Stoke-On-Trent Events
Stoke-on-Trent is an energetic city that hosts an abundance of exciting events ranging from sporting competitions to cultural festivals, offering something for everyone. Here is a selection of some of the top events happening this month!
Join Ricardo’s Bar for a Zumba class to support North Staffs Mind during Move it May – it is free and open to people of all levels of experience! This event is hosted free-of-charge.
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery boasts diverse art, local history and natural history exhibits and displays as well as being home to one of the world’s largest collections of Staffordshire ceramics. Additionally, it houses a recently renovated Forum Theatre which can be hired out for business events or corporate hospitality purposes; with outstanding acoustics and all necessary equipment available at hand for presentations or meetings taking place there.
The gallery’s Designated Collections span fine and decorative arts, costume, local history and archaeology as well as the Staffordshire Hoard. In the ceramic gallery there is both a technical section illustrating pottery production techniques as well as more unique collections such as Keiller’s collection of 667 cow creamer jugs or Marjorie Davies’ nearly 300 frog mugs.
Other galleries display room settings illustrating working life in Stoke-on-Trent’s Five Towns, such as schoolroom, pub and chemist shop settings. An archaeology gallery showcases items from the Staffordshire Hoard – one of Britain’s most significant archaeological finds ever discovered – in another gallery setting.
The gallery’s contemporary art collection captures the city’s industrial past while challenging traditional divisions between fine, decorative, and craft art forms. Donations have helped build this collection which features works by artists such as Grayson Perry and Jacqui Poncelet acquired through the Contemporary Art Society Special Collection Scheme; all displayed alongside various temporary exhibitions.
The Gladstone Pottery Museum
Gladstone Pottery Museum is the last remaining Victorian pottery factory in Australia and has been preserved to be an impressive living legacy on this region’s incredible creative legacy. Visitors can experience how bone china tableware was manufactured at original workshops, view giant bottle kilns from Gladstone China Works which first opened its doors in 1780 until closing permanently in 1960, plus other key ancillary rooms such as engine house and slip room as well as hands on displays showing aspects of clay working such as throwing, moulding and decorating techniques – plus enjoy a gallery that charts the history of sanitary ware such as privies earth closets and water closets over time!
Stoke-on-Trent was world renowned for its exquisite ceramics manufacturing in the 20th century; unfortunately, like many factories across Britain, its manufacturing plant closed due to declining industry. This left many families in Stoke with high rates of unemployment and skyrocketing council rents resulting in terraced housing with poor quality of life.
The museum shop at Longton sells unique gifts that you won’t find on the high street – from studio ceramics and children’s novelties, to unique home items and speciality foods. Visitors can try their hand at throwing pots, creating bone china flowers or decorating pottery pieces as souvenirs with friendly demonstration staff always on hand to assist. Guided tours may be booked ahead via phone – and bus routes 6& 6A stop directly outside Longton for easy accessibility.
The Regent Theatre
Built in 1929, The Regent Theatre is one of the largest regional theatres in the UK. Initially built as a grand picture palace before being transformed into an Odeon Film Centre by Odeon Entertainment Ltd in 1977 before Marriner Theatres restored it back to its original art deco design in 1996. Now one of London’s premiere entertainment venues and hosting touring shows and events that draw audiences from throughout Britain, The Regent Theatre remains a sought-after entertainment venue with audiences coming from far and wide for shows and events held there today.
The Regent was designed to enhance film presentations by adding drama, glamour and an air of occasion to theater viewing experiences. Its exotic romantic fusion of styles was inspired by Italian Renaissance, northern European Mannerist architecture as seen through its exuberant arcades, loggias, balconies on a diamond pattern base – such features being described by some in 1916 as being “The largest, coolest and best ventilated house on The Avenue.”
Numerous famous entertainers, such as Ethel Waters, Lena Horne, Cab Calloway, Sidney Poitier and Eubie Blake have graced its stage over its long history. Additionally, many popular musicals, comedy shows and amateur dramatic productions were presented here as well.
The Regent has come back from fire and flood to become one of the city’s prized entertainment venues, boasting lavish rococo interiors that now host concerts in its downstairs Plaza Ballroom as well as blockbuster stage productions such as King Kong, Sunset Boulevard and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies.
The theater also has a cafe, art gallery and gift shop, all run by friendly and knowledgeable staff who make finding what you are searching for easy. Three paid surface lots are also nearby between 4th and 5th Street that provide parking.
The Queen’s Theatre
The Queen’s Theatre is an historic venue located at Shaftesbury Avenue. This stunning and versatile space plays host to world-class productions that range from intimate cabaret shows to impressive auditorium performances, providing something for every taste and occasion imaginable. Additionally, The Queen’s Theatre hosts numerous special events like musical performances and public lectures – don’t miss this historic opportunity to visit Shaftesbury Avenue and witness history unfold.
Sir George Richard Sprague designed and constructed this theatre, opening it for use in 1907. It offers three levels of seating: stalls, dress circle and upper gallery – making it home to one of Broadway’s hit musicals, Les Miserables.
After an extended period of decline, Bob Carlton revitalized the theatre in 1998 by returning it to its original values and employing repertory theatre again, an approach that allowed high production standards with efficient budget management – as well as serving as an incubator for talented artists of the next generation.
At this point, the theatre had stopped receiving any central arts funding, yet was able to stay open by maintaining modest support from its borough and ticket revenue and donations from individuals.
Today, The Queen’s Theatre remains committed to offering world-class theatre, music and dance that honors its diverse community while remaining true to itself. A vibrant performing arts center boasting mainstage theatre, studio theatre and bar/cabaret as well as jump the Q subscription scheme providing excellent value.
Eleven Stoke
Eleven is a 350 capacity live music venue which regularly hosts bands. They offer a large separate bar area where visitors can come relax with drinks without experiencing live entertainment from bands, and two large free car parks for up to 200 cars – easily accessible off junction 15/16 of the M6 along the A500 and then Reginald Mitchell Way respectively.
The Virginmarys performed their final UK date at Stoke On Trent’s Eleven, after performing in Bathgate, Southampton and everywhere in between. Although headline shows at 2pm can sometimes feel strangely intrusive to audiences, their audience seemed happy enough with all the music videos playing and friendly atmosphere created.
Paul Hume of Eleven in Sandyford is facing an immediate financial challenge despite its growing popularity and ticket sales, even with its steady increase. So much so, that he launched a PS10,000 fund-raising campaign in order to preserve this independent venue since opening four years ago. Music lover Hume hopes he can raise enough to save Eleven by September tenth anniversary but this may prove challenging given Boris Johnson’s lockdown of pubs and bars has forced many independents out of business; thus far the campaign has raised over PS10,000 with it continuing until they reach their goal! So far the campaign has raised more than PS10,000 but will continue until reaching goal is met – more than PS10,000 was raised and this goal.
