Historic Stoke-on-Trent pottery firm Burgess & Leigh is continuing to trade despite going into administration with its parent company.
Derbyshire-based Denby Pottery announced yesterday that it has appointed administrators at FRP Advisory after a campaign for support in recent weeks failed to secure strategic investment partners.
The 217-year-old business, which acquired Burgess & Leigh Pottery in Middleport in 2010, filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators in mid-March saying it has been impacted by “challenging market conditions” in the last three years, notably soaring costs and low consumer confidence.
According to the GMB Union, the appointment has put 500 jobs at risk.
A statement by Denby Pottery released yesterday afternoon reads: “Despite Denby’s enduring global appeal and positive recent momentum the business has not yet been able to secure strategic investment partners to take the business forward and therefore has today taken the necessary step of appointing Tony Wright and Geoff Rowley of FRP Advisory as administrators effective the 31st March 2026. The same is true for Burgess & Leigh Ltd.
“The business will now commence trading in administration jointly managed by Tony Wright and Geoff Rowley FRP Advisory as they seek to continue discussions with interested parties regarding a sale of some or all of the business and its brands.
“During this period Denby in the UK will continue to service orders placed online and through its stores and to supply its customers as normal.”
Burgess & Leigh produces Burleigh ware out of Middleport Pottery.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s leader councillor Jane Ashworth said last night that she and the local MP have had urgent meetings with ministers. She repeated what she has previously said that she believes Burgess & Leigh is a viable business and ‘has a full order book.’
She added: “We will continue to do everything we can to protect this company, all our industries and local jobs. But the fact of the matter is that global and national factors – such as high energy prices and cheap overseas imports and forgeries – are making it very difficult for manufacturers.
“We will continue to push our case at the very highest level of government to ensure the ceramics industry is seen as integral to the future of the country.”
Denby has said there has been ‘unprecedented engagement’ with its recent #SaveDenby campaign and described support as ‘overwhelming’ and ‘deeply moving.’
The group has been engaging extensively with its employees, customers, suppliers and retail partners, as well as with Government locally, regionally and nationally, along with advisers and potential investors to try to find solutions for all stakeholders.
GMB Union organiser Craig Thomson said there was a ‘very real sense of fury’ among Denby workers receiving the news.
He said: “This is the human cost of Government inaction; communities let down and workers laid off by companies that can’t keep up with the cost of energy.
“We’ve been screaming and shouting about the impact the cost of industrial energy is having on the ceramics industry for years.
“Now the time for warm words is over, and Ministers must decide if they want a British ceramics industry or not.”
He added: “Denby is a British icon with history dating back over 200 years. We’ve been working closely with the local MP and residents to make the case that its future is too important to be left to chance.
“GMB is focused on doing everything we can to support and protect these workers during this difficult time.”
Burgess & Leigh started out in Burslem, in Stoke-on-Trent, in 1851 and moved to Middleport Pottery in 1889, later becoming known as Burleigh.
The company makes all its ware in Stoke-on-Trent and is known for high-quality, traditionally-decorated earthenware tableware.
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Why are consumers not buying this product?
Therein lies the answer.