Alex Pole

Alex Pole is a nationally renowned blacksmith based in Somerset, where he’s been hand-forging handsome, bespoke ironwork for almost two decades. He became enamoured with the ancient art of blacksmithing at art college in the early ‘90s and after years spent travelling as a journeyman ironsmith, he returned to the UK to found his celebrated forge in 2006. After much experimentation and experience with the likes of Gränsfors Bruk in Sweden, Alex now crafts amazing outdoor tools, as well as a beautifully-made cookware range, that’s well deserving of its place on The List.

Only traditional techniques are used at The Forge, where every piece is hand-forged to the highest quality, using the finest materials. And when we say the highest quality, we really do mean it. Photography can’t do the craftsmanship and finish justice here; it needs to be seen (and used) to be believed. Professional chefs up and down the country will be nodding in smug agreement, which is probably why you can find Alex’s work in so many of their kitchens. That exacting level of quality and craftsmanship also allows the forge to offer a (quite frankly incredible) 100-year guarantee on all work. This is exactly what The List was invented for: attractive, practical, sustainable, well-made objects designed to be loved, used and passed down for years to come.