Some people like to hug trees. For Terry Woolliscroft, it’s the bottle ovens at Gladstone, where he’s been volunteering for 53 years. He throws his arms around the bricks with a grin while his brother-in-law, Paul Niblett, always ready with a smile and an anecdote for guests wandering round the museum, looks on. Between them they’ve spent more than a century volunteering at Gladstone.

Former Wedgwood man Terry is not only a volunteer but also co-author of Bottle Ovens & the Story of the Final Firing (2018) with his wife Pam, and creator of several websites including a page dedicated to bottle ovens, and a potbank dictionary that began life in a notebook in 1968 and features almost 1,800 terms and counting.

Terry must arguably rank as one of Stoke’s biggest bottle oven fans. “I can’t keep bottle ovens out of my mind, to be honest. I started the Bottle Oven Art Club during lockdown and that involved loads of people locally. About 100 people got involved and signed up to the Bottle Oven Art Club, and we had an online exhibition,” he begins.

Thanks to his contributions to helping shape the city’s identity, he features on the 100 Faces mural just above Robbie Williams – although he wasn’t there for the unveiling. “They forgot to invite me to the big opening. I was looking through the list and I thought, ‘Bloody hell, that’s me!’” Over the course of the two hours while we chat, I find this is typical Terry – modest, funny, and quietly unassuming, the perfect counterpoint to his more outgoing brother-in-law, who loves providing colour and background to the Gladstone story to guests.

It’s a bright, sunny July day when I meet Terry and Paul for a coffee at the museum, then wander outside for some photos, when there are just a handful of visitors before the school holidays kick off. He cosies up to Bottle Oven No 1, arms wrapped as far as they can around the 175-year old, 60-foot high oven once used for the initial firing of china as I try, and fail, to capture the enormity of this great piece of history.

Terry and his brother-in-law Paul, a former Michelin engineer who’s been here since 1971, have each devoted thousands of unpaid hours to preserving one of Stoke-on-Trent’s greatest pieces of history, the only complete Victorian pottery factory open to the public. “If it wasn’t for the volunteers in the very early days, the museum wouldn’t exist today,” Paul states.

When the volunteers first walked through the gates in the early 1970s, Gladstone wasn’t the thriving heritage attraction visitors know today. It was a former pottery that needed an enormous amount of work before it could safely open to the public.

“We were mostly Michelin apprentices,” Paul recalls. “We were looking for a project we could get involved with as young engineers.”

Every Thursday evening, after finishing work, they arrived armed with tools to strip out redundant pipework, remove old machinery, and rescue equipment from potbanks that were closing across the city. They sometimes worked alongside young offenders from Werrington detention centre on the weekend, who were rewarded with fish and chips at lunchtime for their efforts.

Looking back, what strikes both men isn’t just what they built, but what they managed to save, and the relationships they formed along the way. Terry met his wife, Pam, a Gladstone curator here, while Paul met Terry’s sister.

As pottery factories closed across Stoke-on-Trent, machinery that had once been at the heart of the industry was heading for the scrapyard. The volunteers travelled from works to works rescuing throwing wheels, lathes, pumps, saggers and countless other pieces of equipment that might otherwise have disappeared forever.

Keeping the Potteries Alive

When Paul first arrived at Gladstone in ‘71, there were no guided tours, no school visits and no television crews filming pottery competitions. There was simply work to be done. The museum wouldn’t officially open until 1975, giving volunteers just a few years to help transform the derelict Victorian pottery into somewhere capable of welcoming the public.

“There was always something that needed doing,” Paul recalls. A donated steam engine needed installing. Buildings had to be made safe. Elsewhere, contractors reinforced walls and added buttresses to support structures that had never been designed to welcome thousands of visitors each year.

The volunteers tackled whatever they could. Some brought engineering skills. Others brought muscle. Terry laughs over his cuppa as he remembers becoming part of what the team affectionately called the “heavy brigade”, shifting materials, laying floors and helping wherever extra pairs of hands were needed.

As Stoke-on-Trent’s pottery industry contracted, another task emerged. Factories that had been at the heart of the city’s economy for generations were closing their doors, and with them came the risk that irreplaceable machinery would simply disappear.

Read more

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

Hi, and welcome to The Knot's weekly round-up of feel-good news from across Stoke and Staffs to cheer you up this Monday!

Aimed to deliver visible improvements that strengthen local pride, enhance neighbourhoods, the Pride in Place Impact Fund is being invested directly in the spaces that matter most to residents and community organisations across Stoke-on-Trent, with all projects chosen nominated by them rather than the council, or MPs.

The cash is being spent to deliver improvements to community spaces, parks, high streets and public places across the city, with Hanley’s Fountain Square receiving £80,000 towards public space and infrastructure improvements.

The Pride in Place Impact Fund has also recently awarded £10,000 for improved disability access at Uddallsfield allotments in Northwood, £5,800 for interpretation boards at Stoke Minster, and £40,800 to carry out improvements at Hambro Park in Fegg Hayes. Operating until 31 March 2027, successful projects will be scheduled for delivery across 2025/26 and 2026/27.

There’s more details on the Pride in Place Impact Fund and its objectives here.

Leave a comment

Good News 🎉

• 🥰 Brightening up Hanley. Fountain Square is one of the latest to benefit from the £1.5 million Pride in Place Impact Fund, with £80,000 given to fund public space and infrastructure improvements. With little shelter and seating at present, it is hoped that the revamp would encourage residents to spend more time in the square rather than simply passing through. Work on this project is set to commence later this year. And no, there won’t be a new fountain, alas.

🏃‍♂️THE KNOT’S PEOPLE OF THE WEEK – our Commonwealth Games Athletes

The 2026 Commonwealth Games are officially underway in Glasgow, with more than 70 countries competing across 10 sports and six para sports. Among the competitors are four Stokies: Jazmin Sawyers (long jump), Harry Ledingham-Horn (track cycling), Seamus Derbyshire (400m hurdles) and Oliver Carter (para swimming). Good luck to them all, we’re sure they’ll do fab. Tune in to watch it on TNT Sports (subscription required) or catch nightly live coverage and highlights on BBC Alba.

• 👩‍⚕️Cancer Treatment Available at Audley Health Centre University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust has teamed up with Pharmaxo Healthcare to launch the first community-based clinic that provides cancer treatment closer to home. Developed with West Midlands Cancer Alliance, the clinic provides systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) and other specialist infusion services in a community setting, helping to ease pressure on hospital services and improve the patient experience. The clinic is available for eligible patients at Audley Health Centre.

• 🚮 Tunstall Gets A Clean Up. After customers raised concerns about litter, fly-tipping and overgrown communal spaces, colleagues from housing and support provider Honeycomb Group came together for a Community Day to clear waste, refresh communal gardens and cut back overgrown trees. Local residents Sam and June, who have lived in the community for 19 years and recently celebrated 50 years of marriage, said: “It’s lovely to see people out here supporting the community and looking after us as tenants. It really shows that people care.”

Subscribe now

• 📖 Exploring Stoke’s Global Ceramics Influence. A new publication exploring our global ceramics heritage and its connections with China is now available to download for free. Legacy and Continuity: Willow Pattern Ceramics and Stories of ‘Other’ brings together international research and contemporary artistic perspectives examining the cultural exchange that helped shape the ceramics industry. Produced by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, it explores the global history of one of our most recognisable ceramic designs and the centuries of cultural exchange that shaped it. The publication accompanies the exhibition Willow Pattern Ceramics and Stories of ‘Other’, at the Spode Museum until 30/08.

• 😃 Our Top Five Don’t-Miss Events this Week. We know that you Knotters are buzzing about Stoke-on-Trent trying to get bee-friendly city status, so don’t miss this free event at Burslem Park (01/08, 11am-2pm), where you can go on a bumblebee safari, see a working beehive, and join bee-themed arts and crafts.

  
  There’s Live Music at Spode coming (07/08, 21/08, 04/09 & 18/09, 6pm-8pm), licensed events with local musicians in support of The Spode Museum Charitable Trust; tickets £6 and includes a welcome drink and nibbles (over 18’s only). Middleport’s theatre nights always seem to sell out, so book now for Titanic Tales (08/09, arrival from 6pm, performance 7pm), a stage show that explores the myths and legends of the doomed ocean liner; tickets £16.

  
  Heritage Open Days are back! One of the first to be announced is over at Gladstone (18/09, 10am-5pm); admission free. Sober festival Recoverfest, which celebrates recovery in all its forms and is open to all, is being held at Uttoxeter Racecourse (06/09, 12pm-6pm), with Lucy Spraggan headlining. There’s also a Healing Field with yoga, plus food and kids entertainment; admission free, get your ticket here.

🥨 Most popular stories from the last week on The Knot

🗳️ Andy Burnham is now PM. What does it mean for Stoke? From ceramics to transport and housing to education, we break it down…
🍫 Filming at Middleport for The Cadburys: More info on the period drama here
😠 Critics question Staffs County Council’s Governance: Council leader Martin Murray has since responded, and we’ve added his quotes in…

Leave a comment

Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):

Mon 🌤️ 23° (13°) Tue 🌦️ 26° (13°) Wed 🌤️ 26° (14°) Thu ☀️ 25° (13°) Fri ☀️ 24° (12°) Sat ☀️ 24° (13°) Sun 🌤️ 25° (12°).

Sunrise 27/07: 05.18 ☀️ Sunset 27/07: 21.11 🌅

Share

Subscribe now

The first northern PM since Harold Wilson left office in 1976, the newly-elected MP for Makerfield, Andy Burnham, made his opening speech as Prime Minister this Monday, promising to decentralise power away from Westminster with a No 10 in Manchester, a bold plan to end homelessness, and the biggest building of social housing since the post-war period. The new PM has talked about this moment being ‘a circuit breaker for Britain,’ bringing forward some of the biggest changes we’ve seen over the last 40 years.

All four of Stoke’s MPs are currently Labour and, perhaps unsurprisingly, welcome his appointment. Dr Allison Gardner, MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, commented that she’s ‘excited’ by the direction Andy has set out, particularly his commitment to reindustrialising Britain. “Communities like Stoke-on-Trent South have the skills, the heritage and the potential to be at the heart of that mission,” she said.

MP for Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove, David Williams, said Burnham ‘gets’ places like ours. “He knows our towns don’t want lecturing from Whitehall,” he added.

So, how will his policies affect us here in Stoke? Read on to find out our predictions based on what he’s said so far…

Share

Cost of Living: His speech talked about giving people “breathing space and some help with the cost of living.” Yesterday, he pledged to remove tax from utility bills from 1 October 2026, which is expected to save households £45 over a six-month period.

Ceramics: Burnham has repeatedly argued that Britain should rebuild its manufacturing base rather than relying on financial services. With ceramics among the UK's most energy-intensive industries, Stoke could benefit if his government expands support for industrial decarbonisation, exports and advanced manufacturing. The government's recent £120 million support package for the ceramics sector suggests the industry is already firmly on Whitehall's radar.

Read more

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

Hi, and welcome to The Knot's weekly round-up of positive news from across Stoke and Staffs, along with some news on local government reorganisation.

The government announced its plans for local government reorganisation last week and, as expected, it has opted to split the county into North Staffordshire and South & Mid Staffordshire, with the current 10 councils in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent set to be replaced by North Staffordshire Unitary and Southern and Mid Staffordshire Unitary. These new unitary councils are to be in place from April 2028.

The proposal was put forward by Stoke-on-Trent, Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire and Stafford councils, with Stoke-on-Trent City Council leader, Jane Ashworth, claiming, “this is the option that most closely reflects the reality of how people live, work and travel across our area and provides the strongest basis for future success.”

Councillor Martin Murray, Chair of the Staffordshire Leaders Board and leader of Staffordshire County Council said, “This is a significant and complex programme, but we will put residents first, protect essential services, and work together to deliver a system that works for the people we serve.”

However, Newcastle MP Adam Jogee has called the shake-up “completely unacceptable” and that he rejected them in “the strongest terms”, citing concerns over protecting Newcastle residents from the debt held by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Staffordshire County Council, and Staffordshire Moorlands.

Leader of Newcastle Borough Council, Jonathan Gullis said the plans to abolish the council were “a shameful betrayal of Newcastle-under-Lyme and the people who call our Borough home.” He added, “We will now fight Newcastle-under-Lyme’s corner throughout every stage of the transition. We will demand fair representation and ensure that our residents and communities receive their fair share of resources.”

Check out Wednesday’s edition of The Knot for more details and comment on this.

Leave a comment

Local Government Revamp & Good News 🎉

• 👩‍⚖️ Two New Unitary Authorities for Stoke & Staffs. After public consultation, the government has opted to split the county into two unitary authorities, North Staffordshire and South & Mid Staffordshire. Elections for the new shadow unitary authorities are expected to take place in May 2027, with the new councils formally taking responsibility for services from April 2028. After the transition, the unitary authorities will deliver all council services in their area, from children’s services, and adult social care to highways and waste collection.

📽️ THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Toby Jones 📽️

Actor Toby Jones, star of Mr Bates vs The Post Office and Marvellous, visited the Gladstone Pottery Museum on Who Do You Think You Are?, aired on the BBC last week (watch here) to explore his family’s links to the city through his father, Freddie Jones. His great-grandfather, Henry Enoch Jones, worked as a saggar maker. During the show, Gladstone’s curator and interim head of museum, Ben Miller, revealed that he’s Toby’s third cousin once removed! Small world eh?

• 🌆 Vision for former Zanzibar Site unveiled. Construction has officially begun at the former Zanzibar nightclub site in Newcastle, with Capital&Centric now set to transform brownfield site into a new mixed-use neighbourhood, delivering 63 affordable homes alongside five enterprise units at a key gateway into the town centre. Groundworks are progressing on site under a letter of intent agreed earlier this year, with HBC Construction appointed to deliver the scheme.

• 🎬 Filming at Middleport for The Cadburys. A film crew was in situ at Middleport Pottery this week for a period drama about the Cadbury family, and follows the underdogs of the cocoa world on their journey towards creating the world-famous Cadbury’s chocolate bar. Starring Mathew Baynton, Felicity Montagu and Joanna Scanlan, it’s due to air on free-streaming service U&Original sometime in 2027, and there’s more info on the series here.

Subscribe now

• 🤩 Minton floor unveiled in Liverpool. One of the finest examples of Victorian design, the Minton floor at St George’s Hall was created in the 1850s using 30,000 handcrafted tiles featuring Liver birds, roman gods, sea nymphs and tridents. Usually kept covered under a wooden floor, you can take in this magnificent piece of local craftsmanship over the summer. Choose from the Minton Floor Reveal (until 02/09; 10am-3pm, £5.50), a 360-degree walk around the perimeter of the floor, or the Minton Tiles Experience (until 18/08; Monday to Sunday at 10am, 1pm and 3pm), a guided tour that explains the floor’s design in detail. You’ll need to wear protective shoe covers for both tours.

  

• 😃 Our Top Five Don’t-Miss Events this Week. Cool cocktail bar Desire is hosting Culture Served (28/08) from 6pm-10pm with a guest shift from top mixologist Lele Menshah. Minecraft is coming to Alton Towers, with a UK-exclusive six-week summer event, Minecraft Meet the Mobs (now-28/08), with photo opps with creepers and a Baby Mobs Trail among the highlights; tickets £37 online. Book onto the Valentine Clays Open Day, (10/09), with a morning session, All About Casting, and an afternoon session, All About Glaze. Ever fancied walking Stoke’s 47 remaining bottle kilns? Now you can! The six-hour, 14-mile walk begins at 9.30am on 08/08 from Cherished Chimneys and ends at Gladstone to raise cash for a mural to commemorate Stoke’s nightclub culture. The Knot will be there – see you there. Entry £10. Fancy a laugh? Chris Ramsey from The Chris & Rosie Ramsey Show is at the Regent (12/09) at 7.30pm with relatable tales about parenthood. Tickets from £36.74.

🥨 Most popular stories from the last week on The Knot

👮‍♀️ Targeted activity to reduce crime: Four days of action were held this month to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime across Stoke-on-Trent
💰 £20 million for Meir North: Knotters were keen to find out more about this revamp
🪧 Critics question governance at Staffs County Council: The Reform-led council has faced criticism for a perceived lack of collaboration with other parties

Leave a comment

Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):

Mon ☀️ 25° (14°) Tue 🌤️ 28° (14°) Wed 🌤️ 28° (14°) Thu ☀️ 28° (15°) Fri 🌧️ 27° (15°) Sat 🌤️ 24° (12°) Sun ☀️ 24° (12°).

Sunrise 20/07: 05.08 ☀️ Sunset 20/07: 21.22 🌅

Share

Subscribe now

Since sweeping to power back in the May 2025 local elections by winning 49 of the 62 seats available, the Reform-led Staffordshire County Council has been mired in controversy, with two leaders forced to step down for racist social media posts, and councillor Charlotte Kelly defecting to the Conservatives last month due to allegations of regular bullying, swearing, and sexism within her local Reform branch.

The council’s third leader, Cllr Martin Murray, was appointed in March 2026 under a mandate of “stability, strong leadership and focus”. Conservative members, however, voted against Murray's formal appointment to the leadership role while Green Party and local independent councillors chose to abstain rather than support him.

One vocal critic of the administration is Cllr Alec Sandiford, who characterised the current administration’s leadership as “Trumpian” and lacking in transparency, citing the use of “smoke and mirrors” to avoid public scrutiny. He also accused the administration of misleading the public about its powers, particularly regarding national issues such as immigration, over which the county council has no direct control.

He expressed frustration on the breakdown in engagement between council officers and other local bodies. This includes Reform councillors’ reluctance to work with other councils, districts, and boroughs, which negatively impacts cross-council collaborations such as highways enforcement.

Cllr Murray was approached for comment and said, “I reject allegations regarding transparency, leadership, and my conduct. The administration has been open about the decisions it has taken and is committed to working constructively with partners across Staffordshire. Any suggestions of wrongdoing are entirely unfounded and pure politicisation.”

He added that he rejected the claim that the Council's priorities do not reflect residents' needs. “Our focus remains on delivering essential county council services, improving value for money, maintaining financial stability, and ensuring that every pound spent delivers the maximum possible benefit for Staffordshire residents.”

Culture wars prioritised as spending questioned

Cllr Sandiford told The Knot that, instead of prioritising collective decision-making for the benefit of the community, it is leading with Westminster-style identity politics. “There’s no direction from the current administration, all they’ve got is culture wars like a proposal to scrap “woke” EDI training and another to change the policy on dress code so all council members have to wear a suit, shirt and tie even when it’s 28 degrees or more. It’s really quite archaic and there are bigger problems to deal with.”

The council is currently requesting that the government write off around £90 million of accumulated SEND-related deficit while simultaneously highlighting about a £6 million underspend which, Sandiford argues, could result in less funding from central government in the future.

He added that it has spent £350,000 on additional security since coming to power last May, including £35,000 between January and May alone.

Read more

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

Hi, and welcome to The Knot's weekly round-up of feel-good news from across Stoke and Staffs to brighten up your Monday!

Stoke-on-Trent City Council joined forces with Staffordshire Police and local partners last week to carry out targeted activity in our town centres across the city. The four Days of Action looked to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime as well as engaging with residents, providing reassurance, and explaining the support available to people experiencing problems in their neighbourhoods.

Among the activities, the ASB Team and police delivered engagement events, including use of the mobile police station and community surgeries so residents could raise concerns directly with officers while providing education on how to report ASB related incidents. Teams also visited rough sleeping encampments, with support provided to individuals before sites were cleared and cleaned.

Councillor Duncan Walker, cabinet member for Safe and Resilient Communities and Housing, said: “We encourage residents to speak up when issues are affecting their quality of life, as early conversations and timely support can often help prevent concerns from escalating.”

Leave a comment

Good News 🎉

• 👮‍♀️ Targeting Crime. Stoke-on-Trent City Council latest initiative to address crime is part of ongoing work that aims to make communities safer and more welcoming for residents and visitors alike. Four days of action were held at the beginning of the month to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime as well as engaging with residents, providing reassurance and explaining the support available to people experiencing problems in their neighbourhoods. Residents can find examples of anti-social behaviour, along with advice and guidance here.

🩺 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Dr Sarveson Rajkumar 🩺

Our very own UHNM is now one of only five NHS Trusts in the UK offering a pioneering minimally invasive procedure to help patients with severe swallowing difficulties. Since the service launched at the Royal Stoke University Hospital in December 2025, eight patients have successfully undergone the procedure. It’s Dr Sarveson Rajkumar, consultant gastroenterologist and endoscopist, who is leading this amazing initiative. He says many of the patients the trust has worked with have experienced severe swallowing difficulties and may struggle to eat and drink. He added: “We’ve made an excellent start with positive outcomes from our first patients. As the service grows we hope to increase capacity and in time develop UHNM as a regional centre for this specialist procedure.”

• 🌆 Longton Town of Culture Bid Makes History. Longton’s campaign to become the UK’s first Town of Culture is set to become part of history, with its official bid postcard joining the National Museums Liverpool collection. The postcards have also been brought together on an interactive online map, so people can explore the towns taking part in the competition and discover the stories behind their bids. Longton’s colourful design captures the landmarks, businesses and traditions that reflect its identity and ambition. The artwork celebrates some of Longton’s landmarks and culture, with references to Walker’s Nonsuch toffee, the Longton Pig Walk, and Jollees, the live music venue that hosted the World Professional Darts Championship between 1979 and 1985.

• 🐆 Leopard Hotel Owners Under Pressure to Act. Stoke-on-Trent City Council is frustrated by the lack of progress being made to restore the former Leopard Hotel in Burslem, stating it expects to see “meaningful progress” and ”will not hesitate to use enforcement powers where necessary” with the current owners (see our interview with owner Danny Singh, who spoke to us about the building being badly damaged by a fire back in 2022, here). This has led to a new planning application being submitted for the former Grade II-listed hotel, which hosted the first meeting between Josiah Wedgwood, Thomas Bentley, Erasmus Darwin and James Brindley, and led to the construction of the Trent and Mersey Canal.

Subscribe now

• 🏆 Who Won at Staffs Chamber Business Awards? Last week, engineering and manufacturing firm The HEX Group was crowned Business of the Year at the awards, with another engineering company, Drayton Beaumont, crowned best Medium/Large Business, while Aston Marina won best Small Business. AMB Insurance and Midlands Air Ambulance both triumphed in the Responsible Business award, while Trentham’s head of events and marketing, Kerrie Pope, scooped Ambassador of the Year. You can check out all the winners here.

• 😃 Our Top Five Don’t-Miss Events this Week. Got any plans for the August Bank Holiday yet? Get along to The Big Feast the free bank holiday weekender (28/08 & 29/08) in Hanley town centre. Expect physical theatre, circus and a new Sensasian zone celebrating South Asian arts and culture.

  
  Love history? There’s a Viking Re-enactment at Stafford Castle (15/08 & 16/08), with aggressive battle re-enactments, authentic living-history encampments, and ancient trade craft displays; admission free; children’s Viking Longboat workshop £5. Feeling crafty? Book onto the Bottle Oven Skyline Needle Felting, (31/08, Spode Museum) where you can pay homage to our heritage by learning to needle-felt the city’s iconic bottle oven architecture.

  
  Into September, there’s the Staffordshire Vegan Festival at The Verve (27/09, 10.30am-4.30pm), where you can sample plant-based street food from around the globe and explore sustainable lifestyle brands; tickets £5, VIP £15. If you haven’t visited yet, the Staffy Trail, a collection of heritage and art trails in and around Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford and Tamworth town centres, is on until 19/07.

🥨 Most popular stories from the last week on The Knot

🗞️ Stoke Libraries Launch Free Digital Newspaper Service: Library members can access up to six newspapers daily, including The Sentinel, The Guardian & Metro
🏗️ Jonathan Gullis Faces Reform Backlash Over Local Plan: It has since passed, but not without plenty of controversy and splits within the party…
🌈 Community Speaks out on Pride Display Removal: Still getting lots of reads

Leave a comment

Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):

Mon ☀️ 25° (14°) Tue 🌤️ 28° (14°) Wed 🌤️ 28° (14°) Thu ☀️ 28° (15°) Fri 🌧️ 27° (15°) Sat 🌤️ 24° (12°) Sun ☀️ 24° (12°).

Sunrise 13/07: 04.59 ☀️ Sunset 13/07: 21.30 🌅

Share

Subscribe now

Less than two months after taking control of Newcastle Borough Council, leader Jonathan Gullis is facing one of the biggest tests of his leadership as councillors prepare to vote on the borough's controversial Local Plan tomorrow. While Gullis says the council may have little legal choice but to adopt it, the recommendation has triggered criticism not only from opposition parties and campaigners but also from Reform councillors in some of the areas most affected by the proposals.

In defending the plan, Gullis’s central argument is that Reform inherited it after the independent planning inspector had finished examining it, leaving no opportunity to rewrite it. He is recommending that it is approved at Full Council today (8 July) because it’s already passed through years of consultation and independent examination. He added that failing to adopt it could leave the borough without an up-to-date planning framework and increase the risk of speculative development.

Gullis has said that if Reform had drafted the Local Plan from the outset it would have "done some things differently, including certain site allocations and burdensome regulations we do not believe should have been included", but argues the council inherited the document after the examination process had finished, leaving councillors with a choice between adopting it or risking speculative development.

The disagreement has exposed divisions within Reform itself. In Audley, the proposed site of AB2, construction of six logistics and distribution warehouses and 200-space HGV lorry park is planned, all three Reform borough councillors – Rhys Machin, Patricia Harrison and Janice Sain-Reiners – have issued a joint public statement, which says, “We will not vote for a plan that places further pressure on our local communities when we believe those concerns have not been properly answered.”

And in Mow Cop & Newchapel, Reform councillors Jonathan Downs and Scott Stevenson have since announced they will vote against the Local Plan after previously supporting it, saying they had listened to residents' concerns.

Read more

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

Hi, and welcome to The Knot's weekly round-up of good news from around the region, designed to start your week with a little positivity.

From Broadway shops to the local library, residents, businesses and community organisations in Meir North are being invited to help shape the area’s future following a £20 million investment through the Government’s Pride in Place programme.

Meir North wasn’t selected at random. It was chosen because it faces significant challenges, including high levels of deprivation and weaker community infrastructure, such as fewer community organisations, facilities and local meeting places than many other neighbourhoods.

Now, from supporting local shops and improving GP access to repairing pavements, creating more community events and investing in parks and public spaces, residents have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help decide how that funding is spent.

What would you spend £20 million on in Meir North? We’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below.

Leave a comment

Good News 🎉

• 🏗️ Plans for Meir North. Newly appointed Meir North Pride in Place Board chair Catherine Kilvington will work with fellow board members and the local community to help decide how £20 million of government funding is invested over the next decade. Better public spaces, tackling anti-social behaviour, improvements to local shopping areas and youth projects are just some of the ideas that could benefit. A former broadcaster with Signal 1, Kilvington brings more than 10 years' experience in leading projects, managing change and bringing communities together. Fancy getting involved? There’s more info here.

Share

☕️ THE KNOT’S PEOPLE OF THE WEEK – Sandra and Clyve Baddeley ☕️

Here at The Knot, we love a good coffee – and we know that you do, too, as every time we write about new cafes, we get plenty of clickthroughs! That’s why we’re chuffed to hear there’s a fresh spot for a brew called Biddulph Baristas, which is handily situated right on the high street. Owned by couple Sandra and Clyve Baddeley, it serves up lattes, smoothies, milkshakes, and home-made baked goodies, with recent offerings including a raspberry, coconut and lemon cake and gluten-free chocolate cake. Fancy dropping in? It's open 9am–4pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9am–1pm on Wednesday, and 10am–5pm on Saturday.

• 🖼️ Enjoy Art Outdoors. A new outdoor exhibition, Past Times, has opened in Bethesda Gardens, with life-sized artworks exploring everyday life across the generations through large-scale reproductions of paintings from the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery’s collection. A life-size portrait of Josiah Spode II, works by acclaimed British and Irish artists John Currie, Roderic O’Conor and Ethel Gabain, and paintings by Stoke-born artist June Burnett are among the highlights of the show. It’s free to visit until 31 January 2027.

• 📚Stoke Libraries Launch Free Digital Newspaper Service. Local library members can now read six daily newspapers for free, thanks to a new digital newspaper service available through the BorrowBox app. The ePress service offers access to the latest editions of the Sentinel, Staffordshire Newsletter, The Guardian, the i newspaper, Daily Mail and Metro. Newspapers are available on the day they are published, and back copies can also be browsed 24 hours a day. Want to give it a try? There’s more info here.

Subscribe now

• 🐝 Stoke Bid to Become Bee-Friendly City. Stoke-on-Trent has launched a bid to become a Bee Friendly City, with plans to create a network of pollinator-friendly spaces across the city. A bottle kiln-shaped bee hotel has already been installed at the new Potters' Patch community garden in Hanley, while other projects in the pipeline include wildflower meadows at Stoke Minster and Berryhill Fields, a bee-friendly community garden at Smithfield, and a dedicated wildlife area at Longton Park. Want to find out more? Head to the Bee Friendly City event at Burslem Park on 1 August (time TBC), or read more about the initiative here.

• 😃 Our Top Five Don’t-Miss Events this Week. What happens when football and fairy tales collide? Footy Fairy Tales has the answer, with live music and performances across local libraries (10/08, Newcastle Library, 10.30am; Kidsgrove Library 2.30pm; 18/08 Stone Library, 10.30am and Stafford Library 2.30pm), tickets £3 for the first child, 50p for any siblings, and adults and under 3s go free.

  
  Check out Saints in the Summer Music Festival (23/07-26/07) at All Saints Church, Leek, with acts including ABBA tribute REVIVAL (tickets £20) and Britain’s Got Talent star Denise Leigh (tickets £15). There’s free family storytelling with Tales in the Park at locations including Tunstall, Hanley and Fenton (28/07-14/08, 11am-3pm), admission free.

  
  Burslem History Club is hosting The Quest for Arthur Berry’s Biddulph this Wednesday (08/07) at 7.30pm; tickets £3 (pay on the door). Tunstall’s Great Bear Gallery is hosting an art exhibition, Greetings from the Gallery, (01/08 & 02/08, 10am-6pm), a postcard-sized takeover of original artworks by local artists; admission is free.

🥨 Most popular stories from the last week on The Knot

🌿 Protecting Nature from Extreme Weather: We spoke to the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, Keele University, and local campaigners about their biggest concerns
🏊‍♀️ Open Water Swimming for Tittesworth: Knotters wanted to find out more about the managed open water swimming sessions (Thur eves & Sat morns); there’s more here
🌈 Community Speaks out on Pride Display Removal: Still proving popular with you…

Leave a comment

Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):

Mon ⛅️ 23° (15°) Tue 🌧️ 23° (14°) Wed ☀️ 27° (15°) Thu 🌧️ 29° (16°) Fri ☁️ 27° (15°)
Sat 🌧️ 27° (14°) Sun 🌦️ 27° (14°).

Sunrise 06/07: 04.51 ☀️ Sunset 06/07: 21.35 🌅

Share

Subscribe now

After Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire experienced record-breaking temperatures, it becomes harder to ignore that extreme weather is here to stay. North Staffordshire peaked at 33.9°C last week after a “heat dome” stationary area of high pressure parked over western Europe, with a critical incident declared at Royal Stoke due to hospital equipment failures and an influx of dehydrated patients. The extreme heat also triggered school closures and wildfire alerts at country parks.

Staffordshire County Council issued urgent emergency pleas banning all barbecues, warning that the parched terrain had created a highly volatile, extreme wildfire risk. This followed a near miss incident at The Roaches last Monday (22 June), when Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) were called to extinguish a blaze. With bird nesting season at its peak, the fire could have devastated breeding curlew, meadow pipits, and birds of prey and put plants including bog asphodel and sphagnum moss at risk.

Fires can tear through fragile moorland in a matter of minutes, destroying years of conservation work in its wake. The Staffordshire Wildlife Trust has lauched a summer appeal to raise £15,000 to create and maintain firebreaks and restore damaged habitats. It has since increased its fundraising target to £20,000 to help it meet the extra pressures it faces during heatwaves. With the elevated risk, teams are on high alert across reserves so it can support the Fire Service where needed and help wildlife and habitats recover where fires have caused damage.

“Just enjoy the weather”

Public attention on wildfires is focused on high profile spots such as the Roaches but there are many others potentially at risk, including Wetley Moor, a rare and invaluable area of lowland heath at the edge of Stoke, Mark Johnson, a member of Moorlands Climate Action, told The Knot.

The group recently organised a showing of the People’s Emergency Briefing film, which highlights the risks posed by climate change. While the showings were well attended, Johnson said not everyone respected the message.

Johnson added: “We were disappointed by the response of at least one local political leader that said ‘people should just get out and enjoy the weather’ two days before the Roaches caught fire again.”

On a more positive note, he added that it will be working with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council on a plan for adapting to climate change.

“Much of this work should fall to the County Council but, with the exception of their statutory responsibilities for flood prevention, we no longer expect leadership from that source.”

Fires “a lot more scary”

At Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, there is relief that the fire was contained but plenty of trepidation over what may happen next. Reserves officer Roz Lees told The Knot that the recent fires have been ‘a lot more scary’ as they have ignited quicker due to dry vegetation. She now carries her work phone with her all the time and explained they had to employ weekend staff on the Roaches for the first time last summer. It’s not just the fire risk but more storms that are putting pressure on the Trust.

She said: “The winter just gone, we should have been putting fire breaks in the heather, but there were so many storms that we had to tidy all the fallen trees up first.”

The summer appeal will help raise money for equipment such as water backpacks and hose reels, which can help put out small, early-stage wildfires. It has also planted “thousands and thousands” of sphagnum plants, a moorland plant which she describes as “nature’s sponge” as it can hold ten times its weight in water.

Read more

Today, The Knot is brought to you by Hanley Economic Building Society, which offers mortgages, savings accounts including ISAs, insurance, and more

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

Happy Monday from The Knot. We hope that you stayed cool in last week’s blisteringly hot weather.

This week, we're taking a look at the efforts underway to protect Stoke-on-Trent's historic buildings. The council says it is making progress in safeguarding the city's heritage and "won't tolerate" private owners allowing listed buildings to fall into further decline, with a stronger focus on enforcement where action is not taken.

Since the Heritage Enforcement Programme was stepped up last summer, 93 cases have been opened targeting some of the city’s most prominent and long-standing problem properties. They include the Wedgwood Institute, Burslem Indoor Market, and Falcon Works, where the council has taken planning enforcement action against the owners while also working to secure and protect the buildings.

Major restoration projects are also gathering pace. Emergency structural repairs continue at the Wedgwood Institute to make the building safe and weatherproof ahead of a full restoration and a sustainable new future. Meanwhile, structural repairs and stabilisation are underway at Burslem Indoor Market.

Over at Hanley Town Hall, meanwhile, restoration work is progressing under its new owners, with plans for an aparthotel, cafe, and co-working space. A memorandum of understanding has also been signed to explore Queen’s Theatre’s future as a music and arts venue celebrating Lemmy’s life.

Next up, the council hopes to secure major investment for the Chatterley Whitfield complex, where restoration costs alone could require around £150 million.

What do you think? Are these the right priorities for Stoke’s heritage, or are there other historic buildings you’d like to see restored? Let us know in the comments below.

Leave a comment

Good News 🎉

• 🧱 Heritage Building Support. Stoke-on-Trent City Council has taken enforcement action on 93 heritage buildings as it steps up work to tackle neglected historic properties in private ownership. The programme uses legal powers where necessary to secure repairs, improvements, and the reuse of vacant buildings. Enforcement action has already delivered improvements, including full compliance in Parliament Row – where buildings have been repainted, repaired, and restored – and further repairs at 10 problem sites in Etruria and Hanley. In Longton and Meir, 16 legal notices have been issued across 21 sites, with improvements including cleared overgrown sites, tidied frontages and repairs to building exteriors. Over in Burslem, enforcement action is underway across 16 sites, and in Hartshill and Stoke, multiple sites are improving.

Share

😎 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Steve Taylor 😎

Steve, a mentor at Stoke-on-Trent College, was told he may only have months to live after being diagnosed with melanoma for the second time in 2023. But after pioneering immunotherapy treatment, he has since teamed up with Cancer Research UK and NIVEA Sun to help people enjoy the sun safely. He told The Knot that during last week’s heatwave, he had cream on every day and avoided going out between 12pm and 4pm whenever possible. “My head is always covered, and I avoid any extended time in the sun.” He added that he wears SPF50 as soon as the weather starts to pick up in the spring. “When going out in the sun, I am usually quite covered, and a cap is a must. It is very rare that I take my top off in the sun, even on holiday, and if doing so, I use SPF50 at regular intervals.” Now, he’s encouraging people to follow  three steps this summer: seek shade, cover up, and apply sunscreen regularly and generously. For more advice, visit the Cancer Research page here.

Sponsored content from Hanley Economic Building Society

• 💷 Why Mutual Building Societies Still Matter Today. In an increasingly digital and fast-paced financial world, mutual building societies like Hanley Economic Building Society continue to put people before profit. Owned by their members, they are guided by a commitment to serve their communities and support customers’ financial wellbeing. This mutual model enables organisations like Hanley Economic to focus on supporting local communities, offering personal service, and building long-term relationships rather than chasing short-term gains. For many customers, this local, community-first approach provides reassurance and trust in an often complex financial landscape.

• 🩱Open Water Swimming For Tittesworth. Tittesworth Watersports will be trialling managed open water swimming this summer, with sessions running on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. There will be a 400m course set up, with sessions lasting 50 minutes and costing £8. Managed open water swimming will only take place at authorised times within designated areas of the reservoir confirmed as safe from underwater obstructions, where water sampling and water temperatures are measured to certain parameters, swim safety is provided, and swimmers provide/wear mandatory safety equipment. For more details and to book online, go here; there’s still availability for 02/07 at 17.50 or 04/07 at 07.20.

  

Subscribe now

• 🏗️ Plans for Spode Works are Go. Capital & Centric is busy developing Spode Works into a cool new destination with public spaces to hang out, including indie cafes, bars, and restaurants as well as workspaces and padel courts. The wider master plan will create a mixed-use neighbourhood featuring more homes and workspaces against a backdrop of greenery and new planting.

• 😃 Our Top Five Don’t-Miss Events this Week. Got kids? Take ‘em to Kidsfest at Trentham (26/07) to meet a friendly neighbourhood superhero, princess meet-and-greets, K-pop sing-alongs, magicians and roaming performers from 6pm-9pm; tickets £18 adult, £15 child, £4 two and under. Check out LGBTQ+ Time Warp: 1500s to the Present (31/07) at Stafford’s Ancient High House from 7pm; tickets £5.95. Wannabe performers and music lovers, Bolton Gate Arts is hosting open mic night Gigz@theGate (04/07, 01/09 & 05/09), 6pm-10pm; admission free. The Big Feast is returning to Hanley town centre (28/08 & 29/08), with the usual line-up of physical theatre, circus, and dance; admission free. Cycling fans can book Carlton Kirby’s True Tales of the Tour de France at the Mitchell Arts Centre (02/07), where the commentator will reflect on his front-row experiences from the Tour at 7.30pm; tickets £21.

🥨 Most popular stories from the last week on The Knot

🌈 Community Speaks out on Pride Display Removal: We spoke to MP Leigh Ingham, local councillors, local author Katye Tillstone, and Vellichor Books about the ban
🧙‍♂️ Tolkein Weekend in Great Haywood: It’s being held on 11 & 12/07, 10am-4pm, to explore the area’s links to J. R. R. Tolkien with walks and talks; admission free.
🏺 Burleigh Rescue Sparks Fresh Hope: This story is still proving popular with Knotters

Leave a comment

Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):

Mon ⛅️ 20° (12°) Tue 🌧️ 21° (13°) Wed ☁️ 21° (12°) Thu 🌧️ 21° (13°) Fri ☁️ 20° (11°)
Sat 🌧️ 20° (13°) Sun 🌦️ 19° (12°).

Sunrise 29/06: 04.46 ☀️ Sunset 29/06: 21.38 🌅

Share

Subscribe now

The removal of Pride displays from Staffordshire's libraries has sparked dismay among LGBTQ+ residents, authors, booksellers and campaigners, with critics warning the decision risks making some people feel less visible and less welcome in their communities.

Just ahead of Pride Month, Reform-led Staffordshire County Council implemented a county-wide policy to remove all LGBTQ+ Pride-related displays and flags, pausing all discretionary displays from its local libraries to focus library spaces solely on core educational and council services. The removal of these displays in local hubs – including sites in the Staffordshire Moorlands such as Leek, Biddulph, and Cheadle – has generated significant local and national debate, with an online petition to reverse the policy generating more than 4,300 signatures.

Labour councillor Matthew Spooner, who represents Cheadle North East on Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and is a member of the Pride in the Moorlands steering group, will hold a Queer Public Reading event outside Biddulph Library this Friday (26/06) at 3.30pm in protest at the ban, ahead of the event’s celebration of the local LGBTQ+ community.

Deputy council leader Hayley Coles stated the authority is taking a “consistent approach” to ensure libraries remain politically neutral, with physical display spaces redirected toward reading, learning, and local services. However, the Lichfield Liberal Democrats noticed that the council recently hosted a meeting in the town’s library, which questions their stance that libraries should not represent one group.

One of the policy’s fiercest critics is Labour MP for Stafford, Eccleshall and the Villages Leigh Ingham. She told The Knot many constituents had been in touch to raise concerns about the removal of the Pride displays and it’s been ‘very upsetting’ for a lot of people. “There is nothing wrong with a display with books about LGBTQ+ people or families with two mums or dads. They are only promoting inclusion and acceptance. It’s so sad that Staffordshire County Council seem to want to stop that.”

Ingham questioned where the policy could ultimately lead. “Based on their own criteria, this new ban could also end displays or resources being used to talk about Armistice Day, Women’s Suffrage, Mental Health Awareness, St George’s Day, Disability Awareness, Chinese New Year, Diwali, and even the Poppy Appeal. Will Reform UK be cancelling Christmas decorations too?”

The council said it is not their role to promote any identity group at taxpayer expense, but Ingham argued, "given that Pride displays were already up, I am not clear how the staff time used to take the displays down is a saving for the taxpayer. It doesn’t make sense.” She added that the removal of displays celebrating different groups and causes represented a missed opportunity to bring communities together.

Rotting Bible thrown into bookshop with Pride display

Mitch Hughes, owner of Hanley-based Vellichor Books, which currently features a prominent Pride display, told The Knot that a man threw a damp, rotting Bible smelling strongly of cigarette smoke into the shop last week before directing slurred remarks at a member of staff. He does not believe the timing is a coincidence and is worried it may be a brick through the window next. While local libraries can still lend out LGBTQ+-themed books, he is concerned that they may be targeted too. “It’s a slippery slope and it usually ends up one way – displays removed, books banned, then people are burning books and flags.”

Read more

Good News 🎉

• 👮 More Bobbies on the Beat. Stoke-on-Trent has been assigned two additional dedicated neighbourhood police officers to drive down crime in the city. PC Warren Dooley and PC Matthew Whiston will provide a visible presence across the city’s town centres, working closely with the city council’s ASB team and other local partners. Focused activity in Fenton, Shelton, and Tunstall has already contributed to reductions in crime and ASB of around 20 percent, while the joint Weeding Them Out campaign has removed £246,000 worth of illegal goods and helped deliver a 50 per-cent year-on-year reduction in cannabis grows.

Share

🥊 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Tommy Shaw 🥊

This 20-year-old construction site worker from Norton stepped into the Ultra Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) cage at Fenton Manor to raise money for the Stroke Association after his mum suffered a life-limiting stroke that resulted in him and his siblings going into care. Participants like Tommy take part in eight weeks of free professional MMA training at gyms before the big showcase. Tommy loved the experience so much that he now represents Stoke Combat Academy in K-1 kickboxing and took home silver at his first tournament. How did he find the experience? He told The Knot, “In the beginning, showing up on days when I didn’t feel 100% was hard as someone who struggles with their mental health. But I realised how much the training was helping very quickly into the process; it was clearing my head and made me feel so much better about myself.” He’s now focusing more on kickboxing to see how far he can go with it. Inspired to take part in an Ultra MMA event? There’s more info here.

Sponsored content from Hanley Economic Building Society

• 💷 Helping Students Manage Their Cash. Hanley Economic Building Society is set to visit Discovery Academy on 02/07 to deliver an interactive financial education session aimed at helping students develop essential money skills for the future. The session will focus on saving, budgeting, and how to manage finances effectively. With financial awareness becoming increasingly important, the initiative aims to give young people a strong foundation for later life. The visit forms part of the building society’s ongoing commitment to supporting local communities and helping the next generation make informed financial decisions.

• 🧍Keele Helps with Missing Persons Inquiries. The university’s  forensic science programme , named as the best place in England to study the subject in the Complete University Guide 2027, is helping investigators with long-standing missing  persons' cases, using cutting-edge techniques to support police forces and families searching for answers. Staff have been involved in several recent cold case investigations across the UK. Last year, they supported a search in  Manchester relating to the disappearance of a woman last seen in 1969, and also assisted with an investigation into the disappearance of an 18-year-old in 1998.

  

Subscribe now

• 🎭 Claybody Theatre Teams up with Burslem Market Hall. A new community heritage project is inviting local people to celebrate and share their stories of the market, which has been closed for 23 years. Delivered by Claybody Theatre and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, STALL STORIES: Collecting Memories of Burslem Market Hall will see Shop 32 on Queen Street transform into a community engagement and exhibition space featuring a viewing window onto the ongoing market works, alongside exhibition boards displaying redevelopment ideas. Claybody will be in the shop every Saturday, 10am-1pm, from 27/06-25/07.

• 😃 Our top Five Don’t-miss Events this Week. Yellow by Keep it local is hosting a 4th of July Independent (Business) Day at its Hanley store, featuring festival fashion advice and free crafts for children; some products marked 20% off. SOT Youth Collective is hosting the LIFT Youth Festival (26/07) at Northwood from 1pm-4pm, with live music from local artists and DJ’s; admission free. It’s a bit further afield, but if you love Lord of the Rings, don’t miss the Tolkien Weekend in Great Haywood (11–12/07; 10am-4pm), an annual celebration exploring the area’s links to J. R. R. Tolkien through guided walks, talks, history, and family activities; admission free. Country fans, prepare to be transported on a musical journey through the history the genre at A Country Night in Nashville at the Victoria Hall (08/08, 7.30pm), featuring songs from Dolly Parton to Kacey Musgraves performed by Dominic Halpin & The Hurricanes; tickets from £33.80. Finally, book Creative Studio Courses at Wedgwood (from 07/09); there’s a five-week Hand-Building Pottery Course (Mondays 10am-12.30pm) or a five-week Throwing Course (Mondays 2pm-4.30pm); £175 per person.

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

We've all heard people say that Stoke's streets – usually Hanley in particular – aren't safe, with some claiming they avoid the city centre altogether, especially after dark. However, recent figures paint a more encouraging picture.

A joint “Winter of Action” initiative by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire Police reported a 9% reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour across the city’s town centres between December 2025 and January 2026. Meanwhile, Staffordshire Police’s local priorities update for Hanley Park and Shelton found that environmental improvements, partnership working, and community engagement contributed to a 20% reduction in overall crime in the area.

The measures included clearing fly-tipping, securing derelict buildings, and improving public spaces, alongside increased police visibility and community engagement.

Inspector Rebecca Price, of the Stoke-on-Trent South local policing team, said: “The two officers dedicated to town centres across Stoke-on-Trent will work to build relationships with local businesses and communities, whilst tackling issues that matter most to them.”

She added that PC Dooley and PC Whiston will maintain a visible presence in areas with high footfall and encouraged anyone needing assistance to approach them.

🥨 Most popular stories from the last week on The Knot

🏺 Burleigh Rescue Sparks Fresh Hope: There’s opinion from Middleport, Ceramics UK, local MP David Williams, CEO of Valentines Clay, and Alex Allday Ceramics…
🏗️ Barracks Back on Track: Newcastle’s old barracks will be hosting several events
🛳️ Guided Cruises Across Trentham Lake: Set sail across Trentham’s Capability Brown lake from 24/07-14/08. Tickets cost £7 per person.

Leave a comment

Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):

Mon ☁️ 27° (17°) Tue 🌧️ 27° (15°) Wed 🌧️ 26° (14°) Thu 🌧️ 26° (14°) Fri 🌥️27° (16°)
Sat ⛅️ 27° (16°) Sun ⛅️ 24° (14°).

Sunrise 22/06: 04.43 ☀️ Sunset 22/06: 21.39 🌅

It’s pots what make us who we are here in Stoke, so when Burleigh looked vulnerable after parent company Denby Pottery entered administration this March, we were worried. The news came little more than a year after we lost Royal Stafford, which went into liquidation in February 2025. Just two months later, Moorcroft followed, although it was later rescued by founder William Moorcroft’s grandson, Will. Then, last September, Wedgwood paused production at its Barlaston factory for 90 days due to weak demand. By that point, it was becoming increasingly difficult to view these setbacks as isolated incidents. Instead, they appeared to reflect the mounting pressures facing Stoke-on-Trent’s ceramics industry, from soaring energy costs and changing consumer habits to fierce competition from cheaper imports.

That’s why the news earlier this month that former Burberry chief executive Christopher Bailey, who has described the pottery manufacturer as one of Britain's great craft brands, was met with such a positive response. The deal has not only secured jobs and safeguarded production at Middleport Pottery but also provided a much-needed boost to confidence across the wider ceramics community.

The acquisition came just weeks after the Government announced a £120 million support package for the ceramics sector, offering fresh hope for an industry that remains at the heart of Stoke-on-Trent’s identity.

Skills passed hand to hand, person to person

MP for Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove David Williams said he felt relief as much as delight on hearing the news of the Burleigh acquisition. He told The Knot, “That’s 62 skilled jobs and 62 families here in Stoke who’d had a worrying few months, and now they wake up with a future. Burleigh has been made down at Middleport since the 1880s – losing it would have been a quiet tragedy for this city. I’m just glad the people who actually make the pots get to keep making them.”

⁠⁠The Burleigh tissue printers or paintresses aren’t trained in a fortnight; it takes years, and if you break that chain even once and it’s gone for good, he said. “They are skills you can’t download or automate but are passed hand to hand, person to person, often within the same families, over decades. That craft lives in Stoke and nowhere else, and the smartest thing you can do with skills like these is make sure there’s a young person learning them off the people who have them now.”

“When someone of Christopher Bailey’s standing chooses to put his money behind it, the message to the rest of the sector is that there’s real value in what we make here – not nostalgia, value. People in Tunstall and Burslem have watched too many bottle kilns go cold over the years. This is one that stays lit.”

Williams understands that people have every right to still worry, acknowledging that we’ve all seen what can happen when a famous name goes under. But this is the opposite of that story, he stressed. “Nobody’s buying up our heritage to stick it behind glass; someone’s investing in it as a working business with years ahead of it. Our past is worth being proud of, but Burleigh’s real worth is that it still makes things, today, employing local people. That’s what gives me confidence: not the history, the fact there’s a live business here worth backing.”

CEO of Re-Form Heritage Andrew Emery, said Christopher Bailey's acquisition of Burleigh is “hugely welcome news” for Re-Form Heritage, the owners of Middleport Pottery, and helps secure a strong future for production of the Burleigh brand in its original historic factory.

He told The Knot, “It’s well over a decade since The Princes Regeneration Trust, forerunner to Re-Form Heritage, began the journey of bringing Middleport Pottery back from the brink of closure, acquiring the site in 2011 and undertaking sensitive restoration and leasing back Burleigh to then owners, Denby.

“With new investors and renewed commitment to Middleport from Christopher and his team, this helps to secure the longer term future for the site and enables us to continue to provide a home for a wide range of creative businesses, two educational organisations, an award-winning heritage visitor attraction and a packed programme of family-friendly events. Burleigh is central to the heritage of the Middleport site and a core part of the story.”

Read more

HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)

• 🎉 Sensasian Sensation! various dates, times and locations. South Asian arts and culture festival Sensasian returns this summer with its biggest programme yet, expanding across four venues and running until February 2027. Organised by Appetite with partners including the New Vic Theatre, The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery and Arts Keele, the festival will feature film, music, dance, storytelling and creative activities. Highlights include a free screening of acclaimed Pakistani film Joyland on 03/07, a dedicated Sensasian zone at The Big Feast on 29/08 a performance by the Inner Vision Quintet in November, and a celebration of Kathak dance from Pagrav Dance Company next February.

• 🏺Make a Bottle Oven. 18/07, 10am-12pm & 1pm-3pm, Gladstone Pottery Museum. What could be more Stoke than creating your own ceramic bottle kiln? Everyone is welcome to this relaxed, beginner-friendly bottle oven diffuser workshop; pieces will be ready to pick up six to eight weeks later. Admission £35 (includes tea, coffee, cake and free admission to the museum).
  

• 🎭 Exploring Friendship, Gal Style. 05/07-06/07, 4pm & 7pm, Drop City Books. Young girls tackle adults’ friendship dilemmas through dance, song, debate and brutally honest wisdom at the Friendship Lab. Tickets £15; £5 concessions.

  

• 🎸See the Inspiral Carpets. 29/06, 8pm, the Sugarmill. There are still tickets left for Madchester legends the Inspiral Carpets, who Noel Gallagher once famously roadied for. They’re supported by Swansea band Trampolene. Tickets £30.

• 😀 Laughs with Paul Smith. 29/07 & 11/11, 7.30pm, the Regent. Following sold-out runs and viral success across the globe, Paul Smith is hitting the road again with his new tour, Happy, where he takes his trademark razor-sharp observations, and laugh-out-loud true stories to a new hilarious level. Tickets from £51.66.

  

• 🛳️ Guided Cruises Across Trentham Lake. 24/07-14/08, 11am-12pm. Set sail across Trentham’s Capability Brown lake and check out one of the largest heron and cormorant nesting and roosting sites from the water plus signs of the resident beavers from all-electric catamaran, Miss Elizabeth. Tickets £7 per person, £5.60 for platinum and gold members; under 3’s 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

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

• 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

• Inspiral Carpets, 28/06, the Sugarmill

• 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

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

• ABBA dayparty, 18/07, the Sugarmill

• One Big YMCA Day, 24/07, YMCA

• Trentham Lake Discovery Cruise, 24/07-14/08

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

• Paul Smith, 29/07 & 11/11, 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.

Subscribe now

After parent company Denby Pottery entered administration in March, we feared for Burleigh’s future. That is why we were delighted to hear that the Middleport-based manufacturer, renowned for its distinctive patterns created using hand-engraved copper rollers and tissue-transfer printing, has been acquired by one of the biggest names in British fashion, Christopher Bailey.

Appointed CEO of Burberry in 2014, Bailey helped turned the luxury fashion house’s fortunes around, reimagining its classic trench coat for contemporary audiences by streamlining the silhouette and introducing different lengths, hardware, and colours, and expanding its ready-to-wear collections.

Local MP for Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove David Williams told The Knot he was both relieved and delighted by the news. “Burleigh has been made down at Middleport since the 1880s - losing it would have been a quiet tragedy for this city. I’m just glad the people who actually make the pots get to keep making them.” He added, “When someone of Christopher Bailey’s standing chooses to put his money behind it, the message to the rest of the sector is that there’s real value in what we make here – not nostalgia, value.”

Hannah Ault, CEO of Fenton-based Valentine Clays, which supplies more than 100 clay formulations to potters and ceramic manufacturers around the world, and President of Ceramics UK, the trade body representing and championing the sector, told The Knot that Burleigh’s rescue was hugely important for the wider ceramics ecosystem in Stoke-on-Trent. “Businesses such as Burleigh are not only part of our heritage, they also support a much wider network of suppliers, manufacturers and skilled jobs across the city and wider UK supply chain.”

With a design visionary like Bailey now at the helm of Burleigh, we can’t wait to see how the next chapter unfolds at Middleport. You can read more about what David and Hannah had to say about the Burleigh acquisition – and what it could mean for our pottery industry – in our feature this Wednesday.

In other Knot news, as we continue to introduce more local reportage and feature content, tomorrow’s edition will be our final standalone What’s On newsletter.

From next week, you’ll find our pick of the best events, activities and things to do as part of Monday’s newsletter, while Wednesdays will be dedicated to a longer-form local news feature.

Good News 🎉

• 🏺Burleigh Breathes Again. After its parent company Denby went into administration in March, Burleigh needed a new owner. It has been rescued by the former CEO of Burberry, Christopher Bailey, who acquired the company with a small group of private investors last week. The move will save 62 skilled jobs, with staff still using the tissue transfer printing technique, making it the only heritage pottery globally to still employ this method by hand. Bailey said he’s always loved Burleigh pottery. “This company has an extraordinary history, and what makes it so special today is the skill, care, and creative spirit that continue to define the business.” He added, “I am deeply committed to protecting and showcasing the craftsmanship and character that make Burleigh unique, while helping to shape its future as a distinctive and meaningful British design and ceramics house.” Big news indeed – look out for a feature on this on Wednesday.

Share

🚗 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Tom Sharples 🚗

This master technician and EV specialist from Ken Jervis Kia dealership in Stoke-on-Trent is responsible for diagnosing and repairing some of the most complex technical issues encountered within Kia’s ever-evolving vehicle range. He was named winner of the Gold Award at the Skill World Cup in Korea, winning a cup and US$5,000 for his efforts. Competing against 41 highly skilled Kia technicians from 40 countries, Tom claimed the Gold Award after being put to the test through a series of demanding written and practical assessments, covering advanced diagnostic techniques, vehicle repair procedures, component analysis and electric vehicle technology. Tom said, “The support, encouragement and opportunities I've received from everyone at Ken Jervis Kia have played a huge part in my development, and I am grateful to work alongside such a talented team.”

Sponsored content from Hanley Economic Building Society

• 🏠 First-Time Buyer? Check out the Hanley. For many, getting onto the property ladder feels out of reach. Rising living costs and saving for a deposit remain key barriers, yet local support is helping to bridge the gap. Hanley Economic Building Society says many buyers are focusing on building consistent savings habits and seeking guidance early. Taking that first step feels daunting, but with the right support and a clear plan, home ownership is still achievable for many. Understanding mortgages, improving credit scores, and exploring tailored savings options are all essential parts of the journey. With local knowledge and a community-focused approach, building societies continue to play a vital role in helping new buyers turn long-term goals into reality across the region.

• 🥨 Proud to be Made in Staffordshire. After its preview at the House of Commons, the Made in Staffordshire accreditation mark is gaining traction across the local business community. Created by We Are Staffordshire, the scheme aims to raise the profile of the region as a hub for manufacturing, creativity and innovation. Businesses that join will benefit from marketing support, promotional opportunities and being featured in a planned online directory. The scheme is open to a wide range of businesses, including makers, creators, manufacturers, food and drink producers and growers. Want to join? It’s free; register here.

Subscribe now

🏗️ Barracks Back on Track. The Barracks Trust, a charity that manages the Grade-II listed former military building dating back to 1855 in Newcastle, has received support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a new heritage project, Back to the Barracks: A New Chapter. This initiative will combine essential conservation work with creative heritage activities, workshops, and events that will celebrate the stories, people and businesses that have shaped The Barracks over the last 170 years. Check the Barracks Trust’s Facebook page for updates on upcoming happenings.

• ✞ Remembering Royal Doulton Staff. Work is underway to restore a memorial to the 59 Royal Doulton workers who died in the First and Second World Wars, with an unveiling slated for November 2026. The memorial once stood at the Royal Doulton factory but was lost when the site closed and was redeveloped. Now, thanks to a community-led project sponsored by Miller Homes and led by the Kilngate team, it’s being brought back to the heart of Burslem to create a lasting place of remembrance for those who left their jobs to serve their country.

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

After parent company Denby Pottery entered administration in March, we feared for Burleigh’s future. That is why we were delighted to hear that the Middleport-based manufacturer, renowned for its distinctive patterns created using hand-engraved copper rollers and tissue-transfer printing, has been acquired by one of the biggest names in British fashion, Christopher Bailey.

Appointed CEO of Burberry in 2014, Bailey helped turned the luxury fashion house’s fortunes around, reimagining its classic trench coat for contemporary audiences by streamlining the silhouette and introducing different lengths, hardware, and colours, and expanding its ready-to-wear collections.

Local MP for Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove David Williams told The Knot he was both relieved and delighted by the news. “Burleigh has been made down at Middleport since the 1880s - losing it would have been a quiet tragedy for this city. I’m just glad the people who actually make the pots get to keep making them.” He added, “When someone of Christopher Bailey’s standing chooses to put his money behind it, the message to the rest of the sector is that there’s real value in what we make here – not nostalgia, value.”

Hannah Ault, CEO of Fenton-based Valentine Clays, which supplies more than 100 clay formulations to potters and ceramic manufacturers around the world, and President of Ceramics UK, the trade body representing and championing the sector, told The Knot that Burleigh's rescue was hugely important for the wider ceramics ecosystem in Stoke-on-Trent. “Businesses such as Burleigh are not only part of our heritage, they also support a much wider network of suppliers, manufacturers and skilled jobs across the city and wider UK supply chain.”

With a design visionary like Bailey now at the helm of Burleigh, we can’t wait to see how the next chapter unfolds at Middleport. You can read more about what David and Hannah had to say about the Burleigh acquisition – and what it could mean for our pottery industry – in our feature this Wednesday.

In other Knot news, as we continue to introduce more local reportage and feature content, tomorrow’s edition will be our final standalone What’s On newsletter.

From next week, you’ll find our pick of the best events, activities and things to do as part of Monday’s newsletter, while Wednesdays will be dedicated to a longer-form local news feature.

🥨 Most popular stories from the last week on The Knot

🌿 Newcastle scraps Net Zero Policy: The emergency climate declaration is next…
🛋️ The Knot’s Person of the Week, Sophie Newlands, the owner of local business Shag Interior, was runner-up in the BBC Design show Interior Design Masters.
💃: Get Your Groove On: Trentham’s over 30’s Word of Mouth festival was popular – and there’s still a few tickets left here; it’s this Saturday (20/06) from 6pm-10.30pm

Leave a comment

Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):

Mon ☁️ 20° (13°) Tue 🌧️ 21° (13°) Wed 🌧️ 21° (13°) Thu 🌧️ 23° (15°) Fri 🌥️23° (13°)
Sat ⛅️ 21° (11°) Sun ⛅️ 21° (11°).

Sunrise 15/06: 04.42 ☀️ Sunset 15/06: 21.36 🌅

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.

Read more

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.

Subscribe now

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.

Share

🛋️ 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.

Subscribe now

❤️ 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…

Leave a comment

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.

Read more