Price and Kensington Teapot Works, which has been derelict for years, could be transformed into Stoke-on-Trent’s next shopping village.
New owner Wayne Walker hopes to convert the former pottery factory into a thriving commercial centre. Walker, who owns Wayne Walker Quality Meats, hopes that the site will soon feature a cash-and-carry, restaurant, gaming hub, beer warehouse, florist, and much more.
The grade II* listed building, located on Newcastle Street in Longport, dates back to the early 19th century. It was used as a factory until 2003 and later as a gym and office for small businesses.
The unit currently lies in a state of disrepair and has become a favoured destination for urban explorers, vandals, and fly-tippers. The council bulldozed a section of the site in 2019 over safety concerns.
Walker, whose butcher business is adjacent to the old Teapot Works, announced the project on a Facebook live video on Monday (April 29). In the video, Walker announced he had purchased the site and that he had been working on the project for more than two years.
He said “We’ll be developing that whole site” and that he aims to “keep the heritage of the site”.
A spokesperson for Stoke-on-Trent City Council stated: “[we] welcome working with the new owner of Price and Kensington to regenerate this site”.
The former owner of the site failed to comply with a section 215 maintenance notice. He was prosecuted twice and fined £72,000 in October 2021.
