“Sorry if I don't crack open the champagne, but as a ex employee of 22 years who like many got made redundant recently would only be happy if the remaing people were kept on! I have spoke to friends that still work at the Lymedale site and they are all being finished next thursday and so are the rest of the few remaining staff at the Spode and Worcester site! So that is more people that will be unemployed! like I said nothing to celebrate!!!!”

“Linda, I was too quick to criticize you and I apologise.

However, you are on record saying that pottery and ceramic manufacturing is a largely "backward" industry - meaning (to me) it is stuck in the past and no longer has a viable future. Hence, my comment about disposable plates and cups "a la McDonalds" which sadly seems to be a growing trend these days. I for one, think that the Staffordshire (and Derbyshire) ceramic industry has a fantastic future if only we as the consumer will support it and stop buying nasty imported dinnerware on the cheap. I have over 250 pieces of Spode, 80 pieces of Wedgwood, a superb Royal Crown Derby tea service in Derby Panel Green, some Royal Doulton, Royal Worcester and Minton - each and every piece made in England. We are singing off the same hymn sheet.”

“Quite right Tim. My husband worked for many years producing ceramic decoration, he says the industry should look at the patterns that used to be in the Minton Museum, made in the 19th century they are far superior to the stuff he worked on from 1970 to 1993. The skill used in those days without modern technology was unbelievable.”

“No Tom, not paper plates, usually Crown Derby, if you want pattern names or photos etc just ask.”

“Tim, Blurton- you mean like the presence of Wedgwood at Barlaston despite the bulk being made in Asia etc. It's just the name they want. I agree with James Antique that the proper English made pieces are worth more and I will not be selling any of mine as they appear to be getting too rare !”

“That's quite a bargain and am glad to see those brands will not go away. Love Spode! I have a small website where I sell mostly retired Portmeirion pieces. I often have customers inquire to ensure that a piece is made in the UK and not Asia. They are willing to pay a premium for UK made pottery. The few made in China items I do have do not sell well. So, I hope Portmeirion will keep making Spode and RW in the UK. And, of course, hope for the continuation of Portmeiron production in the UK as well.”

“Jules, the following comment from Matthew Hammond of PwC seems to indicate that production will remain largely in Stoke-on-Trent: ¿We are pleased to have been able to preserve the Royal Worcester and Spode brands, and of their ongoing presence in Stoke, which is of vital importance to the region."

Tom - without wishing to put words into Linda's mouth, given the rest of her comment, I think she was referring to the management in the pottery industry which she described as "backward", and I doubt few people would argue with that. My interpretation of Linda's comment was that she perhaps meant to say "backward looking industry".”

“The bargain of the decade! Well done to Portmeirion! I do have one or two concerns, first that Portmeirion has no experience in producing fine bone china which is what has made Spode and Worcester famous throughout the world. Second, if Spode and Worcester will be run as separate brands under the Portmeirion umbrella I hope they will be able to keep their royal warrants.”

“As a ex-Spode employee, I am very happy to hear of this news, just a shame it could not have come sooner. Just curious as to what will happen for the remaining employees as I still have friends working there???? Good Luck to them”

“Only a relatively small part of the output from the companies in this article may now be described as 'Craft Pottery'; furthermore, much of the product range of all three is outsourced - how else would Spode and Royal Worcester have been able to shut their UK production facilities?
It is, in fact, Hotelware that accounts for by far the greatest percentage of UK -manufactured tableware.
The many people still employed in this sector will all, I'm sure, be cheered by the crass comment from Alan B.”