Underrated UK city reveals £60million revamp with new 150-bed hotel, canalside restaurant and live music space
Watch our video on five underrated cities to visit in the UK
A FORMER industrial site in Stoke-on-Trent will benefit from a huge £60million revamp – and it’s great news for visitors.
Located between Stoke-on-Trent Train Station and the Trent & Mersey Canal, the Goods Yard is a new urban neighbourhood in the city.
The first phase of the £60million development will be completed next spring, with work already underway on a hotly-anticipated public square.
According to the , Capital&Centric, the new square will feature a lawn area that’s the same size as a tennis court, a walkway, hangout spaces, seating areas and over 70 trees and plants.
There will also be a space for pop-up markets and live music events, which both locals and holidaymakers will be able to visit.
The canalside jetty will also be transformed into a “waterside green spot” with outdoor seating for canalside food and drink.
A new walkway will also link Goods Yard Square to Stoke-on-Trent Railway Station, with walks set to take just one minute.
The new development has space for independent businesses, with the site’s developers hoping to bring in a mix of bars, restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores.
There will also be 174 homes to rent, with a 150-bed hotel being built as part of the second phase of the project.
Tom Wilmot, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, said: “It’s been an absolute labour of love creating this new community at Goods Yard and we can’t wait to see the gardens and public square shaping up.
“Just a stone’s throw from the station, the green spaces will be for everyone to enjoy.”
Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration, added: “Goods Yard is a real success story, being delivered on time despite difficult economic circumstances since the government funding was awarded.
“Our effective partnership with Capital&Centric has enabled us to deliver an exciting, first-of-a-kind development for the city and create some fantastic opportunities for local people and businesses.”
Located in Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent is the only polycentric city (a city with multiple centres) in the UK.
This is because Stoke actually formed in 1910 when six independent towns were joined together, including Burslem, Fenton, Hanley, Longton, Stoke-upon-Trent, and Tunstall.
The Midlands city is known for its industrial heritage, particularly with ceramics.
Stoke is still a cultural and historical centre for ceramics, with several attractions revolving around the city’s proud past like The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery and the Gladstone Pottery Museum.
Visitors can also tour the Wedgwood Factory where they can make their own ceramics in a craft studio.
Holidaymakers can also take a tour of the Emma Bridgewater Factory, which also has a cafe and a shop.
Nearby there’s also Trentham Estate, a 725-acre estate that’s home to award-winning gardens, a lake, a maze and an Italianate garden.
Visitors can also go on beaver safaris where they will be able to spot the woodland creatures in the water.
Other features include an adventure playground, a monkey forest and boat cruises.
Stoke-on-Trent is a 30-minute drive from Wolverhampton and it’s a 70-minute drive from Nottingham.
What's it like to visit Stoke-on-Trent?
TRAVEL guide creator Peter Naldrett visited every UK city while researching his new book, .
In it, he charts exactly what makes each city special, from beloved landmarks to cultural gems and fascinating museums.
As part of his research, Peter visited Stoke-on-Trent, writing: “With a global reputation for ceramics, a weekend in Stoke can mean a smashing time at some cracking museums.
“Getting to know Stoke means becoming familair with the pottery industry.
“Arranging a tour at Middleport Pottery in Burslem is an essential way to learn both about the process involved in making pottery and the importance of this industry to the region over the years”.
A £75million seaside attraction is set to open in Southport, with a beach thermal spa and surfing lagoon.
First announced in 2020, The Cove Resort would also have an on-site four-star hotel.
