Digital Community Mural Unveiled at Port Vale
Plus three brilliant new books celebrating the city, we say goodbye to music entrepreneur Mike Lloyd, and book cookery classes with top chef Thom Bateman…
Good News 🎉
⚽️ A Digital Tribute to Vale. Port Vale FC has launched the digital version of its community mural, which was created in partnership with visual artist Helen Marshall of The People’s Picture. The original mural, situated on Driveway D, is made up of hundreds of photos submitted by supporters and celebrates the passion, history, and heart of Burslem and the wider Vale family. The new digital edition brings this celebration online, making the artwork accessible to everyone, anywhere. As part of the digital experience, 26 supporter stories have been specially highlighted, each offering a personal reflection on what Port Vale means to them. Visitors can now explore the mural in high resolution, zoom into individual images, and discover the stories behind many of the contributions.
🎶 THE KNOT’S PEOPLE OF THE WEEK – Mike Lloyd 🎶
It was with great sadness that we read about one of Stoke’s most celebrated entrepreneurs, the music promoter, concert organiser and record shop owner Mike Lloyd, who died last week aged 82. According to Music Mania, the record shop that Mike owned, he passed away unexpectedly while travelling home from the US. Having made it onto Stoke’s 100 Mural, Mike was awarded an OBE in 2022 for his services to classical music and his role as chief executive of Stoke-on-Trent Classics, which organises orchestral concerts. Music Mania has reassured customers that the company will continue to operate as usual; plans are in the works to organise a celebration to honour his life, so stay tuned.
📚 Books on Stoke You’ll Love. It’s been a great moment for books in the city of late, with a trio of great tomes being released of late, including Stoke-on-Trent: the Story of a City 1925-2025, which charts key moments and people in the civic life of the city by local historian Fred Hughes. There’s also the Tunstall Tortillas by David Fletcher about the mighty oatcake, and a poetry book from Jeff Kent, Words from the Head and Heart, 235 pages of lyrics, poems, and more.
👨🍳 Book Cooking Classes with Thom Bateman. One of the county’s top chefs has launched cooking classes at his two Cheddleton restaurants, The Flintlock, which features in the Michelin Guide and has two AA Rosettes, and Apres. There will be an initial set of classes available to book via the website plus private sessions and vouchers for classes. Thom aims to welcome small groups of just four, while every class will come complete with a lunch relevant to that day. Bookings are open for the first round of classes, which start from 20/01.
🍸 Oatcake Martini, Anyone? To mark its second birthday, Hanley’s Desire Cocktail Bar is shaking up Stoke-on-Trent’s cocktail scene with a unique new serve: the Staffordshire Oatcake Martini. The limited edition creation reimagines the classic bacon-and-cheese oatcake in a refined liquid form, with fat-washed Belvedere vodka infused with cheese, smoked salt, and a red tomato oil, while a toasted oatcake garnish offers a subtle nod to the original dish. You’d better move quick to taste it, though, as it’ll only be available from 15/12-01/01.
📖 Drop City Books is Reopening! Literature lovers, listen up, here’s a date you’ll want to add to your diary. Following its closure due to flooding last year, the popular indie bookshop in Hanley has scheduled a Big Fat Grand Reopening for Saturday 28 February, 2026.
🥨 A word from Helen, editor/writer at The Knot
The Government’s decision to scrap the two-child limit is set to make a significant difference to almost 5,000 children in Stoke-on-Trent. Alongside this reversal, the wider package of measures includes expanded access to childcare for families on Universal Credit, upfront childcare payments for parents returning from parental leave, the rollout of free breakfast clubs, and free school meals for all families receiving Universal Credit.
However, a new report from the University of Staffordshire, produced in collaboration with Citizens Advice Staffordshire North and Stoke-on-Trent (CASNS), paints a stark picture of life in the city. It shows how years of austerity and recent policy changes are driving rising poverty and destitution, with around nine in 10 low-income households on Universal Credit unable to afford basic essentials.
Lead researcher Professor David Etherington warned that we are headed towards a humanitarian crisis. “The cost of living for many people in Stoke-on-Trent means that they are struggling to meet their basic needs and pay their bills. Food aid has become the main source of welfare support for many people, with the demand on food banks now at unprecedented levels.”
If you need help, or know someone who does, then contact CASNS.
Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week
👨🍼 A Year of Extraordinary Kindness: have you read James’s piece on baby loss yet?
☕️ Christmas Coffee Morning: BBC Radio Stoke’s event takes place on 18/12 at locations across the city; here’s the details if you fancy attending…
♨️ Staffordshire Warm Homes Grant Opens: find out if you’re eligible here
On our socials… we were at the opening night of Cinderella at the Regent and had a little chat with Jonathan Wilkes, who stars as Buttons. There’s still tickets left!
Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent)
Mon 🌧️ 11° (9°) Tue 🌧️ 12° (8°) Wed 🌧️ 11° (6°) Thu 10° 🌧️ (5°) Fri 9° 🌧️ (6°)
Sat 🌧️ 9° (6°) Sun 🌧️ 9° (6°).
Sunrise 15/12 ☀️08:16 Sunset 15/12 🌅 15:52
Great content as usual