Situated in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent, Middleport Pottery is the UK's last working Victorian pottery factory in continuous production and remains home to world-famous Burleigh pottery.

In 2023, over 50,000 visitors passed through its doors to enjoy everything the site has to offer.

Middleport Pottery offers visitors the opportunity to take part in tours of the Burleigh factory, take part in a self-guided heritage trail, have something to eat at The Packing House Café, and visit the Burleigh Factory Shop and the independent creative studios of Port Street Range and Harper Street. It is also establishing itself as a unique wedding venue.

Middleport Pottery was built by Burgess & Leigh (Burleigh) in the late nineteenth century; however, the Grade II*-listed factory took on a new lease of life when it opened its doors to the public for the first time in June 2014.

Last year, over 50,000 visitors passed through Middleport Pottery's doors (Middleport Pottery).

In 2011 The Prince's Regeneration Trust acquired the site and it was through public and private funding that Middleport Pottery was saved from closure.

The site underwent substantial remodelling and renovation, transforming it into a visitor attraction and a centre for creative businesses. Current site owner Re-Form Heritage were given their independence from The Prince's Regeneration Trust in 2019.

Re-Form Heritage has continued to develop the site by regenerating the terraced houses of Harper Street located across from the main pottery entrance. This new site offer opened in May 2022 and features new workshop space for creative businesses, a community hub for community group Middleport Matters, an archive store for the Burleigh archive, and additional office space for the charity.

Harper Street holds significant historical links to Middleport Pottery as the end terrace was the Lodge Keeper's house. The "How we lived at Harper Street" exhibit in this house highlights life in the Potteries during the 1950's.

The factory opened its doors to the public for the first time in June 2014 (Middleport Pottery).

Middleport Pottery is the flagship heritage building of the Stoke-on-Trent charity Re-Form Heritage and has become a blueprint for future regeneration projects.

In December 2023, Re-Form Heritage was appointed the Heritage Development Trust for Stoke-on-Trent and is currently working with Stoke-on-Trent City Council and other stakeholders to identify further appropriate buildings for regeneration in the city.

Dr Alasdair Brooks, Chief Executive of Re-Form Heritage / Middleport Pottery said: "The 10th anniversary of the completion of the regeneration of Middleport Pottery, and its opening to the public as a heritage attraction and creative hub, marks a significant moment for the site, for heritage regeneration efforts in Stoke-on-Trent, and for Re-Form Heritage.

"We welcome the opportunity to invite the public to help us celebrate this important anniversary while we reflect on how this can inform the expansion of heritage regeneration efforts in this amazing city".

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the venue will host a huge range of events (Middleport Pottery).

To celebrate the milestone 10th anniversary of its successful regeneration, Middleport Pottery is hosting the following anniversary events:

June

20th: Afternoon Talk – "Celebrating The Packing House Café Artwork" hosted by Joyce Iwaszko

23rd: Walking Tour - Wood and Wedgwood in Burslem

24th to 28th: Anniversary Open Days (250 Free Heritage Trail tickets will be released on Monday 10th June for use between these dates)

26th: Dane Narrowboat Trip – Middleport Pottery to Harecastle Tunnel

28th: Phil Crow Free Talk & Photography Exhibition "We are Middleport"

29th to 1st August: Phil Crow Free Photography Exhibition "We are Middleport"

July

3rd and 5th: - Middleport Movie Days (The Card showing at 10.30am and A Pottery Girl's Romance showing at 1.30pm)

9th: Middleport Pottery Blue Plaque Unveiling (At 11am the Arnold Bennett Society will unveil a blue plaque to recognise Bennett basing "The Providence Works" on Middleport Pottery)

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