There’s another £1 million for Burslem Market Hall: can it draw people back to the high street?

Plus Keele student represents Great Britain at the World Triathlon Championship Finals, revamp for Cobridge Park under way, and Middleport Artisan Markets return

Oct 19, 2026

Burslem Market Hall has received another £1 million from the government

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

When masonry dropped from its ceiling back in 2003, Burslem Market Hall was deemed unsafe and has stood empty ever since. As we’ve reported widely in The Knot, it is one of 20 projects receiving funding from the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, part of the Government’s £1.5 billion Arts Everywhere Fund.

As we already know, the council is investing around £4 million to make the building safe and open it for markets, events, and community use, but it was announced late last week that the government awarded it another £1 million through the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, supporting further works needed to bring it back into use.

While its its long-term future remains decided, the public engagement phase earlier this year generated plenty of food for thought. In the core online survey, which drew more than 700 responses, a popular theme was the need to diversify Burslem's town centre beyond food, drink, and barbershops. Many would like it to become a multi-use hub that brings people back to the high street.

Once structural scaffolding is down and the roof is made watertight, temporary activation uses are planned to get people back inside the doors while the final commercial model is finalised. Property and place-making consultancy Next Phase, which focuses on turning historic spaces into commercial and community destinations, is currently identifying the most appropriate management structure and approach to programming and tenant mix.

Bringing it back into use is a key part of the wider regeneration of Burslem town centre, with other initiatives including the Wedgwood Institute, Queens Theatre Conversion, and Burslem School of Art.

We hope you have a great week ahead! Watch out for a story this Wednesday about Royal Stoke University Hospital’s failure to curb waiting times as MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, Dr Allison Gardner, turns up the pressure on the Trust.

Good News 🎉

💷 What next for Burslem Market Hall? The building’s return use has received a major boost after a £1 million government funding award. The funding will build on the major programme of repairs already underway, supporting further works needed to bring the Grade II-listed building back into long-term use. Current works include stripping back and replacing the roof, retaining as much of the original Victorian ironwork as possible. Essential repairs are also being carried out to make the building watertight and structurally sound. The council also announced on Friday that the old market hall will feature two new murals, which are being funded by £18,000 worth of Pride in Place funding.

🏃‍♂️ THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Spencer Cartwright 🏃‍♂️

A final-year Sports Business Management student at Keele, Spencer was the first British athlete across the line in his race and recorded the second-fastest swim split in his age group at the 2026 World Triathlon Championship Finals, where he was representing Great Britain in the 20-24 age group. Spencer trains for 15-18 hours a week, fitting sessions around his lectures with support from Keele’s Talented Athlete Programme. He told The Knot that swimming is his strongest sport and most of his training is done at Stone Leisure Centre, with bike training completed around Cannock Chase. “Working towards my professional license is something that really motivates me, as it’s a long-term goal that keeps me focused, with the next step to qualify and compete at the Ironman 70.3 world championships.” Next September he’ll take part in the Standard World Championships in Hamburg. Good luck, Spencer, very impressive!

Keele student Spencer Cartwright was the first British athlete across the line in his race at the 2026 World Triathlon Championship Finals

👷‍♀️ Safety works at Wade Building and Lord Nelson Pottery Works. Safety works have started at the Wade building in Burslem after the council issued an enforcement notice. Unsafe sections of the building, including unstable overhanging brickwork, are being dismantled to protect public safety. At Lord Nelson Pottery Works, planning and building control officers have been on site, as part of the upper floor was identified as being at risk of falling into the canal. The unstable section now needs to be removed to protect public safety.

Works are currently underway at the Wade Building to protect public safety

🏞️ Revamp for Cobridge Park. Cobridge Park is the latest park in Stoke-on-Trent North to benefit from the Labour government’s Pride in Place programme.
Both the football court and the basketball court will be remarked, while new basketball hoops are being installed for people to use daily. Cobridge joins parks in Ball Green, Brindley Ford, Fegg Hayes and Sandyford, which are already being improved through the same fund.
🥨 We Are Staffordshire gets international recognition. Staffordshire is a finalist in the Place Brand of the Year category at the City Nation Place awards, which recognises excellence in place marketing and branding. The submission highlighted the breadth of work delivered during 2025/26, including launching Made in Staffordshire, celebrating the 10th anniversary of Staffordshire Day, and the first anniversary of Screen Staffordshire, the county’s first film office. This year’s awards attracted a record number of entries from 31 countries across all seven continents, with finalists selected by an international panel of place leaders.

The county’s new mascot, Staffy, has been part of the We are Staffordshire marketing campaign

🎭 Our Top Five Don’t-Miss Events this Week. Alicia’s Amazing Adventure to find the first Black Britons is at St Mark’s Church in Shelton on 03/11 at 4pm. Tickets are free and audiences can just drop in on the day. It’s the first solo production by acclaimed actor and theatre-maker Alicia McKenzie, who has previously worked with the RSC and the National Theatre.
Celebrate Oktoberfest at Keele Student’s Union (24/10; first session 3pm-7.30pm; second session 8.30pm-12.30am) with a live oompah band and funky Bavarian DJ; tickets £29.70. Shop festive gift from local artisan traders at Middleport Artisan Markets (28/11 & 29/11; 05/12 & 06/12; 12/12 & 13/12, 10am-4pm) for live music, festive food, kids’ crafts, a market and more; admission free.
Over at the Westminster Theatre in Newcastle (24/10, 2pm-3.30pm), the Reginald Haggar Memorial Lecture Fund is putting on a talk by Paul Atterbury, who will be speaking about the legacy of the Art Schools of the Potteries and the world-renowned designers who trained there, including Clarice Cliff, Susie Cooper and Charlotte Rhead. Another event on the same day include The Potteries – Crockery Importers and Dealers (11.30am-12.30pm) by academic, researcher, museum curator and author Neil Ewins.
Britpop legends Shed Seven (08/12, 7pm) celebrate 30 years of their album A Maximum High and their defining anthem 'Chasing Rainbows' with this date at the Victoria Hall; tickets from £48.22.

🥨 Most popular stories from the last week on The Knot

😠 Stafford Borough’s new balaclava rules: There will be fines for anti-social behaviour coupled with face-coverings following a public consultation this summer
☃️Trentham Winter Light Trail: it’s on from 20/11-03/01; tickets available here
🎤 G4 set to perform at Stoke Minster: It’s on 03/12 – get your tickets here

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