Longton, Newcastle and Leek in Race for UK Town of Culture 2028
Plus night shelter opens in Burslem, Potteries Museum and Art Gallery re-opens, steel man returns home, and a Japanese restaurant is set to open at Goods Yard next week…
Good News 🎉
🏞️ Longton and Leek Bid for Town of Culture 2028. Organiser of Longton’s bid, Urban Wilderness CIC, is asking local people to help define what makes Longton special and what should be celebrated on the national stage (you can complete a survey here). Leek is also putting in a bid: Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is inviting residents to Foxlowe Arts Centre on 11/03 at 7pm to a Town of Culture Round Table Meeting ahead of the expression of interest form being submitted to the government on 31/03. Over in Newcastle, meanwhile, the council leader Simon Tagg has said they are busy preparing a “first class” bid…
📚 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Awa Dabo 📚
A former Keele University student has been appointed deputy high commissioner for human rights by the United Nations secretary general. Gambian human rights lawyer Awa Dabo graduated from Keele with a degree in Law & Sociology and Social Anthropology back in 1994 and has held senior roles within the organisation in peacebuilding, crisis recovery, and development, most recently as director and deputy head of the UN Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office. Based in Geneva, Awa will oversee the day-to-day operations of the UN’s Human Rights Agency and implement strategies that address human rights violations worldwide. She recalls life on campus fondly. “I loved the university grounds and the atmosphere of campus life.”
🛏️ Night Shelter Opens in Burslem. A new night shelter is now open in Burslem that can accommodate up to nine people. Open from 8pm each evening, it’s been commissioned to provide immediate safety and support while helping homeless people move away from rough sleeping and into longer-term accommodation. If you or someone you know needs a safe place to stay, contact the Rough Sleeper Outreach Service team on 0800 970 2304 or call the council’s housing team on 01782 234234, who can support with access to the service.
🗡️ Steel Man is Coming Home. Commissioned to honour the workers of Shelton Bar Steelworks, the steel man statue is set to return to the foundry where it was originally cast today and remain on public display at Goodwin Plc. Its current site outside the Potteries Museum will become the home of a new statue celebrating the often overlooked women who worked in the ceramics factories that made Stoke-on-Trent world famous. Both the relocation and the new sculpture will be funded by Goodwin at no cost to the public.
🍣 Japanese Restaurant to Open at Goods Yard. While we love the sushi at Miso in Stoke on London Road, it’s always great to have more Japanese food options, and we can’t wait try Panko & Sushi when it opens on 13/03. Check out the menu here; there’s gyoza ramen, bao buns, sushi tacos, chili udon, and more. Yum yum. PS: there’s one opening in Newcastle soon, we’ll keep you posted.
🏛️ New Display And Opening Date For Potteries Museum. Guests can return from 28/03 to admire a new display chosen by museum staff, Our Favourite Things. The display will open as Violet’s Café, the Spitfire gallery, Forum Theatre and archives reading room reopen to the public. The museum’s Cult Film Club is also set to return from 27/03 with the film Stand by Me. The £5 million transformation is ongoing, with managed entry in place.
🥨 A word from Helen, editor/writer at The Knot
More than 20 towns are expected to bid for UK Town of Culture, and with over three weeks remaining until the deadline for expressions of interest on 31/03, more places may yet throw their hat into the ring. Our local contenders face stiff competition, with the charming market town of Ludlow in Shropshire and Herefordshire’s Ross-on-Wye, famed for its Tudor-timbered houses and 17th-century Market House, among those vying for £3 million to deliver a cultural programme in summer 2028.
Speaking about Longton’s bid, co-founder and co-director of Urban Wilderness Isla Telford said: “We don’t have big venues, theatres, or even a cinema, but alongside our world-class industrial heritage and ongoing ceramics production, we have thriving independent businesses, countless dance and sports clubs, and creative groups — and a community that knows how to say ‘yes’ to a good celebration.”
With three strong towns in the race, Staffordshire stands a good chance of taking home the accolade. While one town will ultimately win the title, two runners-up will each receive £250,000 to deliver a year-long programme of cultural activity.
PS: we couldn’t write this newsletter without saying massive congratulations to Port Vale, who beat premier league side Sunderland 1-0 last night to go through to the fifth road of the FA Cup! Well done, lads! ⚽️
Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week
☕️ Why the Traditional Caff is Here to Stay in Stoke: Full English at the ready…
🎩 Go Steampunk! Middleport’s Cogs ‘n’ Kilns Exposition gained good traction
🍻 Prep for Some Friday Night Fun: the upcoming Friday Feast at Goods Yard on 24/04 also proved popular with you Knotters…
Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent): Sunny spells on Monday and Friday 🌤️
Mon 🌦️ 12° (5°) Tue 🌧️ 11° (8°) Wed 🌧️ 11° (5°) Thu 🌧️ 11° (6°) Fri 🌦️ 10° (6°)
Sat 🌧️ 13° (8°) Sun 🌧️ 12° (4°).
Sunrise 09/03: 06.38 ☀️ Sunset 09/03: 18/01 🌅