Denby brand will continue under 'new ownership'

The Denby Pottery brand "will continue under new ownership", administrators have said.

A buyer has been found for the brand, as yet unnamed, confirmed FRP Advisory, as it set a closing date for Denby stores including its flagship Pottery Village in Derbyshire.

Founded in 1809, the ceramics company appointed administrators in March after two centuries in business.

Its stores in Ashford, Braintree, Castleford, Cheshire Oaks, Dalton Park, Denby, Portsmouth and York will close for the last time on Sunday.

Earlier this summer, other media outlets reported Home Bargains was looking to buy the historic pottery brand.

Tony Wright, joint administrator of the Denby group of companies and partner at FRP Advisory, asked the brand's supporters to give the Derbyshire site "the send-off it deserves".

He said: "It's undoubtedly a sad moment to see the Pottery Village close after so many years as the home of this much-loved British brand.

"We wanted to give shoppers and Denby enthusiasts the chance to visit one final time and take home a piece of its heritage.

"While the stores are closing, the Denby brand itself will continue under new ownership, ensuring its legacy lives on."

Administrators were appointed after Denby had struggled with rising energy and labour costs

A #SaveDenby campaign encouraging people to buy more products was launched, but administrators said they failed to find a buyer, leading to the end of production in June.

A sale for the Denby brand has now been agreed, but no further details have been released by FRP.

GMB union organiser Craig Thomson said the closure of the Pottery Village "is a tragedy for Derbyshire".

He said: "Former Denby workers are furious at the lack of transparency from the administrators, with next to no information being shared with the wider community about Denby's new owners or their intentions for the brand.

"At the end of the day, if it's not made in Britain, is it really Denby? The new owner of the Denby brand must ask themselves this question."

International subsidiaries of Denby in Korea, the US and China are not in administration and will continue to operate as normal.

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