<![CDATA[The Knot]]>https://www.theknot.newshttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bqw-!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe88a89a-b1ad-4750-b103-54d3c000fa86_855x855.pngThe Knothttps://www.theknot.newsSubstackThu, 30 Apr 2026 10:26:32 GMT<![CDATA[Turn It Up: Urban Rock Festival Hits Burslem]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/turn-it-up-urban-rock-festival-hitshttps://www.theknot.news/p/turn-it-up-urban-rock-festival-hitsTue, 28 Apr 2026 07:02:02 GMTWHAT’S ON/THINGS TO DO ✅

HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)

  • 🎸 Livin’ It Loud in Burslem. 23/05, 12pm-late, Lemmy Plaza. It’s almost a year since Andy Edwards’ much-loved Lemmy statue was unveiled, and to continue the late Motörhead frontman’s legacy, LFK Legacy has organised Burslem’s first-ever urban rock festival, which will be headlined by Motörheadache. There are plenty of other local bands playing too, including metallers Wolves in Alcatraz, Jesse’s Divide and Walking Alone, with special guest MC Krusher, who designed artwork for the band, doing a talk at 7pm. Admission free; Krusher’s talk £10.

  • ⛴️ Take to the Canals with Middleport. 13 & 14/06, 10am-4pm both days. Back by popular demand and promising to be bigger and better than ever before, beyond the narrowboats, there’s kids’ fun live entertainment at this event promising plenty of family fun. Admission free (suggested donation £5).

Splash about on the canal at Middleport Canal Festival (13 & 14/06)

  • 🎭 See Much Ado Alfresco. 31/05, Bolton Gate Farm, 4.30pm-6.30pm. Presented by Midlands-based immersive theatre company Lucid Spark, this fast-paced reimagining of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing transforms the classic comedy into a villa of love, gossip and games. Bea and Benedick are sworn singletons locked in a war of words, while Hero and Claudia fall fast. Don John is stirring the pot, and the whole villa is one bad decision away from chaos. Pay what you decide ticket: £20 supporter, £15 standard, £10 subsidised.

Shakespeare time: see Much Ado About Nothing on 31/05 at Bolton Gate Farm

  • 👩‍❤️‍👩 A Celebration of Womanhood. 06/06, 7.30pm, Fenton Town Hall. Amplifying voices that are often overlooked, art festival Back to the Bone explores themes including intergenerational female friendship, birth, contraception, and stereotypes through dance, theatre, and spoken word. Tickets from £18.43.

  • 🧛‍♀️ A Great Gothic Night Out. 19/06, 6pm, Artisan Tap. Fancy a heavy evening out soundtracked by loud guitars? Put your best gothic look on for Strange Stoke, which promises the best in Dark 80s, Goth, Post-punk & Industrial. Tickets £5.

    Save the date for this event on 19/06 at the Artisan Tap at 7pm

  • 🎻 See The UK’s Greatest Living Violinist. 11/06, Victoria Hall. Renowned for his inclusive, open-minded and often adventurous approach to music, Nigel Kennedy will be accompanied by long-time collaborators Alec Dankworth on double bass and cellist Peter Adams. Tickets from £48.88.

EVENTS LISTINGS

For more events, check out our comprehensive What’s On list.

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]]><![CDATA[£20 million of Pride in Place Funding is Coming to Bradeley, Chell Heath, and Fegg Hayes]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/20-million-of-pride-in-place-fundinghttps://www.theknot.news/p/20-million-of-pride-in-place-fundingMon, 27 Apr 2026 07:03:05 GMTToday, The Knot is brought to you by Hanley Economic Building Society, which offers mortgages, savings accounts including ISAs, insurance, and more

Good News 🎉

  • 💰£20 million for Bradeley, Chell Heath and Fegg Hayes. The Pride in Place funding aims to revamp neighbourhoods, and a neighbourhood board and engagement groups are being set up to ensure the community plays a role in how the money is spent and is consulted on projects and priorities. If you want to get involved in an engagement group or tell the council how the money should be spent, visit the webpage. More details on Pride in Place can be found here.

There’s £20 million to spend on Bradeley, Chell Heath and Fegg Hayes. Join an engagement group and make your views heard. Pic: Freepik/pch.vector

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🎖️THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – PRITPAL SINGH NAGI🎖️

There’s a new sheriff in town! For the first time since the post was established more than 1,000 years ago, the High Sheriff of Staffordshire is a Sikh, Pritpal Singh Nagi. The oldest secular office under the Crown exists at no cost to the public purse, and Pritpal’s shrieval duties will include giving support to the agencies of law and order, emergency services and local authorities, and providing encouragement to the voluntary sector, particularly where related to law and order. The local businessman has already stated that he is keen to support young offenders when they leave prison.

Pritpal Singh Nagi is the first High Sheriff of Staffordshire from the Sikh religion

  • 💷 Supporting Savers in Stoke. Many savers want to build their savings while knowing they can still access their money if circumstances change. That balance is at the heart of Hanley Economic‘s Dual Access Saver. The account offers a competitive rate while allowing up to two withdrawals each year. This aims to help Stokies save with confidence, knowing their funds remain within reach if needed. The Dual Access Saver also supports savers both online and offline; more here.

With the Hanley’s Dual Access Saver, you can save and make withdrawals…

  • 👷‍♀️ Apartment Living is Coming to Leek. It once produced textiles but Leek’s London Mill, which is currently derelict, is being converted into 28 apartment by a team that all hail from the Staffordshire Moorlands area. Scaffolding will soon go up around the former mill, which is based on Ashbourne Road, after works to secure and preserve the Grade II-listed building were completed in December. The 12-month project will create 21 one-bedroom and seven two-bedroom apartments, and they are slated to be ready around late 2026/early 2027.

Fancy living in Leek? London Mill is being transformed into 28 apartments

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  • 🛋️ New Initiative to Tackle Furniture Poverty. Nearly one in 10 adults in the UK is living in furniture poverty, which is defined as missing at least one essential furniture item. To combat this, a new reuse container has been introduced at Hanford Household Waste and Recycling Centre to help prevent bulky items from going to waste. Reusable items such as wardrobes, tables, chairs and sofas can now be placed in the designated reuse container on site. The items will then be collected by local charities and the council’s Care Leavers team to be redistributed to those in need. For more info on recycling and reuse, go here.

You can now drop off unwanted furniture items at Household Waste and Recycling Centre in Hanford for charities to pick up

  • ⛲️ More Than 20 Heritage Moments Set to Be Revamped. Stoke-on-Trent City Council is restoring 24 iconic heritage monuments around the city. Each will get a share of a £240k restoration fund delivered in partnership with Re-Form Heritage and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The funding will support small but important monuments including war memorials, tombs, fountains and sculptures. Individuals and community groups can put forward sites they want to see restored, with more than 600 votes cast across over 200 submissions.

🥨 A word from Helen, editor/writer at The Knot

This year has started strong for Stoke, and the theme seems to be one of regeneration. From Capital + Centric’s Karparc development in Newcastle to news that work on Burslem Market is now up and running, it feels like the city is in a state of transition.

With Meir North and Bentilee and Ubberley already singled out for funding, Bradeley, Chell Heath and Fegg Hayes is also among 244 neighbourhoods across the UK that have been selected by the government for Pride in Place support. The cash can be spent on anything from providing new facilities to enhancing community spaces and will see up to £20 million spent in the area in the next 10 years.

The Bradeley, Chell Heath and Fegg Hayes neighbourhood board is currently being established, and when members of the board are confirmed, their profiles will appear here. Do you live in the area and want to be a part of it? There’s an email address if you have ideas, suggestions or questions.

Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week

📚 £100 million Student Village to Open at Uni of Staffs: It’s set to debut in September
🍹 Cheers to Sunday Supper Clubs: join Two Doors Down on the night before the two May bank holidays on Monday: that’s 03/05 and 24/05…
🍻 Hanley Named Among Top 10 Pubs in UK: It’s thanks to pubs like The Coachmakers Arms, The Woodman, The Unicorn Inn and BottleCraft…

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Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent): More sun is on its way 😀

Mon ⛅️ 17° (7°) Tue ⛅️ 14° (5°) Wed ☀️ 15° (5°) Thu ☀️ 17° (5°) Fri ☀️ 19° (6°)
Sat ☀️ 19° (8°) Sun ⛅️ 18° (9°).

Sunrise 27/04: 05.44 ☀️ Sunset 27/04: 20.29 🌅

]]><![CDATA[Come Together at Trentham's Community Day]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/come-together-at-trenthams-communityhttps://www.theknot.news/p/come-together-at-trenthams-communityTue, 21 Apr 2026 07:01:25 GMTWHAT’S ON/THINGS TO DO ✅

HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)

  • 🚒 Community Day Fun. 09/05, 10am-4pm, Trentham Estate. At this happening day out, there will be emergency services displays – including army vehicles, police cars, and fire engines – plus archery and a chance to get acquainted with the Trentham tractors. You can also meet artist Robin Wright from FantasyWire, creator of the estate’s famous fairy sculptures. There’s also a makers market plus live performances from the Stone Scout & Guide Band and Kpop Demon Hunters. Admission £15, concessions £12, kids £10; book in advance £5.

Join the community day at Trentham on 09/05

  • 🛩️ How to Build a Spitfire. 01/05, 7pm-9pm, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. In 2018, retired builder and aviation author David Price decided to build a full-sized Spitfire replica. This presentation will walk you through each stage of the construction and reference the story of the real Supermarine Spitfire. Attendees will also meet Caroline Speirs, daughter of Rita Baines, who was a pilot in the Air Transport Auxiliary during World War II. Book in advance by calling 01782 232323 or email the museum. Tickets £10.

  • ✏️ Funny Writing with Nick Degg. 15/05, Brampton Museum. 1pm-3pm. This workshop by Stoke’s centenary poet laureate (Robbie Williams recently shared his famous poem about Stoke, ‘I Come From A Town’ with his 3.7 million Instagram followers) will explore what makes us laugh and give you some tips on how to make your writing more humorous. Tickets £15.

Inject some humour into your writing with this workshop from Nick Degg on 15/05 at the Brampton Museum

  • 🏺Keith And Marj: Us, Pots and A Welsh Chapel. 13/06, 7.30pm, Regent Theatre. Stoke lover and Great Pottery Throw Down judge and ceramic designer Keith Brymer Jones will be on stage with his partner, the actor and designer Marj Hogarth, as they share stories of clay, craft, and how they’re bringing a building back to life. Tickets from £35.59.

  • 🍸 Cheers to Sunday Supper Clubs. 03/05 & 24/05, Two Doors Down. In case you didn’t know, there are two Bank Holidays coming up in May. Embrace some Sunday night freedom with this duo of Supper Clubs in Hanley at colourful venue Two Doors Down, where you’ll get a glass of prosecco on arrival, 90 minutes of bottomless drinks, an eats dish, and a side. Tickets £35 per person.

Banish that Monday morning feeling at Sunday Supper Clubs on 03/05 and 24/05 at Two Doors Down

  • 🎧 Paul Oakenfold Honours Late DJ Danny Stubbs. 03/05, Keele University. The legendary DJ is headlining a special charity event for St Luke’s Cancer Charity at Keele’s SU this May to celebrate the life of local DJ and producer Danny Stubbs, who lost his battle with cancer back in August 2024 aged 40. Originally from Chell Heath, Stubbs worked with everyone from U2 to Ariana Grande, and the event will unite his friends and collaborators, including Andy Moor, Scott Bond, Solarstone, and Tilt. Tickets from £22.25.

DJ Paul Oakenfold will pay tribute to the late Stoke-on-Trent DJ, Danny Stubbs, at Keele Uni’s SU on 03/05

EVENTS LISTINGS

For more events, check out our comprehensive What’s On list.

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]]><![CDATA[Arts Venues Get Major Funding Boost in Stoke]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/arts-venues-get-major-funding-boosthttps://www.theknot.news/p/arts-venues-get-major-funding-boostMon, 20 Apr 2026 07:01:08 GMTToday, The Knot is brought to you by Hanley Economic Building Society, which offers mortgages, savings accounts including ISAs, insurance, and more

Good News 🎉

  • 🎭 There’s been a significant financial boost for the local arts sector thanks to cash from Arts Council England. The New Vic has received £295,308 to secure its future, which will be spent on new digital sound, lighting and communications systems. The Dipping House at Claybody Theatre has also been awarded £150,000, which will fund new flooring, lighting, and flexible seating. It’s part of the Arts Everywhere Fund, which will invest up to £1.5 billion over this parliament to support more than 1,000 cultural venues, museums, libraries and heritage sites across England. B-Arts and Collab Training Academy CIC, meanwhile, have received £10,000 and £8,430 respectively from the Common Ground award, which is set to deliver more than £2 million to grassroots groups across England.

Celebrating World Circus Day at the New Vic last Saturday. Pic: Facebook

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👨‍🍳THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – George Lowe 👨‍🍳

Lowe's on Carter Street in Uttoxeter is one of our fave restaurants in the county, so we were chuffed to see it’s been recognised as a Top 100 Brunch and Lunch spot in the UK for 2026 by OpenTable, putting it in the top 0.2 per cent of the platform’s eateries nation­wide. The restaurant’s award-winning head chef and owner, George Lowe, recently scooped Unsung Hero awards at the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Tourism Awards, along with Gold for Team of the Year and Gold for New Tourism Business. In between cooking up portions of his renowned buttermilk chicken, the chef has also found time to launch a hospitality platform, More Kudos, which aims to help businesses capture real-time customer feedback.

If you haven’t visited Lowe’s on Carter Street in Uttoxeter yet, we strongly suggest making a visit to sample its super-seasonal menu. Pic: Facebook

  • 💰 Hanley Economic Raises £2.3k for GLOW. Hanley Economic recently visited local charity GLOW, which supports young people and families impacted by unhealthy or abusive relationships, to present them with a cheque for £2,307, which was raised through its Charity Saver account, staff fundraising, and AGM voting donations. Through school workshops, mentoring and community programmes, GLOW creates safer spaces and provides early intervention, education and emotional support. During its visit, the GLOW team delivered a presentation showcasing the work they do and how these funds will help, particularly through the development of age-appropriate workbooks that help children understand emotions and build healthy relationships.

Hanley Economic presents a cheque for £2,307 to local charity GLOW

  • 🚴 £100 million Student Village to Open at Uni of Staffs. The University of Staffordshire has opened bookings for its £100 million Student Village, which will provide approximately 1,000 rooms across a mix of new and refurbished accommodation. Set to open in September 2026, the Student Village will feature en-suite accommodation across cluster blocks and townhouses and will support a diverse student population, including undergraduates, postgraduates and returning students. At the centre of the development will be a Village Hub, a shared space for socialising, study and wellbeing and events; there’s more here.

Not your typical student digs: accommodation at the new Student Village at the University of Staffordshire, which will open this September

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  • 🏙️ Fire Safety Improvements for Stoke’s High Rises. Seven high-rise blocks in Stoke-on-Trent have now been confirmed as eligible for the Homes England Cladding Safety Scheme (CSS). They are Pedley Court in Blurton, Robinson Court in Blurton, Arthur Cotton Court in Burslem, Port Vale Court in Burslem, Brookfield Court in Hanley, Boundary Court in Hanley, and Forest Court in Hanley. The money will be used to evaluate two recommended options - either installing a full sprinkler system or removing polycarbonate stairwell coverings. The council will then apply to the government for the full costs.

A pint of Bass and a roaring fire at the Coachmaker’s Arms in Hanley

🥨 A word from Helen, editor/writer at The Knot

As Europe’s first purpose-built theatre of its kind in the modern era, the New Vic stands as a pioneering example of Stoke-on-Trent’s cultural impact. Now, as it celebrates its 40th anniversary, the venue has secured nearly £300,000 in investment—funding that will enhance its technical capabilities and help future-proof the building for years to come.

But the New Vic offers far more than entertainment. Through its Open House Friendship Café, it has served more than 1,300 cups of tea while creating a space where people feel less alone. As one attendee shared: “My wife has Alzheimer’s and Open House is the only connection with new people that we have. It has a very positive effect on us.”

Its productions continue to resonate just as strongly. Set in a Stoke-on-Trent working men’s club and inspired by real residents of Hawes Street in Tunstall fighting to save their homes, Good Golly Miss Molly has been receiving rave reviews both locally and nationally (it’s on until 02/05). But there’s plenty more to look forward to, including Around the World in 80 Days (23/05-20/06), Ballet Cymru’s production of The Sleeping Beauty (08/06) and Romeo & Juliet (17/09-10/10). Which one takes your fancy?

Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week

📚 Learn Something New: Many of you were keen to sign up for free and low-cost community courses with Staffordshire County Council, particularly this art course
🍺 Grab a Pint of Science: these chats about science in local pubs proved popular too… if you missed it first time round, there’s more info here
🎨 Get Creative this Bank Holiday: Free ents and activities at Bolton Gate Farm

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Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent): Looking sunny Wed, Thur & Sat 😀

Mon ⛅️ 12° (3°) Tue ⛅️ 12° (3°) Wed ☀️ 14° (4°) Thu ☀️ 15° (3°) Fri ☀️ 15° (3°)
Sat ☀️ 15° (4°) Sun ⛅️ 13° (4°).

Sunrise 20/04: 05.59 ☀️ Sunset 20/04: 20.16 🌅

]]><![CDATA[Celebrate May Bank Holiday at Bolton Gate Farm]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/celebrate-may-bank-holiday-at-boltonhttps://www.theknot.news/p/celebrate-may-bank-holiday-at-boltonTue, 14 Apr 2026 07:02:44 GMTWHAT’S ON/THINGS TO DO ✅

HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)

  • 🥳 Get Creative this Bank Holiday. 02/05, 10am-9pm, Bolton Gate Farm. With activities from 10am and music from 4pm, highlights of The Garden Gate event include make your own bug hotel, decorate your own bottle kiln, a guided wellbeing walk in Park Hall Country Park (departs at 10.30am and 1.30pm) and an open mic night, Gigz@theGardenGate. You can even help co-create the Bolton Gate Arts poem with Sarah Bootherstone from Caverswall Creative Hub. Just make sure you stay to watch the sun set. Admission free; register here.

Enjoy the day off on 02/05 at The Garden Gate event at Bolton Gate Farm

  • 🤭 LOL with Comedy Kiln. 23/04, 10am-4pm, Bottlecraft. Go check out six up-and-coming comedians and sup on some super ales while you’re at it within the cool confines of Hanley’s finest real ale joint. Can’t make it? There’s another event on 28/05 at the same time and location. Admission free; register here.

  • 🍺 Grab a Pint of Science. Various dates and locations. Grab a side-order of science with your tipple at the Pint of Science Festival: there’s Pests, Cannabis and Hydrogen: Weeding out the Truth (Mellards, 18/05, 7pm-9pm); How we Create and Realise our Wonderful World (Mellards, 19/05, 7pm-9pm) and Weird and Worrisome Worlds of Today and Tomorrow (20/05, The Quarter). Tickets £5.

Learn something new at the pub at the Pint of Science Festival, which comes to Stoke on 18, 19 & 20/05

  • 🐦‍⬛ Hear the Dawn Chorus. 03/05, 4.45am, Trentham Estate. Doors will open as day breaks to mark International Dawn Chorus Day, where you can listen to winsome chirruping from thrushes, chiffchaffs, blackcaps and more. Usual gardens admission applies (£12.75 adult); free to Trentham members.

  • 😋 Stone Food & Drink Festival. 08/05, 12pm-8.30pm; 09/05, 10am-8.30pm; 10/05, 10am-6pm; Westbridge Park. The big attraction this year will be a pop-up restaurant five-course tasting menu from Cris Cohen with an optional wine flight pairing (book here). You can also look forward to cooking demos, foodie talks and tastings plus a kids’ disco, fun fair, panic circus and free kids cookery classes. There’s live music every day, too. Tickets from £10 Friday (free for kids); £14 Saturday or Sunday; (£6 kids); weekend VIP tickets £35; Friday VIP tickets £15 (free for kids); Saturday/Sunday VIP tickets: Adult £20, £9 kids.

Catch cooking demos and more at the Stone Food & Drink Festival at Westbridge Park from 08/05-10/05

  • 👩‍🦰 Catch Single White Female. 26/05-30/05, Tue-Sat 19:30; Wed & Sat 14:30, Regent Theatre. Catch Kym Marsh and Lisa Faulkner in a stage adaptation of this classic 90s psychological thriller full of dark humour where trust is fragile, and friendships are put to the ultimate test. Tickets from £18.95.

EVENTS LISTINGS

For more events, check out our comprehensive What’s On list.

Want to head to any of these events with a friend? Share this with them.

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]]><![CDATA[Sign up for Free and Low-Cost Community Learning Courses Across Staffordshire]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/sign-up-for-free-and-low-cost-communityhttps://www.theknot.news/p/sign-up-for-free-and-low-cost-communityMon, 13 Apr 2026 07:02:42 GMTToday, The Knot is brought to you by Hanley Economic Building Society, which offers mortgages, savings accounts including ISAs, insurance, and more

Good News 🎉

  • 📚 Learn Something New. Staffs residents can now sign up to a new programme of community learning courses. Delivered by Staffordshire County Council’s Community Learning Service, they offer adults aged 19 and over the chance to learn new skills, build confidence and improve wellbeing, with most free or with a minimal fee. Options include digital skills, wellbeing and nature‑based learning, family learning, creativity, English and maths, and practical life skills. Courses are delivered online and in person at community venues across the county. Fancy enriching your knowledge? Check out what’s on offer here. We like the sound of The Wild Reboot (forest bathing for families – perfect for a spot of stress release) and Art for Wellbeing, Progress with Pastels (sounds super mindful and relaxing). Both of these courses are also free – cool or what?

From nature-based learning to courses teaching practical life skills, there are plenty of options to choose from…

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👩‍💼THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Nicky Twemlow 👩‍💼

YMCA North Staffordshire has appointed Nicky Twemlow as its new CEO and is poised to lead the charity into a new chapter focused on sustainable growth, innovation, and deepening its impact across the communities it serves. Nicky took over this month and succeeds Daniel Flynn, who stepped down after 23 years. During his tenure, the charity has extended its reach to support thousands of young people and families through housing, education, health and wellbeing initiatives, and youth development programmes. Want to get involved with the YMCA? Make a donation to become a RoomSponsor, help out at events including the monthly community meal, or become a Friend of the Pantry to help stamp out food poverty.

Nicky took over as CEO of YMCA North Staffordshire this month

  • 👨‍🌾 Rent to Own with The Hanley. Hanley Economic’s Rent to Own mortgage continues to make a difference to aspiring homeowners, offering a route onto the property ladder for those struggling to save a deposit. Originally launched within the ST postcode area, the product has now been rolled out nationwide following a successful pilot. The scheme enables eligible applicants with 12 months of full, on‑time rental payments to secure a home with a 100% mortgage and no upfront deposit, borrowing up to £350,000 on a five‑year fixed rate.

Get on the housing ladder with the Hanley with a no deposit 100% mortgage

  • 🚴 More Cash for Cyclists and Walkers. In a bid to improve safety and reduce congestion, a further £12 million of government funding is being invested in the city’s walking and cycling routes. The council is also expanding School Streets schemes, introducing safer crossings and junction improvements, and providing extra support for training programmes such as Bikeability. The boost is part of an £105 million transport investment aimed at delivering better roads and safer walking and cycling routes. For more details, go here.

Better cycle routes and walking paths are coming your way…

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🍷 Cafe and Licensed Bar for Potteries Museum. Now there’s a new place to hang out up Hanley, as The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery is set to open a licensed cafe bar as part of its £5 million transformation. The new PMAG Café Bar will be located in the foyer and designed to support events and evening activity, with the ability to operate independently when the rest of the museum is closed. Its position next to the museum’s Forum Theatre will allow it to function as a lobby bar during events. We’ve spied jacket potatoes, paninis, bloomer sandwiches, and homemade soup on the proposed menu. Yum.

The premier of Motorway Cops was shown at the Gatehouse Theatre this month

  • 👮‍♀️ New Police Documentary Shot in Staffs Debuts on Channel 5. Staffordshire’s film office, Screen Staffordshire, premiered the first episode of a police documentary, Motorway Cops, which was shot in the county this month. Hosted in partnership with Purple Productions, Objective Media Group and the Royal Television Society Midlands, it featured episode one of the 10th series of the show, shot with Staffordshire Police between September and December 2025. Tune in to check out the series today (13/04) on Channel 5.

🥨 A word from Helen, editor/writer at The Knot

During the pandemic, journaling helped me navigate some particularly stressful times. It made me wonder whether writing could support others too, so I signed up for an online journal therapy course for just £27. Fastforward six years later, and I’ve just qualified as a counsellor and am currently considering an MSc. That experience is why I’m such a strong advocate for trying something new, however small it might seem at the time, as you never know where it might lead. It’s exactly what makes Staffs County Council’s newly released community learning courses so valuable.

If you’re feeling nervous about signing up, don’t fret. The Staffordshire Community Learning Service works with local partners to ensure courses are welcoming, flexible, and designed to support people back into learning, whether you’re looking to boost employment prospects, try something new, or boost your confidence. Delivery partners include Port Vale FC Foundation, which offers Baby First Aid Awareness; Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group, which has everything from professional business courses to exercise and fitness, and The WELLIES Project, which specialises in therapeutic learning activities with animals, plants, creativity, and the countryside for those recovering from mental ill health.

So, which course might you choose—and why? Let us know in the comments!

Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week

🤡 Celebrate World Circus Day at the Philip Astley Centre: It’s on 18/04…
🏥 Stoke’s new Community Diagnostic Centre: it’ll be open 12 hours a day, 7 days a week at the old Sainsbury’s site in Hanley: more info here
🚶‍♀️Girls Who Walk Stoke: It’s an inclusive group with regular walks – join them!

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Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):

Mon 🌧️ 11° (2°) Tue 🌦️ 14° (7°) Wed 🌦️ 15° (8°) Thu 🌦️ 15° (8°) Fri 🌧️ 16° (9°)
Sat 🌧️ 16° (7°) Sun 🌧️ 11° (5°).

Sunrise 13/04: 06.15 ☀️ Sunset 13/04: 20.04 🌅

]]><![CDATA[Great British Food Festival Back at Trentham 🍝]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/great-british-food-festival-backhttps://www.theknot.news/p/great-british-food-festival-backTue, 07 Apr 2026 07:02:23 GMTWHAT’S ON/THINGS TO DO ✅

HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)

  • 🍕 A Delicious Day Out. 02-04/05, 10am-6pm Sat & Sun; 10am-5pm Monday, Trentham Estate. Expect live chef demos, live music, a bake stage with bake off stars, children's entertainment, artisan producers, street food stalls and bars. Buy a ticket and you’ll get access to the gardens. Tickets £16.50 adult, £11.50 child; family ticket £50, Trentham members £6, children under 5 go free.

Tickets cost £16.50 per adult for the Great British Food Festival (02, 03 & 04/05)

  • 🇬🇧 Wartime in the Potteries. 09/05, 10am-4pm, Middleport Pottery. Come and join Middleport for this VE Day event, which will include vehicles, live music, reenactors, photo opportunities, and more! If you are a trader, reenactor, vehicle owner, or entertainer and would like to be part of this event, click here. Admission free.

  • 🎨 See Local Art. 23/04-25/04 10am-6pm; 26/04, 10am-4pm, Great Bear Gallery. A celebration of colour and the creativity of our local art community, the second instalment of The Palette Project, GREEN is a vibrant showcase of local artists exploring every shade of green through bold works. Free admission.

Check out the work of local artists in Tunstall from 23/04-26/04

  • 🦫 Dusk Beaver Safari. 14-16/04, 22/04 & 29/04, 6pm-8.30pm, Trentham Estate. Get a closer look at Trentham's famous residents, the beavers, and learn about the estate’s restoration and biodiversity. This tour involves some walking around the lakeside paths, so sturdy footwear and outdoor clothing is recommended. Tickets £39.50 for adults and children over 8 years.

  • 🎸 Celebrating Live Local Music. 02/05 & 03/05; Piccadilly & Tontine Square. This two-day event shines a spotlight on our thriving underground scene, with headline performances from acts including Black Coast, Kira Mac, and Darla Jade; line-up and times here. The Woodman, The Underground and the Sugarmill will also be hosting complementary events. Admission free; register here.

Stoke metallers Black Coast will headline the Honey Box Stage in Piccadilly on 02/05 at 8pm

  • 🏺Catch Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox. 23/05, 7.30pm, Victoria Hall. Renowned for their joyous, high-energy live shows, this multi-talented troupe of singers, dancers and instrumentalists put a retro spin on everything from '70s rock classics, Britpop staples to today's chart-toppers, movie themes and even video-game soundtracks. Tickets from £39.33.

EVENTS LISTINGS

For more events, check out our comprehensive What’s On list.

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]]><![CDATA[Stamford Bridge Hears the Vale Roar ⚽️ ]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/stamford-bridge-hears-the-vale-roarhttps://www.theknot.news/p/stamford-bridge-hears-the-vale-roarMon, 06 Apr 2026 07:02:59 GMTToday, The Knot is brought to you by Hanley Economic Building Society, which offers mortgages, savings accounts including ISAs, insurance, and more

Good News 🎉

  • ⚽️ Up the Vale! As the only club from League One to progress to the quarter finals of the FA Cup, Port Vale fans had their moment in the sun when six coaches headed to Stamford Bridge as the lads faced sixth-placed Premier League side Chelsea. While we won’t mention the scoreline, let’s just remind ourselves that this was the first time the club had made it to the quarter-finals since 1954, having knocked out Sunderland with this fabulous goal from Ben Waine, who also recently scored in New Zealand’s 4-1 win against Chile. Well done, lads.

Port Vale striker Ben Waine speaking to the press ahead of the Chelsea fixture

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  • 👨‍🦽THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Lewis Bunn 👨‍🦽

    Stoke‑on‑Trent’s new Community Diagnostic Centre welcomed lived experience trainer and UHNM’s first corporate safety champion Lewis Bunn for an early walkthrough of the building to identify improvements ahead of the centre’s opening later this month. By involving experts with lived experience at this early stage, the Trust aims to address potential barriers before the CDC opens to the public. During the tour, Lewis reviewed key areas including approach routes, entrances, circulation spaces, and lift access. He said: “By taking on my recommendations it will further improve the building for wheelchair users like me.”

    Lewis Bunn hopes to improve the wheelchair experience for users of the new Community Diagnostic Centre

  • 👸 Princess Royal Opens Nacro’s Stoke Education Centre. Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal formally opened Nacro’s new Stoke Education Centre last week as the national social justice charity enters its 60th year. The princess, who is patron of the charity Nacro, toured the Stoke Education Centre and unveiled a plaque to mark the opening of the centre after presenting awards to students and teachers. Students shared their experiences of studying in Nacro’s learner-focused environment and demonstrated their practical skills as they prepare for future careers. Nacro has been helping young people in Stoke gain qualifications for 30 years. Due to an increase in demand for its courses, the charity recently moved to the new location on College Road in Hanley.

Stacey Coombes from Nacro receiving the Manager of the Year Award from HRH The Princess Royal

  • 🐶 Join the Staffy Trail! This major new public art trail launching on 01/05 to mark the 10th anniversary of Staffordshire Day is expected to generate more than £600,000 for Staffordshire’s economy. The Staffy Trail will feature 10 large-scale sculptures of Staffy, the county’s new mascot. There will also be 40 stops along the trail for people to unlock, each highlighting local stories. Spanning Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, and Tamworth, the trail is expected to attract around 30,000 visitors, with an average spend of more than £20 per person, and delivering a significant boost to local shops, cafes, attractions, and businesses.

Around 30,000 visitors are expected to spend £20 each on the Staffy Trail…

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  • 👨‍🌾 Giving Back with Hanley Economic. Colleagues from Hanley Economic Building Society recently spent the day volunteering at Our Space, a Staffordshire charity that provides opportunities for children, young people, and adults with disabilities. Its specialist centre, The Brook Centre in Newcastle, includes facilities designed to offer a welcoming environment for families. The team cleared an overgrown outdoor area, removing brambles, nettles, and debris to help create a safe play space for younger children. The charity often welcomes volunteer support for gardening and grounds maintenance, with the transformed space opening new possibilities for future development. At Hanley Economic, every colleague receives four volunteering days each year to give back, part of its commitment as a member-owned mutual to support the areas it serves.

Staff from Hanley Economic Building Society clear an overgrown outdoor area at Staffordshire charity Our Space

  • 👷 Work Begins on Burslem Market Hall. Multi-million-pound transformation work is starting on Burslem Market Hall as part of the council’s pledge to help bring back into use the city’s most treasured heritage buildings. From 07/04, Stoke contractors BSN Group will be stripping back the current roof, which has been deemed unsafe, and then replacing it. Work will also be carried out on the brickwork, guttering and other external features. Meanwhile, inside the building, progress will be made on a creating a temporary events space that organisations can use in the short to mid-term. The work is set to be completed by May 2027.

🥨 A word from Helen, editor/writer at The Knot

Last Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final fixture with Chelsea may not have been the result that players or fans were hoping for, but as the club’s Facebook page put it: “What a run it’s been.”

In what has been a challenging League One season, with the club currently sitting 24th and facing relegation, the FA Cup has provided a welcome distraction for both players and supporters.

With a squad valued at less than a tenth of Chelsea’s, according to Transfermarkt, it was always going to be a tough task to break through one of London’s elite sides — and the current world champions. But Vale’s 6,000 travelling fans made themselves heard at Stamford Bridge, proudly belting out The Wonder of You from the Shed End.

Social media was flooded with positivity. Fans praised the atmosphere, the effort, and the achievement of reaching the quarter-finals. We loved reading all the positive comments on Facebook: “The commentators said more than once that the Vale fans were creating all the atmosphere” (Marian Craddock); “Well done boys you got us to the quarter final, you did your best” (Lynne Bailey Burton) and “124 teams entered the cup at first stage. So Port Vale are in the top 6.5% of all teams who entered. Do the maths. Well done lads (Geoff Melville) and “I have had an amazing day regardless of what the result was, hearing the 6,000 fans sing their hearts out was the best! Well done boys for getting to the quarter-finals! (Sally Hawkins).

As another fan, Nigel Sutton, said, “We're down but we will be back.”

Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week

👗 White Ribbon Boutique Opens in Trentham: there’s a new place to shop…
💰 £2.8 Million to Help Vulnerable in Stoke: helping people get back on track
🚶‍♀️Beth Johnson Ramblers: It’s a group for over 50’s walkers. Join them at the Staffs Moorlands Walking Festival on 28/04; there are several walks to choose from

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Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):

Mon 🌦️ 13° (4°) Tue 🌧️ 16° (8°) Wed 🌦️ 15° (7°) Thu ☁️ 11° (5°) Fri 🌧️ 11° (4°)
Sat 🌧️ 11° (4°) Sun 🌧️ 11° (5°).

Sunrise 06/04: 06.31 ☀️ Sunset 06/04: 19.51 🌅

]]><![CDATA[Celebrate World Circus Day at the Astley Centre]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/celebrate-world-circus-day-at-thehttps://www.theknot.news/p/celebrate-world-circus-day-at-theTue, 31 Mar 2026 07:01:58 GMTWHAT’S ON/THINGS TO DO ✅

HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)

  • 🎪 Circus Time! 18/04, 11am-4pm, Philip Astley Centre. Roll up for circus skills workshops, crafting and more to commemorate World Circus Day in the place where it was founded by the marvellous Philip Astley. Whether you can tell jokes, spin plates or juggle, if you want to be part of the celebrations, it’s still not too late to get involved – so long as you email them by 09/04. Admission free.

Celebrate World Circus Day on 18/04 at the Philip Astley Centre

  • 🐣 Easter Egg Hunt at Apedale. 04/04, 05/04 & 06/04; trains run 11.30-4pm. Once the kids have polished off their Easter goodies, why not hop aboard a steam train at Apedale Railway and try to spot the Easter eggs along the railway over the bank holiday weekend? Standard fares apply (£5 adult, £1 child).

  • 🌍 Celebrate Earth Day. 26/04, 10am-4pm, Middleport Pottery. Join a fun-filled day that’s all about sustainability and creativity, with plenty of engaging activities for the kids where they can learn about eco-friendly practices. Free admission.

    Join this free event at Middleport on 26/04

  • 📸 Life Thru A Lens. 15/05, 7.30pm, Victoria Hall. Love wildlife photography? Join Hamza Yazzin for his talk, My Life Behind The Lens, who shares behind-the- scenes tales from his epic filming expeditions across the globe. Packed with breathtaking footage, the show offers a rare glimpse into the life and work of one of Britain’s most beloved natural history storytellers. Tickets from £36.74.

  • 🍃 Events Along the Trent. Various times, dates and locations. Learn what lives near your local patch of river with Staffs Wildlife Trust. There’s a community nature monitoring walk at Ford Green Brook North (07/04, 10am-12pm; book here); another at Ford Green Brook Central (08/04, 10am-12pm; book here); river fly monitoring at Staffs Uni Nature Reserve (13/04, 10am - 1.30pm; book here); community river monitoring walk at Ford Green Brook South (15/04, 10am-12pm; book here); river fly monitoring at Bucknall Park (22/04, 10am-1.30pm; book here); and a specialist tree identification walk with Peter Thomas at Bucknall Park (29/04, 10am-12pm; book here). All events free but booking required.

There are river monitoring events at Ford Green Brook with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust this April – and they’re all free

  • 🏺Join a Historic Ceramic Talk. 08/04, 7.30pm, Old Post Office Burslem. Burslem History Club is hosting a talk by renowned ceramic historian Miranda Goodby, Our Home in the West: Migrant Potters in the Nineteenth Century, which will explore the stories of migrant craftspeople who helped shape the identity and success of the Potteries during a transformative period in its history. Tickets £3.

EVENTS LISTINGS

For more events, check out our comprehensive What’s On list.

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]]><![CDATA[£2.8 million to Help Disadvantaged and Vulnerable Adults in Stoke-on-Trent]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/28-million-to-help-disadvantagedhttps://www.theknot.news/p/28-million-to-help-disadvantagedMon, 30 Mar 2026 07:03:33 GMTGood News 🎉

  • 👩‍👦Helping People Get Back on Track. Sometimes, life gets tough and we need a helping hand. With a vision to stabilise and improve the life situation of adults who face multiple disadvantages, the £2.8 million will go towards funding the Changing Futures 2026-2029 programme, which links up support across areas such as housing, health, employment and drug misuse. The cash will directly benefit adults in the city experiencing multiple disadvantages, overlapping challenges like homelessness, substance misuse, mental health issues, domestic abuse and contact with the criminal justice system.

The funding will support a programme that intends to stabilise and then improve the life situation of adults who face multiple disadvantages. Pic credit: Freepik

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  • 👩‍🦰 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Emily Labhart 👩‍🦰

    The new director of Appetite is a cultural producer with more than 12 years of experience creating inclusive, community-rooted arts programmes. Emily’s work has a strong focus on co-creation and access, and she’s previously worked on Birmingham International Dance Festival and Birmingham Weekender. Appetite recently presented its Light Up Winter series of events in Middleport, Hanley and Newcastle, which drew thousands out into their communities across five evenings in January, February and March with light and sound installations. Its annual summer festival The Big Feast returns to Hanley on 28/08 and 29/08.

    Meet the new director of Appetite, Emily Labhart: she’'ll be overseeing The Big Feast when it returns to Hanley on 28/08 and 29/08

🧸 Helpful Bears Support Wellbeing in Staffs Libraries. Every council‑managed library, including Biddulph, Stone, Kidsgrove and Newcastle, now has its own Helpful Bear, who wears a special backpack where children can write down their worries and tuck them safely inside. This gentle activity gives children a simple, private way to express how they feel, reinforcing the campaign’s core message of ‘Every hero worries.’ The cuddly toy and associated workbooks have already been used in schools to help children overcome barriers to learning and boost school attendance. There’s more information on the initiative here.

Helpful bears inside Staffordshire libraries will encourage children to write down their worries and tuck them inside the bear’s backpack

  • 🏨 Hanley Hotel up for Sale. Last branded as The Best Western Stoke-on-Trent City Centre Hotel, this historic railway property on Trinity Street, which was built in 1900, is now up for sale, with an asking price of over £3.75 million. We’re really hoping the right developer gets their hands on it, as a cool new hotel in Hanley would be just the ticket. The 135-bedroom venue has a restaurant and two bars, while leisure facilities include an indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and gym. The hotel also has 11 meeting and conference rooms plus parking for up to 150 vehicles on a plot of approximately 1.6 acres. Here’s hoping!

Wouldn’t it be great if someone turned this into a fab boutique hotel or similar?

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  • 👔 Launch It Labs Lands in Stoke. Calling all Stokie entrepreneurs aged 18-30! For the first time ever beyond London, Launch It is bringing its flagship start-up support programme, Launch It Labs, to our city. Launching this April, the initiative is a fully funded, high-impact programme designed to equip early-stage entrepreneurs with the skills, confidence, and momentum needed to succeed in business. There’s a Welcome & Info Session (Online) on 20/04 and a two-day Intensive Bootcamp & Pitch Day (23/04-24/04), which will cover essential business fundamentals and culminate in a live pitch opportunity. Participants will compete for a share of a £3,000 grant pot. Apply here and get more info here.

Got a great business idea and aged between 18 and 30? Then get along to the welcome and info session of Launch it Labs – there’s £3k up for grabs!

  • 👗 New Clothing Store for Trentham. Just in time to rejuvenate your Spring/Summer wardrobe, an independent women’s clothing boutique, White Ribbon, will open at Trentham over the Easter weekend. We’re already coveting new arrivals like this Bromley net skirt and these cute cow print Mary Jane flats. With stores in Northwich, Sandbach and Nantwich, its Nantwich shop has previously featured on The Real Housewives of Cheshire. Where to find? It will be located in a unit opposite the visitor centre previously occupied by L’Occitane.

🥨 A word from Helen, editor/writer at The Knot

Stoke-on-Trent is one of 18 areas across the country—alongside Nottingham, Birmingham and Blackpool—selected to receive funding for phase two of the Changing Futures programme, due to launch in April 2026. .

People facing multiple disadvantages are often denied the support they need. They may be labelled “too high risk” to engage or dismissed as “hard to reach”, while the extreme poverty and complex challenges they experience are sometimes mischaracterised as ‘lifestyle choices’.

As Councillor Lynn Watkins says when adults struggle to access coordinated support from local services, their situations can quickly deteriorate, leading to increased risks of rough sleeping, poor health, exploitation, and reoffending.

Stoke-on-Trent is one of 18 locations in the country – along with Nottingham, Birmingham and Blackpool – that have been awarded funding for the Changing Futures programme, which aims to help disadvantaged and vulnerable adults improve their life chances. With phase two due to launch in April 2026, the initiative aims to improve life chances for disadvantaged and vulnerable adults through tailored, holistic support shaped around individual needs and priorities. Early results from the programme are encouraging. After one year, the proportion of participants experiencing rough sleeping fell from 25% to 15%, while arrests decreased from 26% to 19%.

Delivery of the programme will see the council’s adult social care team working in partnership with health services, housing associations, police, criminal justice agencies, and the voluntary and community sector. This includes Expert Citizens, a local community interest company led by people with lived experience of multiple disadvantage, offering expertise in areas such as criminal justice, benefits advice, and drug and alcohol support.

Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week

👨‍🍳 Waving the Flag for Fine Dining in Stoke: Read our restaurant review/interview with Cris Cohen (and sample his wares at the Stone Food & Drink Festival on 08/05-10/05)
🐷 Longton Carnival & Pig Walk Parade is Back! It’s 26/04, 10am-4pm…
🧸 Staffs and Stoke Tourism Awards: Most clickable? Thyme Kitchen in Lichfield, which won the Casual Dining Award. We’ve heard the Persian eggs are good

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Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):

Mon 🌦️ 11° (5°) Tue 🌧️ 13° (4°) Wed 🌦️ 8° (2°) Thu ☁️ 9° (2°) Fri 🌧️ 9° (4°)
Sat 🌧️ 9° (3°) Sun 🌧️ 11° (4°).

Sunrise 30/03: 06.48 ☀️ Sunset 30/03: 19.39 🌅

]]><![CDATA[Waving the Flag for Fine Dining in Stoke]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/waving-the-flag-for-fine-dining-inhttps://www.theknot.news/p/waving-the-flag-for-fine-dining-inWed, 25 Mar 2026 08:02:29 GMTI’ll admit that I was little apprehensive about dining at H I D D E N. Not because I doubted the food would be brilliant – I’d heard great things about Cris’s former restaurant, Feasted, I’d heard great things about it – but because guests dine in groups of 10 or 12 and, gulp, are encouraged to mingle with strangers. I needn’t have worried. Our table of 10 was gracious and welcoming, and our neighbours quickly became great company as we oohed and aahed our way through the five-course menu as we oohed and aahhed our way through the five-course menu, which was bookended by a trio of snacks, including a delicious Jerusalem artichoke croquette topped with plum porter ketchup and thyme, and an indulgent ‘after hours’ treat: a rhubarb and custard doughnut. Perched on plush high-backed stools round a long, sturdy wooden table, the kitchen directly adjacent to the dining area, Cris narrated each dish with ease and enthusiasm as a succession of inventive, beautifully presented plates arrived.

The menu, themed around the challenges facing modern kitchens, was as thought-provoking as it was delicious. ‘Skills Crisis’, a bay and wild garlic pana cotta served on a black garlic cracker that resembled an Oreo – nods to the impact of fast food culture on chef development. The experience was soundtracked by alternative rock, including Nirvana, the Cure and Jesus & Mary Chain along with some contemporary selections like the Killers and Arctic Monkeys.

‘Boiling Point dish, he tells us (celeraic veloute, apple, hazelnut) is a “highly seasonal version of a cappucino” inspired by sweary chef Gordon Ramsay, while VAT – (barley, chicken stock, oats, swede and potato) is akin to haggis, but cooked in miso and finished with whisky gel. It covers 20 per cent of the plate to make a point, with Cris pointing out that VAT on food is 8-12 per cent across most of Europe.

Cris at his kitchen at Studio 32, Spode Works, February 2026.

EXPANDING THE BRAND
A couple of weeks later, I’m back to meet Cris at his kitchen for a proper chat where he wasn’t whipping cream, titivating plates or taking guests’ drink orders. Even without the low lighting and buzz of diners, it’s clear that he’s created something special inside Spode Works.

Open since last November as H I D D E N, Cris been cooking inside Spode Works since 2021. What’s it like being here? “There’s a lot of potential and that can feel quite exciting. We’ve fed thousands of people around this table – something like 6,000 – and we’d love to feed more.” The chef is currently looking for a bigger place but wants to ensure that the space is still intimate, with space for around 20 (his current place can host 12). I’m really proud of what this still is and what it has been. It’s exceeded all my expectations. People said something like this in Stoke wouldn’t work, but there’s only ever been one person who said they didn’t enjoy it.”

Of the thousands who’ve dined with Cris, some have become members – it grew over 300% around January and February, he says. Join and you and all your guests to a free cocktail every time you dine, a preference on booking, and an invite to four events a year, with the next one set for April/May. “It’s a foraging walk, with the chance to eat some of those ingredients afterwards; it’s all about creating a community. I love the fact that people want to come and dine with us, so let’s give them the opportunity to dine with us in different settings,” he adds.

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Cris takes a selfie with his diners at H I D D E N

TAKING PRIDE IN STOKE
Originally from the Peak District, Cris is passionate about challenging perceptions of Stoke-on-Trent. “A lot of people are very critical of Stoke down for its ambition, or lack of,” says Cris, who is and went to school in Buxton. When he prepared a menu for the British Ceramics Biennial, he said the Stokie diners couldn’t believe it that people had come from as far afield as Canada and Australia to the event, and that Stoke is still ‘a big deal’ to some due to our storied ceramics history.

While he acknowledges the city’s dining scene is still developing – his previous venture, Stock, closed down last year, he remains committed to contributing in his own way. “We set about training young people, I was super ambitious in growing that idea that Stoke could be somewhere great to dine, but it’s not a battle I want to fight any more. Do I want to contribute to it? Of course I do. But this is my focus now.”

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“People said something like this wouldn’t work in Stoke, but I’ve only ever had one complaint after serving more than 6,000 diners“

The dish VAT covered 20 percent of the plate

EVOLUTION AND TRAINING
Looking ahead, Cris hints that H I D D E N may evolve further – even changing its name if it moves premises. “I think dining in the same space for 20, 30 years, maybe that doesn’t matter so much any more. What I’m really passionate about is helping people, training people, enabling people, and kitchens are a great place to do that.”

He’s currently exploring conversations around hospitality training and apprenticeships, including discussions with his local MP Adam Jogee. “We could do a lot better in how we train people in hospitality. We’d like to be able to train more people, because we’re very good at it. A lad turned up to one of the training programmes we did a few years ago and he literally pointed at me and said, ‘I have no problem with telling you what I think of you if you’re horrible to me.’ But I like my kitchen to be calm… there’s no shouting and swearing. The way we approach training is nurturing, considered, and allows people to believe that they can do it.”

It might look like an oreo but this is Skills Crisis (bay and wild garlic panna cotta on a black garlic cracker)

INTERACTIVE DINING
The Jan-Feb season was, in Cris’s words, “mega”. What’s surprised him most is how diners have embraced the storytelling behind each dish. “To do a dish about VAT might be a bit crazy, stupid even, to just talk about such a negative thing, but I wanted to have a bit of fun with it, and I don’t shy away from a bit of comfort at the dining table. I’m not here to alienate customers but I think also that part of being human is accepting the discomfort in a moment.”

The current season, which runs from 12/03 to 11/04, leans even more to the absurd, he says, with a theme of chef faux pas, nine courses inspired by errors of judgement, bad ideas and cultural misunderstandings. “I think the first season, back in November, was about getting customers back into the space, and although the menu was really delicious and I was really proud of it, it was much simpler.” He’s already excited about the next menu, particularly a dish that he will be asking guests to plate, with diners receiving piping bags to put their skills to the test. “It’s called ‘rate my plate’ after the Facebook page, and I just love the idea of more interactivity.”

As I wrap up the interview, I take a few photos of Cris for the article before my eye is drawn to a corner of H I D D E N that’s decorated with framed illustrations and artworks. He points to one illustration by local creative Kate Windsor as being particularly inspirational, featuring the words, ‘fail we may, sail we must’, a beloved fan mantra and song by the late DJ Andrew Weatherall. After all this chef’s ups and downs, and his steely, good-natured determination to keep presenting fine plates of food to the people of Stoke, the words seem particularly apt.

Where the culinary magic happens: Cris in his kitchen backed by ingredients

You can still book lunch at H I D D E N on Saturday 11 April for lunch but all other seats are sold out; to join the waitlist, email hello@feasted.co.uk. The next season is June-July 2026 – check the website for updates

Cris will also be hosting a pop up restaurant at the Stone food festival on 08-10/05 at Westbridge Park, with a five-course menu bookable here

The Knot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.



]]><![CDATA[Longton Carnival & Pig Walk Parade is Back 🐷]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/longton-carnival-and-pig-walk-paradehttps://www.theknot.news/p/longton-carnival-and-pig-walk-paradeTue, 24 Mar 2026 08:02:09 GMTWHAT’S ON/THINGS TO DO ✅

HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)

  • 🐷 It’s Carnival Time! 26/04, 10am-4pm. Longton Town Centre. This year, Longton’s Parade and Pig Walk will be celebrating the National Year of Reading, with giant puppets and colourful carnival costumes led by drum and brass parade band KiLNE. Want to deliver a performance or workshop, star in the parade, or be an event steward? There’s more info here. You can also help make costumes on 25/03, 15/04 or 22/04 from 10am-12pm at the Moony Club. Admission free.

Longton Carnival & Pig Walk returns to the Strand on 26/04/ Pic: Urban Wilderness Facebook page

  • 🎭 Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical. 27/04-02/05, Regent Theatre. It won the 2024 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, and Operation Mincemeat, is a fast-paced, hilarious true story of the twisted secret mission that won us World War II. So, how did a dead body, a fake love letter, and Ian Fleming come together to wrong-foot Hitler? All will be revealed… Tickets from £28.95.

  • 🐰 Celebrate Easter at Gladstone. Various dates and times. Take the kids to meet some larger-than-life Easter Bunnies, Benji and Honey Bunny, as they search for some Easter eggs and see if they will give you one from their basket (01/04, 11am-3pm, £3.50). You can also make a clay bunny rabbit (01/04, 11am-12.30pm, 1.30-3pm) to take home with you, or join the Gladstone Bunny Hunt (28/03-30/04; £1.50). There’s also an opp to make clay Easter baskets (08/04, 01/04, 11am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm, £3.50). Recommended age: 7 years and up for clay-based activities. Normal admission charges apply for rest of the museum.

    Catch the Lady Boys of Bangkok on 24/04 at Trentham Shopping Village

  • 👠 Meet the Lady Boys of Bangkok. 24/04-03/05, various times, Trentham Shopping Village. The Ladyboys of Bangkok return with their most spectacular show yet, Full Moon, a celebration of life, love, and liberation. Expect a cosmic fusion of choreography, sparkling couture, and jaw-dropping cabaret artistry performed to a cool mix of pop hits and showgirl classics. Tickets from £17.50.

  • 🍻 A Very Crafty Beer Festival. 11/07, 1pm-6pm, King’s Hall. It’s a while off yet but early bird tickets are already on sale for the inaugural Stoke Craft Brew Festival, five hours of bottomless craft beer, cider, prosecco, wine, non-alcoholic beer and soft drinks, all soundtracked by a party band and live acoustic sets. Tickets from £45 (early bird); general release £50.

Cheers! Get your early bird tickets for the inaugural Craft Brew Festival on 11/07 at the King’s Hall

  • 🧑Join North Staffs Humanists. 25/03, 6.30pm, Ember Lounge. Join the first regional meeting in Stoke of the North Staffs Humanists, which brings non-religious people together to be happier and more fulfilled and to be a force for good in the community. Admission free, register here.

EVENTS LISTINGS

For more events, check out our comprehensive What’s On list.

Want to head to any of these events with a friend? Share this with them.

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]]><![CDATA[Have your say on the Spode Works Revamp]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/have-your-say-on-the-spode-workshttps://www.theknot.news/p/have-your-say-on-the-spode-worksMon, 23 Mar 2026 08:02:44 GMTGood News 🎉

  • 🏺 A New Vision for Spode. The next chapter for Spode Works is taking shape and you can have your say before plans are submitted to the council at Capital & Centric’s drop-in event on 26/03 from 3pm-7pm at the China Halls at Spode Works with free pizza, pints and padel. The developer hopes to transform Spode Works into a landmark destination, with consultation already launched on phase one, with new leisure uses including a food and drink hangout and padel courts. Plans also include a new public walking route through the China Halls, and the proposed demolition of Gordon House to reveal the full façade of the China Hall. The existing Spode Rose Garden, meanwhile, is also slated to be extended, alongside other new public green spaces. No need to book, just turn up.

What would you like to see at Spode Works? Tell Capital&Centric at a public consultation on 26/03. There will be free pizza, pints and padel!

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  • 🏺 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Sarah Edwards 🏺

    Described as courageous, compassionate and mature, Martec Training Motor Vehicle learner Sarah Edwards recently scooped the Young Hero award at the Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Heroes Awards, an annual initiative launched during the borough’s 850th anniversary to celebrate residents and organisations making a positive impact. In addition to daily caring responsibilities, Sarah helps her wider community by raising money for local charities, contributing to a food bank and well-being initiatives alongside playing an active role in improving support for people with disabilities through her work at Martec Training. Well done, Sarah, we’re proud of you!

    Sarah Edwards with her Young Hero award at Newcastle’s Heroes Awards

  • Be a Part of the Great North Staffordshire Clay Map. Clay College is asking Stokies to dig some clay from where they live and contribute it to the Great North Staffordshire Clay Map. It plans to process and fire the donations, then observe the many colours of the clay we walk on all the time. The map will be displayed Earth Day at Middleport Pottery on 26/04. Keen? There are more details here.

  • 👩‍🦰 Staffs Uni Develops VR App to Tackle Violence Against Women and Girls. The new app developed by the University of Staffordshire and TKO Consulting is using virtual reality to raise awareness of violence against women and girls. The project is the brainchild of former Stoke City footballer Meg Bowyer who has been subjected to sexual harassment on multiple occasions when out exercising. Using a VR headset, participants step into the role of Zoe, a woman walking home alone. As events unfold, users are confronted with inappropriate comments and the experience of being followed – situations many women face regularly.

Meg Bowyer, David Webb and Simran Cheema helped develop the VR app

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  • 🏆 Winners at the Staffs & Stoke Tourism Awards. So, who won? Emma Bridgewater Factory scooped Small Visitor Attraction of the Year. The Tawny Hotel made it a double win with Hotel of the Year and Restaurant of the Year for the Plumicorn. Thyme Kitchen won the Casual Dining Award and The Fitzherbert Arms retained Pub of the Year title. The Experience of the Year went to Hoar Cross Hall, for its Rural Retreat Spa stay, and the Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park award went to Quarry Walk Park, in the Staffordshire Moorlands. A new category for 2026, the Regenerative Tourism Award, was won by Eagle House Eccleshall. The Moddershall Oaks Country Spa Retreat team were named Team of the Year after recovering from devastating flood damage to their venue, and the Rising Star Award went to Poppy Gascoine from Desire Cocktail Bar in Hanley.

More than 400 guests attended the Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Tourism Awards as gold, silver and bronze awards were given out across 20 categories

  • 🏺 Historic Busts Back on Display. Two historic terracotta busts rescued from the Wedgwood Institute in Burslem are back on public display for the first time in decades. The sculptures, believed to depict prominent 19th-century figures William Woodall and James Maddock, are on show at Barewall Art Gallery after being carefully removed during safeguarding work at the Grade II* listed building.

    Two busts rescued from the Wedgwood Institute are back on public display for the first time in decades

🥨 A word from Helen, editor/writer at The Knot

The long-term vision for the 10-acre Spode Works site is to transform the historic pottery factory into a buzzing neighbourhood with new homes, indie cafes, bars, restaurants, creative workspaces and inviting public spaces, say its developers, Capital & Centric.

As with all of its projects, the approach at Spode Works will be to restore the historic buildings that can be brought back to life while carefully removing parts of the site that are beyond repair. Managing Director Tom Wilmot is keen to see the site once again enjoyed by the local community. “Spode Works is packed with proper Stoke history and character, so the aim is simple – keep what makes it special and open it up so people can actually enjoy it again.”

Feedback at the upcoming event on 26/03 will help shape the plans before submission, with the consultation remaining open until 06/04. Whether you have a great idea for the redevelopment or simply want to put your questions to the team on the proposed plans, go along and make your voice heard.

Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week

🥨 Longton, Newcastle and Leek in Race for UK Town of Culture 2028: a trio of Staffs towns are in the running; there’s a prize of £3 million to deliver a cultural programme
👨‍🍳 Three AA Rosettes for the Plumicorn: the restaurant at the Tawny Hotel is the first to achieve this impressive accolade
🧸 Play at Wedgwood this Easter: there’s a new play space opening on 28/03…

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Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):

Mon 🌦️ 11° (5°) Tue 🌧️ 13° (4°) Wed 🌦️ 8° (2°) Thu 🌧️ 9° (2°) Fri 🌧️ 9° (4°)
Sat 🌧️ 9° (3°) Sun 🌧️ 11° (4°).

Sunrise 23/03: 06.05 ☀️ Sunset 23/03: 18.26 🌅

]]><![CDATA[Visit Wedgwood's New Play Space this Easter]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/visit-wedgwoods-new-play-space-thishttps://www.theknot.news/p/visit-wedgwoods-new-play-space-thisTue, 17 Mar 2026 08:02:00 GMTWHAT’S ON/THINGS TO DO ✅

HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)

  • 🏺 Play at Wedgwood this Easter. 28/03, 11am-2pm. Designed for families and young visitors aged 3-7 years, Wedgwood has launched a new Play Space that showcases iconic Wedgwood designs and its key designers that features an interactive game and dress-up area. Take your little ones along to the official launch day, where Urban Wilderness will be hosting a floral headdress workshop. The new play space is also set to host free craft workshops, 'Wedgwood Wednesdays' on Wednesdays during school holidays, with the first ones scheduled for 01/04 and 08/04 from 11am-2pm. The Play Space will be open to visitors for free 7 days a week, 10am-5pm. Admission free.

Fun days are coming your way at the World of Wedgwood’s new play space. Pic credit: Victoria and Albert Museum, London

  • 🚂 The Railway Children. 14/04-18/04, Stoke Repertory Theatre. This timeless story follows the adventures of three siblings who move to the countryside after their father is wrongfully imprisoned. With their new home near a railway line, the kids embark on a journey filled with excitement and friendship. Tickets £17.25.

  • 🎤 It’s Robbie! Kinda. 04/04, 7.30pm, Victoria Hall. It’s been 30 years since Robbie Williams released his solo single, a cover of George Michael’s Freedom. Catch Stoke-born singer Dan Budd, who will be running through Rob’s extensive back catalogue, including Let Me Entertain You, Rock DJ, and Angels. He’ll be performing the odd Take That song, too. Tickets from £29.50.

    Catch this tribute act on 04/04 at the Victoria Hall

  • 👶 Go Wild with the Little Ones. 31/03, 14/04, 19/05, 16/06, 14/07, 10.30am-12pm, Ladderedge Country Park. Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s Wildlings is a play group where children aged 6 months to 5 years can try new things outdoors. Book here to secure your spot; they play whatever the weather, so dress suitably. Admission £5 per child plus a small booking fee.

  • ⛏️ Staffordshire Archaeology Day. 18/04, 10am-5pm, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. We’re sure you’re gonna dig this event from Stoke on Trent Museum Archaeological Society, which includes a talk from the University of Oxford’s Michael Fradley on discoveries from aerial archaeology and landscape research in Staffordshire, and Dr Simon Davies, senior archaeological officer at Archaeology Warwickshire, who will discuss the prehistoric camps and medieval cottages found at Coton House Farm in Tamworth. Admission free – tickets here.

Uncover new archaeological discoveries on 18/04 at the Potteries Museum

EVENTS LISTINGS

For more events, check out our comprehensive What’s On list.

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]]><![CDATA[New Ceramics Experience Opens in Stoke]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/new-ceramics-experience-opens-inhttps://www.theknot.news/p/new-ceramics-experience-opens-inMon, 16 Mar 2026 08:03:11 GMTGood News 🎉

  • 🏺 Pride in Our Pots. Enabling visitors to explore Gladstone Pottery Museum before exploring the working Duchess China factory opposite, pilot programme Beyond the Bottle Oven was launched last week by The Great Pottery Throw Down judge Keith Brymer Jones. The experience features a tour of Gladstone, a potter’s lunch at Gladstone’s Café, before heading over to Duchess China. The first tours have already sold out, but more will be announced soon. Each tour will cost £45 per person, including lunch, and will last three to four hours. A maximum of 12 people can book on each tour. For more info, or to book email them.

The Great Pottery Throw Down’s Keith Brymer Jones is supporting the new tour

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  • 🏺 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Thomas Carnes 🏺

    Woah! This ace novice potter who posts under @bottlekilnpottery on Insta just completed a challenge of hand-throwing miniature pottery replicas outside of the 47 remaining bottle kilns in Stoke-on-Trent, with the last one thrown outside Moorcroft last week. He told the Knot, “As a local guy I’ve always been proud of my potteries heritage. My parents and family are from here, and I’ve always wanted to try pottery. I took a class about 14 months ago and decided to mix my love of the outdoors with throwing. What better than in front of the remaining 47 kilns in the city to highlight them to people who aren’t from the area and what a fabulous place this is?” Thomas says the response has been amazing to his quest. “Will Moorcroft couldn’t have been kinder and reminded me I am the first potter to hand throw something on the site since the early 1900s!” Some of followers have become friends, he added. The bottle bud vases that Thomas threw on his wheel outside the kilns will be available to purchase on 22/03 at Gladstone’s Ceramic Makers Market. Snap them up while you can!

  • ⚽️ Port Vale Celebrate Sensational FA Cup Win. Even Stoke fans have been forced to admit that the Valiant’s win over Premier League team Sunderland on 08/03, thanks to a goal in the 28th minute from Newcastle fan Ben Waine, was inspired. The club has had fun with some “Waine Train” signage, with the location stated as “FA Cup Quarter Finals.” Tickets were issued, too. They play Chelsea on 04/04 at 17.15 at Stamford Bridge – catch it on BBC One.

  • 👧 Extra £10m for SEND in Staffs. Staffordshire currently supports more than 24,000 pupils with SEND. Of those, 9,925 have Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), an increase of 50 per cent in three years. To support this increased need, Staffs County Council has allocated £10.7 million in 2026/27 to support children with SEND, or those who have an EHCP. The cash will be used to help children and young people with complex needs in one of three ways: by improving support in mainstream schools so pupils do not require specialist provision elsewhere; by increasing places in specialist schools so that pupils do not seek independent alternatives or need to travel outside Staffordshire; and by expanding the number of places within Pupil Referral Units.

Janet Higgins, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Education and SEND, says the county supports more than 24,000 pupils with SEND

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  • 💪 Students Take Anti-racism Manifesto to Westminster. University of Staffordshire and Keele University students recently visited Westminster to present an anti-racism manifesto to Members of Parliament, including local MP Gareth Snell (pictured). Originally developed by BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care students at the University of Staffordshire, the manifesto shares solution-focused responses to challenge racism within health and social care settings. In addition to Gareth Snell, the manifesto is being supported by Staffordshire Moorlands MP Karen Bradley, who highlighted it with the Secretary of State for Health, Kerin Smyth MP, and has given suggestions to move it forward.

Students present the anti-racism manifesto to Gareth Snell in the Houses of Parliament

  • 🏵️ Three AA Rosettes for the Plumicorn. The restaurant at the Tawny Hotel in Consall has become the first eatery in Staffordshire to scoop a trio of rosettes from the AA, with the inspector saying, “The kitchen delivers finely tuned dishes with well-thought-out flavour profiles and there’s plenty of vegetarian or vegan options.” The menu champions local produce, with Dunwood Farm Beef Fillet and Sprinks Farm Venison among the à la carte offerings, and it also serves afternoon tea on the weekend. Okay, it’s a bit spendy, but worth it, we’d say.

    Got a special occasion coming up? Book the Plumicorn to celebrate…

🥨 A word from Helen, editor/writer at The Knot

From the historic bottle ovens of Gladstone to modern ceramics production at Duchess China 1888, the Beyond the Bottle Oven experience offers rare behind-the-scenes access to both heritage and live production. The tour reveals how ceramics in Stoke-on-Trent remains a living industry, highlighting a continuity of making that now exists in very few places.

It has received the backing of passionate potter and Throwdown host Keith Brymer Jones, who said of the experience: “The more we can do to showcase the talent and creativity of the wonderful city of Stoke, the more people will be invested in what people do here. That’s what I think is so exciting about this initiative of marrying the old and the new.”

While we welcome the news of a new tourist attraction, we were concerned to hear that Derbyshire-based Denby Pottery, which owns Burleigh, has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, putting the entire group and its brands at risk. With the Iran war set to add further energy costs for ceramics firms, local MPs are calling for government support for Burleigh and the wider ceramics industry.

As the Beyond the Bottle Oven experience neatly illustrates, ceramics are not just part of our history — they’re still being made here today, and with the right support, they can thrive in the future.

Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week

🥨 What’s next for the Knot? Pt. 2: James is looking for people to take us to the next level and bring our good news to more Stokies. Might that be you?
🍣 Japanese Restaurant to Open at Goods Yard: Panko & Sushi opened last Friday and there’s 30% off all bills throughout the month of March…
Walk with the Trent Rivers Trust: There are several walks going on – links here

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Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent): It’s a sunny one this Thur and Sat ☀️😃

Mon 🌦️ 9° (7°) Tue ☁️ 13° (5°) Wed ⛅️ 16° (5°) Thu ☀️ 14° (3°) Fri 🌦️ 10° (6°)
Sat ☀️ 13° (8°) Sun ⛅️ 12° (4°).

Sunrise 16/03: 06.22 ☀️ Sunset 16/03: 18.14 🌅

]]><![CDATA[What next for The Knot? pt. 2]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/what-next-for-the-knot-pt-2https://www.theknot.news/p/what-next-for-the-knot-pt-2Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:01:09 GMTI’ve always seen a future where The Knot lives in print form as a free paper, well designed, easy to read, not full of advertorials - distributed to local businesses, university campuses and football stadiums in Stoke and North Staffs.

A paper packed with good, hearty, wholesome informative content with a front page that makes you proud to be from Stoke. Journalism that champions and challenges. A paper that exists in print and online that is genuinely useful for this region.

I’ve even see a future where The Knot becomes a place. A local coffee shop and bakery bearing the paper’s name. A place that people can come and connect, share stories, debate regeneration or simply get a good coffee and a sourdough loaf.

I don’t want to give up this vision, just because it’s hard to do it round ‘ere. But I have to be honest, I’m tired and can’t do this alone.

I’m sitting here at Monk and Smuggler in Stafford writing with a sense of familiarity. Déjà vu.

It was about this time last year when I wrote “What next for The Knot?” - the article that led to an outpouring of support from readers of The Knot and the extended North Staffordshire community.

Loud and clear the message was. “Don’t go”. “We love The Knot”. Reading in between the lines, I heard more than that - “this community needs you”. One reader put it plainly to me,

“The Knot is the only local news I read”

A year on and we have continued to serve the North Staffs region with our positively-minded news stories and what’s on. Recently we’ve welcomed more paid supporters with some of our writing sneaking behind a paywall to encourage more of you to join us. To new and old paid subscribers. Thank you.

We’ve covered immigration with honesty and hope, we tell you where to get good coffee (although we did miss some spots I’m told, including BlueBird Kingway in Stoke) and we give you good news and what’s on every week.

Inevitably though, here I am again. Sitting in a coffee shop in Staffordshire, wondering… where do we go from here? (Also, I forgot to put this place on the list. The coffee is electric and the venue in the outbuildings of the church is quaint and peaceful. I really like it here.)

The question for me now isn’t “will The Knot live on?” it’s more

“How will The Knot live on?”

I feel a responsibility for The Knot to remain in service of Stoke and North Staffordshire and I still see a big opportunity to be the upstart news outlet that replaces the legacy institutions that are no longer serving us.

Yet, I have to admit I feel isolated on this mission and have for a while. Since becoming a dad, I have less time and energy to devote to The Knot, alongside other paying opportunities that support me and my family, I find The Knot inevitably slips to the bottom of my to-do list.

Truthfully too, my passion and energy has waned to more of a slow burn. I’m no longer running up and down Piccadilly interviewing people on the streets, or arguing with them about why Stoke isn’t actually sh*t and they’re just saying that on autopilot. My passion for regeneration and cultural change puts out heat, but the flames don’t fan so high.

Partly this is because my energy has never really been matched by another. Besides Helen and the writers we have paid, I’ve had no partnership in the responsibility for owning and directing The Knot’s future. Truthfully, in my time building The Knot I’ve been let down many times. I’ve had many excited conversations with people and businesses about what we could do. Offers of support, resources or money. It pains me to say this when I try to be so positive about our region and its people, there have been many broken promises. Many follow up emails unanswered, many offers not followed through. I fear, I’ve felt first hand why lots of entrepreneurial people choose to leave this area and why few new businesses survive here. Resources are scarce, elbows become sharp.

Once again, the very reason I believe The Knot needs to exist, becomes the very reason as to why it’s hard to exist.

That leaves me, the sole founder of The Knot, alongside the brilliant Helen who does all the writing - a little bit of an island in Staffordshire - trying to make this work, and again, with a sense of Déjà vu. - wondering how will The Knot, not just survive, but thrive?

That’s the question I come here with today. Not how will The Knot survive, not how will it drib out an existence? How will it thrive? How will we reach the ~600,000 people of North Staffordshire? How will we participate in cultural change by completely transforming how we share and receive news and information? How will we give quality independent journalism to this region?

How can we achieve this dream? That’s the question I want to honestly poise to you, the readers. You are the people who I can truly rely on. You’re the ones that pay to support us and continue to champion us. There are no broken promises here.

The Knot runs on energy. It runs on people who write, create, champion and advocate us. It runs on entrepreneurial minds like me, who are mad enough to believe that The Knot can be the number 1 independent news outlet in North Staffordshire. Those mad enough to actually commit time and money to that cause. It’s these people The Knot needs.

That’s who I’m searching for. Helen and I can keep The Knot alive. We can continue bringing The Knot’s writing to ~3,000 people a week. Yet, if we want to do more than that. If we want to do something special, something exceptional for our region, we need more. More people. More time. More resources to fuel The Knot forward.

This is an open call out. I’m looking for individuals who are keen to be part of The Knot, in the same way I am. I don’t mean volunteers. I mean owners, directors. People who are willing to take on the responsibility of bringing our mission to life in Staffordshire. This is not a call out for writers. It’s a call out for owners.

Practically, I believe we’d amplify our growth by partnering with a couple more business owners, or entrepreneurs like me. People who have some time and resources to support The Knot’s growth. Individuals who would benefit from being involved. Perhaps you run a local business and being involved in The Knot would be a brilliant way to meet more people. Perhaps aligning yourself and your business to The Knot would mutually grow everyone in the right direction. I don’t know who you are, but I trust you are out there and that you may be reading.

I’m open. Open to who I may connect with and how a relationship might evolve. I only want to connect with serious people who are willing to dedicate time and resources to grow The Knot into Stoke and North Staffs number 1 independent news outlet. Risk takers, change makers, socially minded business people who see the real reason why something like The Knot must exist.

I believe you’re out there, if you are. Reply to this or email me direct at james@theknot.group and let’s change the narrative on Stoke and North Staffs together.

To our readers who support us with your eyeballs and your subscription, thank you. We continue to write The Knot for you. Share us, support us, if you haven’t become a paid subscriber yet and are in a position to do so, please consider it.

We’ll be back with more good news on Monday.

Cheers,

James x

]]><![CDATA[Celebrate What's Possible at the King's Hall]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/celebrate-whats-possible-at-the-kingshttps://www.theknot.news/p/celebrate-whats-possible-at-the-kingsTue, 10 Mar 2026 08:01:39 GMTWHAT’S ON/THINGS TO DO ✅

HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)

  • 🌿 Embracing Big Ideas. 12/03, 10am-3pm, King’s Hall. The Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Celebration of the Possible (COP) Festival will bring people together to explore, question and shape what comes next for our region. Delivered in partnership with the Staffordshire Green Network, the event will feature networking in the morning followed by afternoon workshop discussions covering topics from nature to the circular economy. Admission free.

How can Stoke be more sustainable? Make your voice heard on 12/03

  • 🚬 Quitathon for National No Smoking Day. 11/03. Still smoke, or know someone who does? Stub it out at Staffordshire’s Big Quitathon on National No Smoking Day. The free programme offers personalised support and proven stop-smoking aids to help people quit. Text QUIT to 60777, or call 0333 005 0095 (opening hours Mon-Fri 8.30am-7pm or Sat 10am-2pm). Appointments are available by phone or in person, and support can begin immediately.

  • 🚘 Castle Classics is Back! 28/03, 10am-4pm, Newcastle Town Centre. Feast your eyes on an impressive collection of vintage vehicles pre-2005 at this retro car show, including classic cars, vans, scooters and motorbikes, all competing for prizes. There’s also a live DJ playing hits from the 60s through to the 90s plus tunes from 6 Towns Radio. Admission free, exhibitors £4, stalls £20.

    Exhibit your retro car and admire others at Castle Classics on 28/03

  • 💍 Hear the Music of the Lord of The Rings. 28/03, 6.30pm, Stoke Minster. There are plenty of great concerts coming up at the closest thing we have to a cathedral, including an evening dedicated to Howard Shore’s stunning soundtrack to The Lord of the Rings. The music from the iconic film trilogy will be performed by the Mystery Ensemble orchestra. Tickets from £20.

  • 🏞️ Walk with the Trent Rivers Trust. Various dates, times and locations. Nature walks and water-inspired events incoming! Join the Norton Circular Walk (15/03, 10.20am-12.30pm); Whitfield Valley Circular Walk (19/03, 10.30am-12.30pm); Bridge Centre: Wild for Water (28/03, 10am-12pm); Bucknall Park: Wild for Water (30/03, 11am-1pm); Hanley Park: Easter Trail & Creature Comforts (31/03, 10am-12pm). Admission free – sign up for tickets for all events here.

Join the Trent Rivers Trust for walks from 15/03-31/03

  • 🤭 Laughs with Josh Widdicombe. 18/04, 7.30pm, Regent Theatre. He’s co-host of the popular podcast Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett and Sky's Hold The Front Page as well as appearances on Mock the Week and his BBC sitcom, Josh. Catch him on the road with his Not My Cup of Tea tour. Tickets from £35.18.

EVENTS LISTINGS

For more events, check out our comprehensive What’s On list.

Want to head to any of these events with a friend? Share this with them.

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]]><![CDATA[Longton, Newcastle and Leek in Race for UK Town of Culture 2028]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/longton-newcastle-and-leek-in-racehttps://www.theknot.news/p/longton-newcastle-and-leek-in-raceMon, 09 Mar 2026 08:03:04 GMTGood News 🎉

  • 🏞️ Longton and Leek Bid for Town of Culture 2028. Organiser of Longton’s bid, Urban Wilderness CIC, is asking local people to help define what makes Longton special and what should be celebrated on the national stage (you can complete a survey here). Leek is also putting in a bid: Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is inviting residents to Foxlowe Arts Centre on 11/03 at 7pm to a Town of Culture Round Table Meeting ahead of the expression of interest form being submitted to the government on 31/03. Over in Newcastle, meanwhile, the council leader Simon Tagg has said they are busy preparing a “first class” bid…

Attractions in Longton include pottery making and a top notch cafe at Kiln at Number 12. Pic credit: Longton Exchange Shopping Centre Facebook page

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📚 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Awa Dabo 📚

A former Keele University student has been appointed deputy high commissioner for human rights by the United Nations secretary general. Gambian human rights lawyer Awa Dabo graduated from Keele with a degree in Law & Sociology and Social Anthropology back in 1994 and has held senior roles within the organisation in peacebuilding, crisis recovery, and development, most recently as director and deputy head of the UN Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office. Based in Geneva, Awa will oversee the day-to-day operations of the UN’s Human Rights Agency and implement strategies that address human rights violations worldwide. She recalls life on campus fondly. “I loved the university grounds and the atmosphere of campus life.”

Former Keele uni student Awa Dabo was appointed eputy High Commissioner for Human Rights by the UN Secretary General

  • 🛏️ Night Shelter Opens in Burslem. A new night shelter is now open in Burslem that can accommodate up to nine people. Open from 8pm each evening, it’s been commissioned to provide immediate safety and support while helping homeless people move away from rough sleeping and into longer-term accommodation. If you or someone you know needs a safe place to stay, contact the Rough Sleeper Outreach Service team on 0800 970 2304 or call the council’s housing team on 01782 234234, who can support with access to the service.

  • 🗡️ Steel Man is Coming Home. Commissioned to honour the workers of Shelton Bar Steelworks, the steel man statue is set to return to the foundry where it was originally cast today and remain on public display at Goodwin Plc. Its current site outside the Potteries Museum will become the home of a new statue celebrating the often overlooked women who worked in the ceramics factories that made Stoke-on-Trent world famous. Both the relocation and the new sculpture will be funded by Goodwin at no cost to the public.

Steel man will be on public display at Goodwin Plc just off Leek Road from 09/03

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  • 🍣 Japanese Restaurant to Open at Goods Yard. While we love the sushi at Miso in Stoke on London Road, it’s always great to have more Japanese food options, and we can’t wait try Panko & Sushi when it opens on 13/03. Check out the menu here; there’s gyoza ramen, bao buns, sushi tacos, chili udon, and more. Yum yum. PS: there’s one opening in Newcastle soon, we’ll keep you posted.

Another decent Asian restaurant is set to open on 13/03 at Goods Yard

  • 🏛️ New Display And Opening Date For Potteries Museum. Guests can return from 28/03 to admire a new display chosen by museum staff, Our Favourite Things. The display will open as Violet’s Café, the Spitfire gallery, Forum Theatre and archives reading room reopen to the public. The museum’s Cult Film Club is also set to return from 27/03 with the film Stand by Me. The £5 million transformation is ongoing, with managed entry in place.

🥨 A word from Helen, editor/writer at The Knot

More than 20 towns are expected to bid for UK Town of Culture, and with over three weeks remaining until the deadline for expressions of interest on 31/03, more places may yet throw their hat into the ring. Our local contenders face stiff competition, with the charming market town of Ludlow in Shropshire and Herefordshire’s Ross-on-Wye, famed for its Tudor-timbered houses and 17th-century Market House, among those vying for £3 million to deliver a cultural programme in summer 2028.

Speaking about Longton’s bid, co-founder and co-director of Urban Wilderness Isla Telford said: “We don’t have big venues, theatres, or even a cinema, but alongside our world-class industrial heritage and ongoing ceramics production, we have thriving independent businesses, countless dance and sports clubs, and creative groups — and a community that knows how to say ‘yes’ to a good celebration.”

With three strong towns in the race, Staffordshire stands a good chance of taking home the accolade. While one town will ultimately win the title, two runners-up will each receive £250,000 to deliver a year-long programme of cultural activity.

PS: we couldn’t write this newsletter without saying massive congratulations to Port Vale, who beat premier league side Sunderland 1-0 last night to go through to the fifth road of the FA Cup! Well done, lads! ⚽️

Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week

☕️ Why the Traditional Caff is Here to Stay in Stoke: Full English at the ready…
🎩 Go Steampunk! Middleport’s Cogs ‘n’ Kilns Exposition gained good traction
🍻 Prep for Some Friday Night Fun: the upcoming Friday Feast at Goods Yard on 24/04 also proved popular with you Knotters…

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Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent): Sunny spells on Monday and Friday 🌤️

Mon 🌦️ 12° (5°) Tue 🌧️ 11° (8°) Wed 🌧️ 11° (5°) Thu 🌧️ 11° (6°) Fri 🌦️ 10° (6°)
Sat 🌧️ 13° (8°) Sun 🌧️ 12° (4°).

Sunrise 09/03: 06.38 ☀️ Sunset 09/03: 18/01 🌅

]]><![CDATA[Why the Traditional Caff is Here to Stay in Stoke]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/why-the-traditional-caff-is-herehttps://www.theknot.news/p/why-the-traditional-caff-is-hereWed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:55 GMT
Midway Cafe in Newcastle offers brekkies, home-made chips and much more

It’s a grey February morning and I’m walking through Newcastle. I want breakfast. But not just any old breakfast. I pass coffee lounges, bistros, and various chains. I stroll past Wetherspoons. As lovely as these all are, there is a type of establishment I’m after: the greasy spoon cafe. The name may not sound great, but anyone of a certain age in the UK knows that nothing beats a good, wholesome, affordable meal in a greasy spoon. Whether you want to set yourself up for a busy day’s work ahead, are nursing a terrible hangover, or are treating the kids, this UK institution offers a solution for everyone. However, a recent article in a national newspaper indicated that residents of London are fighting to preserve their cafes amid a takeover of chain street coffee shops.

I eventually stumble on The Midway Cafe off the main high street behind Newcastle’s Boots. As I open the door, I’m greeted with a friendly welcome by Tonia and Sylvia. I quickly place my order and take my seat on the high stools while I wait for my food. “We get a mixture of people in,“ says Tonia, Midway’s manager. “We have a lot of builders, getting their breakfast before a day’s work. They requested Spam on their cooked breakfasts so we got it in for them.”

The bespoke approach of a greasy spoon is what appeals compared to the generic offerings of many big coffee brands. The Midway is new to the area, opening in November 2025. The upstairs is being furnished to be a night-time steakhouse but offers the advantage of more seating in the day. It’s a prime spot for college and university students as well and offers 10 per cent off. If you are a picky eater, Tonia has got your back and professes that she will prepare food just as customers like it. She admitted that while they offer plenty of traditional meals such as filled oatcakes and baked potatoes, they also serve up protein-focused meals and even matcha tea. Gluten-free options and vegetarian dishes are additionally available.

PAVILION TEA ROOM TAKEOVER
While cities regarded as ‘progressive’ may be fighting to preserve independent cafes, Staffordshire understands what people actually need, which is why seeing new establishments being set up, like the Midway, is refreshing. Burslem Community Hub CiC, meanwhile, took over the Pavilion Tea Room in Burslem Park last year.

It offers a selection of home-cooked meals but, most importantly to a dog-loving area like Staffordshire, you can bring your pooch along with you, too. Manager Emma Smith said, “We are family-run. We know our customers and welcome them into our tearoom family.” She adds that the cafe will soon have its own Burslem Park bees, from which they will make honey.

I took my husband and our Cavachon, Lizzie, who enjoys a cafe and a fuss. She wasn’t disappointed, and her tail was wagging as soon as we walked through the door. My husband enjoyed a sausage sarnie, while I had my standard Americano coffee. Dog-loving Emma came over and asked if she could offer Lizzie a dog treat, which she was more than delighted to receive.

It’s a gorgeous place to sit with views of the park all around. They offer wholesome home-cooked meals and since re-opening have entertained regulars who pop in on their dog walk. Emma said, “Even someone popping in to have a coffee makes all the difference to us.”

As a CIC, it has been collaborating with businesses to offer free meals for school kids. They also recognise the importance of friendly cafes to reduce isolation and improve well-being. In March, a community clear-up is planned in the park. The focus is on community and collective responsibility.

However, the cafes mentioned aren’t without their struggles. Over at the Midway, they are battling against big chain coffee shops and also don’t have the funds to splash out on expensive billboard advertising. A lack of events in Burslem Park, meanwhile, means that the Pavilion Tea Room don’t always get the footfall they should. To combat this, Emma revealed they have plans for artisan market stalls and car boot sales.

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“We are family-run. We know our customers and welcome them into our tearoom family”

Emma Smith, manager of Pavilion Tea Room, Burslem Park

Chips and some pop at Captain Kooks

ENSURING BUSINESS
So what does help keep a cafe afloat? When enquiring about the best cafes to visit among my friends, many recommended Captain Kooks. It’s been located on Moorland Road for the past 30 years, yet surprisingly I had never visited. I took my family along (my husband and two teenagers) to sample the offerings.

This large diner off Sandbach Road has a large menu offering everything from a cooked breakfast to liver and onions. They offer a table service and gave us a bit of time to trawl through the vast menu. My husband and son chose a chicken burger and chips while my daughter and I shared a bowl of chips with a cup of builder’s tea. The cafe is sparkling clean and fairly busy. It offers parking at the front and a takeaway service. Food was served quickly, and came to a total of £25 including drinks. In comparison, a similar meal in London was nearly double the cost for two of us a few weeks back. One customer we spoke to, Lawrence Solamani, an accountant from Birches Head who’s been a patron for many years, said: “There’s no better treatment for a hangover than a full English breakfast with a cup of tea.”

Another established cafe in Stoke is Jay’s Cafe, a favourite of mine when I lived there that’s now under new ownership. We were greeted by a lovely smiley gentleman; English wasn’t his first language, but he was the perfect host, serving us quickly and delivering filling food to the table. “It costs more to just have a coffee!” he teased as he took our order. My husband chose the breakfast-filled sandwich, which kept him full for hours. I enjoyed the frothy coffee, a greasy caff standard where milk is warmed up with a spoonful of coffee that makes a comforting drink on a cold rainy day.

The cafe was busy and through observation we saw couples and friends enjoy a midday catch-up. The cafe boasted a five-star rating and certainly looked very clean.

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Veggie breakfast with some white toast and a cuppa at Midway Newcastle

NOT SO GREASY AFTER ALL
It’s worth noting that although many such cafes have been given the nickname of ‘greasy spoons’, none of the establishments reflect this. They are clean and immaculate. The food may be made with a bit of oil, but that’s as far as it goes. The big chains may offer a cooked meal and a variety of food, but what they don’t offer is a sense of community.

In a world where more than 49% of the UK population report feeling lonely occasionally according to the Campaign to End Loneliness, cafes are a solution, offering nourishment and company on tap. I can absolutely see why Londoners are trying to protect these institutions. Ethically speaking, you know your money is better spent in an independent establishment, as in turn they source produce from local independent suppliers. All the cafes I visited sold our local delicacy of oatcakes, thus supporting our local oatcake makers.

For now, the greasy cafe seems to be a safe institution in the area but that is down to us as customers and how we choose to spend our money. Is the reward card stamp of a chain cafe really worth more than the welcome and value for money you get from the more traditional cafes? Pop in, say hello, and leave with a smile on your face.

“There’s no better treatment for a hangover than a full English breakfast with a cup of tea”

Lawrence Solamani, customer, Captain Kooks

Belly busting: the breakfast butty at the Pavilion Tea Room, Burslem

About the author, Mel Osborne

Freelance writer Mel Osborne came to Staffordshire University in 1995 from a rural village outside Birmingham. After graduating from Film, TV and Radio Studies in 1998, she decided to stay in Stoke and still lives here today with her husband and teenage children. Mel writes for various local publications and has been a theatre reviewer for the past 10 years. She is also a professional actor and theatre maker with a passion for art education. In her spare time, she enjoys long mystery walks with her pet dog.

Have something to say about Mel’s story, or your views on greasy spoon cafes in Stoke-on-Trent? Leave your comments below!

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]]><![CDATA[Food & Good Vibes: Friday Feast at Goods Yard]]>https://www.theknot.news/p/food-and-good-vibes-friday-feasthttps://www.theknot.news/p/food-and-good-vibes-friday-feastTue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:30 GMTWHAT’S ON/THINGS TO DO ✅

HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)

  • 🍸 Prep for Some Friday Night Fun. 24/04, 5pm-10pm. Now, here’s something a bit different. Capital & Centric is hosting a shindig where you can grab pizza, sushi and other gorgeous grub that’s soundtracked by live music and a DJ. Swing by after the office with your work buddies or grab the fam/friends for a neat night out. Admission free.

Sushi! Burgers! Live music! Go to Goods Yard on 24/04 for Friday Feast

  • 🎩 Go Steampunk! 04/04, 10am-4pm; Middleport Pottery. Cogs ‘N’ Kilns – A Steampunk Exposition is the first event of its kind at Middleport, and the Grade II-listed Victorian building will offer a perfect backdrop. Expect market stalls, tea duelling, a photobooth, and more. Admission free, donations welcome.

Embrace the steampunk vibe for free at Middleport on 04/04

  • 🚶‍♂️Staffs Moorlands Walking Festival is Back! 24/04-04/05, various locations. There are around 30 walks taking place, and the event kicks off with a six-mile- long circular stroll around Marshes Hill in Brown Edge that incorporates sections of Knypersley Reservoir. But it’s not just walks: you can also attend the Mythstoric Moorlands talk by Staffordshire folklorist Eli Lewis-Lycett, which will explore the folklore and history woven through the landscape of the Moorlands. We also like the sound of the Dawn Chorus Walk at Ladderedge Country Park, a three-mile jaunt that begins at 5am anc coincides with international dawn chorus day.

    The Staffs Moorlands Walking Festival will take place from 24/04-04/05

  • 🦙 See Alpacas! 20-22/03, Staffordshire County Showground. One of the largest alpaca events in the world, happenings at the British Alpaca Society National Show include the Champion of Champions Fleece Show and the Fibre Zone showcasing alpaca products. One for the kids. Tickets from £8.

  • 👠 Solidarity with Survivors of Domestic Violence. 12/03, 7pm-9pm The Moony Club. Urban Wilderness CIC has partnered with Staffordshire Police and domestic violence charities to host an art exhibition. This creative project offers a safe and expressive space for female survivors of violence and abuse and those connected to them to explore themes of vulnerability, strength, and resilience through visual art. Admission free.

Check out this exhibition from survivors of domestic violence on 12/03

  • 🐣 Easter Fun at Hanley Park. 31/03, 10.15am-11am. Organised by Friends of Hanley Park and Trent Rivers Trust, community event Hanley Park: Easter Trail and Creature Hunt will feature Easter trails, crafts, pond dipping and storytelling. Oakley’s Farm will also be there with rabbits, lambs and chicks. Admission free, spaces limited; sign up here.

EVENTS LISTINGS

For more events, check out our comprehensive What’s On list.

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