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Frequently asked questions at Busy Brush Cafe
What is Busy Brush Cafe?
We are essentially a craft cafe; with craft, coffee and cake at its heart. So whether you want to drop in to do pottery painting or decopatch craft or just sit and enjoy a barista coffee or loose leaf tea with a delicious cake, or of course do all three, the choice is yours. We have two floors of seating on the first and second floor, so there's plenty of room for everyone. If you can't manage the stairs, come the warmer days, we will offer seating outside.
Is Busy Brush Cafe a pop-up shop?
No, we are here to stay! We are a small, independent family run business, in the heart of a lovely Oxfordshire market town. Most of the furniture in the cafe has been up-cycled by us or our family and friends. So you may spot scaffolding boards and pallet crates as our coffee bar counter, shed doors finding a new lease of life as tables and all the chairs sanded, painted and restored to new life. So Busy Brush Cafe is most definitely not a pop-up shop, too much love has already gone into it for it to just disappear. This is our passion and so we truly thank everyone that walks through our door, makes that bell jingle and supports a small independent business in Wallingford.
Are you open everyday?
We are open 6 days a week, Tuesday to Sunday. We are open Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 5.30pm and Sundays 10am - 4pm. Keep an eye on our Facebook page and the Contact page of the website for any unexpected opening/closing times.
Do you do parties?
Yes we have a party room should you wish to book a pottery painting or decopatch party. This is a dedicated room for the party group, exclusive to you with party bunting, to get you all in the party mood. We have party themed pottery and decopatch for both children and adults, starting from £10 per head. Check out our Parties Page for more information.
Can we bring our own food & drink for the party?
No please do not bring your own food & drinks with you - we are a cafe and have a good selection of drinks available, and pizza/cake options too. You may bring light snacks - crisps, biscuits, fruit, which can be given to people at the table - no buffet style food, as there is limited space. You may bring your own special birthday cake and candles. We offer free bottomless jugs of squash for party group and have a full range of drinks for purchase from our coffee bar.
Is there parking available?
There is no parking on St Mary's Street but Wallingford does have lots of car parks, all within a few minutes' walk of Busy Brush Cafe. Goldsmith's Lane Car Park, St Alban's Car Park, Cattlemarket Car Park and Thames Street Car Park are all a stone's throw to the market square and St Mary's Street. If you need any assistance with directions, just give us a call or get in touch via our Contact page.
Do we have to book?
Booking is highly recommended, especially at weekends and during school holidays. We have tables of various sizes, so just let us know how many people will be with you so we can reserve the correct size table for you. We have tables for two, four, six and if you have a larger group we can always put tables together to accommodate your group. Each floor can seat up to 15 people. If you just happen to be passing you can of course drop in too and try your luck, there is often a table free for a quick coffee and cake between bookings.
How does paint your own pottery work?
It's beautifully simple.
You just choose what you'd like to paint from our handmade pottery pieces, everything is individually priced ranging from £5 to £40. Let us know at the counter what you've chosen and if you'd like any drinks, cakes, or of course both.
We then get you started, giving you the painting basics, tips and hints for you to paint your perfect masterpiece. We have all the tools and equipment you need on the table or at the two paint stations. We are on hand should you need any help or have any questions - just ask. There are also helpful hints on the wall, books on both paint stations should you need some creative inspiration and we have free wifi, where the internet provides endless creative ideas.
You then leave your pottery with us to glaze, fire in the kiln and wrap ready for collection in a week.
Is there a studio fee?
Yes, there is a £3 studio fee per crafter. So only the people actually painting pottery or decopatching pay the studio fee. If there is an adult with 3 children and only the children are crafting, there will be a £3 studio fee for the 3 children, a total of £9. The adult can happily sit and have a freshly ground barista coffee, having not paid the studio fee.
Why is there a studio fee?
The £3 studio fee covers the use of paints, all the stencils, stamps and other craft tools, the glazing and of course running the kiln. It also covers some of the background costs of the 'experience' of painting at our cafe, for example staffing, energy bills, rents & rates and all the hidden costs that go un-noticed.
Do I have to pay the studio fee twice if I paint more than one piece of pottery?
No, the studio fee is £3 per crafter, so you could paint a flower pot and an egg cup and you only pay the studio fee once.
What happens if I don't finish in time?
If you are pottery painting...we will keep your unfinished piece (for one month) and when you return to painting the finishing touches to your masterpiece we charge you just a half price studio fee of £1.50
If you don't finish your decopatch piece, we can give you some glue and paper and you can take it away with you to finish at home, all you'll need is your own brush (our brushes are too busy to go with you)
When can I collect my painted pottery?
Your painted pottery will be ready to collect in 7 days (during school holidays this could be up to 10 days) Once you have painted your pottery, you leave it with us to dry overnight. We then dip it in liquid glaze and again it needs to dry overnight. It is then loaded into our kiln and once we turn it on the firing cycle is 24 hours! All the pottery is then unloaded, wrapped and bagged ready for collection. Please collect your pottery as close to the collection date as possible. If you haven't collected your pottery within 3 months you will get a phone call reminder and then the pottery will be thrown away if not collected - we are limited for shelf space!
Do you charge any extras?
Nope, you pay the cost of the item you've chosen to craft and the £3 studio fee, which includes all the paints, materials, glazing and firing! We, of course, then have refreshments to buy should you wish to enjoy a freshly ground barista coffee and some delicious cake. Craft Coffee Cake is our motto.
Do you have to paint or decopatch, or can I just come in for a coffee?
You can do as you wish - craft coffee cake in any combination. You can just pop in for a coffee, or enjoy a leisurely hot chocolate served in fine bone china (with Smarties on the side). But we should warn you that creativity is contagious, when you see others crafting you may not be able to help yourself! Oh and you don't even have to sit in to enjoy our refreshments, we do take away drinks too! We have special DIY tea bags so you can even have our loose leaf teas on the go.
Is pottery painting and decopatch just for children?
No way! We designed our craft cafe for adults, as we believe everyone likes to get 'crafty'. We've created an environment aimed at adults, with up-cycled furniture, bespoke lights and inspirational text hand painted on the walls. We often see parents come with the intention that they will sit and watch or help their children paint or decopatch and within 10 minutes they themselves are happily crafting along side their kids. We are also open late on the last Wednesday of every month for our Pizza & Paint night, which is just for the grown-ups. Check out our 'What's on' page - booking essential, we have been full for the last few months!
How old do you have to be to paint or decopatch?
There are no age boundaries. It depends of the individual's capabilities. For the younger children, we'd recommend pottery painting over decopatch, but with a helping hand both work for all ages. Our youngest painter was just a few weeks old, well the prints he left were!
Are the paints safe for children and babies?
Yes, all the paints and glaze are child safe. They are water based, lead free, non toxic under glaze paints and glaze. They do wash out from clothing but don't worry we have aprons for the little people.
At what age can I get a good hand print when pottery painting?
We recommend only trying a handprint when babies are over one year old. Any younger than a year babies tend to keep their hands clenched and it is virtually impossible to guarantee a good print. So we would always recommend a foot print for any babies under 1 years old. Our youngest painter was 3 days old, she hadn't even been named yet!
Do you do the hand and foot prints on the pottery or do I have to do them myself?
Yes, we are happy to do the baby and toddler hand and foot prints on the pottery for free, although during our busy times there may be a short wait. It is always worth calling us to book in prints so we know which bookings need extra staff support. If you would like us to do any writing or painting of edges, there is a £2 fee per item. If you would like a more detailed commission artwork painted on your pottery piece, speak to us for a quote.
Can I bring my child in to craft if they are sick?
We'd ask that you do not bring in any sick children, or adults for that matter, into our quirky cafe. We do not want germs spreading around to all our customers. We help a lot of our customers with hand and foot prints and although we take every precaution with baby wipes, anti-bacterial wiping high chairs, the bathroom and stairwell handrail frequently, we'd rather not spread germs on to other customers, or our staff. So please reschedule any appointments if you think you or your child may be sick. We'd love to have you craft with us when you are germ free :-)
What facilities do you have for children?
Everything! We've got aprons, high chairs, toys, books, even a chalk wall on the top floor. Our toilet has baby changing facilities with baby wipes and even some nappies should you be caught short. There's a child toilet seat, step up by the sink and parking for 3-4 buggies, we even have on of those milk bottle warmer gadgets - so just ask and we will do whatever we can to help. If you are coming as a group with lots of babies, we would suggest baby carriers/slings where possible, as most of our seating is up stairs on the first and second floors.
Do you sell drinks and snacks?
Yes! We have an excellent range of barista style coffees, loose leaf teas, a surprisingly good hot chocolate, chilled drinks, delicious home made cakes and tray bakes and for those with intolerances, gluten and dairy, we have options for you too! Our loose leaf tea and hot chocolate are serves in vintage mis-matched china and teapots. Our chilled drinks are served in jam jar glasses with a straw. Oh and our hot chocolate comes with a side of Smarties! Our coffee counter is on the ground floor, you can order drinks at any time during your craft session and we will bring your drinks and cakes up to you at your table.
Can I bring in my own drinks or cakes from other cafes/supermarkets?
No. We kindly ask you to respect our family run independent business and only consume drinks and cakes brought from us at our coffee counter.
What is your wifi password?
craftcoffeecake
Do you sell your vintage china tea pots?
Afraid not, our china tea pots, milk jugs and sugar bowls are not for sale. We use them to serve our loose leaf teas, hot chocolate (yes, hot chocolate in a tea pot, what's not to love about that?), milk and sugar. You'll be happy to know that we do sell our vintage china mis-matched trios (cup, saucer, side plate) and our cake stands. So by all means pop in and check out our vintage china.
Are the glazed and fired pottery pieces dishwasher and microwave safe?
To be on the safe side we'd say no to both. We recommend that in order to preserve the finish and keep the vibrancy of the colours on your painted pottery you hand wash with warm soapy water. If the pottery is exposed to heat over a continuous period of time you'll experience cracking, bubbling and fading of colours.
I'm not very creative and have never painted ceramics before. I wouldn't know where to begin.
Don't worry you are not alone, adults say this a lot. That's why we are here! We give you a run through of the basics and are happy to give you hints and tips along the way. We advise beginners to keep it simple - sometimes, less is more! We have plenty of ceramic painting books at both our paint stations, oh and of course we have free wifi, where the internet provides endless possibilities of ceramic painting and decopatch ideas. We have boards on Pinterest for you to access ideas and where we put up some photos of your finished masterpieces.
Can I take our painted pottery home the day we paint it?
No, your painted pottery will be ready to collect in 7 days. Once you have painted your pottery, you leave it with us to dry overnight. We then dip it in liquid glaze and again it needs to dry overnight. It is then loaded into our kiln and once we turn it on the firing cycle is 24 hours! All the pottery is then unloaded, wrapped and bagged ready for collection.
Why does my pottery have to be glazed and fired?
Our under glaze paints need to be glazed and fired to bring out the vibrancy of the colours and to make the pottery food safe. This means that items like plates, mugs and bowls are safe to use again and again, being hand washed in warm soapy water. This process takes quite a few days, allowing drying times and the 24 hour firing cycle of the kiln. All good things come to those who wait.
Can I take my decopatch craft home the same day?
Yes, you can take your decopatched items home the same day. If you haven't finished your masterpiece we will give you some glue and paper for you to complete it at home. Sorry but we can't give you the brush, all our brushes are busy at Busy Brush Cafe!
How long does it take to paint pottery or decopatch an item?
Well that depends on you and the piece you choose. It depends on the design you may wish to paint, it's complexity, and potentially it's size. But don't presume bigger items take longer, it depends on the detail of the piece and your design. A general guideline would be 2 hours for adults and potentially a lot quicker for children.
What if I need help?
That's why we are here! We give you a run through of the basics and are happy to give you hints and tips along the way. We advise beginners to keep it simple - sometimes, less is more! We have plenty of ceramic painting books at both our paint stations, oh and of course we have free wifi, where the internet provides endless possibilities of ceramic painting and decopatch ideas. We have boards on Pinterest for you to access ideas and where we put up some photos of your finished masterpieces.
What happens if something goes wrong in the kiln?
If something goes wrong in the kiln and yes it does happen on the odd occasion, we will give you a free session to come back another time and repaint your item. Our pottery is handmade and some items may be flawed in its first firing process, and so when fired for the second time with us, sometimes pottery items crack or break when in the kiln at such high temperatures.
Can I bring my own materials to Busy Brush Cafe?
You're welcome to bring you're own brushes, stencils, stickers, stamps and books but you cannot bring your own paint, under glaze pencils or charcoals etc. This is because our paints are specific under glaze paints that have been tried and tested with our dipping glaze and kiln settings. Using your own paints/charcoals will put other customers' pottery at risk, as well as your own, as we can not predict how it'll react with our products and processes.
Can I bring my own pottery and use your paints?
Afraid not, our business is entirely run on the profits we make on painting pottery. These profits pay our rent, our staff and our bills. If we let customers bring their own pottery and just charge the £3 studio fee, the business will no longer be viable and we'd have to close down - and nobody wants that to happen do they?!
Can I bring my own food?
NO! Unless of course it’s baby food for little ones that constantly need feeding. We serve delicious tray bakes and cakes and we no longer allow outside food to be consumed in our cafe. We would also ask that you do not bring your own drinks, especially those from other cafes/supermarkets, as we sell a wide range of hot and cold drinks, including kids' cartoons and babyccinos!
Can I leave my children with you?
We recommend that children are supervised at all times, especially if they are little ones. If you need to pop out and your children are still crafting, they can stay but remain your responsibility. Our cafe is child friendly and we have taken every precaution to make it as safe as possible but please remember that we are a quirky, craft cafe with an open spiral staircase and old floor boards so please do keep an eye on your little ones.
Do you offer a commissions service, as I really don't want to paint myself?
Yes of course, we love to paint on your behalf and are happy to discuss any commission ideas you may have. We will do our best to source the item you'd like painted with any design of your choice. Wedding plates are very popular but even just a personalised mug, house sign or clock are no problem too. Pop in or email us to discuss your ideas and we will put a quote together and get back to you as soon as possible.
Do you have late night openings?
Yes we have Pizza & Paint late night openings, every 3rd Thursday and last Wednesday of the month. 6pm - 9.30pm, with last entry at 8pm. There is a £3 non-refundable deposit required when booking and booking is essential. Then it's just like during our normal opening hours, with a £3 studio fee, you choose the pottery from the shelf, pottery prices start at £4 up to £60 and then if you want to have pizza too, the menu price of the pizza will be added to your final Busy Brush bill at the end of the night (your £3 deposit will be taken off your final bill). Gift Vouchers are not valid for Pizza & Paint Evenings, these are only valid during our normal opening hours - Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5.30pm and Sunday 10am-4pm. Pizza Express also DO NOT accept vouchers or club card points during our Pizza & Paint events.
Can I bring alcohol?
No. We do not serve or allow alcohol at Busy Brush Cafe
Accessibility:
The accessibility is very limited because of the size and layout of the old building we are in. There's an open spiral staircase leading to the 1st and 2nd floor and the toilet is located on the top floor. We do have one small table for two on the ground floor, which could be used, however the space is limited and during busy times this table may not be suitable. We are just 2 minutes away from Waitrose and they have an accessible toilet.
How can I buy gift vouchers for Busy Brush Cafe?
Busy Brush Gift Vouchers make a great gift for someone. You can either pop into the shop and purchase a gift voucher over the counter or alternatively you can buy them on our online shop. We can do any amount in £5 denominations. These can be used for any craft session during our normal opening hours and on refreshments from our coffee counter. NB These are not valid for Pizza & Paint Evenings, workshops, party bookings, online purchasing or purchasing gift items.
We are essentially a craft cafe; with craft, coffee and cake at its heart. So whether you want to drop in to do pottery painting or decopatch craft or just sit and enjoy a barista coffee or loose leaf tea with a delicious cake, or of course do all three, the choice is yours. We have two floors of seating on the first and second floor, so there's plenty of room for everyone. If you can't manage the stairs, come the warmer days, we will offer seating outside.
Is Busy Brush Cafe a pop-up shop?
No, we are here to stay! We are a small, independent family run business, in the heart of a lovely Oxfordshire market town. Most of the furniture in the cafe has been up-cycled by us or our family and friends. So you may spot scaffolding boards and pallet crates as our coffee bar counter, shed doors finding a new lease of life as tables and all the chairs sanded, painted and restored to new life. So Busy Brush Cafe is most definitely not a pop-up shop, too much love has already gone into it for it to just disappear. This is our passion and so we truly thank everyone that walks through our door, makes that bell jingle and supports a small independent business in Wallingford.
Are you open everyday?
We are open 6 days a week, Tuesday to Sunday. We are open Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 5.30pm and Sundays 10am - 4pm. Keep an eye on our Facebook page and the Contact page of the website for any unexpected opening/closing times.
Do you do parties?
Yes we have a party room should you wish to book a pottery painting or decopatch party. This is a dedicated room for the party group, exclusive to you with party bunting, to get you all in the party mood. We have party themed pottery and decopatch for both children and adults, starting from £10 per head. Check out our Parties Page for more information.
Can we bring our own food & drink for the party?
No please do not bring your own food & drinks with you - we are a cafe and have a good selection of drinks available, and pizza/cake options too. You may bring light snacks - crisps, biscuits, fruit, which can be given to people at the table - no buffet style food, as there is limited space. You may bring your own special birthday cake and candles. We offer free bottomless jugs of squash for party group and have a full range of drinks for purchase from our coffee bar.
Is there parking available?
There is no parking on St Mary's Street but Wallingford does have lots of car parks, all within a few minutes' walk of Busy Brush Cafe. Goldsmith's Lane Car Park, St Alban's Car Park, Cattlemarket Car Park and Thames Street Car Park are all a stone's throw to the market square and St Mary's Street. If you need any assistance with directions, just give us a call or get in touch via our Contact page.
Do we have to book?
Booking is highly recommended, especially at weekends and during school holidays. We have tables of various sizes, so just let us know how many people will be with you so we can reserve the correct size table for you. We have tables for two, four, six and if you have a larger group we can always put tables together to accommodate your group. Each floor can seat up to 15 people. If you just happen to be passing you can of course drop in too and try your luck, there is often a table free for a quick coffee and cake between bookings.
How does paint your own pottery work?
It's beautifully simple.
You just choose what you'd like to paint from our handmade pottery pieces, everything is individually priced ranging from £5 to £40. Let us know at the counter what you've chosen and if you'd like any drinks, cakes, or of course both.
We then get you started, giving you the painting basics, tips and hints for you to paint your perfect masterpiece. We have all the tools and equipment you need on the table or at the two paint stations. We are on hand should you need any help or have any questions - just ask. There are also helpful hints on the wall, books on both paint stations should you need some creative inspiration and we have free wifi, where the internet provides endless creative ideas.
You then leave your pottery with us to glaze, fire in the kiln and wrap ready for collection in a week.
Is there a studio fee?
Yes, there is a £3 studio fee per crafter. So only the people actually painting pottery or decopatching pay the studio fee. If there is an adult with 3 children and only the children are crafting, there will be a £3 studio fee for the 3 children, a total of £9. The adult can happily sit and have a freshly ground barista coffee, having not paid the studio fee.
Why is there a studio fee?
The £3 studio fee covers the use of paints, all the stencils, stamps and other craft tools, the glazing and of course running the kiln. It also covers some of the background costs of the 'experience' of painting at our cafe, for example staffing, energy bills, rents & rates and all the hidden costs that go un-noticed.
Do I have to pay the studio fee twice if I paint more than one piece of pottery?
No, the studio fee is £3 per crafter, so you could paint a flower pot and an egg cup and you only pay the studio fee once.
What happens if I don't finish in time?
If you are pottery painting...we will keep your unfinished piece (for one month) and when you return to painting the finishing touches to your masterpiece we charge you just a half price studio fee of £1.50
If you don't finish your decopatch piece, we can give you some glue and paper and you can take it away with you to finish at home, all you'll need is your own brush (our brushes are too busy to go with you)
When can I collect my painted pottery?
Your painted pottery will be ready to collect in 7 days (during school holidays this could be up to 10 days) Once you have painted your pottery, you leave it with us to dry overnight. We then dip it in liquid glaze and again it needs to dry overnight. It is then loaded into our kiln and once we turn it on the firing cycle is 24 hours! All the pottery is then unloaded, wrapped and bagged ready for collection. Please collect your pottery as close to the collection date as possible. If you haven't collected your pottery within 3 months you will get a phone call reminder and then the pottery will be thrown away if not collected - we are limited for shelf space!
Do you charge any extras?
Nope, you pay the cost of the item you've chosen to craft and the £3 studio fee, which includes all the paints, materials, glazing and firing! We, of course, then have refreshments to buy should you wish to enjoy a freshly ground barista coffee and some delicious cake. Craft Coffee Cake is our motto.
Do you have to paint or decopatch, or can I just come in for a coffee?
You can do as you wish - craft coffee cake in any combination. You can just pop in for a coffee, or enjoy a leisurely hot chocolate served in fine bone china (with Smarties on the side). But we should warn you that creativity is contagious, when you see others crafting you may not be able to help yourself! Oh and you don't even have to sit in to enjoy our refreshments, we do take away drinks too! We have special DIY tea bags so you can even have our loose leaf teas on the go.
Is pottery painting and decopatch just for children?
No way! We designed our craft cafe for adults, as we believe everyone likes to get 'crafty'. We've created an environment aimed at adults, with up-cycled furniture, bespoke lights and inspirational text hand painted on the walls. We often see parents come with the intention that they will sit and watch or help their children paint or decopatch and within 10 minutes they themselves are happily crafting along side their kids. We are also open late on the last Wednesday of every month for our Pizza & Paint night, which is just for the grown-ups. Check out our 'What's on' page - booking essential, we have been full for the last few months!
How old do you have to be to paint or decopatch?
There are no age boundaries. It depends of the individual's capabilities. For the younger children, we'd recommend pottery painting over decopatch, but with a helping hand both work for all ages. Our youngest painter was just a few weeks old, well the prints he left were!
Are the paints safe for children and babies?
Yes, all the paints and glaze are child safe. They are water based, lead free, non toxic under glaze paints and glaze. They do wash out from clothing but don't worry we have aprons for the little people.
At what age can I get a good hand print when pottery painting?
We recommend only trying a handprint when babies are over one year old. Any younger than a year babies tend to keep their hands clenched and it is virtually impossible to guarantee a good print. So we would always recommend a foot print for any babies under 1 years old. Our youngest painter was 3 days old, she hadn't even been named yet!
Do you do the hand and foot prints on the pottery or do I have to do them myself?
Yes, we are happy to do the baby and toddler hand and foot prints on the pottery for free, although during our busy times there may be a short wait. It is always worth calling us to book in prints so we know which bookings need extra staff support. If you would like us to do any writing or painting of edges, there is a £2 fee per item. If you would like a more detailed commission artwork painted on your pottery piece, speak to us for a quote.
Can I bring my child in to craft if they are sick?
We'd ask that you do not bring in any sick children, or adults for that matter, into our quirky cafe. We do not want germs spreading around to all our customers. We help a lot of our customers with hand and foot prints and although we take every precaution with baby wipes, anti-bacterial wiping high chairs, the bathroom and stairwell handrail frequently, we'd rather not spread germs on to other customers, or our staff. So please reschedule any appointments if you think you or your child may be sick. We'd love to have you craft with us when you are germ free :-)
What facilities do you have for children?
Everything! We've got aprons, high chairs, toys, books, even a chalk wall on the top floor. Our toilet has baby changing facilities with baby wipes and even some nappies should you be caught short. There's a child toilet seat, step up by the sink and parking for 3-4 buggies, we even have on of those milk bottle warmer gadgets - so just ask and we will do whatever we can to help. If you are coming as a group with lots of babies, we would suggest baby carriers/slings where possible, as most of our seating is up stairs on the first and second floors.
Do you sell drinks and snacks?
Yes! We have an excellent range of barista style coffees, loose leaf teas, a surprisingly good hot chocolate, chilled drinks, delicious home made cakes and tray bakes and for those with intolerances, gluten and dairy, we have options for you too! Our loose leaf tea and hot chocolate are serves in vintage mis-matched china and teapots. Our chilled drinks are served in jam jar glasses with a straw. Oh and our hot chocolate comes with a side of Smarties! Our coffee counter is on the ground floor, you can order drinks at any time during your craft session and we will bring your drinks and cakes up to you at your table.
Can I bring in my own drinks or cakes from other cafes/supermarkets?
No. We kindly ask you to respect our family run independent business and only consume drinks and cakes brought from us at our coffee counter.
What is your wifi password?
craftcoffeecake
Do you sell your vintage china tea pots?
Afraid not, our china tea pots, milk jugs and sugar bowls are not for sale. We use them to serve our loose leaf teas, hot chocolate (yes, hot chocolate in a tea pot, what's not to love about that?), milk and sugar. You'll be happy to know that we do sell our vintage china mis-matched trios (cup, saucer, side plate) and our cake stands. So by all means pop in and check out our vintage china.
Are the glazed and fired pottery pieces dishwasher and microwave safe?
To be on the safe side we'd say no to both. We recommend that in order to preserve the finish and keep the vibrancy of the colours on your painted pottery you hand wash with warm soapy water. If the pottery is exposed to heat over a continuous period of time you'll experience cracking, bubbling and fading of colours.
I'm not very creative and have never painted ceramics before. I wouldn't know where to begin.
Don't worry you are not alone, adults say this a lot. That's why we are here! We give you a run through of the basics and are happy to give you hints and tips along the way. We advise beginners to keep it simple - sometimes, less is more! We have plenty of ceramic painting books at both our paint stations, oh and of course we have free wifi, where the internet provides endless possibilities of ceramic painting and decopatch ideas. We have boards on Pinterest for you to access ideas and where we put up some photos of your finished masterpieces.
Can I take our painted pottery home the day we paint it?
No, your painted pottery will be ready to collect in 7 days. Once you have painted your pottery, you leave it with us to dry overnight. We then dip it in liquid glaze and again it needs to dry overnight. It is then loaded into our kiln and once we turn it on the firing cycle is 24 hours! All the pottery is then unloaded, wrapped and bagged ready for collection.
Why does my pottery have to be glazed and fired?
Our under glaze paints need to be glazed and fired to bring out the vibrancy of the colours and to make the pottery food safe. This means that items like plates, mugs and bowls are safe to use again and again, being hand washed in warm soapy water. This process takes quite a few days, allowing drying times and the 24 hour firing cycle of the kiln. All good things come to those who wait.
Can I take my decopatch craft home the same day?
Yes, you can take your decopatched items home the same day. If you haven't finished your masterpiece we will give you some glue and paper for you to complete it at home. Sorry but we can't give you the brush, all our brushes are busy at Busy Brush Cafe!
How long does it take to paint pottery or decopatch an item?
Well that depends on you and the piece you choose. It depends on the design you may wish to paint, it's complexity, and potentially it's size. But don't presume bigger items take longer, it depends on the detail of the piece and your design. A general guideline would be 2 hours for adults and potentially a lot quicker for children.
What if I need help?
That's why we are here! We give you a run through of the basics and are happy to give you hints and tips along the way. We advise beginners to keep it simple - sometimes, less is more! We have plenty of ceramic painting books at both our paint stations, oh and of course we have free wifi, where the internet provides endless possibilities of ceramic painting and decopatch ideas. We have boards on Pinterest for you to access ideas and where we put up some photos of your finished masterpieces.
What happens if something goes wrong in the kiln?
If something goes wrong in the kiln and yes it does happen on the odd occasion, we will give you a free session to come back another time and repaint your item. Our pottery is handmade and some items may be flawed in its first firing process, and so when fired for the second time with us, sometimes pottery items crack or break when in the kiln at such high temperatures.
Can I bring my own materials to Busy Brush Cafe?
You're welcome to bring you're own brushes, stencils, stickers, stamps and books but you cannot bring your own paint, under glaze pencils or charcoals etc. This is because our paints are specific under glaze paints that have been tried and tested with our dipping glaze and kiln settings. Using your own paints/charcoals will put other customers' pottery at risk, as well as your own, as we can not predict how it'll react with our products and processes.
Can I bring my own pottery and use your paints?
Afraid not, our business is entirely run on the profits we make on painting pottery. These profits pay our rent, our staff and our bills. If we let customers bring their own pottery and just charge the £3 studio fee, the business will no longer be viable and we'd have to close down - and nobody wants that to happen do they?!
Can I bring my own food?
NO! Unless of course it’s baby food for little ones that constantly need feeding. We serve delicious tray bakes and cakes and we no longer allow outside food to be consumed in our cafe. We would also ask that you do not bring your own drinks, especially those from other cafes/supermarkets, as we sell a wide range of hot and cold drinks, including kids' cartoons and babyccinos!
Can I leave my children with you?
We recommend that children are supervised at all times, especially if they are little ones. If you need to pop out and your children are still crafting, they can stay but remain your responsibility. Our cafe is child friendly and we have taken every precaution to make it as safe as possible but please remember that we are a quirky, craft cafe with an open spiral staircase and old floor boards so please do keep an eye on your little ones.
Do you offer a commissions service, as I really don't want to paint myself?
Yes of course, we love to paint on your behalf and are happy to discuss any commission ideas you may have. We will do our best to source the item you'd like painted with any design of your choice. Wedding plates are very popular but even just a personalised mug, house sign or clock are no problem too. Pop in or email us to discuss your ideas and we will put a quote together and get back to you as soon as possible.
Do you have late night openings?
Yes we have Pizza & Paint late night openings, every 3rd Thursday and last Wednesday of the month. 6pm - 9.30pm, with last entry at 8pm. There is a £3 non-refundable deposit required when booking and booking is essential. Then it's just like during our normal opening hours, with a £3 studio fee, you choose the pottery from the shelf, pottery prices start at £4 up to £60 and then if you want to have pizza too, the menu price of the pizza will be added to your final Busy Brush bill at the end of the night (your £3 deposit will be taken off your final bill). Gift Vouchers are not valid for Pizza & Paint Evenings, these are only valid during our normal opening hours - Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5.30pm and Sunday 10am-4pm. Pizza Express also DO NOT accept vouchers or club card points during our Pizza & Paint events.
Can I bring alcohol?
No. We do not serve or allow alcohol at Busy Brush Cafe
Accessibility:
The accessibility is very limited because of the size and layout of the old building we are in. There's an open spiral staircase leading to the 1st and 2nd floor and the toilet is located on the top floor. We do have one small table for two on the ground floor, which could be used, however the space is limited and during busy times this table may not be suitable. We are just 2 minutes away from Waitrose and they have an accessible toilet.
How can I buy gift vouchers for Busy Brush Cafe?
Busy Brush Gift Vouchers make a great gift for someone. You can either pop into the shop and purchase a gift voucher over the counter or alternatively you can buy them on our online shop. We can do any amount in £5 denominations. These can be used for any craft session during our normal opening hours and on refreshments from our coffee counter. NB These are not valid for Pizza & Paint Evenings, workshops, party bookings, online purchasing or purchasing gift items.
