Visitor Info

What’s On

There will be demonstrations taking place inside and outside the marquees all week-end, you’ll be able to see throwing, sculpting and hand decoration at various points around the show. There is also a full programme of talks and demonstrations planned.

There are two awards presented each year; ‘The Valentine Clays Peers Award‘ (voted for by all the makers at the show), which went to Nic Collins in 2015 – a record breaking third time winner! The second is ‘The Potclays Student Award‘ and in 2015 this was won this was won by Souzana Petri (Brighton University). The awards are presented when the show closes on Saturday (5.30pmish) and you are welcome to attend.

In 2018, the Mick Casson Memorial Award will be presented on the Saturday evening – this is a bi-annual award.

If you appreciate the beauty of lovingly made pots and ceramics; there will be something here to inspire you. The magnificent setting of Hatfield House and it’s parklands offers the opportunity to relax in the grounds during the show and spend a full day or more at this unique event.

Whether you are looking for something for the ‘inside or outside’ forget your preconceptions about ‘craft fairs’ and prepare to be amazed by the sheer diversity of Art in Clay.

Accommodation

Hatfield itself no longer has a Tourist Information Centre or a central online accommodation page on their local government website. You will need to do an online search for accommodation in Hatfield, Hertfordshire and have a look at what comes up. Alternatively you can try either phoning the local tourist board (Hertford) on +44 (0)1992 584322 or these websites:

www.stalbans.gov.uk
Lee Valley YHA
Caravan Club of G.B. – Hertford site
Campsites near Hatfield

Disabled Visitors

Parking for disabled drivers is next to the entrance of our show. The show is on cut grass and parkland that has a gentle slope. The grass is a field not a lawn and is therefoe uneven in places. We feel all the exhibition areas are accessible by wheelchairs. If you don’t please let us know. It is a large show site and we have benches and chairs around the outside of the tents, but these don’t have arms, so may be difficult to get out of depending on your level of disability. If you only use a wheelchair occasionally we would advise you to bring it along to the show, it may just make your whole day more manageable and therefore more enjoyable. There are temporary disabled W.C.’s on the showground and permanent disabled W.C. in the Old Palace Yard near the café. Visitors in wheelchairs are able to visit the parts of the house which are open to the public, and most of the Garden.

Parking

The main public car park is sited on grass right next to the showground.

Shuttle Bus

A free shuttle bus service will be running continuously to and from the show site entrance to Hatfield House, the Stables Courtyard Café and the Old Palace. Anyone coming on foot or by public transport need only walk 200m from the main gate and wait by our bus stop sign. Please be patient, the bus will be round in the time it takes to get to the showground and back, which is about every 20mins

Refreshments

A range of refreshments are available to suit all tastes. There are temporary catering facilities at various points around the showground that offer a varied selection of refreshments and the Coach House Restaurant near Hatfield House serves hot lunches and drinks.

Hatfield Park & Gardens

Admission includes access to the park, there is an extra charge for the House, gardens and Farm Park.

Visitors can also explore over 1,000 acres of parkland with nature trails and woods.

Hatfield House

Hatfield House is open for visitors during Art in Clay from 11am until 4.00 pm for an additional charge of £8 and £4 for children. For further information about Hatfield House, visit www.hatfield-house.co.uk

Dogs

Hatfield Park is huge with acres of accessible parkland. Dogs are welcome, but must be kept on a lead. Please clean up after your dog.