Red House Glass Cone given special accreditation by Visit England
An historic glass cone – one of just a handful left in the country – has been given special recognition by Visit England.
The Red House Glass Cone, run by Dudley Council, received the accolade after a rating from the tourist board.
The Wordsley venue raised its overall score from 85 per cent in 2019 to 89 per cent – one per cent off a coveted gold status.
The assessor from Visit England said the attraction provides a “most interesting and enjoyable experience” for visitors.
They also praised the gift shop, signage, interpretation panels and the overall appearance of the site.
Councillor Simon Phipps, cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise from Dudley Council, said: “We believe the Red House Glass Cone is one of the jewels in our borough’s crown and we are incredibly proud of the visitor experience it offers, connecting local people to the area’s renowned glass making heritage.
“We think we narrowly missed out on gold as the cone itself is closed at the moment for maintenance, which means we’re unable to offer glass blowing demonstrations.
“Although people are not able to enjoy the full experience right now, there are many elements to still enjoy, which the judges recognised.
“We’re striving for gold though and hope to achieve the status when we have our next assessment.”
It is hoped the attraction will receive the highest accolade when the Grade II-listed cone and hot glass studio will have re-opened after maintenance – with the kiln being re-built to become more environmentally-friendly.
The Red House Glass Cone is open to visitors Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm, and 11am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The site has free parking and will be holding a festival event on September 18 with live music and an outdoor bar.
The site is located in the heart of Stourbridge’s historic Glass Quarter, with a hot glass studio, industrial collection, designer-maker studios, and an independent coffee shop. Visitors can take arts and crafts classes, join the book club, and place commissions from local artists.
The historic cone was completed in 1794 and produced glassware until 1936, but continues to welcome people to this day.
