A destination business created in Stoke-on-Trent by husband-and-wife team Mathew and Rachel Dimbleby is attracting customers from around the world.

Kiln at Number 12 has welcome people from Hollywood, New Zealand, Switzerland and all parts of the UK since it opened its doors in Longton in July 2024.

The couple, who are both University of Staffordshire alumni, run the creative café bar and pottery studio alongside sister business Dimbleby Ceramics.

Kiln at Number 12 is an independent creative café, a paint-your-own pottery studio and a working ceramics space, complete with its own fully operational kiln on-site. With regular pottery wheel workshops run in collaboration with Dimbleby Ceramics, it offers a complete creative journey: from clay to kiln to customer. This model is entirely unique in the local area and increasingly rare nationally.

From the very beginning, Kiln was built to be more than just a coffee shop. The goal was to create a destination, a space where people of all ages could relax, create and connect. Despite opening in a unit that had stood empty for more than a decade, Kiln has quickly become a bustling creative hub and a standout independent business in Stoke-on-Trent’s high street landscape.

Kiln reflects the values and skills of its founders. Mathew’s background as a master potter ensures high-quality ceramics and hands-on expertise in clay and kiln firing, while Rachel’s experience as a qualified art teacher shapes the approach to workshops and accessibility. The studio isn’t just about fun, it’s about fostering confidence, mindfulness and creativity in everyone.

The working ceramics space allows visitors to throw on the wheel, glaze their own pieces and have them fired in an in-house kiln. It’s a full-circle creative process, all delivered under one roof.

Meanwhile, the café has become known for its artisan coffee, fresh bakes and striking interior design. Every table was built by hand. The green and gold branding is distinctive and deliberate. The result is a space that feels considered, inspiring and welcoming to all.

The couple’s three-year plan includes launching a new ice cream bar in summer 2025, hiring and training more staff, hosting larger events and workshops and introducing raku firing, geometric ceramic stencilling and other advanced classes. They hope to expand into a larger venue or open a second location in the future.

Kiln at Number 12 has entered the Start-up Business of Year, High Street Impact and Small Business of the Year categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.