85 Central Promenade, Newcastle · BT33 0HH · Overlooking the Irish SeaOpen Wednesday to Monday · [email protected]
The Clay Project85 Central Promenade · NewcastleReserve a seat
AI-generated illustrative view inside The Clay Project studio overlooking the Irish Sea in Newcastle
Morning sea-light at 85 Central Promenade. AI-generated illustrative visualisation.

85 Central Promenade · Newcastle, County Down

The Clay Project

Overlooking the sea.

A pottery painting café and ceramics studio on the promenade. We make the porcelain in-house. You leave with a piece.

Explore workshop diaryOur porcelain craft ↓

In-house porcelain

Made here on the promenade.

“We proudly make all our porcelain in-house and source everything as locally as possible.”

Founded in late 2021 by local ceramicists Rebecca Killen & Laureanne Kootstra, The Clay Project combines fine ceramic design with collaborative teaching.

We work alongside local potter Adrian McColgan, who throws and handcrafts the bespoke bisc ware for our painting workshops. No mass-produced blanks — every mug, platter, and bowl carries the tactile mark of County Down clay.

AI-generated close-up of ceramicist hands shaping porcelain on a potter's wheel
Hand-throwing raw porcelain. AI-generated illustrative visualisation.

The craft cycle

From wet clay to 1200°C gloss.

Every piece painted at 85 Central Promenade follows our traditional four-stage firing process.

  1. 01

    Raw Clay & Throwing

    High-grade porcelain and white stoneware clay shaped on the wheel or slab-rolled in our studio.

  2. 02

    Adrian’s Bisc Ware

    First bisque firing to 1000°C. Porous, smooth, and ready on open timber shelves for your brush.

  3. 03

    Painting & Underglaze

    Paint with vibrant mineral pigments over coffee and bakes, or enjoy an evening BYOB session.

  4. 04

    1200°C Kiln Firing

    Dipped in clear ceramic glaze and fired in our kiln. Dishwasher safe, food safe, ready in 3 weeks.

The 2026 diary

Book a workshop seat.

Direct booking via our official site. Spaces are limited per session to ensure hands-on tuition.

£55

Make a Mug

10:00am – 12:30pm

Porcelain slab-building & handle sculpting. Glazed, fired, and ready to collect in 3 weeks.

Reserve place on our site →
£60

Charcuterie Night (BYOB)

6:30pm – 9:00pm

Evening session shaping and botanical underglazing a bespoke ceramic grazing board. Bring your own wine.

Reserve place on our site →
£50

Pumpkin Patch Pottery

Seasonal Studio Session

Hand-sculpting ceramic autumn pieces with textured clay and coastal glazes.

Reserve place on our site →
£55

Autumn Flora Pressed Porcelain

Seasonal Masterclass

Pressing wild local botanicals and Mourne flora directly into raw porcelain clay slabs.

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Walk-in Pottery Painting & Coffee

Open Wednesday to Monday. £5 studio fee plus your chosen ceramic piece. Coffee & fresh bakes on the shelf.

AI-generated illustrative twilight ceramic workshop with guests painting platters by candlelight
Evening Charcuterie & BYOB sessions. AI-generated illustrative visualisation.

Studio claim ticket

The kiln ticket for 85.

When you paint a piece with us, it receives an individual kiln firing docket. Three weeks later, collect your vitrified porcelain from the promenade.

Planning a private hen party, birthday gathering, or team creative workshop? Write to us directly:

Email [email protected]Live workshop diary →

KILN TICKETTHE CLAY PROJECT · NEWCASTLE85CENTRAL PROMENADENEWCASTLE · BT33 0HHIN-HOUSEPORCELAINOverlooking the sea.You leave with a piece.
The Kiln Claim Ticket · 85 Central Promenade.