Unique Creations

Recently I went in a group of women to put our babies' footprints on some pottery. It's a great idea and a very lovely shop, the only downside was the general unfriendliness of the woman who runs it. We all felt a little like we had to rush through or else we would be putting her out. Fortunately her daughter is very warm and friendly which makes a difference. When I went back to collect my pottery I was once again treated to some quite unfriendly customer service...sadly I don't think I would go again! I don't think I was the only one to feel this way, it's a pity.

turtle (Unverified), 25/06/10

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Open from Summer 2006, Unique Creations is a pottery and craft café where you can go and have a quiet coffee and paint your own pots. There's a large selection of invitingly blank plates, bowls, jars and figurines waiting for your expressive genius to bring them to life.

You pay a studio fee of £3, purchase your pot (£7.50 mug - £45 giant platter) and take it away to one of the sturdy wooden tables to colour it in. Your work is then fired for you and can be collected a week after your visit. You can use the bottles of paints set out on the tables, or the staff can help you with more unusual techniques such as crystal-glazing and scratching patterns through layers of paint.

There's an enormous range of beautifully clean brushes, stamps and sponges, lots of examples and even books lying around should you need inspiration, and a nice lady to help if you get stuck. It's like all the good bits of playschool only you can take as long as you like and you're allowed caffeine.

You don't have to paint pots: you can go in just for a muffin or some G & D's ice cream, but pottery-painting seems to me a superb solution to tense social situations like dates and children's parties. There's something for everyone in the range of pots - want to paint an olive dish? A life-size cat? A cup, hippo, teapot, or minature armoured tank?

It's very wheelchair friendly: lots of space, wide doors and a disabled toilet with a great sink covered in pictures of fish.

Coffee costs £1 / £1.50 depending on how fancy it is; tea £1, ice cream £1.90, milkshakes £1.20 and juices 90p.

Su Jordan (DI Staff), 28/06/06

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