News & Competitions
We keep this page updated to ensure you keep up to date with all upcoming news and events and of course Matthew and Emma's updates too.
Win Sarah Raven Sweet Pea Seedlings!
21st May 2013
To celebrate the Chelsea Flower Show this week, our friends at Sarah Raven are giving away a Harlequin spring sown sweetpea collection of 24 plants to one lucky Emma Bridgewater winner! Just email your name and address to competitions@emmabridgewater.co.uk and we'll pick a winner at random next week! Sarah Raven has everything you need for your garden..... Check out their website Click here Did you know we also created a Special Centenary Mug which is being sold at the Chelsea Flower show this week? You can also find it on their website here; Click Here
Win 1 of 5 English Heritage Memberships!
20th May 2013
Our Emma Bridgewater ‘Caring For Kenwood’ mug is now on sale on the English Heritage website. The mug has been exclusively made for English Heritage with 50% of sales going directly towards the Caring for Kenwood project which will help to preserve one of London’s great stately homes; Buy here. More Info
3 For 2 On Melamine!
20th May 2013
If any of the activities you have planned for the Bank Holiday weekend involve eating outside, then may we suggest investing in some of our brilliant Melamine? Available in a range of patterns, it's perfect for picnics or barbeques. And, if you order this week, we’re offering 3 for 2 across the whole range!
Congratulations to Emma Bridgewater stockist Rossiters of Bath!
16th May 2013
A Big CONGRATULATIONS to Emma Bridgewater stockist Rossiters of Bath who won 'Department Store Gift Retailer of the Year' at the Great Gifts Awards ceremony held at the Savoy Hotel last week!! We're really pleased for you!
Win Emma Bridgewater Glassware & Belvoir Cordials For Summer!
WIN SOME BEAUTIFUL EMMA BRIDGEWATER! Glorious goodies for your kitchen… This month, we’ve teamed up with Belvoir fruit cordials to offer you some lovely things for when you’re entertaining this summer! There’s a Black Toast Carafe, Water Pitcher, 4x Glass Tumblers and Steel Tray up for grabs – perfect for impressing your friends. You'll also receive a bottle of Elderflower and Rose Presse, Cranberry Presse,Cherry Presse, Blueberry & Blackcurrant Cordial and Rhubarb & Strawberry Cordial 50cl. Visit the Belvoir website to enter here.
WIN a Glass Cake Stand & Glass Dome Comport!
13th May 2013
As we're offering 20% off all our glassware until midnight on Tuesday 14th May, we asked you on Facebook to let us know what your favourite Emma Bridgewater glass piece is. The beautiful glass cake stand got the most amount of votes, so we're giving one away along with a glass dome comport in a competition! To enter email us at competitions@emmabridgewater.co.uk, and let us know how you'll use the prize- you can send us a picture of your favourite cake (baked or bought!) send us your favourite cake recipe, or let us know any other creative thoughts/ideas or pics! We'll pick our favourite at 4pm on Friday and announce the winner on Facebook! Good Luck! :). View our glassware here.
Win an Emma Bridgewater & Higgidy Picnic Hamper worth £350!
14th May 2013
As the sun is starting to shine at last, we’ve started to dream about lazy days by the seaside and easy lunches in the garden. So we’ve joined up with Higgidy to create a full-on and fantastic picnic hamper for one very lucky winner, packed with their delicious quiches and our polka-dot picnicware! To enter visit the competition page here.
20% Off All Glassware Until Tuesday 14th May!
8th May 2013
From today until midnight on Tuesday we're offering 20% off all our glassware so now is the time to stock up for summer! There's also free UK P&P until Tuesday as well! :) View our glassware here.
2 For £30 On All Our 1/2 Pint Mugs!
3rd May 2013
What have you got planned this bank holiday? Are you getting stuck into the garden? Perhaps you’ve got a busy weekend of spring cleaning or DIY ahead? Whichever of these traditional bank holiday weekend pursuits you’ve got planned, be sure to keep your family fuelled up with regular cups of tea. And, if you’re short of mugs, we’ve got the perfect offer: choose any two 1/2 pint mugs for just £30 this bank holiday weekend. Plus, there’s also free UK P&P on all orders placed before midnight on Monday.http://bit.ly/16xuBtr
Chelsea Flower Show Centenary Mug
May 1st 2013
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show at the Royal Hospital. Our specially commissioned mug to celebrate the occasion is now on sale from the RHS online shop here. Emma says: "My favourite image of the flower show is that of the Chelsea pensioners in their red coats and black hats, inspecting the displays in the Great Pavilion. The design also depicts The Royal Hospital; Christopher Wren's military palace is as important a part of the capital's riverside panorama as the Chelsea Flower Show is of the London summer season. The design harks back to the mid-century style of Ravilious and Bawden and I hope portrays the show as the outstanding triumph of British gardening that it continues to be."
New Products Launched Today!
15th April 2013
We're celebrating this beautiful Spring day with the launch of some fabulous new products! Check out our Skyline range depicting the iconic London skyline, and our new retro radio in our loving Sampler pattern! We also have some new additions to our Coronation and our Union Jack range! NEW IN.
The Spring Sale Has Launched!
5th April 2013
Spring (or is it the lack of it?) has gone to our heads and we've decided it's time for a sale. So, for a very limited period, you'll find some of our most gorgeous patterns and pieces, including the wonderfully sparkly, pink and gold Lustre, at discounts of up to 50% off the original RRP. http://bit.ly/10BtpiO
3 For 2 On Melamine Today!
12th April 2013
Get 3 for the price of 2 on melamine today only! http://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/melamine/icat/meloffer/
Montezuma's Competition Winners!
17th April 2013
Congratulations to our five winners of the Montezuma's Easter Competition! They are Alexandra McFee, Esther Cornall, Jo Allison, Linda Lockwood & Alice Hobbs. You've won a Montezuma's Easter Hamper, an Emma Bridgewater chocolate teapot, and an 'I Love Chocolate' heart shaped tin!
Win a one week stay in a Cotswolds cottage!
2nd April 2013
We've teamed up with our friends at Holiday Cottages and are giving one lucky winner the chance to win a one week stay for up to 5 people at Upper Orchard Cottage in The Cotswolds! Enter here; http://bit.ly/11QUFP5
Win a Montezuma's Easter Hamper & Chocolate Teapot!
21st March 2013
Calling all chocoholics! As it's nearly Easter we've teamed up with our friends at Montezuma's to offer you the chance to win a yummy & extravagant treat! The delicious prize includes a Red Admiral Easter Hamper, an I Love Chocolate Heart Shaped Tin and one of our rather fabulous Chocolate Teapots! There are five sets to give away and you can enter on our competition page here; http://bit.ly/YWiPTX
Easter Bunny Competition!
25th March 2013
To cheer you up on this gloomy afternoon we've decided to throw an Easter competition! We've hidden Bobbin the Bunny in 13 different places around the Emma Bridgewater website- Let us know his 13 hiding places along with the name of the product that the letters spell to have a chance at winning the treasure! The prize is an eggs-tra special Easter hamper filled with some amazing goodies, with three fab runners up prizes as well! The full details of the comp can be found here; http://bit.ly/WJxsKm
Comic Relief Update
19th March 2013
Congratulations to team Bridgewater who finished the bike ride at 5pm in London on Friday. We're really proud that we've managed to raise £6000 for Comic Relief now, and wanted to say thanks to all of you who sponsored us for your generosity and support! It was also great to see Jack Whitehall and Jonathan Ross in our aprons this weekend.... :)
Win A Matthew Rice Easter Mug!
11th March 2013
This month we’ve teamed up with Jordans Cereals to give you the chance to win a colourful hand- drawn mug by Matthew Rice. It features bunnies galore and a mother hen with her clutch of Easter chicks and there are 10 to give away! Enter here http://bit.ly/YGMO1I Good Luck! x
15% Off & Free UK Delivery For Easter!
28th March 2013
Happy Easter! To celebrate we're offering everyone 15% off and free delivery on orders placed until midnight on Easter Monday! Happy Shopping
Samantha Cameron Wears Emma Bridgewater!
6th March 2013
The Prime Minister's wife baked up a storm in Downing Street yesterday to raise money for Comic Relief. Donning an Emma Bridgewater Red Nose Day apron she said “Baking is such a brilliant and easy way to raise money for Red Nose Day... I hope lots of people all over the country are also baking, or finding other fun ways to support Comic Relief.” More Info
Win £100 worth of Easter goodies from the Pink Eggs range with the GoodFood Channel!
12th March 2013
Decorate your home with a fabulous Easter set worth £100 from our Pink Egg and Feather collection. Answer some simple questions on the GoodFood website for your chance to win one of five sets consisting of a Pink Eggs Milk Bottle, Ceramic Boxed Egg and a 1/2 Pint Mug! http://bit.ly/12IjVHQ
New Spring Range Launched Today!
25th February 2013
We have added some fabulous new products to our Spring range today, including some new shapes and patterns! This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Queen's Coronation and we've marked it with a splendid range in a beautiful regal purple shade. We've also reworked Egg and Feather (one of Emma's favourite patterns!) and have brought back the much-loved Farmyard range from 1986. Check out the gorgeous products here; http://bit.ly/X8oEwI
Biscuiteers Competition Winners!
13th March 2013
Just to let you know the recent Emma Bridgewater & Biscuiteers competition has now closed and the winners have been picked. Congratulations to the following and your prize will be on it's way to you soon! More Info
Our Special One-Off Collection For Comic Relief!
1st March 2013
We're delighted to be supporting Comic Relief this year with our range for TK Maxx and Homesense, and in addition to this we've also produced an extra special one- off Comic Relief collection which will go up for auction on eBay this Sunday at 2pm! The exclusive collection will include three completely new and one-off pieces and all proceeds will go to the charity. We'll keep you updated on Sunday afternoon when the auction goes live but for now here is a little sneak peak :)
Waitrose Limited Edition Jug On Sale From Today!
6th February 2013
Our beautiful new pink & purple tulips jug has gone on sale today! This gorgeous piece can be bought online exclusively at Waitrose Direct here http://bit.ly/WQdSst
Our 'Potteries to Putney' Bike Ride!
14th March 2013
As an official partner of Comic Relief we've been trying to raise as much money as possible for the charity, and today some very brave members of staff have embarked upon a 'Potteries to Putney' bike ride. More Info
Celebrity Chefs Team Up With Us For Red Nose Day!
21st February 2013
Ten of Britain’s favourite celebrity chefs have joined forces and swapped their kitchens for the camera lens in aid of Comic Relief, to celebrate our stunning homeware range for Red Nose Day! More Info
Spring Has Launched!
30th January 2013
Our wonderful Spring season has now launched! From new designs to new shapes in our classic patterns, inject some newness into your cupboards...
Emma Bridgewater Could Mentor You!
21st February 2013
Have you got a great idea for a business but aren't sure how to take it to the next level? Emma Bridgewater has teamed up with Country Living to give ten lucky readers the opportunity to ask her their business-related questions, in a ten- minute one-to-one mentoring session at the Country Living Spring Fair. Visit for more info and a chance to win; http://bit.ly/YDP3BB
Macmillan Coffee Morning this Friday!
26th September
This Friday 28th September sees the return of The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning and once again we will be supporting the cause and hosting a bake sale in each of our stores excluding Bicester, starting from 10am. Please do come along to buy some of our special baked treats and cakes to support the Macmillan charity to which all proceeds will be donated. You may even wish to bake your own cakes and donate them for us to sell. We raised a great sum last year and are hoping this year will be no different... This year we will also be offering a raffle draw in each store so don’t forget to enter for your chance to win a Union Jack Boxed Teapot.
Comic Relief Bake Off At The Emma Bridgewater Factory!
21st February 2013
A staff bake-off was held at our Stoke factory yesterday to help raise money for Comic Relief! Everybody made a huge effort and the cakes were sold in the shop for £2 a slice. £176 was raised for the charity, and Nigel was crowned the bake- off winner with his Emma Bridgewater- inspired polka dot cake! The event was such a success it even made it into the local paper! http://bit.ly/XANntr
Raising Money For Comic Relief!
19th February 2013
We've been baking up a fundraising storm this year to help Comic Relief change lives in the UK and Africa. We've designed an exclusive 'Bake-Off' collection especially for Red Nose Day, including aprons, oven gloves, bags, tea- towels and mugs. The items were featured in the 'Great Comic Relief Bake Off' on the BBC and can be bought from TK Maxx and Homesense. More Info
10,000 bees and the wait for our sunflowers
3rd August 2012
You may remember that back in April Matthew planted thousands of sunflower and wildflower seeds on the 5 acre piece of disused land next to the factory. Well, it is fair to say that things didn’t go to plan the first time around - within 2 weeks of the seeds being sown there was frost, rain, sleet and snow and then the few survivors were picked off by flocks of pigeons.
So Matthew decided to start again and now after a warmer and wetter month or two the field is covered with a fog of cornflowers, poppies, mayweed, clover and phocelia, we are hoping to see some sunflowers before September.
This supply of flowers has kept the bees happy – almost too happy as a local beekeeper had to be called to remove a 10,000 strong swarm from the Emma Bridgewater site last month. Here are a few images of the flower field for you to look at.
Emma Bridgewater & Camilla!
18th February 2013
On her visit to the Garden Museum in London last week, the Duchess of Cornwall sipped her tea in one of our fabulous Diamond Jubilee mugs! The exciting event was also captured on page 2 of The Telegraph
Win An Emma Bridgewater & Biscuiteers Tea Set!
15th February 2013
We’ve teamed up with our good friends at Biscuiteers to bring you a wonderful 'Time for Tea' inspired competition. Two lucky Biscuiteers will win an Emma Bridgewater Tea pot and 2 half pint mugs from our brand new and rather gorgeous ’I Love you more than Chocolate’ range. Even better, Biscuiteers are throwing in a tin of Limited Edition Flower Power biscuits to complete your tea time treat. More Info
Celebrities Wear Emma Bridgewater For Comic Relief!
14th February 2013
Our 'Tea Party With A Twist' took place this week with Atomic Kitten, Rachel Riley, Nancy Dell’Olio, Cherie Lunghi, Kelsey Beth Crossley & Zoe Salmon wearing aprons from our Comic Relief homeware range (and not a lot else). The fun pictures were all taken in aid of Red Nose Day and recreate the famous Calendar Girls photoshoot. More Info
One Extraordinary Day
16th July 2012
Emma and Matthew's daughter Lily was part of visionary choreographer Elizabeth Streb's dance troupe which wowed London this Sunday. The Streb Extreme Action dancers performed gravity defying acts across London's most famous landmarks, including performing on the Millennium Wheel, the Millennium Bridge, Trafalgar Square and outside the National Theatre. Commissioned by the mayor and the London 2012 festival, the event was billed as a 'performance of power, daring and beauty that will totally disarm those lucky enough to see it'. Well done Lily.
Emma Bridgewater and Matthew Rice honorary degrees
16th July 2012
On Thursday 12th July Emma and Matthew were very honoured and proud to be awarded honorary degrees from Keele University in recognition of their 'enormous contribution to the ceramic industry of North Staffordshire'. They both slipped away from the Collectors Club Open Day on Thursday to collect their award during the Keele University graduation ceremony - and you can see them here donning their robes.
A Special Treat For Valentine's Day!
13th February 2013
Be sure to check your emails tomorrow morning as we have a special treat especially for Valentine's day!
Neff 40th birthday baker offer
5th May 2012
Emma and Matthew have teamed up with Neff and designed a set of two bakers to support the Neff 40th Birthday campaign. The offer launched on 4th May, you can find out more information here http://neff.co.uk/Bake _It_Yourself- Emma_Bridgewater.ht ml.
Kitty's New Tea Towel for Giffords Circus
12th March 2012
Kitty , Emma and Matthew's daughter has just designed three special Tea Towels for Giffords Circus and so become , perhaps the first third generation designer of dishcloths in history! Kitty is at art school in London and we hope you agree has created some wonderful designs.
The 3 designs are hot off the press and available NOW at the Gifford Circus Shop www.giffordscircus.com for £6.50 each or a Special Offer of all 3 (1 of each design) for £15.00.
Giffords Circus, loved by locals and Londoners, artistes, rock stars, poets and families, has toured the villages of Gloucestershire and beyond every year since the shows began in 2000.
Wild and magical, every element of the show from the vintage costumes to the handsome burgundy Showman’s wagons are designed and handmade on Nell and Toti’s Cotswold farm.
Matthew's account of the Royal Visit
12th March 2012
There was excitement all round for the Royal visit last Thursday, heralded by the arrival of first of dozens of school children who packed the factory yard, followed by Sir James Hawley, the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire in spotless cavalry uniform, and the High Sheriff, in velvet breeches and silver filigree buttons, as well as the Lord Mayor and Mayoress of Stoke. The Duke of York's arrival was announced by flashing outriders, but since dawn Eastwood works had been literally crawling with over a dozen policemen - some with climbing equipment scaling the lift shaft, and another with a springer spaniel with a keen nose for explosives and a very waggy tail. Emma and I introduced HRH to various members of the Bridgewater team, before sitting down by the Aga to talk about business. He recognised the 1986 commemorative mug made to record his own wedding and was introduced to our Jubilee Range for 2012. The Duke, Emma and I went round the factory and he presented Bill Malkin with a silver mug to mark 50 years in the pottery industry. A smiling throng of decorators filled the room where Prince Andrew met Cher and Clare, which was appropriate as the visit focused on the issue of finding jobs for young people. He left bearing a two cup Union Jack Tea Pot and was waved off by the entire factory as he proceeded to the Michelin Tyre factory. History does not relate whether he left there with four nice retreads for his Rangerover... With the sun shining and whole factory ship shape, I felt very proud of the whole company. It was a lovely day.
Emma Bridgewater on Community Matters.
16th February 2012
Emma spoke last night at a Community Matters talk with Tomax Talks at The Doodle Bar in London and had a great night discussing community matters with the other speakers and the audience.
"Emma Bridgewater reflects on her experience at her factory in Stoke- on- Trent and talks about the idea of 'a workforce'. William Alsop, the mind behind many of Britain's controversial modernist buildings, will talk about the influence a building can have on community, while Naomi Colvin will voice the concerns of the Occupy Movement and explain why Britain is not as democratic as it claims."
Thank you to all of you who were able to come along, we hope you had a wonderful time too.
Photographs taken by Lea Minshull
Alice's New Mug
26th January 2012
Last year we were really pleased to work with 15 year old Alice Pyne, who contacted us about designing a mug as part of the “bucket list” of wishes she’d drawn up following her diagnosis of terminal cancer. The lovely mug she created featured a beach hut in Torquay where Alice had spent some happy holidays thanks to the help of the charity Torbay Holiday Helpers Network (THHN), along with her Labrador Mabel.
£10 from the price of each mug was donated to this charity, and Alice has now set up a charity of her own, Alice’s Escapes, which will do work similar to THHN, providing free, relaxing holidays for seriously ill children.
To celebrate this new charity, Alice has designed a sweet new mug, which has the same summery theme to her last mug, and features lots of sunshine and a sailing boat in the Cumbrian Lakes and the mountains. We will continue to donate £10 from the sale of each mug to Alice’s Escapes.
To get your Alice's Escapes 1/2 Pint Mug click here
Alice
8th June 2011
Many of you have read about Alice, a 15 year old girl with terminal cancer who’s made a bucket list of things she’d like to do in her life - read here. Emma and Matthew were really touched that she included designing an Emma Bridgewater mug on her list. Matthew emailed Alice late yesterday evening and is making plans to meet her to start designing her special Alice mug soon.
Emma's Top 5 Patterns
09th March 2011
1. Figs
This pattern dates from 1986, and was first produced in 1987 (I think) this most closely resembles the idea of everyday pottery which jumped into my head at the beginning of it all.
2. Toast
Matt's writing, is endlessly satisfactory - I always love it. We have a good time bickering over and refining the wording for each piece. I especially love the 'Cambridge Blue' colour, from way back - perhaps 1995?
3. Eggs & Feather
Mary Fedden's pattern is one I go back to again and again. I love her colours (we matched her painted designs pretty perfectly) and I always love using this design.
4. Polka Dots
This pattern came out of a flurry of samples produced in the studio one day, at a moment when I was really thinking a lot about the visual elements of my early childhood - I'd re- discovered the delights of ladybird books and this reminds me of 'shopping with mother' or 'The Party'. It mixes well with all sorts of unexpected patterns - I especially like it with 'Birds'. It always raises my spirits. Do you notice how the many imitations always mimic our colours?!
5. Oh, how to choose the last...
Is it Gold Spots? Or Charm Bracelet? or LOVE? OR Bird & Worm? There are all patterns which I love to come across at the back of the cupboard. But I think I'd choose Veg Border, because I love the colour combination.
