The Enduring Legacy of the Willow Pattern: New Exhibition Opens At Spode Museum
Plus scary goings-on at Trentham, 2005 Ashes stars at Bet365, 80's night at the Victoria Hall, and laughs with Rosie Jones at the New Vic…
WHAT’S ON/THINGS TO DO ✅
HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)
🏺Willow Pattern Showcased. Until 26 March, 10am-4pm, Spode Museum. Featuring pieces from museums and private collections, Willow Pattern Ceramics and Stories of ‘Other’ explores the legacy of the Willow Pattern and offers insights into how 18th and 19th century British potters adapted Chinese forms, imagery, and technologies. Throughout the exhibition period, there will be performances by ceramic artisans from China and Stoke-on-Trent working in collaboration with artist Neil Brownsword. Admission free.
🎃 Hallowe’en at Trentham. 25/10-02/11, 10am-4pm, Trentham Estate. Expect pumpkin trails, fairground rides, face painting for the kids, plus the chance to pose on the selfie trail with trick-or-treat doors and on a pumpkin throne. Little witches and wizards can enroll in Witch and Wizard School, where completing magical tasks earns them a graduation certificate, plus there’s street food and a makers market, too. On the weekend (25/10 and 26/10), you can meet snakes, tarantulas and rats and see some walk-about entertainment, too. Entry included in gardens admission (free for members). Book in advance and get 10% off.
🏺 From Pottery to Community at the Dudson Centre. 19/09 10am-4pm; 20/09, 10am-4pm, Dudson Centre. As part of the Heritage Open Days series of events, you can discover how the generosity of the Dudson family turned an unwanted factory into a thriving community hub, at Donation of a Legacy: Pottery Production to Community Connection. You can also visit the Dudson collection, much of which was manufactured on the site, at this event. Admission free.
🪩 Celebrating the 80s. 31/10, 7.30pm, Victoria Hall. Keen to forgo Halloween and hide from the trick-or-treaters? Then get yourself along to Calling Planet Earth, where songs from some of the biggest names of the decade, including Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet and Culture Club, will be performed by a live band with cool symphonic arrangements. Tickets from £33.55.
🏏 Cricket Stars Poised to Hit Stoke for Six. 24/10, 6.30pm, Bet365 Stadium. As part of the 2025 Ashes warm-up, the 2005 Ashes heroes are on tour. See how they remember the experiences of 20 years ago at An Evening with Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones. Tickets £90.
🎭 Catch The Unfriend. 07-11/10, 7.30pm, Stoke Repertory Theatre. Catch this play by Steven Moffat, a modern farcical comedy that explores the complexities of modern social interactions as a typical British couple meet an American widow on a cruise, who then turns up at their house. Tickets £17.25.
😂 Laughs with Rosie Jones. 29/10, 10am-4pm, New Vic. Arguably the UK’s best-known disabled comedic star, Rosie Jones, star of Channel 4 show Pushers and frequent Taskmaster guest, is bringing her I Can’t Tell What She Is Saying tour to Stoke. Tickets from £20.
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
Heritage Open Days, various dates, times and locations throughout Sept 2025
Willow Pattern Showcase and Stories of ‘Other’, until 26/09, Spode Museum
Make & Bake, ongoing, Mitchell Arts Centre
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
Lunch at Stoke Minster, every Thursday
Guided Walks in the Peak District, Various, Multiple (Peak District)
Titanic Brewery Tour, multiple dates, Titanic Brewery
Spitfire Comedy Open Mic, multiple dates, Old Post Office, Burslem
World of Wedgwood Artisan markets, every second Sunday of the month
Electric Tentacle Electronic Music Open Mic, multiple dates, Captain’s Bar
Arthur Berry Sense of Place Exhibition, until 21/09, Barewall Art Studio
Honeybox Live, various dates and locations
Jasperware at Wedgwood, 25/09; 31/10; World of Wedgwood
Jimmy Carr, 10/09, Regent Theatre
How To Disappear Completely And Never Be Found, 10/09-13/09, Crown Wharf Theatre
Sharing LGBTQ+ Lives, 10/09, Dudson Museum (+ more dates Sept-Dec)
Neurodiversity in Education, 11/09, University of Staffordshire
Neurodiversity in the Workplace, 12/09, University of Staffordshire
Artisan Autumn Market, 12/09 & 13/09, Middleport Pottery
Walk to Remember, 13/09, Shugborough Estate
Work in Progress, 13/09 & 14/09, Great Bear Gallery
Dara Ó Briain, 17/09, Regent Theatre
Stone Book Festival, 18-20/09, TBC
Contemporary Collage LIVE!, 19/09, University of Staffordshire
Donation of a Legacy: Pottery Production to Community Connection; 19/09 & 20/09, Dudson Centre
Fenton Folk Day, 20/09, Fenton Town Hall
MoonAge - David Bowie Tribute, 20/09, Mitchell Arts Centre
Autumn Equinox Circle, 22/09, Mow Cop Community Hall
Blood Brothers, 23/09-27/09, Regent Theatre
Hallowe’en at Trentham, 25/10-02/11, Trentham Estate
Strange But True Crime, 26/09, Victoria Hall
Lamplight Concerts, 26/09, Stoke Minster
Community Day, 27/09, Trentham Estate
Scarefest, 27/09-02/11, Alton Towers
Beatles Complete, 27/09, Mitchell Arts Centre
Potters ‘Arf, 28/09
2:22: A Ghost Story, 29/09-04/10, Regent Theatre
Autumnal Display and Pumpkin Painting, throughout October, World of Wedgwood
Keele World Affairs, 02/10 onwards, Keele University
The Unfriend, 07/10-11/10, Stoke Repertory Theatre
Stoke-on-Trent Classics, 10/10, Victoria Hall
Festival of Craft: Celebrating Stoke 100, 18/10, Middleport Pottery
An Evening with Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones, 24/10, Bet365 Stadium
The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight, 26/10, Regent Theatre
Rosie Jones, 29/10, New Vic
Riverdance 30: A New Generation, 28/10-31/10, Regent Theatre
Calling Planet Earth, 31/10, Victoria Hall
For more events, check out our comprehensive What’s On list.