The Raku Experience at Cheshire Clay Studios

An unforgettable, fiery adventure in ceramics
Get ready for two hours of drama, colour, fire and fun with our brand-new Raku Experience — a hands-on pottery session that puts you right at the heart of this thrilling and unpredictable firing technique.
What’s Involved?
You’ll begin by selecting a beautiful, premade pot created by one of our skilled potters. Then it’s over to you to decorate it using special Raku glazes — metallic, crackled, and unpredictable in all the best ways.
Once your piece is ready, the real magic begins. You’ll help load the raku kiln and feel the roar of the flames as your pot is heated to over 1000°C in just 35 minutes. While the heat works its alchemy, grab a coffee from our on-site café or chat with our friendly Raku expert, who’ll explain the secrets behind the process.
Fire, Smoke and Steam
With the kiln blazing hot, the pots are carefully lifted out — red-hot and glowing — and placed into small bins. Here’s where you take centre stage again: add newspaper and watch your pot erupt into flames. Once the fire is dancing, pop on the lid and stand back as the pots begin to smoke!
After 10 smoky, magical minutes, the pots are pulled from their bins and plunged into cold water — a spectacular finale of hissing steam and crackling heat.
The Big Reveal
Finally, if your pot has braved the flame, smoke and water, you’ll scrub away the soot to reveal the incredible, unique colours and textures that only Raku can deliver. No two pots are ever the same.
Who’s It For?
This experience is perfect for adults and teens, whether you're a total beginner, a seasoned maker looking for something new, or just someone who loves a bit of controlled chaos and creativity.