Latest update December 2019 – A review by Prof Jon Fairburn
This blog is mainly aimed at visitors who are staying the night and looking for places to eat and drink. As a University we receive visitors from all over the world. These visitors want a convenient place to stay with a selection of places to reach by foot in the evening for food and drinks if possible.
Accommodation
PotBank – this includes an aparthotel, and a cafe you can book through their website. Some of the rooms are available for booking through booking.com and it is only a 5 minute walk from the train station and the University.
Verdon Guest House is popular if you fancy a guest house
The Premier Inn in the City Centre has good reviews
The Premier Inn at Trentham Gardens has been getting very good reviews and lots of people like the shopping village and gardens that are on the site.
The Best Western Stoke on Trent Moat House is centrally located and incorporates some of Josiah Wedgwoods original house and is another popular choice. It has spa facilities and a swimming pool.There is an excellent pub a short walk away called The Holy Inadequate
In Newcastle under Lyme,
The Clayhanger Guest House has very good reviews
and the Travelodge New castle under Lyme Central Hotel this is chain but it has a good price and standard.
AirBnB has quite a few places in the area
If none of these appeal then you are strongly recommended to check Tripadvisor before booking. especially if you are thinking of booking the large hotel near the train station.
Food and drink
Near the University
Hawasana is based in Shelton and on Stoke Road (the next road over from the College Road campus), they will provide you with authentic Afghan cuisine including huge naans and cheap food – on facebook – here’s a good review by a local blogger
She also gives a good review to Beirut which is a short walk (10 mins up the road) away.
in Stoke town centre a short walk away
- The Glebe – a pub with good real ales –
- The White Star – a pub with good real ales –
Thalii Indian food which is good tapas style (again here is a review) , Planet Bollywood also does nice indian food
in Newcastle under Lyme
For breakfast and brunch Berts is excellent it is also open in the evenings and has a big stock of foreign beers.
Hong’s Kitchen -in Newcastle specialises in Hunan pot dishes – plus a lot of stuff you don’t usually see on Chinese menus in the Potteries.
The Blue Chilli Restaurant, 9 Berkeley Court, Newcastle under Lyme, ST5 1TT
Tel: 01782 715 885 great food, try the Thai Massaman curry.
The Art of Siam is another good Thai restaurant.
The Jalsa – 19-21 George Street, Newcastle under Lyme ST5 1JX, Tel 01782 611551 for good Indian food – try the Nowabi Chicken, Baza Lamb or the shashlik dishes.
If you would like a drink after visiting either of the restaurants mentioned above then I would recommend The Greyhound which is owned by the local Titanic Brewery. This is a 2-3 min walk from any of the restaurants, just head straight up the road towards Hanley.
Bellini’s café 2 Pepper St, Newcastle-under-Lyme ST5 1PR. This is at the other end of Newcastle under Lyme. It is an Italian and has the best food in the conurbation from the places I have eaten. It is a little more expensive than the others but it is excellent. Tel 01782 943541
Excellent places to have a drink near Bellini’s are The Bridge Street Ale House and the Lymestone Vaults which is in the same street as Bellini’s.
Ten Green Bottles is also very popular for gin and has a small outside area for summer.
Others to note
For authentic Polish food try Agie and Katie in Burslem (Agie is a Business School alumni).
Try the great pizzas from a clay oven at Klay Pizzeria in Hanley also in Hanley is the Slamwich Club
Finally, if you fancy something traditional try the excellent pies at Pieminster at Trentham Gardens
If you want to find out more on food in the area the following accounts are excellent
General info
General visitor information for the area including ceramic and factory tours can all be found on the Visit Stoke website
Trentham Gardens and Estate is very popular whether you want to eat, shop or walk around the gardens.
in the wider area
Enjoy Staffordshire has plenty of information for visitors and we are also only 10 miles from the Peak District National Park.