Stoke...

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
If you had an idle hour or two to kill in Stoke-on-Trent, what would you do?

Not shopping?
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
If memory serves, you have previously indicated that Crewe smells of wee.

I am at a loss as to why you would send me hence? Unless you want me to smell wee?

Sadly it has to be Stoke - the whys and wherefores of the matter are out of my hands - so, ambulance stations...

Sorry, Stoke...?
 

Glam

Mad Cat Woman
Go visit the Reginald Mitchell museum.
Find the source of the Oatcake.
See if I could travel the 5/6 towns in a day.
Talk to someone with a decent accent.
Go the Moorlands and enjoy the peace and quiet.
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Go visit the Reginald Mitchell museum.
How walkable is it from the station? Personally would love to go back (Hoardarama) but with sidekick probably not so enamoured.
Find the source of the Oatcake.
Now you're talking - any recommendations for Oatcake sources?
See if I could travel the 5/6 towns in a day.
Talk to someone with a decent accent.
Go the Moorlands and enjoy the peace and quiet.
None of those would work but thanks anyway. :)
 

Glam

Mad Cat Woman
To be honest I haven't really got a proper answer to any of your questions! Dreadful aren't I?
The Mitchell museum is actually up'anleyduck, so I wouldn't want walk there if I was you. Maybe get the bus from the station.

Copied and pasted from tinternet -

History Of The Oatcake

The Oatcake is a local delicacy in and around North Staffordshire. It has been called a "Tunstall Tortilla", a "Potteries Poppadom" and a "Clay Suzette". Another less flattering description of an Oatcake is an "Oat Flannel". A proper Oatcake is at least nine inches in diameter, and is crêpe-like in appearance.

Oatcakes are made in a variety of ways, but many recipes are closely-guarded family secrets. Oatcakes themselves are quite healthy and are a good source of fibre, though the overall nutritional benefits depend on the accompanying filling. They freeze well and are also a good microwave food.
Origin

The most popular story of the origin of the Oatcake is that it comes from British Colonial India.

The story goes that men serving in the military enjoyed chapattis (an unleavened bread) whilst in India and tried to duplicate them when they returned home. With many authentic ingredients unavailable, they substituted local ingredients instead and the result was the North Staffordshire Oatcake as it is known today.

Whether this story is accurate or not is unknown, but it does sound a plausible explanation as to the origins of the Oatcake.
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
The oatcake is essentially a 'bannock' -predating 'Colonial India' by several hundreds, if not some thousands, of years- there is archaeological evidence of oatcakes being cooked in Stafford from at least the 10thC. , quite probably the 9thC. , for example.

But we digress...
 

John Marwood

I ♥ cryptic crosswords
Turn right out of the station, right again under railway, cross over the Dee, bare left following the Civic Centre boundary, there you will find an oasis that is The Glebe . Walk time - less than five minutes. Reward - Joules Ales and stained glass windows.
 

Trumpet

Well-Known Forumite
If memory serves, you have previously indicated that Crewe smells of wee.
That was me.
Back to what to do in Stoke:
Out of the station, turn left to end of road, turn right and 150 yards on left the Pak Supermarket for all those Indian ingredients you cant find in Stafford, and miles cheaper for the ones you can!
If you like Indian food that is.
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
If memory serves, you have previously indicated that Crewe smells of wee.
It does indeed but that is still preferable to Stoke.

Have you committed some crime that requires two hours of Stoke to be served?

You could always pop into the Potteries Centre area and marvel at the boarded up shops and mugging skills of the 'locals'.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
A few years ago I'd have said turn right and walk to the end of the street, then enter the pub that sells green goblin and mexican style foodstuffs in a studenty environment. Unfortunately it all got bulldozed for the new college, bastards. Here it is when run down after the forced purchases:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.0...ata=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sU-w3ZpzOEaxpDNzmPJv2NA!2e0

And here is its replacement, although whoever though education was a fitting replacement to alcohol needs shooting:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.0...ata=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sq4e_jb_MHUd-KMYscEN3tg!2e0

Still looks better than the shithole to the left though.....
 

wmrcomputers

Stafford PC & laptop repair specialist
I don't know how far away you'd be, but if it were me I'd soon kill an hour or two in Grosvenor Casino :)
 

Wormella

Well-Known Forumite
Have a look at some of the pretty architecture that still exists in Stoke (actual)

Visit some of the very pretty pubs, I note the Glebe has already been mentioned

Hit up the Museum - it's got a Spitfire in it - or did last time I was there

Try the tasty Hungarian restaurant in Hanley market if it's still there or Have lunch and chill at Emma Bridgewater, which has lovely cake and a spotty aga
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Should have said pubs, along with shops, were off the menu also.

Have a look at some of the pretty architecture that still exists in Stoke (actual)

I'll probably do that if there is a next time - if it is anything like Burslem i'm sure i would enjoy it immensely.

Ended up spending most of the time in Hanley Park - it's quite nice, apart from the goose-shit-festooned pondy bit. That, too, would probably be quite nice if it wasn't quite so goose-shitty.

Went to the Potteries Museum as well - have been before on my own and spent an inordinate amount of time at the fantastic 'Hoard' exhibit - but visited this time with Phyllis Stein so didn't hang around.

It's a nice place to leave...
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
It's a nice place to leave...
Something the Uni students will find out soon enough. Certainly not worth 9 grand (and the rest) per annum, when you could go somewhere decent like Manchester or Birmingham or, whisper it, STAFFORD!
 
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