If you’re looking for things to do in Stroud and enjoy discovering independent makers, artists and unusual places to shop, make time for a visit to House of Goblin. Based at 15 Union Street, this distinctive ceramic company and artist collective creates hand-built pieces that sit somewhere between functional design, sculpture and artwork.
House of Goblin’s approach to ceramics is anything but conventional. Their collection includes sculptural tableware, cups, bowls, plates, platters and goblets, alongside lighting, candleholders, wall sconces, hooks and other striking ceramic objects. Rather than hiding the character of the handmade process, their pieces celebrate it, with each work individually made and therefore subtly unique.
Sculptural ceramics with a difference
For anyone interested in independent shopping in Stroud, House of Goblin offers something genuinely distinctive. Their ceramics are designed to challenge the traditional idea of what tableware and everyday objects should look like, combining practical use with an almost otherworldly aesthetic.
The current collection includes wonderfully imaginative pieces such as snail bowls and platters, toad spawn plates, ammonite buttons, mushroom-inspired lamps, sculptural hooks and unusual drinking vessels. Their Enoki and Porcini lamps, for example, take inspiration from mushrooms and their mysterious presence in woodland, creating softly glowing pieces designed to work as both lighting and sculptural objects.
The ceramics are made using different types of clay, including stoneware, and finished with food-safe glazes where appropriate. While many pieces are entirely functional, their sculptural qualities mean they can just as easily be appreciated as decorative objects or works of art.
House of Goblin is also a working creative space, with a ceramic studio offering classes and workshops. Visitors can book throwing-on-the-wheel and hand-building classes, while children’s workshops are also available on selected Saturdays. Classes include materials, glazing and firing, giving participants the opportunity to make their own ceramic piece.
This combination of retail space, exhibition area and working ceramic studio makes House of Goblin particularly interesting for anyone wanting to experience Stroud’s creative and independent culture rather than simply browse the usual high-street shops.
A visit to House of Goblin is easily combined with exploring the rest of Stroud town centre. Browse the town’s independent shops and markets, discover its galleries and cafés, or simply wander the streets and see where your curiosity takes you.
Juliet Restaurant on London Road is close by, making it easy to combine a visit to House of Goblin with lunch or dinner. At Juliet, our seasonal menus celebrate British and European cooking, using produce from local farmers and suppliers alongside fruit, vegetables and herbs grown in our own two-acre kitchen garden at Lypiatt Park.
For visitors interested in what to do in and around Stroud, House of Goblin is a wonderful example of the town’s creative spirit. Come for the ceramics, stay to explore the independent food, art and culture that make Stroud such a distinctive destination.
For the latest collection, opening information and upcoming classes, visit House of Goblin.
