The family-owned business is currently seeking new premises and plans to sell the current site for housing.
It hopes to move into purpose-built or refurbished properties elsewhere in Jersey and is also looking to open a town restaurant and possibly a hotel.’We see this as an exciting opportunity for the family and for the Island as a whole,’ said Jonathan Jones, whose grandfather Clive bought the business in 1954.
‘The business has grown to such an extent that we have now outgrown our operation at Gorey so it is time to move on.’Current operations will continue there until we find suitable locations, with both staff, skills and the range of services continuing at their present level.
In order to grow the business we need to reinvest in creating an enhanced Island attraction, expand our catering and retail offering and develop further into the private and corporate hospitality markets.’Jersey Pottery first opened in Gorey in the early fifties and although the company has since opened a number of shops, cafes and bistros in St Helier, the bulk of its business is still based in the village.
This includes the Garden and Spinnakers restaurants, a flower shop, all outside catering facilities and the pottery itself.’The Jersey economy has changed over the years and our business has evolved with it,’ said Dominic Jones, who like his brothers Jonathan, Robert and Matthew, is a director of the company.
‘The catering side, for example, has grown substantially yet the kitchens here were not designed for 35 chefs working around the clock.’Equally, the pottery operation has scaled down in Jersey as the business has grown outside of the Island.
We outsource production to factories in Limoges, Stoke on Trent and Ireland, which in turn export our ceramics around the world.
‘However, we intend to carry on producing handmade pottery in Jersey – but in a new purpose-built building which is easier to work in and better designed for visitors.’
