It was not until the 1980s that blue-glass manufacture in Bristol experienced a revival. In 1988, with the assistance of glassmaker Peter St Clair, James Adlington founded Bristol Blue Glass Limited, re-establishing Bristol’s blue-glassmaking tradition. English glassmaking techniques had almost been on the verge of disappearing, but James persevered with his vision, eventually learning and passing on many of the artisan skills required to blow glass by hand. Bristol Blue Glass succeeded in not only producing blown glass, but training world-class glassmakers. Bristol Blue once again became a collectible and popular product.

Capitalizing on the revival, a different company - Bristol Blue Glass (South West) - set up some years later at Whitehouse Lane in Bedminster. In 2011, The Bristol Post reported: “Bristol Blue glass is now world famous and a very positive ambassador for the city.”

Bristol Blue has become such a household name that all cobalt-blue glassware has become known as Bristol Blue, regardless of the place of production.