Reinvesting in Leisure: Embracing Community Needs While Navigating Council Challenges

Why We're Putting Our Energy Into Leisure

When we first took the building on, we had a couple of ideas for the leisure side - including turning part of it into workspace for small local businesses, the sort of thing that might bring a few jobs to this corner of Stoke. We still think it would've been good for the area.

The council saw it differently. Their planning policy steers that kind of thing towards the city centre rather than out here, and some neighbours had concerns too. We listened, and rather than dig our heels in, we changed tack.

So we're doing what this building has always done best, and doing it properly: leisure. A bar, a function room, somewhere to gather, celebrate and spend time together. It's the right fit for the place and, we think, for the area.

We'll say this too - not everyone reacted by jumping to conclusions. Adrian came down, knocked on the door and simply asked, "what's happening here, then?" We told him, and he's been brilliant at passing the real story on to neighbours since. Adrian, you'll be on our open day guest list - thank you!

That's all we'd ever ask of anyone: if you're not sure, just ask us. We'll always give you the straight answer.