FIRST LOOK
Lichfield’s Cathedral is one of only three in the United Kingdom with three spires
Enjoy a two-hour cruise along the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.
All year round cruises scheduled to run on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with seasonal cruises running Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Booking is essential to avoid disappointment.
Cruises available:
Afternoon tea • Fish and chips • Sunday lunches
Curry cruises • Cheese and wine evenings
Cocktails and canapés • Pizza and prosecco
Italian night • Mexican night • Greek night • Tapas night
Fine dining sunset cruise • Mamma Mia bottomless brunch
Alice in Wonderland afternoon tea
Beauty and the Beast afternoon tea
Children’s teddy bear workshops
Self Drive Day Boat now available for hire
Book your private party with full exclusivity, available for all special occasions
Weddings, birthdays, christenings, anniversaries, Christmas, baby showers, hen parties, corporate and so much more…
Licensed bar on board • Gift vouchers available
Parkgate Lock, Teddesley Road, Penkridge ST19 5RH info@georgiescanalcruises co uk
Managing Director
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DESIGN
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PRODUCTION
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is a foodie’s paradise with a host of fantastic restaurants, cafés and pubs – so make sure you bring a healthy appetite.
Only here for the weekend? Fear not! Here are some ideas for a memorable short break.
Culture vultures assemble! The county offers the perfect mix of galleries, museums, exhibitions and festivals.
with
Although Staffordshire has more than enough to keep you busy, a journey further afield can make for an exciting new adventure.
final look at this beautiful region – The Roaches.
This
wonderful county draws visitors back like a magnet year after year
Welcome, visitor!
Whether it’s a weekend break to walk across the breathtaking countryside, days out with the children or a taste sensation at a fantastic restaurant, Staffordshire has got it all.
This beautiful county has an impressive and captivating history, and ancient castles and scenery which have inspired artists, photographers and those who simply want to stand and stare at its fascinating landscapes.
Shopping in Staffordshire is a real treat, a wealth of market towns, retail villages and factory shops tempt every shopaholic. While it’s true that many high streets around the country have grown almost indistinguishable, in this beautiful county you’ll easily find places oozing with local charm.
You can get a taste for sumptuous food at the end of a hard day’s shopping at a number
of Staffordshire’s restaurants and pubs. Our must-visits include Thornbury Hall, Kingsley Holt; Staffordshire Grill Country Pub & Steakhouse, Brewood; and The Mill at Worston, Great Bridgeford.
If you’re a culture vulture, you’re in luck in Staffordshire. With the world-famous ceramics industry, fabulous festivals and museums to thrill history buffs, expect an extra-large dose of culture indeed. Get set to dress up for the theatre and delve into a calendar of cultural events, the county’s performing arts scene boasts something for everyone.
Whether you’re visiting for business or pleasure, you can always be assured of finding something exciting to do, tasty to eat or interesting to explore. ■
Biddulph Grange House
Staffordshire offers an abundance of things to do with days out and top attractions for the whole family to enjoy
Great days out
Staffordshire is a true gem hidden in plain sight in the heart of England. With a fascinating mix of industrial heritage, scream-inducing theme parks and beautiful countryside, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you spend happy days walking on Cannock Chase or browsing the antique shops in Leek, it’s likely you’ll be back for more, time and again.
If you’re travelling with the kids, it’s not likely you’ll leave Staffordshire without a request to go to Alton Towers, one of the most popular theme parks in the country. Located in the Staffordshire Moorlands, the park combines major white-knuckle roller coasters, like The Smiler and Oblivion, with the calmer
A lovely place for a stroll is the HQ of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
charms of preschool favourite CBeebies Land. It’s built on the former estate belonging to the now-ruined Alton Towers stately home. Today, this contains a terrifying ‘walk-through dark ride’ based on a local legend.
Perhaps less well known but still as thrilling is Drayton Manor in Drayton Bassett, near Tamworth. Take the challenge of nail-biting rides like Shockwave, Europe’s first standup rollercoaster. However, the big draw is Thomas Land, a hugely popular multimillion-pound attraction for fans of the lovable tank engine. There’s also a zoo that’s home to more than 500 animals from around the world, from majestic tigers to cute guinea pigs. Make sure you don’t miss the Dinotrail
The Roaches is a rocky ridge gritstone escarpment in the Peak District National Park
with life-size model dinosaurs.
For exciting animal encounters, head to Peak Wildlife Park near Leek. It’s home to a varied menagerie, including penguins, lemurs, meerkats, wallabies and zebras. Walk through the enclosures and get up close to the residents, with regular keeper talks and feeding times. There’s a large indoor soft-play area to let your own little monkeys burn off some energy.
Rodbaston College, at Penkridge, has an animal zone that’s open to the public at weekends and during school holidays. The licensed zoo collection helps students learn about animal care, but also offers the chance to meet around 600 animals from more than 150 different species. You’ll encounter creatures like meerkats, alpacas and rabbits.
Let the kids loose in the indoor barn play area and meet all your favourite farm animals at Lower Drayton Farm, near Penkridge. Seasonal activities include a maize maze in summer and pumpkin picking in autumn.
On a larger scale, the National Forest Adventure Farm at Tatenhill offers farm animals galore plus more exotic furry friends like reindeer and chinchillas. Hit the go-kart track and play the instruments in the musical maze.
To pick your own seasonal fruit and veggies,
visit the Canalside Farm Shop in Great Haywood. While here, pop into the café to enjoy deli delights and artisan bread as the boats pass by. The farm’s owner, Chris Barton, has put together a series of bike rides and walks that start and finish at the farm. Pick up a leaflet and head out along the canal, across fields and woodlands.
A lovely place for a family stroll is the headquarters of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, based at the Wolseley Centre. Here, you’ll find 26 acres of beautiful grounds to explore, l
L Cannock Chase Forest I Alton Towers, Stoke-on-Trent
STEAM TRAIN DINING
CHURNET VALLEY RAILWAY
The picturesque landscape of the Churnet Valley can be enjoyed best on train and by foot. Each ticket on our railway allows you to travel the 22-mile round trip to Ipstones and back, where you can hop on and hop off at Froghall, Consall or Cheddleton along the way. For a sit down dinner, consider our Moorlander Dining Train, which combines our unique journey with a delicious meal created by our on-board chefs.
Churnet Valley Railway, Near Leek, Staffordshire Moorlands
A British Heritage Art Pottery
We strongly recommend a visit to one of the best kept secrets of the applied arts…
At the Moorcroft Heritage Visitor Centre and Museum you will enter a potbank steeped in history, where artists, and craftspeople still make some of the finest art pottery in the world today. Moorcroft, located in the heart of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, is one of the last remaining independent art potteries and operates out of the original brick, Arts & Crafts ‘studio’ style factory.
Each piece of art is made entirely by hand under the awesome shadow of the Grade II listed bottleoven.
Moorcroft uses the proprietary glazes and distinctive slip-trailing methods, known by those in the know as ‘tubelining,’ pioneered by William Moorcroft at the end of the 19th century. Liquid clay is applied by hand to create a raised ceramic design outline before the work is infilled with striking metallic glazes. This incredibly labour-intensive process produces colourful designs of intricacy, brilliance, and clarity with colours shimmering like precious jewels following a second firing with a vitreous glaze.
Moorcroft Pottery was originally founded as a studio in 1897, within the James Macintyre & Co. an industrial ceramic company, through the ground breaking work of
READER OFFER
Quote WELCOME and receive 20% of any piece of Moorcroft. This offer can only be used once per person before the expiry of this offer at the Moorcroft Heritage Visitor Centre only.
No other offers or discount apply. Offer ends 31st August 2025.
ceramicist extraordinaire, William Moorcroft, who at the tender age of 24 years-old, was soon selling his work to retailers, including the prestigious Liberty of London, under his own signature before opening a company under his own name, Moorcroft.
The Moorcroft Heritage Visitor Centre
The Moorcroft bottle oven, long-since retired, is known with affection as “the
The Moorcroft Factory
Above, turning a vase on a lathe is one of the heritage techniques you will see on a factory tour.
Each piece of Moorcroft is still entirely handmade just as it was in 1897. Above Moorcroft’s Emma Bossons demonstrates Moorcroft Artistry on The Great Pottery Throw Down.
old lady” by those who see it every day. To add to the delightful atmosphere, you can quite literally step inside the Grade II Listed Bottleoven, just as potters would have done over a century ago, as they balanced saggars on their heads. Framed photographs of potters past allow you to bask in times gone by, indeed, there is even a pot with a barge named Moorcroft not to mention the Moorcroft Heritage Visitor Centre itself!
Just around every corner you will find handmade vases, clocks, lamps, jugs and plaques, and much more, all created in the handmade ‘Moorcroft’ tradition and with surface decorations covering many subject matters from landscapes, cityscapes, floral
masterpieces, fruit, animals, fantasy and more. Above all, you will discover a world of ceramic art where colours ravish the eye and landscape scenes calm the soul.
Museum
A Museum, which houses fascinating pieces of Moorcroft in their original Liberty Cabinets, allows visitors to view the history of ceramic art through the ages. Journey through Art Nouveau, and Art Deco to the astounding designs of today and bask in a ceramic heritage par excellence. Entrance to the shop and Museum is free of charge.
The Moorcroft Heritage Visitor Centre is closed for holidays on several occasions and also whilst we host various events – please check website for opening times. Assistance dogs are welcome. Moorcroft Heritage Visitor Centre, Shop, Museum, Bottle Oven and car park are all free of charge.
Events
Moorcroft have a number of events within the Heritage Visitor Centre all year round. Notable seasonal events include the annual open weekend in May each year and Christmas festivities in mid-November. On the 15th October 2024 a day event at Blenheim Palace ought not to be missed! It is certainly worth checking the Moorcroft on-line event diary: our www.moorcroft.com/events Tel 01782 820515
Open: Wednesday - Saturday: 10:30am - 16:30pm each day. We are closed from Sunday – Tuesday.
Sandbach Road, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST6 2DQ
Factory tours
A maximum of 10 people can be taken on a factory tour at one time. However, large group bookings can be arranged for up to 20 people. Address: Sandbach Road, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, ST6 2DQ.
Duration: Factory tours last approx 1 hour. Pre-booking is essential, factory tours can be booked in advance to book 01782 820515.
Tour times: Factory Tours available on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday at 10.45am.
Prices: Adults £7.50, Children (age 11-16) £5.00, OAP £6.50, and Group booking £6.50pp
Tours are subject to maximum numbers so you will need to contact the Heritage Visitor to arrange all Group bookings.
Above, Grapes and Vines by Emma Bossons. Blue vine leaves hint at the colouration William Morris showcased in his famous Acanthus wallpaper and William Moorcroft’s own blue Florianware (1897-1913).
City of Flowers by designer, Kerry Goodwin
packed with wildlife and birds. You might even be lucky enough to spot a kingfisher along the riverbanks, or maybe even the resident terrapin in one of the three lakes and ponds.
There’s a network of accessible footpaths that lead to a sensory garden and some intriguing sculptures and willow creations. Kids love the friendly ducks hoping for some of the seed available in the gift shop. Complete your outing with a trip to the visitor centre, with a picturesque café overlooking Swan Lake.
For the ultimate relaxing outdoor trip, explore the county’s waterways with a twohour canal cruise on the recently restored Georgie Kate. Setting sail from Penkridge, the 70ft narrow boat takes you along the tranquil Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal to Acton Trussell and back. Meanwhile, you enjoy an afternoon tea of homemade sandwiches and cakes washed down with teas and coffees.
Inspiration is always on tap in the ‘Creative County’, with loads of museums, galleries and historic gardens for a culture fix.
Explore Staffordshire’s rich coal-mining history at the Apedale Heritage Centre. Based in Apedale Community Country Park and run entirely by volunteers, the museum was
Delve into 250 years of innovation and design at World of Wedgwood
founded in 2001 on the site of the former Apedale Colliery. There’s a rare opportunity to experience the underground workings of a real coal mine on one of the centre’s weekend guided tours.
Near Lichfield, the Staffordshire Regiment Museum tells the story of the Regiment from its formation in 1705 to its present-day incarnation as part of the four-battalion Mercian Regiment. Discover around 11,000 items, including an exciting collection of armoured vehicles. For the little ones, there’s an adventure playground in the shape of a Warrior infantry fighting vehicle. Named Camp Fisher, it’s dedicated to the memory of Warrant Officer Class 2 Ian Fisher.
Delve into 250 years of innovation and design at World of Wedgwood in Barlaston. You’ll learn about the hugely influential Josiah Wedgwood and his impact on society. l
World of Wedgwood, Barlaston
SUMMER DAYS OUT IN TAMWORTH FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!
Summer at Statfold is here! Join us throughout the school holidays for an adventure with the family. Enjoy unlimited countryside train rides, a woodland trail, soft play, mini golf, play parks, a Worldrenowned Museum of engines and much more!
Join us and Titanium Fireworks as we light up the night sky with an incredible evening of fireworks displays, live music and more! It's a great night out for the whole family.
Join us for a weekend at the Midland's best-value, family-friendly festival! With performances from tributes to ABBA, Robbie Williams, Queen and more! The Big Statfold Weekender offers non-stop entertainment!
Come and Explore
Middleport Pottery is a charity-owned visitor attraction in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent. Situated next to the Trent & Mersey Canal, Middleport Pottery was built by Burgess & Leigh in the late 19th-century. This Grade II*-listed pottery is the UK’s last working Victorian potbank in continuous production, and after 130 years Middleport Pottery remains home to world-famous Burleigh pottery.
There is so much to see and do. Visitors can take part in heritage or factory tours, have something to eat at The Packing House Café, explore Port Street Range & Harper Street or treat themselves to something from the Burleigh Factory shop. It’s a great day out for all the family.
For more information and tour tickets scan the QR code or visit our website.
Middleport Pottery, Port Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 3PE Tel: 01782 499766 Email: info@re-form.org www.re-form.org/middleportpottery
Thriving within a magical Staffordshire woodland, 140 freeroaming Barbary macaques live their lives how they would in the wild.
You can visit these monkeys and observe them in absolute amazement, as they demonstrate their fascinating, natural behaviours, right before your very eyes.
Monkey Forest is where adventure meets affordability, as tickets start from just £8.55 per person!
Outside of the forest is an array of activites too, from the primate-themed play areas, an app with trails & quizzes, a willow maze and much more.
Book now to secure your epic monkey adventure.
Laid back shopping in the heart of the Peak District
Browse a range of national brands and independent shops
Discover the nature reserve and year-round events
Free parking and dogs welcome
Chatsworth Road, Rowsley, Derbyshire DE4 2JE
www.peakvillage.co.uk
He wasn’t only a potter and industrialist – he invented a pyrometer to measure extremely high temperatures in kilns, and was a passionate slavery abolitionist.
The museum displays a UNESCOprotected ceramics collection on long-term loan from the V&A. A highlight is a ‘first day vase’ thrown by Josiah Wedgwood himself to mark the successful opening of the Etruria factory on 13th June, 1769.
Formal gardens
The regal Shugborough Estate, home to the Anson family since 1624, rests on the edge of Cannock Chase. It’s easy to spend the better part of a day here, with ancient woodland and formal gardens to wander around. The Georgian mansion gives you a glimpse at life ‘below stairs’ in the servant’s quarters. Then, see the elegant apartments of Patrick Lichfield.
Described as ‘the UK’s year-round centre of remembrance’, the 150-acre National Memorial Arboretum is home to more than 300 memorials to the armed forces, emergency services, civilian organisations and national charities. More than 30,000 trees make up a living tribute, and planting began in 1997. See the haunting Shot At Dawn memorial and the Millennium Chapel of
Peace and Forgiveness, where you can hear the Last Post sound every day at 11am.
The centrepiece of the site is the stunning Armed Forces Memorial, its Portland stone walls inscribed with the names of more than 16,000 servicemen and women of the British armed forces killed on duty since World War II. Despite its subject matter, the Arboretum – a previous winner of Enjoy Staffordshire’s Large Visitor Attraction of the Year award – is a vibrant place. Plenty of memorials appeal to children, such as the giant polar bear tribute to the 49th Infantry West Riding Division.
Trentham Estate is the place to take to the canals on a boat trip, but it’s the dazzling gardens that win the hearts of millions of visitors each year. Start in the Italian Gardens, based on Sir Charles Barry’s original 19thcentury plan. Stroll along the wide paths enjoying the flower borders, along with seven impressive fountains and the majestic remains of one of Trentham Hall’s loggias.
Down by the lake, you’ll find the iconic bronze sculpture of Perseus holding aloft Medusa’s severed head, a 19th-century replica of Benvenuto Cellini’s original 16th-century masterpiece. Far less gruesomely, the estate is also home to an enchanting collection of 21 fairies hidden throughout the gardens and woods. Created by local artist Robin Wight, l
Italian Garden, Trentham Estate
THE DEER PARK
ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY...
..with a visit to our farmshop, gift floor, and delightful Café Linhay. Why not pop in to say hello to our Independent Retailers too. Our beautiful function room and green spaces are available for hire. Enjoy the atmosphere of a working farm with a peaceful walk around our private grounds, maybe some Red Deer and Alpaca spotting on the way.
The Foxfield Railway runs from its Caverswall Road Station in Blythe Bridge and offers steam train rides through the rural Staffordshire Moorlands every Sunday and school holiday from Easter to October. Visit our locomotive display area and learn about the history of steam in the local area or head to our station buffet for a bite to eat before boarding your train for a trip through stunning Staffordshire scenery. On dates throughout the year, we run special events including vehicle rallies, steam festival weekends and even play host to Father Christmas during December. Check out our website today! www.foxfieldrailway.co.uk
E: enquiries@foxfieldrailway.co.uk
E: enquiries@foxfieldrailway.co.uk
T: 01782 396210
T: 01782 396210
Foxfield Railway, Caverswall Road Station, Caverswall Road, Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire, ST11 9BG
Foxfield Railway, Caverswall Road Station, Caverswall Road, Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire, ST11 9BG The Deer Park deer.park.farm topples.knees.often
Hoar Cross, Staffordshire
Welcome to Curborough
A hidden gem, and just a stones throw away from Lichfield, our Countryside Centre is home to brilliant independent businesses, retailers, artists and designers. Come along for a visit and you will discover that we are a hub for creativity and talent, giving you an excellent choice of both retail and workshop experiences. Having had a wander around, why not then stop for a bite to eat and drink at our on-site restaurant or takeaway?
For opening hours and a full list of all our shops, visit: www.curboroughcountrysidecentre.com
Find us at: Curborough Hall Farm Countryside Centre, Watery Lane, Lichfield, WS13 8ES. LARGE FREE CAR PARK.
Sixtowns Distillery & Bar
Your exclusive offer awaits…
Situated at the heart of the renowned World of Wedgwood site in Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent, SIXTOWNS Distillery & Bar is a premier destination for craft spirit enthusiasts and cocktail lovers. The venue offers a plethora of experiences, including AA rosette cuisine at its on-site restaurant, brunch, lunch, and afternoon tea at the World of Wedgwood Tea Rooms, and charcuterie boards and nibbles in the distillery bar. Searching for the perfect souvenir or gift? SIXTOWNS boasts a wide array of options, including of course their stunning one-of-a-kind porcelain bottles inspired by the rich heritage of the city’s ceramic industry, lovingly filled with the delicious craft spirits produced on-site.
A standout feature of SIXTOWNS is its immersive distillery tours. These aren't just simple walkthroughs; they are engaging explorations into the art of distilling. Upon arrival, guests receive a complimentary cocktail before delving into the intricate grain-to-glass process that transforms raw materials into exquisite spirits. Central to their operation is the state-of-theart Genio Still, showcasing their commitment to crafting spirits of impeccable quality. The tour culminates in a tasting adventure, where guests sample four signature SIXTOWNS spirits, including gin, pink gin, rum, and vodka, paired with carefully selected mixers and garnishes.
For a truly unique experience, the SIXTOWNS Spirit Academy offers a gin-making session where participants can craft their own bottle on a mini alembic still, choosing from a vast selection of botanicals to create a bespoke recipe. This hands-on session is a memorable and creative experience, perfect for enthusiasts and novices alike.
Beyond experiences, SIXTOWNS hosts a variety of events, from lively quiz and bingo evenings to live music and family-friendly days, ensuring something for everyone.
More than just a distillery, SIXTOWNS is a blend of history and modernity. Located within the historical World of Wedgwood, it marries rich heritage with contemporary trends, creating a stylish yet nostalgic ambiance. The venue is ideal for hosting various functions, from parties and wedding receptions to corporate events, offering elegant decor and professional service to ensure unforgettable memories. ■
Exclusive Offer
Kingfisher readers enjoy a special 10% discount on the SIXTOWNS distillery tour or gin-making experience. Call to book and quote KINGFISHER10. Additionally, you will receive a 10% discount in the gift shop following your experience.
Discover the charm and vibrancy of SIXTOWNS and learn more about upcoming events at sixtownsgin.co.uk
SIXTOWNS by Bros Distillery Wedgwood Drive, Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent ST12 9ER 07399 718707 sales@sixtownsgin.co.uk www.sixtownsgin.co.uk Facebook or Instagram @sixtownsgin
each one is different and full of personality. While you’re in a spotting mood, head for the neighbouring Trentham Monkey Forest, a unique attraction where 140 endangered Barbary macaques live freely among the trees. It’s a delight to watch them swinging in the branches and playing together – and sometimes warning each other off – as they go about their everyday lives in front of you.
Historic steam train
All aboard the Foxfield Railway for a fivemile round trip on a historic steam train! Departing from its station at Blythe Bridge, the railway celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017 as a volunteer-run tourist attraction. It was originally built in 1893 to link the Foxfield Colliery in the nearby village of Dilhorne to the North Staffordshire Railway line in Blythe Bridge.
It takes a circuitous route, because it had to be constructed as far away from Dilhorne Hall as possible. The Foxfield Light Railway Society now has more than 30 locomotives, as well as a purpose-built miniature railway used to train up the next generation of volunteer engineers.
Keen train enthusiasts also enjoy the Churnet Valley Railway, which departs from Froghall Wharf about seven miles from Blythe
Bridge. The Apedale Valley Light Railway in Chesterton, near Newcastle, operates at weekends from spring to autumn. Choose theme parks for thrillseekers, woodland walks for amblers and wildlife parks for animal lovers on days out in Staffordshire. Or visit majestic estates and intriguing museums with history displayed to suit every member of the family. Whatever you choose to do, a common saying is that Staffordshire is easy to get to but oh so hard to leave. ■
L Churnet Valley Railway I Trentham Monkey Forest
DON’T MISS
Our top things to see and do when visiting this picturesque region
1
Middleport Pottery
The home of Burleigh Pottery and the BBC’s Great Pottery Throw Down, Middleport Pottery is a hub for contemporary crafts as well as a historic factory complete with a Grade 2-listed bottle kiln. Book a tour in advance and see pottery being made using the same methods as in the 1880s.
2
Green spaces I
There’s plenty of room to get back to nature, from the striking rocky outcrops of The Roaches in the Moorlands to the wild open heath and woodland of Cannock Chase. And industrial Stoke-on-Trent is one of the greenest cities in the UK, with more than 100km of cycle lanes, 90 parks, numerous canals and walkways and over 3,000 allotments.
Ceramics
3
Act like a Staffordshire native by turning over crockery and squealing with delight when you find a local backstamp. Fans of the county’s most famous export can stock up on amazing bargains at over 25 factory shops in and around Staffordshire including Emma Bridgewater, Wedgwood, Royal Stafford, Burleigh and Portmeirion plus many more.
4
Literary connections
JRR Tolkien was one of those Staffordshire-based Great War soldiers and you can follow a fascinating trail around his old haunts in the Great Haywood area. Prolific writer Arnold Bennett was influenced throughout his life by his Potteries birthplace, and you can spot modern day Stoke-on-Trent in the gritty crime novels of Mel Sherratt.
5 Culture
Not for nothing is Staffordshire dubbed “the creative county”. As well as ceramics, the county boasts an outstanding arts scene with galleries, theatres, large-scale outdoor performances and festivals celebrating everything from circus skills in Newcastle to international pop superstars at Weston Park.
6
Monkey magic
Trentham Monkey Forest is the unlikely home of 140 free-roaming Barbary macaques who wander around as if oblivious to the human interlopers watching them. It’s a delight to watch them swinging in the branches and playing together – and sometimes warning each other off – as they go about their everyday lives in front of you. If you visit in late spring look out
for tiny black-haired babies clinging to their monkey parents’ chests.
7
Museums I
From the delicate filigree of the Staffordshire Hoard at The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Hanley to the story of beer at Burton’s National Brewery Centre and the history of the toilet at Gladstone Pottery Museum in Longton, the county’s wide range of museums will inspire and entertain you.
8
Canals
We are spoilt for choice when it comes to canals in Staffordshire, so take a stroll along the towpaths through The Potteries or enjoy a slower pace of life at marinas in Aston (Stone), Barton-under-Needwood and Fradley.
9
Military history
You can still stumble across remnants of the First World War training camps that housed thousands of troops on Cannock Chase, which is also home to the Commonwealth and German War Cemeteries. You can also view a replica World War I trench at the Staffordshire Regiment Museum, near Lichfield, or visit the National Memorial Arboretum.
10
Theme parks K
Thrillseekers will be at home in Staffordshire, whether they are riding the rollercoasters at Alton Towers in Stoke-on-Trent, one of the country’s most popular theme park resorts, enjoying the more sedate delights of Thomas Land at Drayton Manor Resort in Tamworth or splashing around at Waterworld Leisure Resort in Hanley. ■
SHOPPING
Shopaholics will love this region for its eclectic mix of boho-chic boutiques, high-street staples and quirky independents
Savvy shoppers are spoilt for choice in Staffordshire! A wealth of market towns, retail villages and factory shops tempt every shopaholic. While it’s true that many high streets around the country have grown almost indistinguishable, here in Staffordshire you’ll easily find places oozing with local charm. Wear your comfy shoes to wander for hours and pick up some goodies to take home.
Love shopping destinations with everything at your fingertips? Staffordshire makes it easy to lug all those bags around, with bustling shopping hubs to suit everyone.
The shopping village on the Trentham Estate is a great starting point
A great starting point on your retail journey is the shopping village on the Trentham Estate. It’s one of the country’s top leisure destinations, attracting more than three million visitors a year to its formal gardens, treetop rope adventure course and unique Monkey Forest. So, make sure you leave plenty of time for attractions other than retail therapy.
On arrival, you’ll notice the enormous Trentham Garden Centre. It’s designed to reflect the adjacent Italian Gardens and offers an enticingly wide selection of lifestyle, home
and garden products, as well as a choice of restaurants. Head to more than 80 timber lodges that make up the shopping village. There’s an eclectic mix of stores with many names you’ll recognise and many you won’t –but you will definitely want to explore!
Big brand names include Holland and Barrett, Cotton Traders, L’Occitane and Whittard of Chelsea. The area’s pottery connections are heavily represented by local favourites Portmeirion, Spode and Royal Worcester. Stroll along the wide shopping street to find unique gifts and quirky accessories with plenty of delicious snacks stops along the way.
The six towns making up Stoke-on-Trent are known collectively as The Potteries thanks to a rich industrial history. This area became the home of the pottery industry more than 300 years ago due to its abundance of clay and coal. It flourished thanks to innovative manufacturing techniques developed by the likes of Wedgwood and Spode.
Discover more than 25 factory shops in and around the city. One of the biggest names in the pottery industry for centuries, Wedgwood has two retail outlets based at World of Wedgwood in Barlaston.
Retail space
At its flagship store and the largest Wedgwood retail space in the world, you’ll get a preview of new collections before they’re widely available around the UK. Pick up a special ‘Made in England’ piece from collections crafted onsite and not available elsewhere in Europe.
For big-name bargains with up to 75 per cent off retail prices, head for the Wedgwood & Royal Doulton Outlet Store on Forge Lane in Etruria. It’s the area’s largest stockist of Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Minton, Waterford Crystal, Coalport and Royal Albert.
Fans of Emma Bridgewater’s popular spotty hand-made designs won’t want to miss the gift shop and outlet at her factory in Lichfield Street, Hanley. It’s housed in a traditional Victorian potbank beside the Caldon Canal.
Travelling from Hanley to Longton, you’ll find the Ayshford Street studio, shop and showroom of Reiko Kaneko. Her elegantly simple designs are inspired by her Japanese childhood. Admire a range featuring tableware and terracotta. The unique jewellery range includes ‘chiming’ pendants made from two or more hand-finished glazed china hoops.
For a local souvenir to remind you of your visit, try Moorland Pottery in Burslem. They produce Stokieware, which are mugs and teapots with popular phrases and imagery
that celebrate the rich history of The Potteries and its people. They even sell a range of Stokeinspired craft gins, including tributes to the oatcake and the pikelet.
The £160 million McArthurGlen West Midlands Designer Outlet in Cannock is the company’s seventh retail village in the group’s UK portfolio. This is the place to go for up to 60 per cent off luxury and high-street brands. Pop in to pick up something new to wear from your favourite brands, including Calvin Klein, BOSS, Kate Spade and Tommy Hilfiger.
You’ll find shopping centres and out-oftown retail parks throughout the county. One of the largest is Tamworth’s Ventura Retail Park. Stop here for popular high-street brands like Halfords, Boots and Next, just outside the town centre. That’s not all though, with Jolly Sailor Retail Park ensuring you fill your bags to the brim before leaving.
You won’t have to search hard to find unique treasures in Staffordshire. The ‘Creative County’ turns on the charm when it comes to independent shopping. Around l
L World of Wedgwood, Barlaston j Trentham Estate Shopping Village
15 miles north-east of Trentham, you’ll find the historic market town of Leek. It’s known as the Queen of the Moorlands for its superb location on the southern edge of the Peak District National Park. Now renowned as a hotspot for antique lovers, the town’s market was established in 1207 by Royal Charter.
You’ll find a number of thriving traditional and specialist markets held regularly throughout the town, including a fine-food market on the third Saturday of every month, and an intriguing craft and collectables market held in the indoor Trestle Market every Friday. There’s also an indoor market with more than 50 stalls in the Victorian Butter Market building.
Weekly collectors’ market
It’s easy to spend days searching for antique treasures to take home from Leek. Visit on a Saturday and start your hunt in the cobbled Market Place, filled with antique stalls for the weekly collectors’ market. From here, take a short walk to St Edward Street, which is packed with fine buildings full of beautiful objects.
The half-timbered Grade 2-listed Odeon Antiques and Interiors offers four floors and 12 rooms of antiques, vintage lighting and furniture. Keep your eyes open on Sheep
Market and Stanley Street for some lovely gift shops full of contemporary souvenirs. Bibelot boasts three floors of goodies, including accessories and haberdashery. Check the schedule for craft workshops.
Make sure you don’t miss the vibrant Getliffes Yard, a hidden treasure tucked away off Derby Street. Built in the early 19th century, it was originally home to lodging houses and stables. Now, it hosts a community of elegant boutiques, yummy eateries and quirky gift shops on original cobbles under a magnificent glass dome. Visit silversmith Jacqueline Harold’s studio for fine jewellery and Miscos Chocolate for delicious handmade truffles. Anne Morris Fashion offers three floors of trendy fashion.
Independent retailers
There are plenty of independent retailers in Trentham to compete with the high -treet brands. For cuddly keepsakes, head to One More Bear. You’ll find collectable teddies from around the world, including Charlie Bears and Isabelle Lee Bears. A magical section boasts fairy doors and accessories, along with plenty of unicorns to choose from.
It’s possible to find a fairy costume for your canine companion at Doggie Fashions, which offers an astonishing array of toys and
Leek Open Air Market
accessories to suit all dogs. The pet bakery makes personalised dog birthday cakes and canine cookies. For human fare, look no further than Trentham Farm Shop. It brings together local and artisan produce from small and distinctive producers. They stock a delicious range of fresh whole foods, bakery goods and drinks, so it’s the ideal spot to stock up for a picnic.
Vintage style
If you’re a fan of vintage style, you won’t want to miss Ahoy Sailor Vintage in Burton for everything from preloved Levi’s to 90s hoodies. Sparrowhawk Vintage in Newcastle is an Aladdin’s cave of quirky and fun clothing, with some real bargains to be found. Visit Fish Records in Stone for folk, acoustic and Americana on CD and vinyl to go with your new vintage threads.
To help reduce your impact on the planet, Roots Larder in Stafford meets your plasticfree and zero-waste needs. Stock up on packaging-free kitchen staples and refill your natural cleaning products. Take home supplies from a range of earth-friendly toiletries and beauty products. Check the schedule for details of regular workshops and pop-up vegan café events.
Also committed to caring for the planet is
one of the county’s best farm shops, Denstone Hall near Uttoxeter. Overlooking the farm’s thriving beef business, the family-run enterprise includes a butcher’s counter, deli, bakery and grocers. Locally produced items are flagged with distinctive blue and green stickers to make them easy to spot.
In Swinfen, visit the family-run Heart of the Country shopping village. The village grew out of just one farm shop. Now, you’ll explore independent boutiques and homeware stores housed in converted farm buildings. Don’t miss the ‘bottle dispensary’ called Doctors Orders, where you’ll buy an impressive range of spirits from around the world.
Shopping village
For a whimsical end to your trip to the shopping village, explore the Green Fairy Trail set in the enchanted woodland onsite. It’s made from recycled materials and your little ones will love finding all the miniature doors and tableaux. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll spot a fairy or goblin going about their business.
Whether you’re looking for a glamorous outfit, a quirky trinket or some of the best ceramics you’re likely to find, Staffordshire is a shopper’s paradise. You can expect bulging bags and a hole in the wallet – but plenty of goodies to treasure forever. ■
One More Bear, Trentham
EATING OUT
Staffordshire is a foodie’s paradise with a host of fantastic restaurants, cafés and pubs – so make sure you bring a healthy appetite
When hunger strikes, you’re never far from a traditional pub lunch or a decadent afternoon tea in Staffordshire. From gourmet meals for special occasions to your favourite curry, this is a county that truly caters to every taste bud and craving.
Taste your way around Staffordshire’s top restaurants and foodie hubs. The county’s nickname, ‘Creative County’, also extends to
tantalising menus and scrumptious local specialities – you won’t be disappointed.
Celebrating an occasion and searching for somewhere special to eat? Look no further than a former winner of the Taste of Staffordshire Independent Restaurant of the Year title, Four Seasons Restaurant at Swinfen Hall Hotel. Enjoy Sunday lunch with a delicious roast and all the trimmings, complete with views
of the wild deer park and gardens. Fine dining features dishes like wild bass with sweet garlic, pea and sherry vinegar.
Wine lovers enjoy vineyard tours with locally sourced lunches at Buzzards Valley in Drayton Bassett, near Tamworth. In Bobbington, Halfpenny Green serves up worldclass English wines with seasonal dishes featuring locally sourced produce. Think oven-baked
Halfpenny Green, Bobbington
ciabattas with fish goujons, and cheese platters with honey-baked ham.
Close to the German War Cemetery at Cannock Chase, you’ll find Fallow Forest. Settle into the relaxed atmosphere in the heart of the forest with scrumptious cakes as part of the luxurious afternoon tea.
Beautifully presented food
Love breakfast and brunch?
Thyme Kitchen, at Curborough Countryside Centre, serves beautifully presented food. Try Persian eggs scattered with pomegranate seeds or pancakes topped with yoghurt, fruit compote and edible flowers.
No visit to Staffordshire is complete without trying the beloved local delicacy, the oatcake. Not to be confused with the Scottish biscuit of the same name, the Staffordshire oatcake is a soft, savoury pancake made from oatmeal, flour and yeast. Especially popular in Stokeon-Trent and the wider North
In Bobbington, Halfpenny Green serves up world-class English wines with seasonal dishes
Staffordshire area, they were traditionally the go-to lunch for the region’s miners and pottery workers. While they all share the same basic ingredients, each oatcake shop claims its own secret recipe, so try out a few and find your favourite. Castle Oatcakes in Newcastle and Foley Oatcakes in Longton are highly recommended. Head to Povey’s Oatcakes in Biddulph and Knypersley, and High Lane Oatcakes in Burslem. Both mail freshly baked oatcakes around the world to Staffordshire expats needing a taste of home.
Oatcake Boat
Keep an eye out for the Oatcake Boat, which is often found on the canal near Westport Lake in Tunstall, and moors up close to Stoke City’s Bet365 Stadium on home match days. There’s even a song in its honour on YouTube, such is its local repute. If you fancy trying your hand at making your own oatcakes, pick up a recipe pack l
Thornbury Hall, Kingsley Holt
by The Staffordshire Oatcake Company.
Less well known outside the area but almost as beloved in Stokeon-Trent is ‘lobby’, a meat stew traditionally eaten by poorly paid potters who couldn’t afford to let any food go to waste. It’s a warming dish that often appears on the menu in North Staffordshire tea rooms and pubs – and, of course, oatcake shops.
Famous foodstuffs
As well as lobby and oatcakes, Staffordshire has two rather famous foodstuffs to its name. Branston Pickle was invented in 1922 in the village of Branston. You might be surprised to learn that the world’s supply of love-it-or-hate-it yeast spread, Marmite – some 50 million jars per year – is made in the county as a by-product of Burton-onTrent’s brewing industry.
If you fancy an Italian meal complete with red-check tablecloths, Roberto’s Pizza House
If you fancy an Italian meal complete with redcheck tablecloths, Roberto’s Pizza House
in Hanley is a tempting choice. Perfectly located for a pre-theatre dinner, this small family-run business has been serving up delicious homemade recipes since 1981. You’ll find all your favourite traditional Italian dishes along with unique chef’s specials. Admire walls lined with photographs of stars who’ve dined here while performing in the city. You might just spot someone famous, too!
Something spicy
For something spicy in a grand setting, try Thornbury Hall in Kingsley Holt. Dating back to Elizabethan times, the hall housed three members of parliament and an archdeacon of Stoke. Since 1990, Mohammed and Parveen Siddique run the restaurant specialising in Pakistani cuisine. You’ll dine amid exotic Eastern décor and sparkling crystal chandeliers.
Also making use of an unusual building, the aptly named Holy Smoke Bar & Grill in Cannock l
Roberto’s Pizza House, Hanley
is housed in the town’s former United Reformed Church, a Grade 2-listed building. Walk through the graveyard to enter the restaurant, where you’ll see original features like the organ and pulpit. The heavenly fare includes a spicy Caribbean curry served in a pineapple and customised burgers. Also in Cannock, Amigos Street Food serves up Tex-Mex-inspired dishes.
What could be better than a cosy pub or an inviting tea room after a big day exploring Staffordshire? Or perhaps a food festival to try it all in one place.
Start your day with a top-quality breakfast at The Glost House at the historic Phoenix Works in Longton. It’s located in the former home of Forester and Sons, one of the bestknown names in Victorian majolica pottery. This Grade 2-listed site still boasts two of the enormous coal-fired bottle ovens which once dotted the Stoke-on-Trent landscape.
Homemade meals
You’ll find another historic spot for coffee in the centre of Stafford, tucked away down Church Lane. The Sandy family have run the 16thcentury Soup Kitchen for over 30 years. The welcoming motto here is, ‘children welcome, grannies adored’. There’s a roof garden to make the homemade meals taste even better.
On Newcastle’s High Street, Bygones Tea Room is a time capsule recreating the best of the past. Packed with furniture and memorabilia from the 30s to the 70s, it transports you down memory lane back to your grandparents’ front room. There’s even a classic red telephone box and a vintage kitchen. In addition to tasty breakfast and lunch menus, they serve themed afternoon teas.
Fans of the past also love the Vintage Tearoom, tucked away in the grounds of the private Hawkesyard Estate in Armitage. It’s a lovely place to celebrate a special occasion with afternoon tea, or just pop in for something a bit out of the ordinary.
Think chocolate drip cake topped
The Stafford Arms, in front of Bagnall’s village green, dates back to the 16th century
with Galaxy caramels. In keeping with the tea room’s theme, whatever you choose is served on delightfully mismatched vintage china. A few minutes down the road in Rugeley – once the home of the notorious Rugeley Poisoner William Palmer – Savannah’s Tea Room is the place to go for hearty breakfasts and delicious cakes.
Mouthwatering dishes
Celebrating industrial heritage, country pub The Mill at Worston dates back to 1814 and began life as a high-production corn mill. Discover artefacts from its milling days before settling in for a feast of mouthwatering dishes. Check the schedule to time your trip with a live music gig.
Breweries large and small abound in Burton, due in part to the quality of the local water. You will find major manufacturers like Coors and Marstons, as well as numerous
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microbreweries.
For a traditional real-ale pub within walking distance of the town centre, try the 17th-century Burton Bridge Inn, which is linked to the award-winning Burton Bridge Brewery. Order regular cask ales, as well as guest beers and an unusually wide range of speciality fruit wines. You’ll enjoy drinks with a selection of pork pies and cobs.
Burslem-based Titanic Brewery has nine pubs in the county, including the Pub of the Year in 2018’s Taste of Staffordshire awards, The Roebuck in Leek.
Historic photographs
Stone’s Lymestone Brewery specialises in British classics in front of open fires and surrounded by historic photographs of Bagnall life on the walls. The Stafford Arms, in front of Bagnall’s village green, dates back to the 16th century and the current owners have been at the helm for 25 years.
Craving a juicy steak?
Staffordshire Grill at the Lion
Hotel in Brewood serves 35-dayaged steak cooked in an authentic charcoal chamber. If you’re lucky enough visit Staffordshire during the first week in October, don’t miss the Stone Food & Drink Festival. It’s grown from humble beginnings in 2004 to a huge gastronomic celebration, which is a must for every self-respecting foodie. Enjoy tasting sessions and cookery demonstrations with live music in Westbridge Park and throughout the town centre.
Look out for the Lichfield Food Festival each summer. Staged in and around the city centre, you’ll usually find more than 300 trade stands, local chefs and some TV foodie types too. Lichfield also boasts a yearly Gin, Cheese and Ale Festival.
With so much to do in Staffordshire, working up a hearty appetite is a given. Luckily, the county brims with menus ranging from gourmet delights to traditional specialities you can’t leave without trying. The only problem you’ll have is trying to fit it all in! ■
The Stafford Arms, Bagnall
Only here for the weekend? Fear not! Here are some ideas for a memorable short break
WEEKENDER
DAY ONE
Start your trip in the industrial north west of the county with a visit to The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Hanley, one of the six towns making up Stoke-on-Trent. You’ll see world-class collections of ceramics, items from the AngloSaxon Staffordshire Hoard and even an original Spitfire aeroplane, invented by local lad, Reginald Mitchell.
Head south towards Stone on the A34, stopping for lunch at the Wayfarer Country Pub and Restaurant. It’s part of a Staffordshire-based group of quality pub-restaurants and food is served from 12pm to 10pm every day. Treat yourself to crispy braised pork belly, a mouthwatering steak, stone-fired pizza or a breaded goats’ cheese salad.
Fantastic 360-degree vista
Continue south on the A34 to reach Stafford and soak up the history of the county town. Pay a quick visit to the Grade 2-listed Stafford Castle two miles west of town – you can still see its 14th-century keep, although the castle was partially rebuilt in the Victorian Gothic Revival style. There’s a fantastic 360-degree vista across Staffordshire from the top of the hill.
South of Stafford on the A449 you’ll find the 14th-century Moat House Hotel at Acton Trussell with its award-winning restaurant, which offers delicious a la carte dishes.
DAY TWO
Work off last night’s dinner with a walk on Cannock Chase. If you prefer a gentle stroll, start at the Marquis Drive visitor centre and explore the site of the former RAF Hednesford. Alternatively, pay a visit to Shugborough Estate and its sweeping parkland.
For a wilder experience, park on Chase Road close to the glacial boulder – transported from
Scotland to Staffordshire in the last ice age – and stride out across the open heath and woodland, watching out for deer and other wildlife.
Head east from Cannock along the A5 until you reach Wall and the remains of the Roman settlement Letocetum. The Trooper pub is renowned for its bottomless lunch, so the non-drivers in your party can get stuck into a three-course meal with unlimited expertly-crafted cocktails over a two-hour sitting.
Ancient Lichfield is just up the road so enjoy a wander around
Lichfield is just up the road so enjoy a wander around
one of the smallest cathedral cities in England. Visit the homes of lexicographer Samuel Johnson and poet and physician Erasmus Darwin, or enjoy the tranquillity of Stowe Pool and the splendour of the cathedral.
Take the A38 north to Barton Marina, where you can enjoy a movie and a meal at the independent Red Carpet Cinema & Café Bar. It has two small and cosy screens showing current releases and offers a ‘film and food’ deal for a perfect night out. ■
Lichfield Cathedral
Culture vultures assemble! Staffordshire offers the perfect mix of galleries, museums, exhibitions and festivals
Culture Club
With an official nickname like ‘Creative County’, you know you’re in for an arty treat in Staffordshire. In fact, road signs on the way into the area welcome you with the tag. So, what can you expect? With the world-famous ceramics industry, fabulous festivals and museums to thrill history buffs, expect an extralarge dose of culture indeed.
Get set to dress up for the theatre and delve into a calendar of cultural events. Staffordshire’s performing arts scene boasts something for everyone. For theatre buffs, it’s a must to catch a show by Claybody
Theatre Company in Stoke-onTrent. You won’t find them at a theatre, but at various unusual venues across the Potteries. At the helm as director is award-winning playwright and actress Deborah McAndrew. You may recognise her as Coronation Street regular Angie Freeman in the 1990s. Joining her is Conrad Nelson, a critically acclaimed director, actor and composer.
Staying in Stoke-on-Trent, the Regent Theatre was built as a cinema in 1929. Now, it welcomes spectacular touring shows such as
Jersey Boys, War Horse and Mamma Mia!. You’ll walk in the footsteps of The Beatles and Cliff Richard from its days as a music venue in the 1960s.
There’s plenty of history to go with your show at Tamworth Assembly Rooms, which opened in 1889. The Tamworth Arts & Events Team produce numerous shows here, along with a host of arts activities across Tamworth.
Calendars at the ready! If you find yourself in the region on Wakes Monday – ‘the day after the first Sunday after 4th September’ – you
Claybody Theatre Company perform at various unusual venues across the Potteries
can witness an unforgettable rural custom dating back to 1226.
In the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, 12 dancers set out from St Nicholas Church and dance at set points around the village and local area throughout the day. Six carry huge reindeer antlers and they join characters like Maid Marian, the Fool and the Hobby Horse.
A great place to watch the dance is at Blithfield Hall around noon, but you’ll find them performing outside the many village pubs in the afternoon before they finish on the village green. The heavy horns, which are said to date back to 11thcentury Scandinavia, are kept on display in St Nicholas Church. So, even if you miss Wakes Monday, you can still fire up your imagination.
There’s a packed programme of arts events throughout the year at Keele University, near Newcastle. Check the schedule to enjoy poetry readings and live music. Lectures, visual arts and readings by bestselling authors join a schedule made for culture vultures.
For theatre buffs, it’s a must to catch a show by Claybody Theatre Company in Stoke-on-Trent
Celebrating the work of the UK’s leading contemporary ceramic artists, the British Ceramics Biennial has its main base at Spode’s China Hall in Stoke-on-Trent. Special events and new exhibitions pop up across the city, and they’re designed to thrill visitors with new concepts.
The renowned Lichfield Festival returns each summer for plenty of dancing and fun family-friendly workshops. Staged in various locations around the cathedral city, including Lichfield Cathedral itself, a varied programme of music, theatre and comedy keeps festivalgoers of all ages smiling.
Each August, a huge celebration of live performances enlivens Stoke-on-Trent City Centre. The Big Feast is a two-day festival-style event packed with exciting music, creative dance and activities. Watch the event unfold or take part in interactive activities.
The Big Feast is just one of the extravaganzas under the umbrella of arts organisation Appetite. l
Lichfield Cathedral plays host to a varied programme of music, theatre and comedy as part of the Lichfield Festival
Discover the Philip Astley Centre!
Explore our unique Visitor and Activity Centre, where history meets creativity. We offer Circus-themed Workshops
Philip Astley Projects cfc
Meeting Room/Venue hire School Outreach Programme(s) Corporate Team Building Party Hire Packages Live Performances Interactive Games for all ages. Visit us and unleash your inner performer!
Contact us: Philip Astley Centre
25 Merrial Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Staffordshire, ST5 2AE
Phone: 07377604614
Email: deepshikha@astleycentre.org.uk
Website: www.philipastley.org.uk
Visit the former home of the Erasmus Darwin: doctor, inventor, published poet and grandfather of evolutionary biologist Charles.
Ponder in the room where leading Midland industrialists and thinkers were thought to have shared ground-breaking ideas.
Look through his journal to uncover what inspired his many theories and inventions.
Explore Darwin’s work through interactive exhibits and historical objects.
01543 306260 • enquiries@erasmusdarwin.org Beacon Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 7AD WWW.ERASMUSDARWIN.ORG
Ford Green Hall is a wonderful surviving timber framed farmhouse built in 1624. An award-winning museum, the Hall offers visitors a fascinating insight into life in the 17th century. The rooms are furnished with an outstanding collection of textiles, ceramics and furniture.
www.fordgreenhall.org.uk 01782 537696 • fordgreenhall.museum@gmail.com
Previous productions include Water Fools, performed entirely on the lake at Central Forest Park in Hanley, and The Enchanted Chandelier showcasing trapeze artists. You certainly won’t forget these events in a hurry if you’re lucky enough to catch one while you’re here.
Fancy museum and galleryhopping across the county? You’re in luck, with an abundance of historic, arty venues to lose yourself in Staffordshire’s creative past and innovative present. In the World Capital of Ceramics, you’re guaranteed to get your fill of workshops and museums, along with a suitcase bulging with souvenirs. The six towns of Stokeon-Trent combine to make up The Potteries.
Learn all about the importance of the industry and the materials at its heart at the LoveClay visitor experience. With a contemporary gallery and regular workshops, the centre helps you view ordinary ceramics in a new light.
Middleport Pottery in Burslem combines the past, present and future of the industry. It’s been the home of Burleigh Pottery since 1889 and was a filming location for the popular television series The Great Pottery Throw Down. See one of just 47 remaining bottle kilns, thousands of which once dotted the
If you feel inspired, get a hands-on experience at Gladstone Pottery Museum in Longton
landscape of The Potteries. Explore the cobbled maze of buildings containing historic machinery and collections in every corner. Then, pop into workshops to watch craftspeople make their treasures.
If you feel inspired, get a handson experience at Gladstone Pottery Museum in Longton. You’ll visit a complete Victorian pottery factory, typical of hundreds in the area which produced everyday ceramic items for the mass market. Try your hand at throwing a pot, making a bone china flower or decorating a piece of pottery.
There’s also the Dudson Museum in Hanley, housed inside an original Grade 2-listed bottle oven, and the Spode Works heritage centre on the former factory site in Stoke. Feeling hungry after exploring? The county boasts many ceramic cafés, where you’ll paint your own keepsake while enjoying a drink and a slice of cake. Try Emma Bridgewater Pottery Factory on the outskirts of Hanley.
Interactive galleries
Not far from Abbots Bromley, Uttoxeter is home to a charming museum which reopened in 2019 after a complete refurbishment – thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund. Housed in the 400-year-old Redfern’s Cottage, the Museum of Uttoxeter Life includes seven interactive galleries exploring topics like domestic life, religious dissent and the making of the modern town.
Visit Lichfield for the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum. You’ll learn about the esteemed lexicographer’s life in the setting of his family home, where his father ran a bookshop on the ground floor.
Move onto the home of 18thcentury poet, inventor and physician Erasmus Darwin, the grandfather of evolutionary biologist Charles. This Grade 1-listed Georgian House is just a stone’s throw from the cathedral on Lichfield’s Beacon Street.
Discover the fragrant herb garden, divided into Dr Darwin’s medicinal plants and the ones his wife would have used for cooking. l
Gladstone Pottery Museum, Longton
Fans of another great Staffordshire-born mind can download a self-guided Arnold Bennett trail, which takes readers around the real-life locations in Burslem that inspired the town of Bursley in his works.
The prolific chronicler of life in Stoke-on-Trent is also commemorated with a two-metrehigh bronze statue outside The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Hanley. A living artwork created by artist Peter Walker, the mazelike Peace Woodland in Lichfield’s Beacon Park consists of more than a thousand trees from across the district.
Lichfield District Council’s parks team saved them from being felled and composted. The trees originally marked the centenary of World War I as part of the Imagine Peace installation at Lichfield Cathedral, before moving to the historic park to form what is believed to be the only Peace Woodland outside Jerusalem.
A contemporary artist known for his affectionate depiction of life
in The Potteries is Sid Kirkham, who died in 2018. His original paintings and limited-edition prints are available to view and buy at Theartbay Gallery in Fenton. Sid Kirkham’s works focus on the everyday comings and goings in the city in the 40s, 50s and 60s.
Head to The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Stoke to find works by Picasso, Durer, Degas and Grayson Perry. If you’ve got the kids in tow, it’s always a good time for outdoor art! There’s a trail of 40 sculptures around Stoke-on-Trent, which includes statues of the city’s famous figures such as Sir Stanley Matthews, Josiah Wedgwood and Reginald Mitchell.
The cultural life of Staffordshire is an ideal combination of looking back and looking forward. Step back in time on the trails of famous locals or zoom into the future at innovative theatre performances. No matter what you choose to do, there’s a whole new world of art and culture beckoning in the ‘Creative County’. ■
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Hanley
After dark
The night-time economy is thriving, packed with clubs, pubs, bars and music venues
The Sugarmill, Hanley
In the late 1960s and early 70s, Stoke-on-Trent was dubbed ‘Soulon-Trent’ by fans who gathered at The Golden Torch in Tunstall for Northern Soul all-nighters.
Nowadays, nights out in Staffordshire encompass spectacular theatre shows, live music concerts and plenty of nightclub dance floors. Simply want great conversations over cocktails or a beer? There’s a bar or pub with your name on it. Action-packed entertainment schedules ensure there’s always something happening when the sun sets on Staffordshire.
Who doesn’t love a night at the theatre? Hanley boasts the Regent Theatre, part of the Ambassador Theatre Group. As a result, it welcomes big West End shows on regional tours, and it’s the northern base of the Glyndebourne Touring Opera. The Art Deco-style Regent was built in 1929 as a cinema and has continued to evolve over time.
Live music concerts
In the 1960s the theatre hosted live music concerts from the likes of Shirley Bassey and Stevie Wonder. Renovated and converted to a full-time theatre in 1999, many of the original features are still in place. Before or after the show, take time to admire the roses in the ceiling and the checkerboard floor in the foyer.
In Newcastle-under-Lyme, the New Vic Theatre was Europe’s first purpose-built theatre-in-theround when it opened in 1986. Score a front row seat and you’ll find yourself immersed right in the middle of the action. The New Vic is renowned for its innovative and high-quality productions, which are often written in-house.
The Tamworth Assembly Rooms delivers your favourite pantos along with drama and musicals. Book a ticket at the Stafford Gatehouse Theatre or the Prince of Wales Theatre in Cannock. A highlight of Staffordshire’s theatrical year is the annual Stafford Festival Shakespeare, which sees one of the Bard’s plays performed in the open air against the impressive backdrop of Stafford Castle.
Staffordshire isn’t short of fantastic music venues. The historic Guildhall in Lichfield is popular with folk fans, with the likes of Lindisfarne and Kate Rusby headlining over the years. Are you a fan of tribute acts? Enjoy a night out at the Victoria Hall in Hanley, where you’ll also see classical concerts and comedians. Built in 1888 as part of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, the hall has welcomed performers including Jools Holland and Jason Manford.
Also in Hanley, The Sugarmill has long been a popular tour stop for upcoming alternative and rock bands since it opened in 1994. You might recognise the names of past acts like Coldplay, Muse and Stereophonics. After catching a live music gig, show off your moves at the nightclub and dance to DJ tunes.
If you’re visiting Staffordshire in late June, don’t miss the festivalstyle Forest Live concerts that thrill audiences in the heart of beautiful Cannock Chase. Acts in previous years have included Paul Weller, Paloma Faith, Tom Jones, Elbow and Kaiser Chiefs. Therefore, you’re guaranteed a great night out as the sun sets over the trees.
Summertime is party time at the Trentham Estate, when a series of top-quality tribute acts take to the lakeside stage on Saturday nights. The estate’s Woodgate Festival launched in 2019, featuring the likes of Wet Wet Wet, Atomic Kitten and Five, as well as tributes to George Michael and Take That. Themed nights are dedicated to monster rock anthems and the music of the 70s, 80s and 90s.
On a more intimate but no less entertaining scale, the Newcastle Jazz and Blues Festival gets toes tapping in May. For more, time your trip with Leek Blues and Americana Festival to see prolific troubadours in October. Lichfield Festival of Folk combines bands and dancing with song writing competitions and processions.
If stand-up comedy is your thing, make a giggling beeline for ROFL Comedy Club in Newcastle-underLyme. You’ll generally find about l
four comedians on the bill to tickle your funny bone. You never know, you might see the next up-coming comedian to have audiences laughing in the aisles at the Edinburgh Festival.
Film buffs find cinemas within easy reach of all areas of Staffordshire. The eight-screen Vue in Newcastle is particularly comfortable with plenty of legroom and reclining seats throughout. The country’s first purpose-built Odeon Luxe cinema is in Stafford. Stretch out in fully reclining seats across six state-of-the-art screens, including one huge curved iSense screen. It’s taller than a double-decker bus and features 3D sound and ultrahigh-definition projection. Ready to kick up your heels or settle in by the fire for a cosy pub night? You’re spoilt for choice after dark in Staffordshire.
For oodles of choice and a lively vibe, head to Newcastle-underLyme where thousands of Keele University students enjoy an abundance of watering holes. Start at the family-run Ten Green Bottles on Merrial Street, which sells a wide range of artisan beers and gin brands from around the world. Their signature tipple is the Poppy Rose, a mix of Poppies gin and rose lemonade with fresh pomegranate and pink grapefruit.
You’ll find a proper real-ale
establishment at the Bridge Street Ale House, a micro-pub with an ever-changing line-up of cask ale and cider. This is the place to escape the party if you wish. They pride themselves on their relaxed atmosphere, and are renowned for their friendly and knowledgeable service without another television blaring in the background.
Just across the road is The Hopwater Cellar. Described as ‘a sweet shop for grown-ups’, it sells a vast range of bottled beers and ciders from local, national and worldwide breweries, which are also available to take away. Carry on down Bridge Street to The Jug, a long-standing and traditional Newcastle favourite that hosts regular events, including popular Sunday evening quizzes.
In the pretty village of Madeley, pop in for a drink at the Offley Arms run by Shropshire-based Joules Brewery. The interior is packed with period features and history. However, on a warm night, sit in the beer garden with a view out over the village pool. A local brewery with pubs across the county is Titanic. You’ll find Titanic pubs in Burslem, where the brewery is based, along with Newcastle, Stoke, Stone, Stafford and Leek.
Looking for a relaxed atmosphere? Candid Beer opened in Stafford in 2019 and it’s tucked
away in Woodings Yard with other creative independent businesses. Described as a home away from home, the bottle shop, taproom and café offer a regularly updated range of beers, as well as events like pop-up food nights and discussion evenings.
Love a cocktail? The place for you is The Liquor Tank, an independent bar and pizza kitchen in Stafford. Order a small plate for snacks and wash it down with cocktails like a Chocolate Old Fashioned and a Rose & Rapsberry Spritz.
In Cannock, The Arcade is a stylish bar serving up craft beer, spirits and wines on a backdrop of rustic, industrial décor. If Newcastle’s the place to go for pubs and bars, then Hanley’s the hot spot for dancing all night long.
Choose from a wide range of clubs, including Fiction for music events and Basement for themed nights with special DJ acts. For LGBTQ+ venues, glam up for a night at Pink, Gossip! and Millionaires, to name but a few.
For a blood-curdling evening out, why not take part in a Gruesome and Ghostly Tour of Lichfield to discover some of the city’s spinetingling secrets? The 90-minute tours only take place in the winter months to take advantage of the spookier dark evenings. Tickets, which include refreshments, are available from the city’s tourist information office.
If you’re still feeling brave, try out one of five nail-biting scenarios at Escape Room on Newcastle’s Lymelight Boulevard. You have 60 minutes to crack the mystery –whether it’s finding secret treasure, solving a murder or breaking out of a maximum-security prison – before getting locked in, Crystal Mazestyle. Paralysis Escape Rooms in Pall Mall, Hanley, hosts tarot readings inside a horror room.
From summertime beer gardens to country pub fires and neon-lit clubs, Staffordshire doesn’t rest when the sun goes down. Book a ticket to the theatre or time your trip with a toe-tapping festival to make the most of the county’s entertaining nightlife scene. ■
The Liquor Tank, Stafford
Although Staffordshire has more than enough to keep you busy, a journey further afield can make for an exciting new adventure
Time to explore
Not only is Staffordshire a great destination, but it’s also the perfect springboard for day trips of all kinds. There’s a reason so many logistics hubs are based here – the county is ideally-located within the transport network to let you get to wherever you want to go.
Perhaps the obvious choice is a trip up or down the M6 to Manchester or Birmingham. It’ll only take you an hour to reach these lively destination cities by road – and even less by train – so you could easily spend a day indulging in some retail therapy (the Arndale and the Trafford Centre in Manchester and the Bullring & Grand Central in Birmingham must be every shopaholic’s dream), checking out the attractions or taking in a show, concert or comedy gig.
Heading north, Manchester boasts top museums like the Science and Industry Museum, IWM North and the National Football Museum. Travelling south, those with a sweet tooth will enjoy Birmingham’s Cadbury World, a celebration of all things chocolate on the site of the original Cadbury factory in Bournville.
Or for a more unusual experience, visit one of Birmingham’s independent museums, the Coffin Works, and learn all about how the once-prestigious firm Newman Brothers produced some of the world’s finest coffin furniture, including the fittings for the funerals of Churchill, Chamberlain and the Queen Mother.
Don’t limit yourself to the big cities though. From South Staffordshire go west along the M54 to reach Shropshire. You’ll soon come to the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and UNESCO World Heritage Site Ironbridge Gorge with its fascinating museums and eponymous bridge, modern Telford with its
popular ice rink and historic Shrewsbury, packed with shops and restaurants on winding cobbled streets.
A popular day out is a trip to Worcestershire’s Vale & Spa which incorporates Broadway, Droitwich Spa, Evesham and Pershore. This area offers unique shopping experiences, entertaining attractions and a plethora of festivals and events –there is truly something for everyone.
Alternatively take the stunning A53 from Leek east across the moorlands to genteel spa town Buxton and travel onwards into the Derbyshire Peak District.
You can explore Treak Cliff Cavern in Castleton which is famous throughout the world for its unique and large deposits of Blue John stone and beautiful cave formations.
Take a guided tour, enjoy the amazing views across the Hope Valley, browse the gift shop and catch your breath in the visitor centre, café and picnic areas. Poole’s Cavern is another natural wonder. Explore this ancient and natural limestone cavern with the help of expert guides and see the vast and beautifully illuminated rock-sculpted galleries and marvel at the variety of crystal stalactites and stalagmites renowned as the finest underground scenery in the UK. The cavern and country park woodlands are found on the outskirts of Buxton.
And, if landlocked Staffordshire is making you miss the sea, North Wales is within reach, particularly from the Stoke-on-Trent area, with family-friendly resort Llandudno proving a popular choice for taking in the coastal air.
Whichever direction you go in, we’re sure you’ll come back to Staffordshire energised and refreshed and ready to take advantage of everything this creative county has to offer. ■
Rosie from Hounds at Heart
Paul and team at Paul Martyn
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