Pottering About Some More...

June 2015 was the last time the Hub Marketing Board set foot in Stoke-on-Trent so the Potteries area could certainly be considered ripe for a revisit. The Secretary has hastily cobbled together a plan involving Hanley and Longton, taking into account pubs, parks and pieces of industrial heritage - all we say is bring on the bald spot...

- The Doulton Fountain -

Friday 20th September 2019 is a day we'd originally reserved for a Wrexham outing, only for Stoke to step in as our contingency when the Wales idea had to be put on the back burner. After catching the 10:14 train up from Wolverhampton, we say hello to Josiah Wedgwood's statue and plot our way along College Road towards the city centre (i.e. Hanley). Some flagship green spaces soon entice us - the Cauldon Grounds are graced by the Doulton Fountain while Hanley Park is where we can admire a bandstand, pavilion and a stretch of the Caldon Canal, even though Chairman D9 gets most enthused about a 1960s toilet block!

- Good stuff this Bass -

There's no accounting for taste sometimes but one thing we definitely both approve of is the Victoria Lounge, a watering hole close to Hanley bus station. The Draught Bass is drinking very well here and there's a steady stream of folk flocking in to partake of lunchtime carveries, albeit we decide to stay out of the way of the diners by keeping the fishtank company. Elsewhere, a climate change protest is underway outside Hanley Town Hall and we note that the old bus interchange site has been cleared pending redevelopment. 

- Former Falcon Factory -

There are several other Hanley hostelries that might secure our custom but the Secretary is most keen to investigate the Woodman, lovingly restored by Caldmore Taverns. Apparently this place was shut for something like 10 years prior to reopening last October; the fact it has come back at all is worth celebrating so we avail ourselves of Churnet Valley IPA (Peakstones Rock Brewery) and gaze in wonder at the quality of the refurbishment - stunning! We now feel perfectly primed for some industrial relics so Old Town Road reveals the derelict Falcon Works where JH Weatherby & Sons used to produce earthen tableware.

- Bass Bait -

Old Town Road is also where we find the fantastic 'Bass Only' frontage of the Golden Cup in all its green glazed glory. The fascia is said to be unique and pays due deference to the famous red triangle; we understand the pub is currently undergoing renovation so a revisit may well be in order once complete. In the meantime, we ferret through the Hanley backstreets to happen upon the Rising Sun, itself boasting a fine facade dating from 1898. We decide to make this our darts stop although D9 Destroyer probably wishes we hadn't as he ends up on the wrong side of a resounding 5-1 scoreline. 

- Woolies as was -

The Chairman has time to lick his wounds when we proceed to Longton, catching the number 6 bus through Fenton in bumper-to-bumper Friday afternoon traffic. Longton is one of the six towns which became amalgamated to form Stoke-on-Trent in 1910, hence it has several notable landmarks including the Town Hall, the Gladstone Pottery Museum and the girder bridge that carries the North Staffordshire railway line. I'm not sure Woolworths would rank among the must-see local sights although we do get a reminder of the demise of a well-known High Street name.

- Walkers Nonsuch Toffee Manufacturers -

Secretary WME's last minute research continues to pay dividends when a trio of traditional boozers are discovered within short distance of each other. The Congress is probably our favourite of the three having consistently gained Good Beer Guide recognition in recent years - some Townhouse Barney's Stout is on top form for sure. The Sea Lion is quieter by contrast for a swift half of Worthington's, then the Signalman supplies Draught Bass as we watch the closing stages of D9's favourite daytime quiz show, 'Tipping Point'. The Secretary is less enamoured with giant slot machine antics so saves his excitement for the Walkers Nonsuch toffee factory instead.

- The bald spot on Longton lookout duty -

There is one more Longton pub we want to account for so the Tam O'Shanter is duly located on Normacot Road. This is where we make the acquaintance of Norman the gorilla perched at one end of the bar - any resemblance to the Chairman is purely coincidental! Uttoxeter Road leads us past Venables Carpets and St James the Less Church as we hope to intercept the 18:27 train back to Stoke. We make good time - even with an impromptu rendition of 'Spanish Eyes' - thus allowing Mr D9 to line up pictures from the steps of Longton Station, cue for a bald spot bonus.

- Hub antics at Staffordshire University -

Our Stoke swansong entails a hub photocall opportunity at the Staffordshire University campus followed by a final drink in the Terrace Inn, a student haunt on the A52 Leek Road. A pint of ShinDigger Grand Central IPA is more to D9's taste than WME's (give me Bass anyday) and the curtain comes down with the 19:26 train home. Considering we'd switched trips at the eleventh hour the day has been a remarkable success, adding neatly to our Potteries knowledge with plenty of room for future fact-finding - cheers!