A world-famous assortment of more than 8,000 teapots has failed to sell at auction.

Sue and Keith Blazye devoted their lives to building up the collection and ran Teapot Island in Yalding for more than 20 years.

At its peak, the coffee shop and museum welcomed up to 20,000 visitors a year from around the world, with UK celebrities including Bradley Walsh, Tim Spall, Victoria Wood, Eric Knowles, and, in 2014, the then Prince Charles and Camilla.

But in 2023, the couple decided to put the 0.75-acre site up for saleso they could retire.

Their assortment of 8,540 novelty teapots is made up of thousands of designs, including ones shaped as politicians, the royal family, animals, vegetables, Disney characters, celebrities, and vehicles ranging from red London buses to speed boats.

The collection, which is thought to be the second largest in the world, went on sale online this month with Hansons Auctioneers, and was expected to make up to £80,000 in total.

Auctioneer Justin Matthews described it as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase a world-renowned collection”.

However, it failed to sell in the timed auction, which ended yesterday (October 13).

Reacting to the news, Sue said: “It’s such a pity, but they still have to go.

“I really did want them to stay together, but now we might have to look at splitting them up into smaller lots, such as animal-shaped pots, vegetables, that sort of thing. It’s a shame, but we haven’t given up.”

Justin Matthews, from Hansons Kent, said: “We had several interested parties but sadly failed to meet the reserve. It is a shame because it is such a wonderful collection.

“We haven’t given up hope someone still might approach us with an offer.”

Sue and Keith's collection began with Sue’s nan’s teapot, which she gave them to fill a space in a glass cabinet in 1987.

From there, they began seriously collecting and, by the time they decided to set up Teapot Island, had 3,500 teapots in their four-bedroom home in Sidcup.

They spotted the site, which is where three rivers converge in Yalding, while out on their boat.

They bought it and eventually redesigned it to incorporate the huge display cabinets housing thousands of teapots.

The Teapot Museum has featured on a local Monopoly board, appeared on television programmes including Bargain Hunt, and also scooped two Guinness World Record entries – being beaten to the top spot by a Chinese entry.

The couple will continue to live on a property on the site.