The past and present of Stoke-on-Trent's ceramics industry is being celebrated in a new 'experience' which aims to boost the city's visitor offer while supporting local jobs, skills and investment in the ceramics sector.

The Beyond the Bottle Oven experience at Gladstone Pottery Museum and Duchess China 1888 was officially launched on Tuesday (10 March) by The Great Pottery Throw Down judge Keith Brymer Jones.

From the end of March, monthly tours will allow visitors to explore the historic Gladstone Pottery Museum before stepping inside the working Duchess China factory opposite in a tour that connects traditional bottle kilns and workshops with contemporary fine china production.

Speaking at the event at Gladstone Pottery Museum, Keith Brymer Jones said: "You come to this heritage site, and you walk literally through the years of people creating wonderful work.

"You walk across the road, and you go to Duchess, and they're doing the same thing in the 21st century. The more we can do to expose the talent and creativity of the wonderful city of Stoke the more people will be invested in what people do here.

"That's what I think is so exciting about this initiative of marrying the old and the new."

Gladstone Pottery Museum, home to Channel 4's The Great Pottery Throw Down is one of the city's most visited heritage sites while Duchess China continues the long tradition of fine china production, supplying customers across the UK and overseas.

The new experience offers behind-the-scenes access to both heritage and live production, giving visitors a clear view of how ceramics in Stoke-on-Trent remains a living, working industry.

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Speaking at the event, Jason Simms, Director of Duchess China 1888 Ltd, discussed the similarities between a modern factory and a Victorian potbank like Gladstone.

He said: "It's not that much different the way we make things. There's a lot if synergy between the two factories.

"I'm a Neck Ender. This means a lot to me to be connecting this museum to the factory that Andy and I proudly own."

The project forms part of the city council's Future 100 programme, supporting long-term growth, regeneration and cultural investment while reinforcing Stoke-on-Trent's position as a global centre for ceramics.

Councillor Sarah Hill, cabinet member for finance, anti-poverty and corporate services, said: "Stoke-on-Trent is the world capital of ceramics and this innovative project shows why.

"It gives visitors a unique chance to see where our story began and how it continues today in a working factory.

"That continuity is something few places can offer and it shows that ceramics in Stoke-on-Trent is not just history, it's a living, working industry that can and should continue to thrive with the right support."

The first tour of the pilot project will take place on 25 March at 10.30am, followed by a second tour on 22 April at the same time.

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The experience features a tour of Gladstone Pottery Museum, a potter's lunch at Gladstone's Café and a tour of the Duchess China 1888 Ltd factory.

Each tour will cost £45 per person, including lunch, and will last 3-4 hours. A maximum of 12 people can book on each tour.

For more information, and to book email: [email protected] or telephone 01782 237777.