Art Pottery Dinner

16 Nov, 2006 in art pottery by admin

Art Pottery Dinner

Stoke-on-Trent City guide, including Stoke-on-Trent Hotels

Stoke-on-Trent has been an industrial centre and has been a favourite
tourist spot for generations. Its five cities, collectively known as
"The Potteries" have provided the world with the best names in English
ceramics, such as Wedgewood, Spode, Portemerion and Moorcraft.
Stoke-on-Trent is also a favourite place for holiday makers with its
classic walks, gardens and theme parks, which provide activities for
the whole family.

Places of Interest:

Most visitors to Stoke-on-Trent visit museums and take factory tours,
which are available at almost any time, except when there is a factory
break. Visiting Gardens and nostalgic cottages and going on long nature
walks are also favourite holiday pastimes.

Factory Tours: Most of the factories, such as Wedgewood, sponsor
factory tours on a regular basis and have small museums dedicated to
the company, as well as pleasant tea shops to relax and enjoy
refreshments.

The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery: This museum gives an overview
of the history of ceramics around the world and in Britain. It houses
the most extensive display of Staffordshire ceramics in the world.

Moorlands Peak District: This nature park is an excellent place to
unwind, take a hike, cycle, and go on a pony ride. There are also spots
that are perfect for hang gliding and rock climbing.

Trentham Gardens: These famous gardens are currently going through
a 100 million pound renovation to recapture its former design
originally conceived by Capability Brown. The Charles Barry Italian
gardens are also currently being restored to their former state. The
Monkey forest, with 140 Barbary Macaques inhabiting 60 acres of English
forest, is definitely worth a visit.

Ford Green Hall: Go back in time and visit a timber framed cottage
from 1642. This small museum will give the visitor an idea of what life
was like in the Potteries before the advent of the Industrial
Revolution.

Things to Do:

Choose from a variety of activities on your holiday to Stoke-on-Trent.
The Potteries provide great opportunities for shopping, relaxing at
amusement parks, and going for a night out at the theatre.

Alton Towers: One of Britain's most popular theme parks, Alton
Towers provides the visitor with many exciting activities such as
rides, walks, musical performances and special events.

Festival Park: Enjoy the multi screen cinema, the bowling alleys
and the gaming rooms at Festival Park. It is not far away from
Waterworld, which provides hours of aquatic fun.

Potteries Shopping Centres: As one would expect, you can find great
places to shop for English ceramics at Stoke-on-Trent at Potteries
Shopping Centres. The best known brands are available as well as
products from independent retailers. Each of the five towns in
Stoke-on-Trent has its own Potteries Shopping Centre, so it is worth
combining travel and comparison shopping by visiting each one.

Pottery Festival: The annual pottery festival celebrates
Stoke-on-Trent's best loved product through displays, pottery
demonstrations and fun for children as they learn how to work a kiln
and to make their own pottery.

Regent Theatre: This classic theatre with a striking Art Deco
design originally opened as a silent movie theatre at 1929. Since then,
it has been restored to its former state, and was re-opened by the
Queen in 1999. The Regent theatre hosts many performances a year,
including operas, dance performances, concerts and plays.

Food & Drink

Coffee Shop and Edward's China: This coffee shop has a charming and
warm environment, and is noted for its traditional, English home-cooked
food served by friendly wait staff. This coffee shop is extraordinarily
family-oriented, and provides changing areas and even bottle warming
services. The coffee shop and Edward's China was awarded with a food
excellence award in 2002, and was voted Best Scones in 2001.

The Elms: If you want to enjoy high-quality, classic Indian food in
an elegant setting, the Elms is a good choice. The menu serves
traditional Indian favourites, such as Madras and Korma dishes as well
as Tandoori and even Vindaloo for the brave.

Ye Old Crown Pub: This pub gives has the warm, friendly feel of an
Old-fashioned English pub, and the staff is noted for being amiable and
quite welcoming. There is an outstanding collection of quality ales and
other drinks to choose from, as well as bar snacks available.

The Ruddle Inn- This 17th century inn is located in the
Staffordshire countryside and is an excellent place to enjoy
home-cooked English favourites in the inn's splendid oak rooms. There
is also a bar and a pool room for after-dinner enjoyment.

Stoke-on-Trent Hotels and Accommodation

Whether you are looking for a five-star hotel or a traditional B &B
in the countryside, Stoke-on-Trent has a great selection of places to
stay for any tourist. The hotels are situated close to the Potteries'
shopping areas and not far from Stoke-on-Trent's major attractions. You
can also find an inexpensive Bed and Breakfast that is well-located and
contains all of the basic amenities including a private bathroom, cable
TV, coffee and tea service and a Continental Breakfast.

Express by Holiday Inn Stoke-on-Trent

Best Western Manor House Hotel

Plough Motel

Crown Hotel The

North Stafford Hotel

Quality Hotel Stoke-On-Trent

Stoke On Trent Moat House

The Swallow George Hotel

The Weather Vane

If you prefer to spend time in the English countryside, there are some
beautiful, old-fashioned Staffordshire inns with friendly staff and
comfortable beds and rooms. These country inns are pleasant places to
relax and watch a game on television, enjoy a meal, take a stroll and
get to know fellow tourists.

Entertainment

If you like to laugh, go to the Zero Room, which hosts the best of
professional an amateur comedy. The Stoke-on-Trent playhouse presents
five productions a year featuring amateur talent and touring companies.
The famous Regent Theatre is a picturesque theatre which features
operas, dance performances, concerts and plays.

Stoke-on-Trent has something for every tourist, from amusement park
rides, to ceramic shopping and sightseeing. Whether you want to spend
the day exploring factories by tour or you are looking for the finest
dining available, Stoke-on-Trent is the prefect place to fulfil your
desires. At Stoke-on-Trent, you can witness the best of Britain's past,
present and future.

About the Author

Biography
Name: Maria Williams
Website: http://www.sleepuk.com
Biography: Maria writes for Sleep UK
providers of discounted uk hotels.

Wedding gift idea for an older couple? We're on a budget...?

My mother is getting married in December. She's 66, he's 79. They've both been there, done that as far as raising families and having households full of stuff. They're financially comfortable, will be living in a <1,000 sf apartment and don't need more things to sit around and gather dust.

My husband and I are only partially employed at the moment and living on a strict budget. $100 is a lot of money to us, but this is what we'll consider for a gift.

What are some good gift ideas for them? They like going to local plays, going out to dinner, enjoying art, that sort of thing. They live in Portland, OR. If I had the money, I'd probably go for a Harry & David fruit-of-the-month shipment for a year. But that's not possible right now. Perhaps a gift certificate to a local restaurant? But that seems so boring, and finite. Maybe a nice set of pottery bowls in sizes they'd use often? A small piece of original art?

Please share your most interesting and creative ideas!

a personalized mailbox

POTTERY decorating a dinner plate