Spode Museum Set for Bold New Chapter
Plus blue plaque for pioneering surgeon John Grocott, Longton Market named best in Staffordshire, ArtSlam for Newcastle – and could you design a centenary cocktail?
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🫖 It’s All Happening At Spode. Much of the Spode Museum's collection has been in storage since the factory went into administration in 2008 – but it’s now been returned to the factory site to be displayed in a specially refurbished museum store from 30/04. The revamp will also welcome a new cafe from The Little Vintage Tea Room that takes inspiration from Spode’s famous blue Italian pattern with a counter designed by local ceramicist Philip Hardaker. Outdoor seating is at newly-created hidden courtyard The Secret Garden, which will double as an evening entertainment venue. You can also catch a new exhibition, Spodespiration, mixed-media works by Jon Tatham. More plans are afoot, including preservation of the remains of the bottle kilns and new flags.
🥼👨⚕️ THE KNOT’S (LATE) PERSON OF THE WEEK – JOHN GROCOTT 🥼👨⚕️
The first in-house plastic surgeon outside of London, Fenton-born John made North Staffs Royal Infirmary one of the world’s leading centres for reconstructive surgery. Rebuilding the faces of World War II survivors, he took charge of the hospital’s plastic surgery unit in 1939, aged 29, and worked there until 1975. A plaque to commemorate him will be unveiled outside Fenton Town Hall on 10/05 at 11am. Ros Unwin, the author of Unsung Heroes of Wartime Stoke, which is all about John, will be in attendance.
🍏 Longton Market Named Best In Staffordshire. Sharon’s Traditional Cheese And Egg Stall, Andie’s Book Shop, The Beauty Bar… there are plenty of reasons to visit Longton Market. It’s no surprise to us that it recently clinched the title of ‘Staffordshire Market of the Year’ at the Our Staffordshire News’ Business, Charity, Community and Food Awards 2025. The awards, which took place earlier this month, also awarded Tunstall Market third in the same category. Congrats!
We love it, do you? Longton has been voted Staffordshire Market of the Year
🎨 Join an ArtSlam in Newcastle. Local artists are invited to take part in visual art takeover ArtSlam NUL at the former York Place Shopping centre before Capital&Centric begin its transformation. Set up by Appetite and Newcastle BID, at this live public art event you can witness art in the making and vote for your favourite creators. It will feature three dynamic rounds of live competition – Visual 2D Art, Ceramics and Spoken Word – where artists go head to head, with the audience deciding the winner in each category, then one overall ArtSlam Champion. Work will be auctioned off, with proceeds split between the artists and North Staffs Mind. It’s on 27/06 from 7pm-11pm at Astley Place. Tickets here.
🏺Gladstone Celebrates 50th Anniversary. Officially opened on 24 April 1975 by Prince Richard the Duke of Gloucester, our popular pottery museum marked 50 years in business with a visit from the Lord Mayor, Lyn Sharpe, and the city’s centenary mascot, Kelvin the Kiln. Go see the six great bird baths from The Great Pottery Throwdown from now until 24/10 if you haven’t done so yet.
🍹A Cocktail for Stoke-on-Trent 100 & Meet Our Centenary Mascot. Visit Stoke is looking to create a Stoke-on-Trent cocktail for the centenary. We’re not sure how you’d incorporate an oatcake into this anniversary tipple, but if you’re a local bar or restaurant who’d like to be involved in this intriguing campaign, let them know. We loved seeing Kelvin the Kiln at Vale’s match against Grimsby (sorry Stoke fans) and if you’d like him to visit your venue, email them!
Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week
🥨 This Is What’s Next For The Knot We’re gonna keep going because of you!
🥾 Staffs Moorlands Walking Festival is Back: Hiking boots at the ready: there are more than 90 activities planned from 25/04-04/05!
📅 The Knot Life: Did you know you can list your events for free at The Knot Life? More and more readers are doing it - get yours on too!
Unsung Heroes ⬇️
🏃♀️ Dave Juggins. The 75 year old gold medal duathlete can run a 5km in 21 minutes.
👗 Anya Parker James. Read about the designer that built a fashion career here.
👨🎨 Ian Parker: Mouth painter Ian has illustrated a kid’s book and is a full-time artist.
👩⚕️ Ruth Chambers: The retired GP won an OBE for improving health outcomes.
🥨 Good Vibes Only: A Word from Helen, Writer at The Knot
We’re continuing to grow, Knotters, and it’s all thanks to you – we’re now up to 87 paid subscribers and 2,778 free subscribers, which is totally fab. The supportive messages continue to hit The Knot’s inbox, which has left me and James feeling really energised. Thanks so much to everyone who’s got in touch/subscribed/liked a post/left a comment and keep that support coming. It really means a lot.
Over the past 18 months, the Spode Museum has been busy completing several regeneration projects and with the reopening set for 30/04, we’re confident the former pottery works is set to become one of the city’s most prominent visitor attractions. Since the factory ceased production in 2008, the Spode Museum collection has been stored away from public view. We can’t wait to see the ceramics, engraved copper plates, archive photos and factory ephemera on display in the specially refurbished museum store.
Keep smiling, guys. It’s gonna be great weather this week and there are two upcoming bank holidays to look forward to in May – yay!
Love, Helen x
Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):
Mon ☀️ 21° (9°) Tue ☀️ 22° (9°) Wed ☀️ 24° (11°) Thu ☀️ 23° (9°) Fri ⛅️ 19° (7°)
Sat ⛅️ 17° (7°) Sun 🌧️ 16° (5°).
Sunrise 28/04 ☀️05:43 Sunset 28/04 🌅 20:31
