Spode collapse into administration ends 250 years of history (pictures)

CONCERNS have been raised about the future of Stoke town centre after one of the world's most famous pottery brands collapsed into administration.

Spode has been part of Stoke-on-Trent's industrial heritage for almost 250 years.

But yesterday it called in administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), which said the china maker had been hit by the recession and left cash-strapped because of a failure to sell part of its Church Road factory for development.

Spode employs 90 people in North Staffordshire and their future is now uncertain. Most of the workers are at the firm's Lymedale distribution centre, in Newcastle, with the rest producing prestige ware and manning the shop and visitor centre in Stoke, pictured.

Spode's sister company Royal Worcester, which employs almost 300 people in Worcester, has also been placed in administration.

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Pictures of Spode through the ages

Matthew Hammond, joint administrator and partner at PWC, said: "Our immediate priority now is to review all options for the company and immediately seek a buyer for the business. The company has been undertaking a restructuring of its business in recent years.

"However, the inability to complete the proposed sale of a site of strategic importance in Stoke and the effect of the current economic downturn on sales has led to the decision by the directors of Royal Worcester & Spode Ltd to place the company into administration."

Business leaders and politicians today urged PWC to find a buyer committed to safeguarding jobs and transforming the unused part of the plant.

Mark Fisher, MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central, said: "Spode is an enormously important company.

"Spode is known all over the world and it would be a tragedy if we didn't value it enough to keep that site and keep Spode going.

"The future of Stoke is dependent on what happens on this site."

Rob McKeon, owner of Harry's Bar in Glebe Street, said: "We were looking forward to the development proposals, which would absolutely transform Stoke, but nothing has happened."

Garry Oakes, assistant general secretary at the Unity union, said: "It's early days and it's my understanding it will be sold as a going concern. But it's very sad indeed."

Pottery collapse another setback for Stoke town centre: See Page 6