Newcastle Borough Council’s Sustainable Environment Strategy and steps toward Net Zero 2030 included installing solar panels on council-owned buildings, businesses and homes, transforming its vehicle fleet to electric and hydrotreated vegetable oil, and switching heating systems from gas to electric, heat pumps or hydrogen.

But since being elected last month, the new Reform council immediately axed this strategy, with council leader Jonathan Gullis, who defected after serving as Conservative MP for Stoke-on-Trent North from 2019 to 2024, calling the approach “the worst kind of groupthink,” adding: “As a Reform UK-led administration, we make no apology for putting residents before ideology, value for money before virtue signalling.”

Yesterday, it issued a statement saying that replacing waste collection lorries with electric models when vehicles needed renewing has been cancelled. While the council argues this will save money, it will lead to higher carbon emissions and a reliance on diesel, which is generally costlier and more vulnerable to price fluctuations than electricity.

Every pound of spending linked to Net Zero is now under review, he added. “Where money has not been spent or legally committed, we will look to stop it.” The council also plans to formally cancel the council’s emergency climate declaration.

Gullis’s comments sit in stark contrast to a recent report, The Race for Net Zero: The UK Net Zero Economy and the Transition to a Competitive Future, which points out that green firms support more than a million jobs and generate more than £100 billion in economic value. In Newcastle, this would include firms such as Hamptons Group, which offers a government-approved eco-friendly car scrapping service.

Emergency climate declaration to be voted on

The newly-elected administration is set to put forward a motion at the next Full Council in July formally cancelling the council’s climate emergency declaration, which was originally passed in 2019. If passed – and there is an expectation that it will be, given that 27 out of 44 seats are now held by Reform – all spending associated with that programme, as well as spending linked to the wider central government Net Zero agenda, will be reviewed.

A key vote is expected at the Full Council meeting on 22 July, where councillors will decide whether to formally revoke the 2019 climate emergency declaration.

Cllr Dave Jones, who represents Keele and is leader of the Labour group on the council, is one of many opponents of the new council’s lack of commitment to sustainability and climate. He told The Knot: “Scrapping the sustainable environment strategy and moving to formally cancel the 2019 climate emergency declaration isn’t bold local leadership; it’s ideological posturing dressed up as fiscal prudence.

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HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)

• 💃 Get Your Groove On. 20/06 6pm-10.30pm, Trentham Estate. Over 30 but still love to party? There are still tickets left for Word of Mouth, where you can dance beneath the stars as live artists and performers deliver the very best in house anthems and club classics remixes for a sweet night of nostalgia. Tickets £27.50.

• 🛍️ Shop Local This Summer. 27/06, 10am-3pm, Bolton Gate Arts. Rock up to this Summer Market at beautiful Bolton Gate Arts to support local artisan businesses, where you can browse stalls selling jewellery, home decor, beauty products, sweet treats, artwork, and more. Admission free.

• 🎭 Big Laughs with Out of Order. 10/06-13/06, 7.30pm, Crown Wharf Theatre. Performed by Stone Revellers, this Olivier Award-winning play follows a chaotic evening in a Westminster hotel, where Tory Junior Minister Richard Willey attempts to meet one of the Opposition’s secretaries only for events to spiral out of control when they discover a body trapped in a sash window. The situation quickly unravels, with interruptions from hotel staff, spouses, and a disgruntled nurse adding to the confusion. Tickets £16; £14 concessions.

• 🐷 See Peppa Pig on Stage. 07/08, 4pm; 08/08 10am & 1pm, Regent Theatre. If you’ve got preschoolers, they’ll love seeing TV fave Peppa Pig and her family getting ready for the arrival of baby Evie in this live stage show described as a warm, playful intro to theatre for younger audiences. Tickets from £20.36.

• 🚲 Free Bike Repair Sessions. 13/06, 10am-3pm, Hanley Upper Market Square. Did you know it’s Bike Week? If you fancy a free safety check and maybe some minor adjustments to keep your wheels roadworthy, cycle along to this free session from Dr Bike. No booking is required; just turn up.

  

• 🌈 Pride in the Moorlands. 26/06-28/06; live performances across Flash, Cheadle, Tean, Biddulph, Endon, and Leek. Watch out for a roller disco, Pride Parade, exhibition, workshops, and live performances. Highlights include RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Ginny Lemon, who will join Big Fatt Dance Party to host Enyacise in Leek on 28/06, and dance and live Dhol drumming from Punjabi Roots.

EVENTS LISTINGS

• Parkrun, every Saturday at 9am at Hanley Park; Trentham Gardens; Cannock Chase; Lower Milehouse Lane, Newcastle; Birchall Playing Fields; Isabel Trail, Stafford

• Heritage Walks with the Red Haired Stokie, various dates

• Make & Bake, ongoing, Mitchell Arts Centre

• Girls Who Walk Stoke, ongoing, various locations

• Beth Johnson Ramblers for the Over 50s, various dates

• Queerquest, ongoing, Staffordshire Moorlands

• Open mic nights, various dates, Darcy’s + The Woodman, The Beehive Inn, The Windmill Werrington, Foxfield Arms, & The Victoria

• Potteries Centre Events Series, ongoing, Potteries Centre

• Throw a Pot and Pottery Painting, ongoing, Kiln at Number 12

• Throw a Pot Sessions, ongoing, LoveClay

• What’s In Store at the V&A Wedgwood Collection sessions, every Wednesday

• Lunch at Stoke Minster, every Thursday

• Fresh Food Friday, Biddulph Town Hall, every Friday

• Guided Walks in the Peak District, Various, Multiple (Peak District)

• Titanic Brewery Tour, multiple dates, Titanic Brewery

• Spitfire Comedy Open Mic, multiple dates, Old Post Office, Burslem

• World of Wedgwood Artisan markets, every second Sunday of the month

• Electric Tentacle Electronic Music Open Mic, multiple dates, Artisan Tap

• Honeybox Live, various dates and locations

• Middleport World Cup Trail, until 19/07, Middleport Pottery

• Wilde About Oscar, 09/06, Middleport Pottery

• Laureateship Handover, 09/06, Stoke-on-Trent Archives

• June River Monitoring Walk, 10/06, University of Staffordshire Nature Reserve

• Out of Order, 10/06-13/06, Crown Wharf Theatre

• Vicky Swan & Jonny Dyer, 12/06, Fenton Town Hall

• Nigel Kennedy, 11/06, Victoria Hall

• Middleport Canal Festival, 13 & 14/06, Middleport Pottery

• Keith And Marj: Us, Pots and A Welsh Chapel, 13/06, Regent Theatre

• 90 Years of Spitfire, 13/06, Hanley Park

• Wildlings Play Group, 16/06, 14/07, Ladderedge Country Park

• Strange Stoke, 19/06, Artisan Tap

• Stoke on Trent Pride, 20/06, Hanley Park

• Word of Mouth Over 30s Festival, 20/06, Trentham Estate

• Father’s Day at Emma Bridgewater, 21/06

• Tree Identification Walk, 23/06, Ford Green Brook South

• Community River Monitoring Walk, 24/06, Bucknall Park

• Claywork Stoke, 27/06, Gladstone Pottery Museum

• Bolton Gate Arts Summer Market, 27/06, Bolton Gate

• Contemporary Collage Workshop, 27/06, Silk Mill House

• Pride in the Moorlands, 26/06-28/06, various locations

• Dragonfly Identification Walk, 29/06, Ford Green Brook North

• Derren Brown: Only Human, 30/06-04/07, Regent Theatre

• Living History Festival, 04/07, Middleport Pottery

• Bombay Express, 04/07, 01/08, 15/08 & 22/08, Churnet Valley Railway

• Waitress, 06/07-11/07, Regent Theatre

• Stoke Craft Brew Festival, 11/07, King’s Hall

• Lord of the Dance: 30th Anniversary, 13/07-15/07, Regent Theatre

• ABBA dayparty, 18/07, the Sugarmill

• One Big YMCA Day, 24/07, YMCA

• Burlesque The Musical, 25/08-29/08, Regent Theatre

• Romeo & Juliet, 30/08 & 31/08, Trentham Estate

• Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show, 07/08-08/08, Regent Theatre

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

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Good News 🎉

• 🌃 Walk Home With Greater Peace of Mind. A new safety app is being rolled out across Stoke and Newcastle, WalkSafe. It has been introduced through a partnership between Staffordshire Police, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Newcastle-under-Lyme BID, and Stoke-on-Trent City Council. The app’s features include sharing your live location with trusted people, planning and tracking journeys, and accessing a UK-wide map of accredited safe spaces and venues. For more info on WalkSafe, visit their website.

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🛋️ THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Sophie Newlands 🛋️

Owner of local design business Shag Interior, Sophie is helping put Staffordshire design on the map by reaching the final of BBC show Interior Design Masters. Originally from Newcastle-under-Lyme and now living in Cannock, this week’s episode revealed Sophie who, along with delivering commercial design services is Staffordshire’s leading limewash and colourwash specialist, as one of the final contestants. She told The Knot, “I am super excited to watch the final on Tuesday, even though I know the result I haven't seen the episode so it's going to be really fun to watch. I finally unleash my signature style for the final brief and I don't hold back. Expect lots of animal print, antique furniture, and a very unexpected guest bedroom!” Want to watch? The series finale airs tomorrow (09/06) on BBC One at 8pm.

• 💷 Refresh Your Finances. If it’s been a while since you reviewed your savings, mortgage, or everyday banking, now is a good opportunity to take a closer look with Hanley Economic Building Society. Pop in and have a chat with the team about your options, whether that’s making your savings work harder, reviewing your plans, or simply getting a better understanding of what’s available to you. You can book a free savings appointment at your local branch anytime.

• 😋 🐈 New Places to Eat, Drink, and Pet Cats. Pepe’s Piri Piri Chicken has opened on Newcastle high street, with chick ‘n’ rice and a harissa honey melt (chicken or paneer) among the items on the menu. Up Hanley, the city’s first cat cafe, My Purrfect Caté, has made its debut (it’s £7 for a 1.5 hour session), with homemade cakes and desserts and 11 cute cats to befriend. We can also tell you that entertainment venue The Vaults at Goods Yard is set to open in September, offering “food, drinks, music, social gaming, and a whole lot more,” according to new owner Andy Brooks. We’ll bring you more on this soon.

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❤️ Check Your Heart Age this June. Aged between 40 and 74? You can book a free NHS health check, which are designed to help spot early signs of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. If you haven’t had a check in the last five years and don’t already have certain long-term conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or kidney disease, you’re eligible to book an appointment at one of these locations by texting HEART to 60777 and requesting a call back, or calling 0333 005 0095.

• 🔋 More Electric Charging Points in Tunstall, Fenton & Hartshill. If you’ve got an electric or hybrid, you’ll be pleased to know that six more public charging points have been installed across the city. The new chargers are situated across three residential locations: Hawes Street off-street car park in Tunstall; Clarence Street car park in Fenton; and Stoke Old Road community car park in Hartshill. More charging points are scheduled for deployment throughout the summer.

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

I still perform the old trick of threading my keys through my fingers when I’m feeling vulnerable walking home at night in an attempt to stave off any attackers. I also ring family or friends to let them know my location and expected arrival time home. Unfortunately, I’m not alone in feeling uneasy walking around the streets at night.

More than 80 percent of women feel they have to consider their safety when walking home from pubs, clubs, and bars, while 63 percent are more likely to visit venues with visible safety measures in place. That’s why we’re pleased to hear about the WalkSafe initiative for Stoke and Newcastle, which gives women, and men, practical tools to help them feel more confident and supported when travelling across our city.

We’ll certainly be downloading the app – will you? Let us know in the comments…

Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week

⛏️ Reflections on the Minnie Pit Disaster: 155 men and boys lost their lives in 1918…
🐶 Find the Best Prices at the Vets: Draycott man Ryan Wilson has launched an app, whatthevet, to help you get the best deals when your pet is sick – and it’s free to use
🚶‍♂️Staffy Trail Launches Get Moving Campaign: walk, run, or cycle your way along it…

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Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):

Mon 🌧️ 15° (7°) Tue 🌩️ 16° (10°) Wed 🌩️ 16° (8°) Thu 🌩️ 18° (10°) Fri 🌥️19° (10°)
Sat 🌩️ 21° (12°) Sun 🌩️ 21° (12°).

Sunrise 08/06: 04.44 ☀️ Sunset 08/06: 21.31 🌅

Separated by less than 5km, Silverdale and Halmer End have both been sites of tragedy and despair for Newcastle residents, most catastrophically when 155 men and boys were killed following an underground explosion at Minnie Pit in 1918, the same year that Germany signed an armistice ending the war and the flu killed up to 100 million people worldwide. Six years after the disaster in 1924, the site of Walley’s Quarry was being used for clay extraction but it wasn’t repurposed for landfill in 2007, 10 years after permission was initially contested. What followed was 17 years of insufferable stench for Silverdale’s residents until it was ordered to close in 2024. For me, this tragic history holds the seeds for a brighter future.

For a number of years I lived in Silverdale, and even now the bus that gets me to town passes through. As it glides past I inevitably see the same things: my old house, the library, the new housing estate where my friends lived, the shops. These things are a stake in time. Seeing them, it’s like the past is still the present, with the future circling back to it. I have to remind myself that things are always changing. The shops are different. My mates have moved away.

Of course, time never stands still, but sometimes it accelerates. Not long after I moved away residents started noticing a smell. Then pets began to die, and children became sick. Walley’s Quarry, it was discovered, had quietly been inflicting environmental terrorism on the residents of Silverdale for years with its landfill. So a grassroots campaign gathered to Stop The Stink. Years passed, and the Environmental Agency was eventually bullied into doing its job. The landfill was given a closure notice, and then its company collapsed. Years of toil and pain, but only the barest and most indirect form of justice was delivered for Silverdale’s community.

I have to remind myself that the last deep mine in North Staffordshire closed four years before I was born, in Silverdale, in 1998. The placement of that year is not lost on me. A new millennium had started, and the future needed to arrive. But that future would start in some places far earlier than others.

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HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)

• 🌈 Pride Returns. 20/06 12pm-5pm, Hanley Park. There’s a stellar line-up for the 20th anniversary of the event, including gothic drag queen Mx Maria Moans, dancer/performer Ginger Boy (as seen on Britain’s Got Talent) plus comedy, music and prose from SPEAK all hosted by nonbinary creative Red Gibson; main stage announcements are coming soon, check the website for details. Admission £5 adults, £1 for under 16’s (pay on door cash or card).

• 📚 Celebrating Stoke’s Writers. 09/06, 1pm-7.30pm; 16/06, 11am-3pm; 30/06, 11am-3pm, Stoke-on-Trent City Archives. The 100 Bookshelf project celebrates 100 years of writing in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. Highlights include a laureateship handover from Nick Degg to Steve Beattie (09/06, 6pm-7.30pm), hand-press printing workshops (09/06, 16/06 & 30/06, various times) and a “Pits, Pots & Poets” talk with Dr Catherine Burgass (16/06, 11am-12pm). There are limited places, so call 01782 238420 or email them to secure your spot.

• 🛩️ Ninety Years of Spitfire. 13/06, 11am-3pm, Hanley Park. This special event honours the mighty Staffs-born designer Reginald Mitchell, whose vision created one of Britain’s most iconic aircraft. Get ready for live music from the 40s, 50s, and 60s courtesy of the Victory Vixens, plus military displays and crafting activities for the kids organised by the Potteries Museum. Admission free.

• 🚶‍♂️ Staffy Trail Launches Get Moving Campaign. Until 07/06. The Staffy Trail launched ‘Get Moving’ week on 30/05, which encourages people to explore the trail by walking, running, and cycling. New Strava routes connect the pack of giant Staffy sculptures situated across town centres and key gateway locations, encouraging locals and tourists alike to discover our heritage, outdoor spaces, local attractions, and businesses along the way. Admission free.

• 🥳 Fun this way with YMCA. 24/07, 11am-3pm, YMCA North Staffs. Get ready for One Big YMCA Day North Staffordshire, a free family fun day where you can expect music, games, arts & crafts, activities, food, local stalls, entertainment, and family fun for all ages. Sign up to get your free ticket here.

  

• 👯 Go Burlesque. 25/08-29/08; Tue-Sat 19.30; Wed & Sat 14:30. After taking becoming one of summer 2025’s biggest hits on the West End, this show produced by Christina Aguilera, which includes powerhouse ballads penned by the singer, follows Ali’s journey to New York into a club full of loveable misfits, dreamers, and schemers as she begins to find her voice. Tickets from £15.60.

EVENTS LISTINGS

• Parkrun, every Saturday at 9am at Hanley Park; Trentham Gardens; Cannock Chase; Lower Milehouse Lane, Newcastle; Birchall Playing Fields; Isabel Trail, Stafford

• Heritage Walks with the Red Haired Stokie, various dates

• Make & Bake, ongoing, Mitchell Arts Centre

• Girls Who Walk Stoke, ongoing, various locations

• Beth Johnson Ramblers for the Over 50s, various dates

• Queerquest, ongoing, Staffordshire Moorlands

• Open mic nights, various dates, Darcy’s + The Woodman, The Beehive Inn, The Windmill Werrington, Foxfield Arms, & The Victoria

• Potteries Centre Events Series, ongoing, Potteries Centre

• Throw a Pot and Pottery Painting, ongoing, Kiln at Number 12

• Throw a Pot Sessions, ongoing, LoveClay

• What’s In Store at the V&A Wedgwood Collection sessions, every Wednesday

• Lunch at Stoke Minster, every Thursday

• Fresh Food Friday, Biddulph Town Hall, every Friday

• Guided Walks in the Peak District, Various, Multiple (Peak District)

• Titanic Brewery Tour, multiple dates, Titanic Brewery

• Spitfire Comedy Open Mic, multiple dates, Old Post Office, Burslem

• World of Wedgwood Artisan markets, every second Sunday of the month

• Electric Tentacle Electronic Music Open Mic, multiple dates, Artisan Tap

• Honeybox Live, various dates and locations

• Middleport World Cup Trail, until 19/07, Middleport Pottery

• Fawlty Towers Dining Experience, 04/06 & 05/06, DoubleTree by Hilton

• Stoke-on-Trent Day, 05/06, various locations

• Back to the Bone Festival, 06/06, Fenton Town Hall

• Music from the Movies, 06/06, King’s Hall, Stoke

• Middleport Artisan Markets, 06/06 & 07/06, Middleport Pottery

• Matcha Bowl & Whisk Holder Workshop, 07/06, LoveClay

• Determined to Prove a Villian: The Real Richard III, 07/06, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

• Summer Bird Walk, 08/06, Ford Green Brook North

• Wilde About Oscar, 09/06, Middleport Pottery

• Laureateship Handover, 09/06, Stoke-on-Trent Archives

• June River Monitoring Walk, 10/06, University of Staffordshire Nature Reserve

• Vicky Swan & Jonny Dyer, 12/06, Fenton Town Hall

• Nigel Kennedy, 11/06, Victoria Hall

• Middleport Canal Festival, 13 & 14/06, Middleport Pottery

• Keith And Marj: Us, Pots and A Welsh Chapel, 13/06, Regent Theatre

• 90 Years of Spitfire, 13/06, Hanley Park

• Wildlings Play Group, 16/06, 14/07, Ladderedge Country Park

• Strange Stoke, 19/06, Artisan Tap

• Stoke on Trent Pride, 20/06, Hanley Park

• Father’s Day at Emma Bridgewater, 21/06

• Tree Identification Walk, 23/06, Ford Green Brook South

• Community River Monitoring Walk, 24/06, Bucknall Park

• Claywork Stoke, 27/06, Gladstone Pottery Museum

• Contemporary Collage Workshop, 27/06, Silk Mill House

• Dragonfly Identification Walk, 29/06, Ford Green Brook North

• Derren Brown: Only Human, 30/06-04/07, Regent Theatre

• Living History Festival, 04/07, Middleport Pottery

• Bombay Express, 04/07, 01/08, 15/08 & 22/08, Churnet Valley Railway

• Waitress, 06/07-11/07, Regent Theatre

• Stoke Craft Brew Festival, 11/07, King’s Hall

• Lord of the Dance: 30th Anniversary, 13/07-15/07, Regent Theatre

• ABBA dayparty, 18/07, the Sugarmill

• One Big MCA Day, 24/07, YMCA

• Burlesque The Musical, 25/08-29/08, Regent Theatre

• Romeo & Juliet, 30/08 & 31/08, Trentham Estate

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

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Good News 🎉

• Homelessness Support Extended. The Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP) is set to continue until March 2029 after Stoke-on-Trent City Council was awarded more than £580,000 from the government. Providing accommodation and support to two key groups – long-standing rough sleepers with complex cases and vulnerable people who are homeless or sleeping on the streets – the scheme is run by local charity Brighter Futures and has helped 107 people since it launched in 2023. It focuses on long-term outcomes rather than short-term fixes, with residents being supported to sustain their accommodation, build confidence, and develop practical life skills.

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🐶 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Ryan Wilson 🐶

A software engineer from Draycott in the Moors has launched a free app, WhatTheVet, which enables pet owners to compare vet prices across the UK. Ryan says he’s spent the last few months scraping and cataloguing pricing data from thousands of UK vet practices. “The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) wrapped up its investigation into vet pricing earlier this year and concluded that pet owners are being kept in the dark. WhatTheVet does what the government is now mandating the industry to do.” As the owner of a Cockapoo, Maisy, the face of WhatTheVet, he’s felt the pinch of unexpected vet bills. Ryan was keen to build something that helped people weigh up their options before booking a trip to the vets. The app is now on iOS, Android, and Web and covers every practice nationwide.

• 💷 Get in Control of Your Cash. If it’s been a while since you reviewed your savings, mortgage, or everyday banking, now is a good opportunity to take a closer look with Hanley Economic Building Society. Pop in and have a chat with the team about your options, whether that’s making your savings work harder, reviewing your plans, or simply getting a better understanding of what’s available to you. You can book a free savings appointment at your local branch anytime.

• 🚍More Inclusive Public Transport. A new campaign to help make public transport more inclusive for people with disabilities has launched across Staffordshire. The Celebrating Differences: Inclusive Travel campaign has been developed by people who have lived experience of disabilities, sight loss, and neurodivergence and aims to help more residents feel confident getting around. One of the resources available is a set of Travel Assistance Cards to support people travelling by bus, which enables them to discreetly show drivers the support they need without having to ask out loud. This can include asking for extra time to sit down or for the driver to face them when speaking.

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🪵 Bronze Age Artefact Set for Potteries Museum. A 3,000-year-old solid gold dress fastener found near Ellastone will stay in the county thanks to a successful fundraising campaign. The money has been raised through support from the Art Fund, the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant, National Lottery players, and the Friends of PMAG. It will go on public display at the museum when it reopens in spring 2027 following its multi-million-pound transformation. In the meantime, the museum team will deliver outreach activities supported by National Lottery players to help people explore the dress fastener and Staffordshire’s Bronze Age past.

• 🦸‍♀️ Wanted: Heritage Heroes. The Our Time, Our Place, Our Heritage project is searching for 10 Living Heritage Heroes aged 65 and over with experience in working in Stoke’s ceramics industry. Delivered by Stoke Creates in partnership with British Ceramics Biennial, the project is hosting a free drop-in information session on 10/06, 4pm-6pm at BCB Studios, Spode Works. If you fit the bill, or know someone who does, contact project manager Sarah Bonam.

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

Everybody deserves a safe place to call home, yet many people in Stoke-on-Trent continue to find themselves either homeless or living in insecure accommodation. A declining supply of social housing and supported accommodation over the past decade has left many people reliant on the private rented sector as their only realistic option. However, even that is becoming increasingly unaffordable, with average rents in the city rising to £669 a month in April 2025 — an annual increase of 12.4%.

So why are people ending up on the streets? According to the council’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025–2030 report, the most common reasons in 2024 were family and friends no longer being willing or able to accommodate them, and the loss of a private rented tenancy. Meanwhile, 1,789 people were on waiting lists for supported housing provision in that same time frame.

A snapshot count conducted last year recorded 35 people sleeping rough in Stoke-on-Trent — the highest figure in Staffordshire, compared with 13 in Stafford. The number of female rough sleepers across Staffordshire has doubled over the past five years, while around 71% of people experiencing homelessness now present with multiple issues, such as mental health problems and substance misuse.

While it is encouraging to see funding secured through the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP) here in Stoke, more still needs to be done to tackle homelessness across the city. Some of the most successful initiatives elsewhere have taken a multi-agency approach. In East Sussex, for example, Eastbourne Borough Council’s Wellbeing and Employment Project won national recognition from Homeless Link for helping bridge gaps between health, homelessness, wellbeing, and employment services. Meanwhile, Dorset Council’s Key4Me scheme works with landlords to support tenants at risk of becoming homeless along with help for deposits and rent in advance.

What do you think Stoke-on-Trent should do to tackle homelessness? Let us know in the comments below.

Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week

🤘 Burslem bets on Lemmy’s Legacy: The first-ever Burslem Urban Rock Festival was a headbangin’ success – and the Queen’s Theatre is now poised for a rock revamp
🥨 Celebrating Stoke (again): Stoke-on-Trent day is go again on 05/06; more here
🐦June Walks with Staffs Wildlife Trust: Most popular with Knotters was the Bird-Themed Walk on 08/06 (10am-12pm) at Ford Green Brook North

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Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):

Mon 🌧️ 18° (13°) Tue 🌩️ 17° (10°) Wed 🌩️ 18° (10°) Thu 🌩️ 17° (9°) Fri 🌩️ 17° (10°)
Sat 🌩️ 18° (10°) Sun 🌩️ 18° (10°).

Sunrise 01/06: 04.50 ☀️ Sunset 25/05: 21.24 🌅

It’s 10.30am on a gorgeous sunny morning at the first-ever Burslem Urban Rock Festival. Blue skies hang over the mother town, while the Lemmy statue — unveiled just over a year ago — basks in the sunshine as keen fans begin gathering near the stage for a day of heavy metal. Outside new venue Old No. 6, visitors sup Motörhead-themed ales against a backdrop of photos, band artwork, and other memorabilia.

There are big plans afoot for the town, the centrepiece of which is a proposal to transform the Art Deco Queen’s Theatre into Kilmister Halls, a 1,500-capacity music venue complete with a recording studio and music school. At the forefront of the project is festival organiser IFK Legacy, which is dedicated to keeping alive the memory of Burslem’s most famous son, Lemmy Kilmister, who was born here on Christmas Eve in 1945.

The bands haven’t even started but it’s standing room only at Old No. 6 as I grab a few words with director of the IFK Legacy David Ovenden, and Andy Edwards, the Stoke-born creator of the statue that’s already attracted thousands of visitors to gaze on Lemmy’s likeness, with his long hair, tight jeans, bass, and trademark high mic position. Over the low hum of bikes revving their engines, Ovenden confirms that the viability study for Kilmister Halls is set to be finished within the next month.

He says they will also be speaking with the Arts Council, Architectural Heritage Fund and the National Lottery to bring the venue back into use. “The first phase will be the auditorium, but we’re asking for a lot of money, like £19 million, so it’s going to take time. But we’re thinking about bringing it into use earlier without even painting the walls, just get the electrics sorted out and the toilets, so we could do that next year.”

Reviving the Queen’s Theatre will not be straightforward. The building has sat largely unused for years and securing multi-million-pound heritage funding in the current climate will be a challenge. But supporters believe Lemmy’s international fanbase gives Burslem a cultural hook few towns of its size possess.

“We’re hoping to open up Kilmister Halls as early as next year” - David Ovenden, director, IFK Legacy

People from all over the world have come to pay tribute to Lemmy since his statue was unveiled just over 12 months ago, says Edwards as we chat in Old No. 6. “The main thing about this place is the atmosphere is so good, and every time you come in, it’s different. You sit around a table and there’s three different nationalities. It feels like home to me and it seems like I’m not the only one. The walls are full of donated memorabilia, even though we’ve only been going for three weeks.”

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HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)

• 🥨 Celebrating Stoke (again). 05/06, various locations. The first Stoke-on-Trent Day, held last year during the city’s Centenary celebrations, commemorated 100 years of city status and is now set to become an annual celebration of the Stoke’s culture and communities. Following the success of last year’s Big Centenary Tea Party, Stokies are once again being encouraged to come together to celebrate Stoke-on-Trent. Events include a refreshed Art on Your Doorstep exhibition featuring local artist Charles William Brown; there’s more here.

• 🦋 June Walks with Staffs Wildlife Trust. Various times, dates and locations. Dig out your hiking boots and get the sunscreen ready for the following: Summer Bird Walk (08/06, 10am-12pm, Ford Green Brook North; book here). June River Monitoring Walk (10/06, 10am-12pm, University of Staffordshire Nature Reserve; book here). Tree Identification Walk (23/06, 10am-12pm, Ford Green Brook South; book here). Community River Monitoring Walk (24/06, 10am–12pm, Bucknall Park; book here). Dragonfly Identification Walk (29/06, 10am–12pm, Ford Green Brook North; book here. Admission free.

• 🇯🇲 Six Towns Afro-Caribbean Carnival Returns. 12/07, 11am-7pm, Hanley Park. There’s lots going on here, including a carnival parade, live performances plus a funfair and kids area, food stalls showcasing authentic Caribbean flavours and even a chill zone where you can soak it all in. Admission free.

• ⚽️ Join Middleport’s World Cup Trail. 26/05-19/07, 1pm-3pm. It’s less than three weeks ‘til the world cup kicks off on 11/06 (first match is Mexico vs South Africa at 8pm) so embrace the ensuing cup fever by finding flags and facts about all the 48 participating teams at Middleport. All participants get entered into a prize draw to win a sports-themed goody bag. Admission £3 per person.

• ⚓️ Celebrating Our Canals. 30/05 & 31/05, 11am-5pm, Etruria Industrial Museum. With a theme of ‘World of Gardens’ to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Stoke Garden Festival, you can admire historic narrowboats, check out craft demos and stalls, and dig into street food here. Admission free.

  

• 💘 Romeo & Juliet Hits Trentham. 30/08, 6pm; & 31/08, 4pm. The Duke’s Theatre Company presents a bold reimagining of the iconic tragedy  directed by Joseph Pitcher, whose credits include Macbeth at the Salomons Theatre in Tunbridge Wells; gates open 45 minutes before the show. Tickets from £18.43.

EVENTS LISTINGS

• Parkrun, every Saturday at 9am at Hanley Park; Trentham Gardens; Cannock Chase; Lower Milehouse Lane, Newcastle; Birchall Playing Fields; Isabel Trail, Stafford

• Heritage Walks with the Red Haired Stokie, various dates

• Make & Bake, ongoing, Mitchell Arts Centre

• Girls Who Walk Stoke, ongoing, various locations

• Beth Johnson Ramblers for the Over 50s, various dates

• Queerquest, ongoing, Staffordshire Moorlands

• Open mic nights, various dates, Darcy’s + The Woodman, The Beehive Inn, The Windmill Werrington, Foxfield Arms, & The Victoria

• Potteries Centre Events Series, ongoing, Potteries Centre

• Throw a Pot and Pottery Painting, ongoing, Kiln at Number 12

• Throw a Pot Sessions, ongoing, LoveClay

• What’s In Store at the V&A Wedgwood Collection sessions, every Wednesday

• Lunch at Stoke Minster, every Thursday

• Fresh Food Friday, Biddulph Town Hall, every Friday

• Guided Walks in the Peak District, Various, Multiple (Peak District)

• Titanic Brewery Tour, multiple dates, Titanic Brewery

• Spitfire Comedy Open Mic, multiple dates, Old Post Office, Burslem

• World of Wedgwood Artisan markets, every second Sunday of the month

• Electric Tentacle Electronic Music Open Mic, multiple dates, Artisan Tap

• Honeybox Live, various dates and locations

• Endon Well Dressing 25/05, Endon Village Centre

• Middleport World Cup Trail, 26/05-19/07, Middleport Pottery

• Single White Female, 26/05-30/05, Regent Theatre

• Blue Bell Beer & Music Festival, 29-31/05, The Blue Bell Pub

• Etruria Canals Festival, 30/05 & 31/05, Etruria Industrial Museum

• Much Ado About Nothing, 31/05, Bolton Gate Farm

• Fawlty Towers Dining Experience, 04/06 & 05/06, DoubleTree by Hilton

• Stoke-on-Trent Day, 05/06, various locations

• Back to the Bone Festival, 06/06, Fenton Town Hall

• Summer Bird Walk, 08/06, Ford Green Brook North

• Music from the Movies, 06/06, King’s Hall, Stoke

• Middleport Artisan Markets, 06/06 & 07/06, Middleport Pottery

• Matcha Bowl & Whisk Holder Workshop, 07/06, LoveClay

• Determined to Prove a Villian: The Real Richard III, 07/06, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

• Wilde About Oscar, 09/06, Middleport Pottery

• June River Monitoring Walk, 10/06, University of Staffordshire Nature Reserve

• Vicky Swan & Jonny Dyer, 12/06, Fenton Town Hall

• Middleport Canal Festival, 13 & 14/06, Middleport Pottery

• Nigel Kennedy, 11/06, Victoria Hall

• Keith And Marj: Us, Pots and A Welsh Chapel, 13/06, Regent Theatre

• Wildlings Play Group, 16/06, 14/07, Ladderedge Country Park

• Strange Stoke, 19/06, Artisan Tap

• Father’s Day at Emma Bridgewater, 21/06

• Tree Identification Walk, 23/06, Ford Green Brook South

• Community River Monitoring Walk, 24/06, Bucknall Park

• Claywork Stoke, 27/06, Gladstone Pottery Museum

• Contemporary Collage Workshop, 27/06, Silk Mill House

• Dragonfly Identification Walk, 29/06, Ford Green Brook North

• Derren Brown: Only Human, 30/06-04/07, Regent Theatre

• Living History Festival, 04/07, Middleport Pottery

• Waitress, 06/07-11/07, Regent Theatre

• Bombay Express 04/07, 01/08, 15/08 & 22/08, Churnet Valley Railway

• Stoke Craft Brew Festival, 11/07, King’s Hall

• Lord of the Dance: 30th Anniversary, 13/07-15/07, Regent Theatre

• ABBA dayparty, 18/07, the Sugarmill

• Romeo & Juliet, 30/08 & 31/08, Trentham Estate

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

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Good News 🎉

• 🏺 Boost for Ceramics Industry. After much lobbying by local MPs and the council, the government has announced a £120 million industry support package, with £60 million for energy-efficiency and decarbonisation projects and £60 million for operational cost support for ceramics manufacturers. After an independent report commissioned by the council highlighted how ceramics is driving innovation across the UK and is a vital component of key “future-facing” industries like aerospace, defence, clean energy and electronics, advanced ceramics firms such as Lucideon, IPS Ceramics, and Mantec Technical Ceramics alongside tableware brands like Moorcroft, Emma Bridgewater, Burleigh, and Steelite can all apply for the funding.

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🎖️ THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Stoke’s New Mayor, Joan Bell 🎖️

Taking over from Cllr Steve Watkins, the new Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Cllr Joan Bell, was officially appointed on 21/05 after first being elected to the city council almost 40 years ago. She wants to focus on dementia during her year-long term, stating, “We need to create places in every ward in our city where people affected by dementia can be helped and supported.” She will support several charities, including Marrow House in Meir Hay and the services provided by Dougie Mac.

• 💷 Spring Clean Your Finances. If it’s been a while since you reviewed your savings, mortgage, or everyday banking, now is a good opportunity to take a closer look with Hanley Economic Building Society. Pop in and have a chat with the team about your options, whether that’s making your savings work harder, reviewing your plans, or simply getting a better understanding of what’s available to you. You can book a free savings appointment at your local branch.

• 🌇 Innovation’s Afoot in Keele. The masterplan for Keele Innovation District was presented this week at the UK’s largest development and place-making event, the Real Estate and Investment Forum (UKREiiF) in Leeds. A major expansion of Keele’s Science & Innovation Park is set to support 13,000 jobs and contribute £1 billion to the local economy and will see the existing footprint expanded into a neighbouring site as part of a wider mixed-use district. It’s estimated it will take between 20-25 years to be fully completed, but the first phase of the project is due to get started within the next two to three years. In other Keele news, the uni opened an insectary last week, a major new insect research facility that’s set to transform efforts to combat deadly diseases such as malaria and dengue.

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🪵 We Love These Wood Carvings. Now, here’s a feast for the eyes. Carver, woodsmith, and twig twister Anthony Hammond’s latest work in the city is a new wildlife-themed bench in the grounds of Stoke Minster as part of a new woodland walk. It forms part of B-Arts’ Pockets of Paradise project, funded through the Stoke High Street Accelerator programme, and is being led by Festival Stoke. We can’t wait to drop by and see how it’s shaping up next time we’re in Stoke town centre!

• 💁‍♀️ Longton Exchange Opens Tourist Info. It’s actually the only one in the city (could they be preparing for the UK Town of Culture 2028 bid, we’re wondering?) but, anyway, it’s a fab idea and officially launches today. The new information point will help both visitors and us locals discover more of what Longton, Stoke, and Staffs have to offer, from heritage and events to shopping, food & drink, and community activities. Want your leaflets, brochures, or visitor information displayed in this new space? Drop them a message.

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

Stoke-on-Trent City Council leader Jane Ashworth was among the local politicians lobbying the chancellor for a lifeline to save the city’s struggling ceramics industry, which has been battered by spiralling energy costs and cheap imports. Trade body Ceramics UK said the £120 million package would help safeguard jobs and support the sector’s transition to a more sustainable future.

For some firms, however, support has come too late. Historic names such as Royal Stafford have already closed, while the future of Burleigh remains uncertain after its Derby-based owner Denby entered administration earlier this year.

Ashworth is keen to stress that ceramics is about far more than tableware. She describes it as a vital foundation industry with applications spanning medical technology, aerospace and advanced manufacturing. Penkhull and Stone-based Lucideon, for example, develops and tests advanced ceramic materials for jet engine coatings and medical bioceramics. Meanwhile, Mantec Technical Ceramics in Longton produces technical ceramics designed for harsh industrial environments, including filtration, thermal processing, and other high-performance engineering applications.

Exactly how the support package will operate remains unclear, with the detailed application process still being developed alongside industry bodies including Ceramics UK. However, firms are expected to be able to apply for grants to modernise kilns, invest in lower-carbon manufacturing systems, install heat recovery technology and support electrification projects.

Which companies and brands do you think most deserve support? Let us know in the comments below.

Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week

🗞️ The Knot Joins The Lead Network: We’ll be doing the same positive coverage of Stoke and Staffs and the what’s on, along with some more hard-hitting journalism…
🎸 Bank Holiday at Lymelight Festival: Did you go? Was it good? Tell us below!
🍽️ Dining, Faulty Towers Style: You can eat with Basil, Sybil and Manuel on 04/06 & 05/6 at DoubleTree by Hilton before enjoying a two-hour interactive experience

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On our socials…
We met up with Stoke-on-Trent’s poet laureate, Steve Beattie, at the first-ever Burslem Urban Rock Festival where he read out his fab poem about Lemmy, ‘Ace of Spades in Stoke-on-Trent’. Check it out below and watch out for an in-depth feature this Wednesday about how Lemmy’s legacy is shaping Burslem’s future…

Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent): Wait, sunny on a bank holiday?! Yes!

Mon ☀️ 27° (13°) Tue ☀️ 25° (11°) Wed ☀️ 24° (11°) Thu ☀️ 25° (12°) Fri 🌤️ 24° (13°)
Sat ☀️ 23° (11°) Sun ☀️ 21° (10°).

Sunrise 25/05: 04.57 ☀️ Sunset 25/05: 21.14 🌅

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You’ll remember that a few months ago I put a call out for more support on The Knot, not just volunteers but someone to drive The Knot forwards. The team at The Lead were the ones to answer this call.

The Lead’s local network currently includes titles in Blackpool, Lancashire, Southport and Calderdale and a recent addition covering the South Wales Valleys. Last year their network won Regional Newsletter of the Year at the Press Gazette’s Future of Media Awards.

The Lead’s editorial team is full of journalism experience. It’s led by Ed Walker as managing editor, who has extensive experience with a number of senior roles in local journalism, and he also founded news title Blog Preston. Luke Beardsworth has senior journalism and culture writing experience with Drowned in Sound and will be working closely with Helen. Zoë Grünewald is The Lead’s Westminster editor and is ex- New Statesman and The Independent. She’s a regular commentator on TV and radio talking about national politics. Finally, Mike Harris is the publisher of The Lead and the founder and CEO of 89up, Europe’s biggest agency supporting non-profits on environmental and social causes around the globe.

Like The Knot, The Lead are passionate about giving a platform and a voice to communities that are being under-represented or, worse, dominated by one legacy media outlet no longer serving the community with a click-bait brand of journalism.

For us, this partnership makes a lot of sense and gives The Knot the direction of travel that our readers and community want. When deciding what the next move was for The Knot, I looked at our most-read posts over the last two years. The data told the story, all of our most-popular and most-read pieces were features on politics, breaking news stories or takes on big topics such as immigration.

I’ve long wanted to bring a harder edged journalism (with a capital J) to The Knot but lacked the skills and experience to do so. By working with The Lead, we have the remit to do more of this and the experience to back us up. The Lead’s editorial team are all experienced journalists that give The Knot credibility and firepower. Under the stewardship of The Lead there is no stopping us tackling pertinent and complex topics our region faces.

There’s a deeper political and cultural shift that plays into this as well. Our focus on good news and pride of place has set us apart. However, to serve this region we can’t focus on good news alone. Readers with a keen eye will have noticed that in our recent editions where we announced local election results, our heading was Election News and Good News.

The Knot’s values have always been implicit. Optimism, curiosity, open-mindedness – our nature is fair, compassionate and liberal. Through our partnership with The Lead, we can be even more explicit. We are unashamedly anti-racist and anti-far right. This partnership cements that stake in the ground and gives us a foundation to take more of a position on topics that matter.

The Knot will continue to share good news, what’s on, and be a positive voice for the area, but we will not sit passively by to hate and division. Instead we’ll take a closer look at the issues and events that are really impacting our community here and fuelling these hateful narratives. As you’ll see in The Lead’s recent coverage, there is no siding with any political party; Reform and Labour have both been investigated in recent pieces. This isn’t about a particular political party; it’s about protecting values that are important to us as writers, journalists and humans. It’s these values we will stand upon.

As the person that breathed the initial life into The Knot, intuitively, this move for us feels totally right and a natural part of our maturity into an established independent media outlet. We won’t lose our “softer” edges that focus on the positive, new restaurants, gigs, and events. But, we’ll add a harder edge that I hope creates even more trust with people in our region. Plus, we are now part of something bigger.

As for me, I’ll be sticking around but taking a step back to support and guide The Knot into our next era. I’ll still be here to write an occasional thought piece or pass an interesting story to the team. I’m really pleased with where The Knot has arrived and I am incredibly grateful to all of you who have read The Knot, paid to support us and backed me personally. I don’t think I’ll be running up and down Piccadilly interviewing people or arguing with people about why Stoke isn’t “sh*t” any more though - I’ll pass the mic to someone else on that front. I’m really satisfied with the contribution I’ve personally made to my “Mission Stoke” and I hope it won’t be the last. I’m confident that The Knot will continue to grow from strength to strength and be the alternative independent news outlet for Stoke and North Staffordshire I’ve always dreamed it to be.

James Routledge

#303: Mission Stoke Review

Three years ago I set out on “Mission Stoke”. My goal was to…

Read more

a month ago · 9 likes · 1 comment · James Routledge

The other great news is that Helen is sticking around and will join The Lead editorial team. That’s one journalist The Knot has put on the streets and given a role to in this area. This, I’m really delighted about. Through our partnership with The Lead we also gain access to BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, meaning we can share BBC-funded local journalism with you without it being covered in ads.

To our paid subscribers, supporters and patrons - thank you for getting us this far! I’m excited for our new chapter. Keep reading, keep supporting Stoke and North Staffs and when you see something good in our area, think…

That’s one for The Knot,

Cheers,
James

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HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)

• 🥳 Music, Books and More. 23/05 & 24/05, 12pm-9.30pm, Newcastle Town Centre. Championing Staffordshire’s grassroots music scene, the Lymelight Festival is set to return for a weekend of free live music with three outdoor stages at the Guildhall, Ironmarket and the 6 Towns Radio Acoustic Stage outside Keele in Town. There will also be performances in local venues including the Rigger and Artisan Tap, literature pop‑ups from Drop City Books, free creative workshops from Arts Keele, plus street food and artisan markets. Admission free.

• 🍽️ Dining, Faulty Towers Style. 04/06 & 05/06, 7.30pm, DoubleTree By Hilton. This highly improvised and deliciously entertaining dining experience sees Basil, Sybil and Manuel serve up chaos as you are treated to a 70s-style, three-course meal followed by a two-hour long interactive show. Tickets £67.50 per adult, £41.50 per child.

• 🥧 A Recipe for Love and Happiness. 06/07-11/07; Mon-Sat at 19:30

  Wed & Sat at 14:30, Regent Theatre. This life-affirming tale focuses on Jenna, a waitress and pie-maker yearning for happiness. With the support of mates Becky and Dawn, she finds that friendship can provide the perfect recipe for happiness. Tickets from £16.64.

• 🛍️ Middleport’s Artisan Markets are Back! 06/06-07/06, 10am-4pm. Shop for locally-produced gifts like hand-made soaps and crocheted toys, original art, and homebaked treats at this popular local market – you might find the perfect Father’s Day gift – and swing by for a cuppa at the on-site cafe. Admission free.

• 👨🏻 Celebrate Father’s Day at Emma Bridgewater. 21/06, 12pm-6.50pm. Forget the usual pub lunch or walk and book a Father’s Day to remember at Emma Bridgewater, which includes a charcuterie sharing board for two (younger guests get a lunchbox) and a trip to the studio, where Dad can create his own design on a one-pint mug and you can decorate a classic Bridgewater half pint mug. There’s a goody bag included in the deal, too. Admission £120 for two.

  

• 🌸 Traditional May Celebrations in Endon. 23/05-25/05, Endon Village Centre. Get ready for the Endon Well Dressing, an ancient countryside custom where the community will decorate wells, springs, and water sources with intricate pictures and mosaics made from natural materials. There will also be maypole dancing, a fairground, and the crowning of the 183rd Well Dressing Queen. Admission free.

EVENTS LISTINGS

• Parkrun, every Saturday at 9am at Hanley Park; Trentham Gardens; Cannock Chase; Lower Milehouse Lane, Newcastle; Birchall Playing Fields; Isabel Trail, Stafford

• Heritage Walks with the Red Haired Stokie, various dates

• Make & Bake, ongoing, Mitchell Arts Centre

• Girls Who Walk Stoke, ongoing, various locations

• Beth Johnson Ramblers for the Over 50s, various dates

• Queerquest, ongoing, Staffordshire Moorlands

• Open mic nights, various dates, Darcy’s + The Woodman, The Beehive Inn, The Windmill Werrington, Foxfield Arms, & The Victoria

• Potteries Centre Events Series, ongoing, Potteries Centre

• Throw a Pot and Pottery Painting, ongoing, Kiln at Number 12

• Throw a Pot Sessions, ongoing, LoveClay

• What’s In Store at the V&A Wedgwood Collection sessions, every Wednesday

• Lunch at Stoke Minster, every Thursday

• Fresh Food Friday, Biddulph Town Hall, every Friday

• Guided Walks in the Peak District, Various, Multiple (Peak District)

• Titanic Brewery Tour, multiple dates, Titanic Brewery

• Spitfire Comedy Open Mic, multiple dates, Old Post Office, Burslem

• World of Wedgwood Artisan markets, every second Sunday of the month

• Electric Tentacle Electronic Music Open Mic, multiple dates, Artisan Tap

• Honeybox Live, various dates and locations

• Pint of Science Festival, 18/05-20/05, various locations

• Wildlings Play Group, 19/05, 16/06, 14/07, Ladderedge Country Park

• Scott Bradlee’s Post-Modern Jukebox, 23/05, Victoria Hall

• Burslem Urban Rock Festival, 23/05, Lemmy Plaza

• Lymelight Festival, 23/05 & 24/05, Newcastle Town Centre

• Endon Well Dressing 23/05-25/05, Endon Village Centre

• Single White Female, 26/05-30/05, Regent Theatre

• Blue Bell Beer & Music Festival, 29-31/05, The Blue Bell Pub

• Much Ado About Nothing, 31/05, Bolton Gate Farm

• Faulty Towers Dining Experience, 04/06 & 05/06, DoubleTree by Hilton

• Back to the Bone Festival, 06/06, Fenton Town Hall

• Middleport Artisan Markets, 06/06 & 07/06, Middleport Pottery

• Music from the Movies, King’s Hall, Stoke

• Matcha Bowl & Whisk Holder Workshop, 07/06, LoveClay

• Determined to Prove a Villian: The Real Richard III, 07/06, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

• Wilde About Oscar, 09/06, Middleport Pottery

• Vicky Swan & Jonny Dyer, 12/06, Fenton Town Hall

• Middleport Canal Festival, 13 & 14/06, Middleport Pottery

• Nigel Kennedy, 11/06, Victoria Hall

• Keith And Marj: Us, Pots and A Welsh Chapel, 13/06, Regent Theatre

• Strange Stoke, 19/06, Artisan Tap

• Father’s Day at Emma Bridgewater, 21/06

• Claywork Stoke, 27/06 Gladstone Pottery Museum

• Contemporary Collage Workshop, 27/06, Silk Mill House

• Derren Brown: Only Human, 30/06-04/07, Regent Theatre

• Living History Festival, 04/07, Middleport Pottery

• Waitress, 06/07-11/07, Regent Theatre

• Bombay Express 04/07, 01/08 15/08 & 22/08, Churnet Valley Railway

• Stoke Craft Brew Festival, 11/07, King’s Hall

• Lord of the Dance: 30th Anniversary, 13/07-15/07, Regent Theatre

• ABBA dayparty, 18/07, the Sugarmill

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

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Election News & Good News 🎉

• 🗳️ Jonathan Gullis is Back. Elected to represent the Kidsgrove and Ravenscliffe ward on 7 May, Reform UK borough councillors have chosen Jonathan Gullis, the former Tory MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, as their leader. He will be officially nominated at the authority’s annual meeting next Wednesday, which will also announce the new cabinet members and their responsibilities. After the election, Reform UK has a majority of 27 seats, Conservatives have 15, and Labour 2.

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🎸 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Mike Lloyd 🎸

This week, it’s a posthumous award, following the news that a bust of Mike Lloyd has been unveiled outside the Victoria Hall to honour his contribution to Stoke-on-Trent’s cultural life following his sudden death last December at the age of 82. At the unveiling, Lord Mayor Cllr Steve Watkins said Mike brought music to the city for more than 60 years and left a lasting impact on musicians, music fans, and everyone who knew him. He added, “For many of us, Mike will always be remembered for his record stores – landmarks of our local musical culture. Almost everyone over the age of 45 has queued outside Mike Lloyd Music for tickets and new releases.”

• 💷 Save Big, Win A £10,000 Holiday! Dreaming of a gorgeous getaway? Hanley Economic Building Society has introduced its new Jet Set Saver account, with customers eligible to enter a prize draw for a holiday worth £10k. Designed to reward regular saving, the account offers one automatic entry into the draw for every £500 saved, with a maximum deposit limit of £300,000. The competition closes on 28/08/2026, so there’s still plenty of time to enter. More info here.

• 🏜️ JCB Targets Hydrogen Land Speed Record. The company’s Hydromax, a 32-foot car powered by hydrogen engines, hopes to set a new land speed record after it spent five years and £100 million developing hydrogen internal combustion engines. Twenty years after rewriting the record books with the JCB Dieselmax car, the company is returning to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah to set a new land speed record. Driven by Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, the JCB Dieselmax set a world diesel land speed record of 350.092 mph in August 2026 – a record that still stands. In August this year, Green will once again take the wheel at Bonneville SpeedWeek, the world’s leading land speed racing event, where competitors from around the globe will gather to chase records.

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• 🏥 Stoke’s Waiting Lists Among the UK’s Most Improved. University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has been named among the top five most improved NHS Trusts in England for reducing diagnostic waiting times. The latest national figures, which compare February 2025 with February 2026, show UHNM has cut the number of patients waiting more than six weeks for diagnostic tests such as scans and investigations. Figures also show continued improvement in planned care, with Referral to Treatment (RTT) performance rising from 57.75 per cent in November 2024 to 64.74 per cent in March 2026, above UHNM’s target of 63.4 per cent. The improvements mean around 8,000 fewer patients are now waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment across UHNM.

• 🌿Stoke-on-Trent College Opens Advanced Green Technology Centre. It opened the new £2.3 million Advanced Green Technology Centre last Friday at the College’s Burslem Campus, which features electric vehicle charging training bays, solar PV systems, heat pump technology, and external/internal wall insulation (EWI/IWI) training. The development will help build the retrofit and green technical skills needed across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire while creating clear progression routes into Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), engineering, and sustainable construction careers.

  

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

Following his defection from the Conservatives to Reform UK last December — and after serving six months as Mayor of Kidsgrove, a position he stepped down from in January — Jonathan Gullis has returned to the forefront of local politics and is set to take control of Newcastle Borough Council from Wednesday.

Through social media, Gullis has already outlined several priorities for the new administration, including holding rogue and absentee landlords to account, tackling anti-social behaviour, and working with local colleges and universities to create more skilled, well-paid jobs in the area. He has also pledged to continue campaigning for justice for residents affected by Walley’s Quarry.

During his time as MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, Gullis frequently courted controversy. He referred to some former constituents in Smallthorne, Cobridge and Tunstall as “scumbags”, “scrotes”, and “savages” respectively in relation to issues such as fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour. A vocal supporter of the government’s Rwanda policy, he also stated in Parliament that he had “no problem at all” with asylum seekers being housed in tents.

He later clashed publicly with Gary Lineker on Channel 4 News, accusing the broadcaster of comparing Red Wall voters to Nazis and racist bigots.

How do you feel about Jonathan Gullis’ return to local politics? Let us know in the comments below.

Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week

🗳️ Reform Takes Control of Newcastle Borough: You were keen to see the list of newly elected councillors across the region; it’s here in case you missed it
🎖️ Two Staffs Companies Recognised in King’s Award for Enterprise: many Knotters checked out the fabulous bathroom and wall lights from winners Lynguard
🎼 Music from the Movies: Stoke-on-Trent Symphony Orchestra will play the scores from films including Indiana Jones and Psycho on 06/06 at Fenton Town Hall

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Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent): Weather’s good next Sunday!

Mon 🌧️ 13° (10°) Tue 🌩️ 16° (11°) Wed 🌦️ 18° (10°) Thu 🌦️ 22° (13°) Fri 🌦️ 24° (13°)
Sat 🌧️ 23° (11°) Sun ☀️ 22° (11°).

Sunrise 18/05: 05.06 ☀️ Sunset 18/05: 21.04 🌅

HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)

• 🤗 Look After Yourself – And Loved Ones. Various dates, times and locations. Whether you’re worried about your own wellbeing or that of a loved one, there are plenty of events going on this week to address mental health. Urban Wilderness CIC is hosting free peer-support meetings with Changes Health & Wellbeing on 13/05 and 15/05 from 10am-12pm. Likewise, Active Stoke has yoga, mindfulness activities, movement sessions and wellbeing events running all week: we like the sound of the Mindfulness Walk at Burslem Park (14/05, 12.30pm-1.30pm) and the Group Breathing and Mindfulness session (13/05, 10am) at Dimensions.

• 🪩 Celebrating ABBA. 18/07, 3pm-8pm, the Sugarmill. Tinsel wigs at the ready! Prepare to show off your best moves to Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, Mamma Mia and more at this daytime disco. It’s the perfect event if you’re not into late nights and queuing for taxis, as you’ll likely be home by 9pm. Tickets £10.

• 🍵 Relive Some of History’s Iconic Moments. 04/07, Middleport Pottery, 10am-4pm. Get ready to experience a day of immersive history surrounded by re-enactors that will make you believe you’ve travelled back in time at the Living History Festival. The event will cover everything from the Vikings to the Victorians, the Romans to the World Wars, and more. Admission free.

• 🕺Lord of the Dance Returns. 13/07-15/07, 2.30pm &.7.45pm, Regent Theatre. The global phenomenon that redefined Irish dance is set to return to the UK in 2026 to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Tickets from £49.38.

• 🎻 Music From the Movies. 06/06, 7.30pm, Fenton Town Hall. From Indiana Jones to Psycho via Jurassic Park, Dances with Wolves and How to Train Your Dragon, the City of Stoke-on-Trent Symphony Orchestra presents Hollywood's greatest scores live in concert. Tickets from £22; students and children £10.

  

• 👑 The Real Richard III. 07/06, 1pm-2pm, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Historian Matt Lewis examines what we really know about one of the most controversial kings in his talk Determined to Prove a Villain: The Real Richard III. He’ll cover his childhood during the eruption of the Wars of the Roses, his time in the north as England’s most significant nobleman, and his accession to the throne and fall at the Battle of Bosworth. Tickets £12 (includes a cream tea).

EVENTS LISTINGS

• Parkrun, every Saturday at 9am at Hanley Park; Trentham Gardens; Cannock Chase; Lower Milehouse Lane, Newcastle; Birchall Playing Fields; Isabel Trail, Stafford

• Heritage Walks with the Red Haired Stokie, various dates

• Make & Bake, ongoing, Mitchell Arts Centre

• Girls Who Walk Stoke, ongoing, various locations

• Beth Johnson Ramblers for the Over 50s, various dates

• Queerquest, ongoing, Staffordshire Moorlands

• Open mic nights, various dates, Darcy’s + The Woodman, The Beehive Inn, The Windmill Werrington, Foxfield Arms, & The Victoria

• Potteries Centre Events Series, ongoing, Potteries Centre

• Throw a Pot and Pottery Painting, ongoing, Kiln at Number 12

• Throw a Pot Sessions, ongoing, LoveClay

• What’s In Store at the V&A Wedgwood Collection sessions, every Wednesday

• Lunch at Stoke Minster, every Thursday

• Fresh Food Friday, Biddulph Town Hall, every Friday

• Guided Walks in the Peak District, Various, Multiple (Peak District)

• Titanic Brewery Tour, multiple dates, Titanic Brewery

• Spitfire Comedy Open Mic, multiple dates, Old Post Office, Burslem

• World of Wedgwood Artisan markets, every second Sunday of the month

• Electric Tentacle Electronic Music Open Mic, multiple dates, Artisan Tap

• Honeybox Live, various dates and locations

• Hamza Yazzin: My Life Behind the Lens, 15/05, Victoria Hall

• So You Think You’re Not Funny Eh? Creative Writing Workshop with Nick Degg, 15/05, Brampton Museum

• Pint of Science Festival, 18/05-20/05, various locations

• Wildlings Play Group, 19/05, 16/06, 14/07, Ladderedge Country Park

• Scott Bradlee’s Post-Modern Jukebox, 23/05, Victoria Hall

• Burslem Urban Rock Festival, 23/05, Lemmy Plaza

• Single White Female, 26/05-30/05, Regent Theatre

• Blue Bell Beer & Music Festival, 29-31/05, The Blue Bell Pub

• Much Ado About Nothing, 31/05, Bolton Gate Farm

• Back to the Bone Festival, 06/06, Fenton Town Hall

• Music from the Movies, King’s Hall, Stoke

• Matcha Bowl & Whisk Holder Workshop, 07/06, LoveClay

• Determined to Prove a Villian: The Real Richard III, 07/06, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

• Wilde About Oscar, 09/06, Middleport Pottery

• Vicky Swan & Jonny Dyer, 12/06, Fenton Town Hall

• Middleport Canal Festival, 13 & 14/06, Middleport Pottery

• Nigel Kennedy, 11/06, Victoria Hall

• Keith And Marj: Us, Pots and A Welsh Chapel, 13/06, Regent Theatre

• Strange Stoke, 19/06, Artisan Tap

• Claywork Stoke, 27/06 Gladstone Pottery Museum

• Contemporary Collage Workshop, 27/06, Silk Mill House

• Derren Brown: Only Human, 30/06-04/07, Regent Theatre

• Living History Festival, 04/07, Middleport Pottery

• Bombay Express 04/07, 01/08 15/08 & 22/08, Churnet Valley Railway

• Stoke Craft Brew Festival, 11/07, King’s Hall

• Lord of the Dance: 30th Anniversary, 13/07-15/07, Regent Theatre

• ABBA dayparty, 18/07, the Sugarmill

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

Election News & Good News 🎉

• 🗳️ Reform Takes Control of Newcastle Borough. Whatever your politics, you can’t ignore Reform’s growing presence across our region. Last year, it took over Staffordshire County Council and in 2026, it’s Newcastle Borough’s turn to capitulate to the Reform political juggernaut. Farage’s party took 27 of the 44 seats available (23 were needed for a majority), the Tories were beaten into second place with 15 seats, while Labour secured just two. Among those elected was former Tory MP for Stoke-on-Trent North Jonathan Gullis for Kidsgrove and Ravenscliffe following his defection to Reform last year. Current council leader Simon Tagg retained his Westlands seat while Labour group leader Dave Jones kept his Keele seat. You can find a list of all the new councillors here.

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🏺 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Kaytea Budd-Brophy 🏺

Award-winning ceramic artist Kaytea Budd-Brophy has just embarked on a five-week residency at the University of Staffordshire and plans to scale up her work there as part of an ongoing partnership with the British Ceramics Biennial (BCB). She is one of four artists awarded the Fresh Talent Prize at the 2025 British Ceramics Biennial, with each prize including an artist residency at a leading academic institution. During her residency, supported by MA Ceramics course leader Alison Rafferty, Kaytea will expand her collection while drawing inspiration from our heritage.

• 💷 Empowering Change: the Hanley’s Visit to Disability Solutions. Hanley Economic Building Society recently visited Hartshill-based charity Disability Solutions to present them with a cheque for £2,200, which has helped fund two new laptops to support their work. These devices will play a key role in advancing their technology, enabling them to continue delivering vital services to those who need them most. Disability Solutions provides support, advice, and resources to people with disabilities, helping them live more independent and fulfilling lives. Its work spans advocacy, employment support, and improving digital access.

• 👩‍🌾 Wanted: Volunteers for Community Garden. Green-fingered? You could help out at an award-winning community garden in Clayton managed by Better Together Community Support Group as Our Secret Garden CIC. Open every Saturday between March and October (weather permitting), it is maintained by a small team of volunteers, who have helpeddevelop it into an oasis for nature and hosted events in partnership with Staffordshire Breathe Easy, the Dove Service and NHU social prescribers. The plans include developing the nature area and improving the paths as well as introducing activities around healthy eating and reducing food waste. Available to help out on Wednesdays 10am-2pm and Saturdays 1pm-3pm? Call Jess on 07388 436 964 for more info.

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• 👔 Two Staffordshire Companies Recognised in King’s Award for Enterprise.

  Stone’s Woolcool, the only packaging company using a range of sheep’s wool insulated packaging on a commercial scale, and Chesterton lighting manufacturer Lyngard were both victorious in the International Trade category as the prestigious business award celebrated its 60th anniversary. Hand sculpted by designer Carmen Lynguard, each of its lampshades is slip-cast in fine bone china and the solid brass components are made from 78% recyclable material (we love this Claret Epoque Florale Campell Pattern wall light for the bathroom and the Campbell Fine Bone China Wall Light with Delft Hand-Painted Trim). The companies will receive their awards later this year via the Staffordshire Lieutenancy on behalf of the King. More details on this year’s winners here.

• 🪴 Dimbleby Ceramics Opens in Longton. Husband and wife firm Dimbleby Ceramics has expanded its presence in Longton by opening an additional space next to its sister property, Kiln at Number 12, at 10 Bennett Precinct. If you’re interested in learning to make your own ceramics with resident master potter Mathew, then head to the workshop page to book courses including Throw a Ramen Bowl, Pottery Painting and Throw a Bubble Vase.

  

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

Defined by the runaway success of the self-styled “turquoise wall”, the election has left Newcastle Borough Council firmly in Reform’s hands. It was a resounding victory for Nigel Farage’s party, with more than 61.36 per cent of voters — almost two in every three — backing Reform candidates at the ballot box.

Before last Thursday’s vote, Reform held just one seat on the council; it has now gained 26 more. The Conservatives, meanwhile, have fallen from 26 seats to 15, while Labour’s representation has collapsed from 17 seats to just two, as many Newcastle residents appeared to use the election to voice their frustration with Westminster.

Martin Rogerson, chairman of Reform UK’s Newcastle-under-Lyme branch and the newly elected councillor for Talke and Butt Lane, said the party was “delighted and humbled” that residents had placed their trust in Reform following its seismic victory and added that the party would “get to work straightaway delivering local services.”

One of the most significant challenges facing the new administration will be the reorganisation of local government. Westminster is expected to decide this summer on a new model for local government in Staffordshire, with the new unitary authorities due to take over in 2028. This would mean that the newly elected borough councillors in Newcastle may serve only half of their intended four-year terms.

Reform’s preferred proposal for local government reorganisation would divide the county along along East-West lines. The proposed East Staffs authority would include Stoke, Staffs Moorlands, East Staffs, Lichfield, and Tamworth, while West Staffs would cover Newcastle, Stafford, Cannock Chase, and South Staffordshire.

In contrast, Stoke-on-Trent City Council supports the establishment of a North Staffordshire unitary authority that combines Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle, and Staffordshire Moorlands, with a separate authority covering the south of the county.

What do you think about the local election results and the proposed reorganisation of local government? Let us know in the comments below.

Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week

🏥 Stoke’s New Diagnostic Centre Welcomes First Patients: It’s at the former Sainsbury’s site in Hanley and offers services including X-rays and ultrasound
🎸 Urban Rock Festival Hits Stoke: Celebrate Lemmy in Burslem on 23/05
🍛 All Aboard the Bombay Express: Feast on Indian fare aboard the Churnet Valley railway this July and August – dates and more info here

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Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):

Mon ⛅️ 11° (4°) Tue ☁️ 13° (6°) Wed 🌦️ 12° (5°) Thu 🌦️ 12° (5°) Fri 🌧️ 13° (6°)
Sat 🌦️ 14° (7°) Sun 🌦️ 14° (8°).

Sunrise 11/05: 05.17 ☀️ Sunset 11/05: 20.53 🌅

HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)

• 🕺 A Very Stokie Rave. Gladstone Pottery Museum, 27/06, 4.30pm-10.30pm. Get on your dancing shoes for a very special evening of music in the shadow of Gladstone’s bottle kilns. After making history last summer, Claywork, aka local DJ Jordan Tilstone, is hosting a second exclusive event of trance, techno and schranz. Tickets from £36.25 per person.

• 🍻 Cheers! It’s the Blue Bell Beer & Music Festival. 29-31/05, The Blue Bell Pub. Get ready for real ales and ciders, live music, and pub grub at Kidsgrove pub The Blue Bell. You can bring your own camping chairs and a £3 commemorative glass is available; plastic glasses are free, or bring your own. Admission free.

• 🍵 Make Your Own Matcha Bowl & Whisk Holder. 07/06, LoveClay, 1pm-2.30pm. Love matcha? Why not craft a pinch pot matcha bowl, shaping and glazing it entirely in your own style, with Sarah Derbyshire of Cinnamon Ceramics? You’ll also decorate a pre-thrown whisk holder during the workshop. Admission fee includes an iced matcha on arrival. Tickets £39.

• 🎭 Wilde About Oscar. 09/06, 6pm for 7pm, Middleport Pottery Join award-winning actor Jonathan Goodwin for a sprightly one-man show about Oscar Wilde in a show scripted and adapted by himself. Tickets £16.

• 🍛 All Aboard the Bombay Express. 04/07 1.30pm, 01/08 15/08 & 22/08, 1.30pm & 6.30pm, Churnet Valley Railway. Love trains? Love Indian food? Then get booked on to the Bombay Express, where you’ll travel in vintage coaches while sampling some delicious Indian food prepared onboard. Tickets £38.50.

  

• 😵‍💫 Derren Brown: Only Human. 30/06-04/07; 7.30pm (04/07 2.30pm & 7.30pm) Regent Theatre. Prepare to be astonished as the multi award-winning master of mind control and psychological illusion, Derren Brown, returns with his brand new live show, Only Human. Tickets from £22.23.

EVENTS LISTINGS

• Parkrun, every Saturday at 9am at Hanley Park; Trentham Gardens; Cannock Chase; Lower Milehouse Lane, Newcastle; Birchall Playing Fields; Isabel Trail, Stafford

• Heritage Walks with the Red Haired Stokie, various dates

• Make & Bake, ongoing, Mitchell Arts Centre

• Girls Who Walk Stoke, ongoing, various locations

• Beth Johnson Ramblers for the Over 50s, various dates

• Queerquest, ongoing, Staffordshire Moorlands

• Open mic nights, various dates, Darcy’s + The Woodman, The Beehive Inn, The Windmill Werrington, Foxfield Arms, & The Victoria

• Potteries Centre Events Series, ongoing, Potteries Centre

• Throw a Pot and Pottery Painting, ongoing, Kiln at Number 12

• Throw a Pot Sessions, ongoing, LoveClay

• What’s In Store at the V&A Wedgwood Collection sessions, every Wednesday

• Lunch at Stoke Minster, every Thursday

• Fresh Food Friday, Biddulph Town Hall, every Friday

• Guided Walks in the Peak District, Various, Multiple (Peak District)

• Titanic Brewery Tour, multiple dates, Titanic Brewery

• Spitfire Comedy Open Mic, multiple dates, Old Post Office, Burslem

• World of Wedgwood Artisan markets, every second Sunday of the month

• Electric Tentacle Electronic Music Open Mic, multiple dates, Artisan Tap

• Honeybox Live, various dates and locations

• Cancer Awareness Bus Tour, various dates and locations from 09/03

• Dawn Chorus, 03/05, Trentham Estate

• Mow Cop Killer Mile, 07/05, Mow Cop

• Stone Food & Drink Festival, 08/05-10/05, Westbridge Park

• Dan Walsh, 08/05, Fenton Town Hall

• Wartime in the Potteries, 09/05, Middleport Pottery

• Community Day, 09/05, Trentham Estate

• Hamza Yazzin: My Life Behind the Lens, 15/05, Victoria Hall

• So You Think You’re Not Funny Eh? Creative Writing Workshop with Nick Degg, 15/05, Brampton Museum

• Pint of Science Festival, 18/05-20/05, various locations

• Wildlings Play Group, 19/05, 16/06, 14/07, Ladderedge Country Park

• Scott Bradlee’s Post-Modern Jukebox, 23/05, Victoria Hall

• Burslem Urban Rock Festival, 23/05, Lemmy Plaza

• Single White Female, 26/05-30/05, Regent Theatre

• Blue Bell Beer & Music Festival, 29-31/05, The Blue Bell Pub

• Much Ado About Nothing, 31/05, Bolton Gate Farm

• Back to the Bone Festival, 06/06, Fenton Town Hall

• Matcha Bowl & Whisk Holder Workshop, 07/06, LoveClay

• Wilde About Oscar, 09/06, Middleport Pottery

• Vicky Swan & Jonny Dyer, 12/06, Fenton Town Hall

• Middleport Canal Festival, 13 & 14/06, Middleport Pottery

• Nigel Kennedy, 11/06, Victoria Hall

• Keith And Marj: Us, Pots and A Welsh Chapel, 13/06, Regent Theatre

• Strange Stoke, 19/06, Artisan Tap

• Claywork Stoke, 27/06 Gladstone Pottery Museum

• Contemporary Collage Workshop, 27/06, Silk Mill House

• Derren Brown: Only Human, 30/06-04/07, Regent Theatre

• Bombay Express 04/07, 01/08 15/08 & 22/08, Churnet Valley Railway

• Stoke Craft Brew Festival, 11/07, King’s Hall

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

Good News 🎉

• 🏡 Zanzibar’s Transformation Underway. Fancy living in a former nightclub? Capital & Centric has partnered with Aspire Housing, to reimagine former Newcastle nightspot Zanzibar, with contractors moved in to start enabling works this month. Sitting at the gateway to the town centre on the junction of Marsh Parade and Hassell Street, the site will become a new neighbourhood, with 62 affordable homes, public spaces, improved pedestrian access and parking, and and a layout designed to feel closely connected to the surrounding town. There will even be an enterprise centre to support local startups. So, when is it ready? Completion is expected in autumn 2027. Drop them a line for more info.

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🏏 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Danielle Wyatt-Hodge🏏

A key figure in international cricket with nearly 300 caps, Stoke-on-Trent’s Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, one of the faces featured on the 100 Years, 100 Faces mural, has been named in the squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Danni, who currently plays for Surrey, Southern Brave and Gujarat Giants, played for Meir Heath Women and Staffordshire Ladies along with men’s club Whitmore before making her England debut in 2010. England open their campaign against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on 12/06 at 6.30pm. There are still tickets available from around £20 if you want to cheer her on. You can watch this match and the final match of the World Cup for free on Sky Mix.

• 💷 Bank on a Local Building Society. For 172 years, Hanley Economic Building Society has been part of the fabric of our local community. Founded in 1854, it was established to help local people save securely and become homeowners, and that purpose remains the same. Its heritage is built on trust, mutuality, and a deep commitment to supporting the people of Staffordshire. From its early days serving local workers and families to the modern society it is today, the Hanley has remained independent and firmly rooted in the community, and many have been members for decades. Want to open an account? You can do it online.

• 👷‍♀️ Celebrating Stoke in Parliament. Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire’s businesses, culture, and talent were showcased in Parliament last week, as MPs Leigh Ingham, Gareth Snell, Dave Robertson, and Karen Bradley co-hosted a House of Commons event to mark the 10th anniversary of Staffordshire Day. The exhibitors included everyone from global manufacturers GE Vernova and JCB to independent food and drink producers. Three roundtables took place in Parliament, exploring the opportunities shaping the region. Leigh Ingham led a discussion on the role of culture in Staffordshire’s identity and economy, Gareth Snell chaired a session on skills and learning for business, and Josh Newbury led a session on an Interview Promise for care-experienced young people.

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• 🏥 Stoke’s New Diagnostic Centre Welcomes First Patients. The centre is providing patients with quicker access to services including X-rays and ultrasound, and helping ease pressure on local hospitals. Neil Edwards from Blurton was the centre’s first patient and went for a lung scan. He said, “the building is fantastic, very easy to get to, and the parking is brilliant.” In addition to X‑rays and ultrasound, the centre provides blood tests plus cardiology, respiratory, and sleep testing, and is open seven days a week, 12 hours a day.

• 🤘 New Lemmy-Themed Venue for Burslem. Created by IFK Legacy CIC to welcome visitors from around the world who come to see the Lemmy statue, explore Burslem, and discover Stoke, Old No. 6 on Market Place serves official Motörhead beers and ‘Lemmy lemonade’. There’s also a mini museum featuring band memorabilia and artwork. The venue will help raise funds for the Lemmy Project, including plans to transform the Grade II listed Queen’s Theatre into Kilmister Halls, a music venue honouring the Motörhead frontman.

  

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

Aiming to transform forgotten corners into thriving communities where people want to live, socialise, and put down roots, social impact developer Capital&Centric is fast becoming a major presence in Newcastle. With Rye Park (a new neighbourhood in Ryecroft), Karparc (the former Midway Car Park), and Astley Place (the former York Place shopping centre) all progressing alongside the Zanzibar development, their impact on the town will soon be hard to miss.

Positioned at the gateway to the town centre, at the junction of Marsh Parade and Hassell Street, the former nightclub site is set for a transformation that goes beyond housing. Plans include an enterprise centre to support local startups, as well as green spaces designed for both residents and the wider community to enjoy.

Meanwhile, Astley Place recently reached a major milestone, officially topping out just a couple of weeks ago. The scheme marks the first time a former shopping centre has been converted into homes anywhere in the UK, and it’s set to deliver 42 one- and two-bedroom apartments, a music venue, and more than 11,000 square feet of space for independent shops, bars, and cafes.

Which of Capital&Centric’s developments are you most excited about – and which would you most like to call home? Let us know in the comments below.

Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week

🛋️ New Initiative to Tackle Furniture Poverty: Leave your unwanted pieces at Hanford’s Household Waste and Recycling Centre and they’ll be donated to charity…
⛴️ Take to the Canals with Middleport: the canal festival is on 25/05, more info here
🏧 Supporting Savers in Stoke: Knotters were keen to find out about the Hanley’s Dual Saver account… there’s more info here

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Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):

Mon ☁️ 15° (6°) Tue 🌧️ 12° (5°) Wed 🌧️ 11° (5°) Thu ⛅️ 13° (5°) Fri 🌧️ 14° (6°)
Sat 🌩️ 15° (7°) Sun 🌩️ 15° (7°).

Sunrise 04/05: 05.31 ☀️ Sunset 04/05: 20.41 🌅

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).

• 🎭 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.

• 👩‍❤️‍👩 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.

  

• 🎻 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

• Parkrun, every Saturday at 9am at Hanley Park; Trentham Gardens; Cannock Chase; Lower Milehouse Lane, Newcastle; Birchall Playing Fields; Isabel Trail, Stafford

• Heritage Walks with the Red Haired Stokie, various dates

• Make & Bake, ongoing, Mitchell Arts Centre

• Girls Who Walk Stoke, ongoing, various locations

• Beth Johnson Ramblers for the Over 50s, various dates

• Queerquest, ongoing, Staffordshire Moorlands

• Open mic nights, various dates, Darcy’s + The Woodman, The Beehive Inn, The Windmill Werrington, Foxfield Arms, & The Victoria

• Potteries Centre Events Series, ongoing, Potteries Centre

• Throw a Pot and Pottery Painting, ongoing, Kiln at Number 12

• Throw a Pot Sessions, ongoing, LoveClay

• What’s In Store at the V&A Wedgwood Collection sessions, every Wednesday

• Lunch at Stoke Minster, every Thursday

• Fresh Food Friday, Biddulph Town Hall, every Friday

• Guided Walks in the Peak District, Various, Multiple (Peak District)

• Titanic Brewery Tour, multiple dates, Titanic Brewery

• Spitfire Comedy Open Mic, multiple dates, Old Post Office, Burslem

• World of Wedgwood Artisan markets, every second Sunday of the month

• Electric Tentacle Electronic Music Open Mic, multiple dates, Captain’s Bar

• Honeybox Live, various dates and locations

• Cancer Awareness Bus Tour, various dates and locations from 09/03

• Dusk Beaver Safari, 29/04, Trentham Estate

• Specialist Tree Identification Walk, 29/04, Bucknall Park

• Gladstone Bunny Hunt, until 30/04, Gladstone Pottery Museum

• How to Build A Spitfire, 01/05, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

• Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical, until 02/05, Regent Theatre

• Foundry Festival, 02/05 & 03/05, Tontine Square and Piccadilly

• The Garden Gate, 02/05, Bolton Gate Farm

• One Day Only – Celebrating Danny Stubbs Legacy, 03/05, Keele University

• Dawn Chorus, 03/05, Trentham Estate

• The Lady Boys of Bangkok, until 03/05, Trentham Shopping Village

• Snoopy Trail, until 04/05, Trentham Estate

• Mow Cop Killer Mile, 07/05, Mow Cop

• Stone Food & Drink Festival, 08/05-10/05, Westbridge Park

• Dan Walsh, 08/05, Fenton Town Hall

• Wartime in the Potteries, 09/05, Middleport Pottery

• Community Day, 09/05, Trentham Estate

• Hamza Yazzin: My Life Behind the Lens, 15/05, Victoria Hall

• So You Think You’re Not Funny Eh? Creative Writing Workshop with Nick Degg, 15/05, Brampton Museum

• Pint of Science Festival, 18/05-20/05, various locations

• Wildlings Play Group, 19/05, 16/06, 14/07, Ladderedge Country Park

• Scott Bradlee’s Post-Modern Jukebox, 23/05, Victoria Hall

• Burslem Urban Rock Festival, 23/05, Lemmy Plaza

• Single White Female, 26/05-30/05, Regent Theatre

• Much Ado About Nothing, 31/05, Bolton Gate Farm

• Back to the Bone Festival, 06/06, Fenton Town Hall

• Vicky Swan & Jonny Dyer, 12/06, Fenton Town Hall

• Middleport Canal Festival, 13 & 14/06, Middleport Pottery

• Nigel Kennedy, 11/06, Victoria Hall

• Keith And Marj: Us, Pots and A Welsh Chapel, 13/06, Regent Theatre

• Strange Stoke, 19/06, Artisan Tap

• Contemporary Collage Workshop, 27/06, Silk Mill House

• Stoke Craft Brew Festival, 11/07, King’s Hall

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

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.

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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.

• 💷 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.

• 👷‍♀️ 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.

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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.

• ⛲️ 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 🌅

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.

• 🛩️ 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.

• 🏺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.

• 🎧 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.

EVENTS LISTINGS

• Parkrun, every Saturday at 9am at Hanley Park; Trentham Gardens; Cannock Chase; Lower Milehouse Lane, Newcastle; Birchall Playing Fields; Isabel Trail, Stafford

• Heritage Walks with the Red Haired Stokie, various dates

• Make & Bake, ongoing, Mitchell Arts Centre

• Girls Who Walk Stoke, ongoing, various locations

• Beth Johnson Ramblers for the Over 50s, various dates

• Queerquest, ongoing, Staffordshire Moorlands

• Open mic nights, various dates, Darcy’s + The Woodman, The Beehive Inn, The Windmill Werrington, Foxfield Arms, & The Victoria

• Potteries Centre Events Series, ongoing, Potteries Centre

• Throw a Pot and Pottery Painting, ongoing, Kiln at Number 12

• Throw a Pot Sessions, ongoing, LoveClay

• What’s In Store at the V&A Wedgwood Collection sessions, every Wednesday

• Lunch at Stoke Minster, every Thursday

• Fresh Food Friday, Biddulph Town Hall, every Friday

• Guided Walks in the Peak District, Various, Multiple (Peak District)

• Titanic Brewery Tour, multiple dates, Titanic Brewery

• Spitfire Comedy Open Mic, multiple dates, Old Post Office, Burslem

• World of Wedgwood Artisan markets, every second Sunday of the month

• Electric Tentacle Electronic Music Open Mic, multiple dates, Captain’s Bar

• Honeybox Live, various dates and locations

• Cancer Awareness Bus Tour, various dates and locations from 09/03

• Gladstone Bunny Hunt, until 30/04, Gladstone Pottery Museum

• Snoopy Trail, until 04/05, Trentham Estate

• Dusk Beaver Safari, 22/04 & 29/04, Trentham Estate

• River Fly Monitoring, 22/04, Bucknall Park

• The Palette Project: Green, 23/04-26/04, Great Bear Gallery

• Comedy Kiln, 23/04, Bottlecraft

• Friday Feast at Goods Yard, 24/04, Goods Yard Stoke

• Longton Parade & Pig Walk, 24/04, Longton Town Centre

• The Lady Boys of Bangkok, 24/04-03/05, Trentham Shopping Village

• Spring Festival & Earth Day celebrations, 26/04, Middleport Pottery

• Bat Walk, 27/04, Biddulph Grange Country Park

• Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical, 27/04-02/05, Regent Theatre

• Specialist Tree Identification Walk, 29/04, Bucknall Park

• How to Build A Spitfire, 01/05, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

• Foundry Festival, 02/05 & 03/05, Tontine Square and Piccadilly

• The Garden Gate, 02/05, Bolton Gate Farm

• One Day Only – Celebrating Danny Stubbs Legacy, 03/05, Keele University

• Dawn Chorus, 03/05, Trentham Estate

• Mow Cop Killer Mile, 07/05, Mow Cop

• Stone Food & Drink Festival, 08/05-10/05, Westbridge Park

• Dan Walsh, 08/05, Fenton Town Hall

• Wartime in the Potteries, 09/05, Middleport Pottery

• Community Day, 09/05, Trentham Estate

• Hamza Yazzin: My Life Behind the Lens, 15/05, Victoria Hall

• So You Think You’re Not Funny Eh? Creative Writing Workshop with Nick Degg, 15/05, Brampton Museum

• Pint of Science Festival, 18/05-20/05, various locations

• Wildlings Play Group, 19/05, 16/06, 14/07, Ladderedge Country Park

• Scott Bradlee’s Post-Modern Jukebox, 23/05, Victoria Hall

• Single White Female, 26/05-30/05, Regent Theatre

• Vicky Swan & Jonny Dyer, 12/06, Fenton Town Hall

• Keith And Marj: Us, Pots and A Welsh Chapel, 13/06, Regent Theatre

• Contemporary Collage Workshop, 27/06, Silk Mill House

• Stoke Craft Brew Festival, 11/07, King’s Hall

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

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.

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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.

• 💰 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.

• 🚴 £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.

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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.

• 🍺 Hanley Named Among Top 10 Pub Towns in the UK. The Coachmakers Arms, which is renowned for its cosy lounge and snug, and the recently restored Golden Cup Inn both helped Hanley be named one of the UK’s best pub towns, according to a recent listing by The Telegraph by travel writer Will Hawkes. Other frequently recommended bars and pubs in the Hanley area included The Unicorn Inn, which has five hand-pulled traditional ales, BottleCraft and The Woodman.

🥨 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 🌅