Great Pottery Throw Down judge Keith Brymer Jones has revealed that he and his partner, actor Marj Hogarth, are set to marry in their chapel home in Pwllheli in May 2027. The couple, who are currently renovating the Grade II-listed Capel Salem on the Llŷn Peninsula, intend to hold the ceremony within the building’s main hall. According to jones, He found Capel Salem while “trawling the internet”, and he and Hogarth drove up to see it the following day and “fell in love with the place”.
The proposal took place during the couple’s tour at the New Theatre in Cardiff.
Explaining his choice of location, Jones noted that because they are settling in the region permanently, he felt it was appropriate to propose specifically on Welsh soil.
He emphasized that the move represents a return to his roots, noting that both his parents originally hailed from Swansea and Cardiff. Jones added that his upbringing included driving through Welsh country lanes in search of pottery, an experience that helped inspire his lifelong professional passion. According to he, Wales had inspired him to get into ceramics, with his mum having had a passion for pottery too.
Purchased in 2022, the 163-year-old property serves as the couple’s permanent residence. The 8,500 sq ft building is situated on the north Wales coast, offering views of Eryri and Yr Wyddfa. Jones described the chapel as a magical place and praised the Pwllheli community for being incredibly welcoming since they moved in a year and a half ago. According to he, The Grade II-listed 8,500sq ft (790 sq m) building was their “forever home” and in “quite a magical place” on the north Wales coast, with Pwllheli overlooking Eryri and Yr Wyddfa.
The pair are currently midway through extensive renovations, which are being filmed for the Channel 4 television series, Our Welsh Chapel Dream. Recent work has focused on transforming the Sunday school room into a functional pottery studio. Jones expressed a commitment to the local economy, stating his intent to hire local apprentices once the project progresses further.
Beyond the wedding preparations, the couple is currently replacing the roof of the main chapel. They aim to establish the site as a versatile space for performances and exhibitions, fulfilling a broader vision to give derelict buildings across Wales a new lease of life. Jones remains a strong advocate for the repurposing of such historical structures, viewing the chapel project as his forever home. According to the ceramicist also, There were a lot of derelict chapels across Wales and “we need to repurpose these buildings and give them a new lease of life”. According to jones, They were now redoing the roof of the main chapel because they wanted to try to get it up and running as a multi-purpose exhibition and performance space by 2027.
