudos Points do I earn from purchases?

You will collect 1 point for every £1 you spend. This excludes any payments made using gift cards and Keeeps Kudos rewards. For example, if you spend £100 and used a £20 gift card/reward towards this, you will receive 80 points.

What is my current Kudos Points balance?

Log into your online account, and click on the gold Rewards icon on the bottom left of the page. This will show your current Kudos Points balance

If I forget to login before making a purchase, will my Kudos Points still be added on?

Provided you placed the order using your account email address at check out, your Kudos Points will be added to your rewards account. If for any reason this does not happen, please contact us within 7 days of your purchase
and ask for your points to be retrospectively applied. Please ensure that you provide us with your order number.

Please note Kudos Points cannot be added to your account for purchases made by others.

How long are my Kudos Points valid for?

Your points will expire after 12 months

What happens to my Kudos Points if I cancel my booking or return my pottery?

If you cancel your booking or return your pottery, the Kudos Points originally earnt will be deducted from your balance within 7 days of the cancellation or return

Gift Experience Voucher FAQs

How do Keeeps Pottery Gift Experience vouchers work?

You choose an experience type that you think your recipient will like. You can enter the recipient's name and email at check out, along with the date that you wish their E-Voucher to be emailed to them. You can also print out the voucher if you prefer to give or send to them personally.

Your recipient will receive their voucher by email which includes the voucher code to insert at book their class/course date and time.

How do I redeem my pottery gift experience voucher?

The recipient should go online to keeeps.co.uk to choose a suitable date and time for their class or course. The Keeeps Pottery gift experience voucher can be redeemed at check out, using the gift code provided on the voucher.

How long do I have to redeem my Gift Experience Voucher?

All Keeeps Pottery gift experience vouchers expire after 12 months.

I am trying to book my gift experience date, but when I go to check out it looks like my voucher does not cover the full cost?

The value of the voucher is the price of the experience at the time that the voucher was purchased. If the voucher is insufficient in value for your booking (for example, due to price increases, or selection of a peak over an off-peak class), you must pay the balance.

What happens if I want to book a different experience type to the one I have been gifted?

Your voucher is worth the value of the class or course selected at date of purchase. You may therefore use it to buy other classes or courses up to that value. If you wish to purchase a class or course that is more expensive than the value of your voucher, you will be prompted to pay the balance at check out.

One last question....

Where does the name Keeeps come from?

We get asked this a lot! Tamra our founder loves having a place to 'keep' everything at home, and her business idea grew from this organisational obsession along with her passion for ceramics. She initially thought about using 'Contain' or 'Holds' for her functional ceramics concept, but her stepson rubbished these ideas and suggested 'Keeps' instead! An ‘e’ was added to obtain the all-important unique web address, the kids approved, and so Keeeps was born!