Community Invited to Celebration of Newcastle Heritage Featuring ‘Potteries Poppadoms'

Community Invited to Celebration of Newcastle Heritage Featuring ‘Potteries Poppadoms'

Newcastle-under-Lyme’s rich cultural heritage is enjoying the spotlight this month as Belong Heritage Gallery celebrates Heritage Open Days (12 – 21 September 2025) with a programme of events designed to inspire for the nation’s largest community-led festival of local history.

Set to be the jewel in the week’s crown will be a Staffordshire oatcake baking session in Sammy Bell’s Tea Room, which will see the community rustling up the Stokie delicacy resembling pancakes, known by affectionate monikers including the ‘Potteries Poppadom’, ‘Tunstall Tortilla’ and even the ‘Clay Suzette’.

The tea room, forming part of the local landmark gallery integrated with dementia specialist care village, Belong, will see guests welcomed through its Lower Street doors for the annual gala to take part in a variety of workshops paying homage to the area, including ceramics tutorials, Staffordshire film screenings, and informative talks.

Guests can book personal tours of the gallery which is housed in Newcastle-under-Lyme's oldest building dating from the 17th century. Once the town’s only pottery and known to many as the former popular nightclub Maxims, today it documents the area’s history, arts, and culture through exhibitions, including a circus experience inspired by Philip Astley. The site includes spaces including Sammy Bell’s Tea Room and the Old Pomona Inn, as well as a Maxims nightclub display, creative studio and reminiscence lounge.

Also open are the village’s bistro with dementia-friendly courtyard and gardens, the latter refreshed last year with the help of young adults volunteering their skills to add ponds, a kitchen garden and even a mini seaside.

Emma Palin, experience and heritage coordinator at Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme, shares more: “We are especially pleased to be participating in Heritage Open Days once again. Our residents and tenants tell us how much they appreciate getting involved alongside visitors and having the chance to share their personal experiences of life in the town whilst learning a thing or two.

“A big part of Heritage Open Days is inspiring people to discover hidden gems, so everyone is invited to pop in and say hello. For those who can’t make it, we are open to the public year-round for personal tours and we host a number of events and experiences for everyone to enjoy.”

The Belong Heritage Gallery Heritage Open Days events take place 12 – 21 September at Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme. For more information email enquiries@belong.org.uk or call 01782 986300.