Stoke-on-Trent-made pottery was given the global spotlight this week as Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were pictured enjoying tea from Emma Bridgewater mugs at Downing Street.
The two leaders met in the garden of No 10 on 14 August, where their drinks were served in bespoke half pint mugs manufactured and decorated at Emma Bridgewater’s Hanley factory. The special edition features a black and white image of Downing Street and is part of a collection produced exclusively for the Prime Minister’s residence.
It is not the first time the brand has been showcased on the world stage. Former US President Joe Biden and ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak were both pictured using the same mugs in 2023. Sunak was also gifted a personalised Emma Bridgewater mug when he moved into No 10, and previously decorated a plate during a factory visit in 2020.
An Emma Bridgewater spokesperson said: “We can confirm these are Emma Bridgewater half pint mugs, part of a special collection made for 10 Downing Street. The mugs were made and decorated by hand in our factory in Stoke-on-Trent, continuing the 300-year-old tradition of marking moments of national significance in ceramics.”
The appearance marks another high-profile moment for the British pottery industry, showcasing Stoke-on-Trent craftsmanship to an international audience.
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