Phoenix Works

Phoenix Works, 500 King Street was built in 1881 by Thomas Forester to satisfy the tremendous demand for Majolica both at home and abroad. In fact in the May 1881 Pottery Gazette it states that "Mr Forester has now in hand the largest order for majolica goods ever received in the Potteries, amounting to nearly £3,000 - 8,000 pieces of one class of goods being the chief item". He died in 1907 but the business was successfully carried on by his descendants until the clean air act of 1956 which prevented the use of the enormous coal fired bottle ovens (two of which still remain on the site to this day). Foresters finally ceased production in 1959. The complete history of the company and the works is documented in a book called “A Victorian Pottery, Thos Foresters’ The Forgotten Giant” by Peter Beckett.
The factory was bought by the Milner family in 1961 for their pottery wholesale business. After a multitude of changes to the property over the years the latest generation of the family led by Mark Milner has now embarked on a major renovation scheme to accommodate diverse enterprises.
There is over 40,000 sq ft of listed buildings with onsite car parking. Permissions are in place for retail, catering, offices and workshops.
Phoenix Works is situated on the busy main road of King Street with a Tesco Extra, Matalan, Argos and Next in the immediate vicinity which makes for an exciting and convenient location.
The Longton railway station is right behind the site and the major road network of A50 and M6 is right on the doorstep.
Geographically Stoke-on-Trent is midway between Birmingham, Manchester, Derby and Chester with the four midlands airports reachable within the hour making it an ideal business venue.
Join our family in phase one of this attractively restored historical venue.