'Heartbreak' as well-known glass company to close

A well-known glassware company is set to close due to rising costs as bosses have said they are "heartbroken".

Bristol Blue Glass said in a statement posted online that increasing rental costs, fuel prices, "exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East" and the ill health of directors have created an "overwhelming" financial strain, and the company will close on 31 May.

The announcement follows 7,000 people signing a petition to keep the company open after bosses were told they would need to relocate their Bath Road factory.

Despite finding an alternative site, a spokesperson said the ongoing "challenges have simply become insurmountable for a small business like ours".

In a statement Bristol Blue Glass said: "The challenges stem largely from the government's appalling treatment of small businesses, their lack of leadership, and the high tax burden that makes operating a manufacturing business more like an expensive hobby than a sustainable livelihood.

"Bristol Blue Glass stands as a testament to the city's artistic and industrial legacy, and as a heritage business, it's heartbreaking to have to say goodbye," they added.

In response to Bristol Blue Glass' statement a government spokesperson said: "We know smaller businesses are facing difficult circumstances, and that's why we have introduced a Small Business Plan, taken tough action on late payments and launched a £4.3bn business rates support package."

The spokesperson added the government understood this would be a "challenging time for workers at Bristol Blue Glass and their families", adding that support is available for anyone affected.

"We continue to work closely with business groups to tackle the impact of events in the Middle East," they added.

Bristol Blue Glass was set up 38 years ago to re-establish a glass-making tradition which had been lost to the city for more than half a century.

The city was the bottle-making plant for the world in the 18th Century and remained popular throughout the 19th Century. The last factories closed in 1920, and it was not until Bristol Blue Glass opened in 1988 that the skill was revived.

"To everyone who supported us along the way, thank you. Your encouragement and loyalty has meant the world.

"We are grateful for the memories and the community we've built," a spokesperson added.

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