Thank you for making or thinking of making a booking with one of our artists at.  Our Booking Info will hopefully answer any questions you have before making a booking with us.

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It will give you all the information you need, and we need to help with a smooth booking process, and will also help with all the information you need once a booking has been made.

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If you have a particular question, then please check out out Frequently Asked Questions, where you will hopefully find your answer. CLICK HERE

 

We appreciate this is a little lengthy, but it is all relevant and important information you will need to have a prepared, safe, comfortable, and enjoyable visit to Old Smithy Tattoo. 

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WE HAVE MOVED

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The Attic is our new home, located behind BeCalmed, Pronto and Primo Piano and accessed through the ally way via the blue door at Primo Piano.

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We are now an appointment only studio, this now means we don't have a walk in service.  You are still welcome to come in and see us to discuss your tattoo ideas but by appointment only.  Our aim been to enhance our client experience and create a warm, safe relaxed  environment.

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All appointments booked will be in the new studio.

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Booking a Tattoo

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• To be able to give you an approximate cost and time the tattoo will take,  we will need to know your idea for the tattoo, with a short brief, where you’d like it, how big in inches or centimetres approximately.  Any reference images you have and any other relevant information like skin conditions, scars, cover-up, working around other tattoos, and if you can send a picture of where you’d like the tattoo that will really help.

 

• We prefer you to contact us for bookings either via our Facebook Page or email oldsmithytattoo@gmail.com​​​

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• We try to be very responsive to all messages, but if you contact us out of studio hours please don’t be surprised if we reply the following day or when the studio is next open.  It is also rude to send ?? if you don’t get a response straight away. The studio opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday 10 till 5.

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• We charge £70 per hour or £380 per day with our minimum charge been our hourly rate. This is because the cost of consumables and PPE has risen in the last few years and unfortunately the smallest of tattoos still takes up an hour of our artists time.

 

• To book an appointment with any of our tattoo artists, you must pay a non-refundable booking fee to secure your appointment. Please note this is not a deposit or design cost, the booking fee covers the service time and costs of the booking process.  £40 for appointments under 4 hours and £100 for appointments over 4 hours.  This will come off the cost of the tattoo on the day or be rolled over to your next appointment if multiple appointments are booked.  We may discuss available dates with you during the booking process, but appointments will only be confirmed once the booking fee is paid

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• Payment of booking fees can be made via cash at the studio, bank transfer or PayPal, as a friends and family payment please, NOT goods and services, otherwise, we get charged and may add this cost to your booking.​

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• Booking fees will will held for a maximum of 12 months from the last appointment date, after this the booking fee will not redeemable against an appointment

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• If you have a tattoo gift voucher we will still require a booking fee to book in with unless the voucher is the value of the appointment you are booking, we will then need the voucher as the non-refundable booking fee.  The voucher will come off the cost of the tattoo on the day.  We do it this way as we have in the past had too many no shows for appointments booked in with vouchers.​​

 

• If you have an illness or condition which you think may affect the tattooing process, you must let us know during the booking process.  You will be asked to complete a consent form before your tattoo and any concerns will be highlighted by your artist. 

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• Conditions relating to your skin should be mentioned during the initial booking process.  Being truthful will not only help protect your health and wellbeing but also our artists.  In some cases, we may ask you to seek advice from your GP before booking an appointment.

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Covid-19

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• We have now stopped wearing face coverings but if you wish to our artists will happily wear a mask too.

• We are asking if you do have any covid symptom's or a cold you then wear a mask. We will happily provide you with a new mask to wear whilst been tattooed.​

• If you are concerned you may have covid and you have an upcoming appointment, please contact your artist as soon as you know.n.

• We will provide a clean box for you to put your belongings in whilst at the studio, we will also provide an antibacterial wipe for you to clean your phone with. 

• We will still have hand sanitiser available in the entrance area and in the studio during your appointment.

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Apprentice Tattoos

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• Tattoos by our apprentice may not be perfect as these are to help them learn the skill of tattooing. They are at a reduced rate because of this.  By making a booking with our apprentice you accept this, and that you will be receiving an apprentice tattoo that may not be perfect.

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Photography

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• Our artists will take pictures of your new tattoo, for insurance purposes and to sometimes post on social media and this website.  This help advertises the artist and the studio and brings in more work.  If you would not like to be named or tagged then mention this to your artist, it is also on our consent form.

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• If you wish to take your own photos whilst at the studio please ask the artist first, they will usually ask you if you would like them to take a picture on your phone of your new tattoo for you.

 

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Once an appointment has been booked

 

• To rearrange your appointment, we require 1 week’s (7 days) notice, if you do not give this, you will lose your booking fee or be asked to pay another one.

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• Please arrive 10 to 15 mins before your appointment, so you have time to have a brew and complete the consent form, please bring a valid photo ID.

 

• If you miss your appointment, we don’t get paid, please be on time for your appointment.  If you are running late, please contact the studio via Facebook or email, or your artist directly, as soon as possible.  If you do not and are over ½ hour late, this will be classed as a ‘no show’ and you will lose your booking fee.

 

• If you have an appointment with Hollie May you may get a phone call the week before from one of our team to confirm your booking details.

 

• We do not send designs out before appointments unless you've asked during the booking process.

 

• Designs are only done a day or so before the appointment, this is because all our artist do custom designs, so they get done in the appointment order.  We understand you are excited and want to see the design, but they are also done mainly out of studio hours, so please be patient when asking to see a design. 

 

• Designs will only be in a line drawing format, colour and fine detail will get added during the tattoo stage.  If you have given us all the correct information and reference images, our artists should nail your design first time, but if minor changes need to be made, just say, they won’t be offended.  If it becomes apparent that changes are becoming major, your appointment may need to be rearranged, then you may have to pay another booking fee or a portion of your appointment.

 

• It is important to be well-rested and to have eaten a meal before you get tattooed. Turning up for your appointment on an empty stomach may increase your chances of feeling ill or fainting.  Your body will be going through trauma as it gets tattooed and you want it to be in the best condition for this.  Eating a meal beforehand will help ensure you have higher blood sugar levels, we also recommend you bring some sweets and sugary drinks to help keep those blood sugar levels up. 

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• Please also ensure you wear or bring suitable clothing, so one, the artist can reach the area to be tattooed, and two, it protects yours, other customers and our team's dignity.

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• Please don't apply fake tan before your appointment, it will more than likely get rubbed off around the area getting tattooed.

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• Our studio is open plan, we do have a dignity barrier just ask if you would like this to be used

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• Unfortunately, we don't have a card machine at the studio so please pay the remainder in either cash, bank transfer or PayPal as a trusted payment or friends & family payment, please.  There is a cash machine just around the corner from the studio​

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• The same is applicable for bringing minors with you to an appointment. We need you to be concentrating fully on being tattooed and not worrying if your young one is ok.

 

• Do not arrive for your appointment intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.  Our artists may refuse to tattoo you if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  This can not only cause excessive bleeding and more discomfort to you but also you will find that it will be harder to keep still, which can affect the quality of the final tattoo which in turn can affect the healing.  You will be asked these questions when you complete the consent form before the tattoo.  If you supply false information, you will lose your booking fee and may also be banned from the studio.​

 

• You are responsible for your tattoo once you leave the studio. Any allergies to ink pigments or faults in the design once you have left the studio are not the responsibility of the studio or artist. ​

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• We recommend you follow aftercare advice which will be explained to you in detail after the tattoo, we will also recommend El Gato Negro Tattoo Care Balm.  We do NOT recommend Bepanthen as it is not designed for tattoos, and we have found it doesn’t heal our tattoos very well.  Not following our recommended aftercare advice is not the fault of the artist or studio.

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• You can find our aftercare advice here: TATTOO AFTERCARE

 

• We offer a free touch up service within the first 3 months after the appointment if the tattoo requires it.  If you think your tattoo needs touching up, either pop into the studio so we can take a look, or send us some pictures via email or to the studio Facebook page or directly to the artist's Facebook page.

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• We can all have a change of heart, and if you'd like to cancel your appointment please let us know a.s.a.p.  Booking fees are non-refundable so please think before you decide to cancel.

 

• Booking fees are only transferrable at the discretion of the studio or artist.  Booking fees will only be held for 12 months from the date of the first appointment.

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Questions you may have after the tattoo process

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How long will my tattoo take to heal?

 

All tattoos and people can take different lengths of time to heal, depending on the size, style and location of the tattoo. On average we say it can take up to 3 to 4 weeks for a tattoo to fully heal.  The length of time can also depend on how well you look after the tattoo. 

 

Will I be able to do exercise after my tattoo?

 

It would be ideal to rest your body for a week depending on the size of the tattoo, but if you do exercise take it easy, and try to avoid exercise that directly affects the area that has been tattooed.  When you sweat you will increase the chance of bacterial infection within the tattoo, which can prevent it from healing properly.

 

What do I do if I think my tattoo is infected?

 

If you think your tattoo is infected, please contact us straight away, either via Facebook or email.

 

Infected tattoos are unfortunately mainly down to bad aftercare, but it is important to understand it is natural for your skin to sometimes swell, feel sore, bruise and look painful after a tattoo. These can very much be the same symptoms of an infection, if it is infected you may see a small discharge of a yellow, green, brown or red puss that can smell. If this is the case, make sure you are following our advised aftercare.  It is likely it will clear up, and heal OK, but should any of the ink drop out of the tattoo we are happy to get you back in for a FOC touch up, within the first 3 months.

 

If you are in doubt and are concerned about infection after speaking to us, contact your GP.

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What if I'm not happy with my tattoo?

 

This is why we ensure through consultation with either the Studio Manager or Artist that you are sure of what you’d like.  You will be shown the design first on the day of the appointment and tick on the consent form you are happy to go ahead. Tattoos are PERMANENT!  Even with good laser removal or cover-ups, there is still a chance your unwanted tattoo will be visible and laser tattoo removal is a costly, lengthy and a painful process.

 

If for any reason you are unhappy with your tattoo, we urge you to contact us first to discuss how we can make it better.

 

Don’t worry we want to help you feel happy with your tattoo.

 

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Travelling to the studio & parking & ​

 

• If you are driving to the studio there are a few car parks located near by. Short Stay St Edwards Street Car Park & Market Place Car Park, there are also some longer stay carparks on the High Street you will require change for the machine or for the council car parks you can pay via the paybyphone app. The council short stay car parks are 9.30am – 3.30pm, after 3.30 pm it is free..

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• If your appointment is longer than 3 hours, there are many residential streets within close proximity of the studio, please be respectful if you park in these locations.  You can see these streets west of the studio on the map at the bottom of the is page.

 

• If you are travelling via public transport, and by bus, you will arrive at the bus station near our old studio, you will then walk through the centre of town down Derby Street, to the market square, where you take the right folk which is Sheep Market.  If by train you will need to travel to either Stoke-on-Trent or Macclesfield and then get the bus to Leek. If travelling via train to Stoke-on-Trent you will need to get a bus from the train station to the bus station before getting the bus to Leek.

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• See address and Google directions at the bottom of this page.

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Places to stay in and around Leek

 

• Premier Inn can get booked up very quickly, and isn’t always the cheapest option, charged parking available.

 

• The Green Man, reasonably priced, is only a short walk from the studio, parking available.

 

• The Daintry, reasonably priced, is only a short walk from the studio, parking available.

 

• The White Hart B & B, reasonably priced, is only a short walk from the studio, pay and display car park or street parking.

 

• Peak Weavers, higher-priced, is only a short walk from the studio, parking available.

 

• Rudyard Hotel, reasonably priced, is out of town but only a 5min drive to the studio.

 

• The Three Horse Shoes, higher-priced, is out of town but only a 5min drive to the studio.

 

• Air BnB there a few holiday lets within the town, please check the Air B & B website.

 

• Bookings.com there are few accommodation places within the town listed on their site, please check their website.

 

NOTE: Old Smithy Tattoo has no relation to any of the business or websites listed above, and they are listed in no particular order

 

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Old Smithy Tattoo, The Attic 8 Sheep Market, Leek, ST13 5HW