Just 18 miles away, another heritage firm, Bath Aqua Glass, has taken steps to cut costs in an effort to survive.
The company moved its factory out of Bath city centre to Corsham after its 18-year lease came to an end, reduced their visitor experiences from five a week to just two and cut its workforce by more than half.
Its managing director, Themis Mikellides, stressed cost of fuel was always a major pressure, explaining the furnace alone costs £4 per minute to run when they are shaping glass.
He rejected the idea the business should be seen as a luxury, describing it as a “national treasure” rooted in centuries of regional history that dates back to the Roman times.
“This is an opportunity right now for central government to look at things and think ‘We can do something to protect this industry, and we can do something to support and nurture…reduce tax altogether, or we can just reduce it massively’.”
He added that lowering VAT would benefit both businesses and the government.
“It’s better to get 5% of something than 20% of nothing.”