A business owner who ‘followed her dream’ by opening a pottery studio in Marlow three years ago is bidding the town goodbye after financial pressures made continuing an unviable option.

Tamra Booth, former managing director at Sorbon Estates turned founder of Keeeps, a pottery studio launched on Marlow High Street during lockdown, has no regrets about her career pivot, even in the face of insurmountable costs that will spell the end of her “creative journey” next Wednesday, July 31.

Squeezed above the Creative Collective pop-up shop at The White House, 72 High Street, Keeeps was born of a life-long passion for the arts and ceramics in particular, and Tamra’s aim above all else was to encourage would-be potters to embrace a new skill and the world of benefits that come with it.

It’s with a heavy heart that she says goodbye – after “trying everything” but, for “numerous reasons”, meeting blocks at every turn.

Looking back on three years of owning a local independent, however, her most prevalent feeling is of gratitude for the “many wonderful and supportive people, retailers, staff and customers” who have taught her “a thousand important lessons” during her tenure in the area.

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She said: “It has been such a pleasure to serve Marlow locals and visitors and get thousands of people mad about pottery. Myself and the whole Keeeps team truly hope our customers can continue their creative journeys elsewhere.

“One of our lovely technicians is currently planning on starting a pottery studio in Marlow, so watch this space, but for me, the time has come to end the journey.

“We were hoping the pottery shop would be more popular than it was, but handmade studio pottery in the UK isn’t as cheap as exported mass-made ceramics. It was a tough perception to break.

“The Creative Collective pop-up came to run the ground floor in our place, and they are brilliant – the good news is that they will stay, and the beautiful upper floors are available to let to anyone who might be interested in creative or office space.

“My message to anyone starting a business in Marlow is to start small, build slowly and go for it. Just because we didn’t quite make it work doesn’t mean you can’t, and it’s been an incredible experience.”