The couple that turned a vacant building into an inviting pottery studio

Zed Alley Clayhouse is a vibrant new pottery school and studio in a listed Georgian building between the Christmas Steps and the Bristol Beacon.

Founded by Damian and Ali Aley, the studio offers beginner and improver courses in hand-building and wheel-throwing, taught by skilled local potters.

It also provides a membership space for those looking to work independently in a creative, supportive environment.

The members studio at Zed Alley Clayhouse – photo: Lydia Lewis

Speaking with Bristol24/7, Ali shared, ‘we’ve always talked about what we would do if we ever created a business together. Because I worked in education most of my life, everything we ever discussed always felt a bit like it just relied more heavily on my skill set.”

That changed when the couple took a pottery course. Damian, originally an engineer, discovered his passion for the craft, sparking the idea that would shape their future.

“Suddenly it seemed like maybe this is it, because he [Damian] was passionate about making pottery and good at it and the whole education side could transform into running classes.”

After spending 30 years in London, the couple decided to return to Ali’s hometown of Bristol to bring their vision to life.

Damian recalled: “I was amazed at how easily I slipped into Bristol. This is such a fantastic, creative place”.

In May 2023, they found a space for their studio on Host Street – a building that had once been a 19th-century pub for visiting sailors, later a printworks, and then an office.

The hatch down to the basement in Zed Alley Clayhouse – photo: Lydia Lewis

Over the next year, Damian’s architectural vision took shape with the help of Bristol City Council’s vacant property grant and Bee Squad Construction, who carefully restored and exposed many of the building’s original Georgian features.

The building has now been transformed into a bright, airy and beautifully inviting pottery studio.

By November 2024, Zed Alley Clayhouse officially opened its doors, welcoming students to classes taught by a team of nine talented local potters.

At the studio, the team of potters and technicians recycle students’ clay, fire their work, and even supply the clay, a unique approach that sets them apart.

Unlike many studios where students purchase their own materials, Zed Alley Clayhouse follows a different model.

Damian shared: “Our people only pay when they get something fired, so there’s a big incentive for them to not send something off to the kiln unless they think it’s worth it, which is good for the environment as it means we don’t have to fire stuff unnecessarily. It also means we can keep recycling clay”.

Damian and Ali have created a studio in which “you can come, and practice and you don’t have to be perfect. It’s convenient, accessible and enjoyable.

“You just turn up like going to the gym, but it’s a gym for your soul.”

Ali believes that the studio reminds people “how mindful and good for your mental health pottery can be, and how calming it is to sit holding a lump of messy clay”.

Some of the pieces made at the beginners 6-week hand building course – photo: Lydia Lewis

Zed Alley Clayhouse already has 24 members after two months of being open.

They are excited to expand the nurturing community they have created and are currently planning to secure charitable funding to further enhance their offerings and outreach.

Main photo: Dan Keech

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