'Best cocktail bar in Stoke-on-Trent' now set to serve food

A city centre cocktail bar is celebrating its first anniversary in style. Dereece Gardner opened Desire in Piccadilly, Hanley, on December 8 last year.

The stylish bar has launched a Dick Whittington themed afternoon tea to support the pantomime at The Regent Theatre. And it is offering StokeonTrentLive readers the chance to win an afternoon tea for up to four people, worth £107.96.

The theatrical feast includes sandwiches, quiches and scones. To have a chance of winning the prize all readers have to do is follow the Desire Facebook page.

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Anyone who already follows the bar on Facebook will be automatically entered. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, December 3.

Dereece's wife, Chelsea, aged 33, said: "The afternoon tea will support the pantomime throughout December. It will be Dick Whittington-themed with some coins and a little cat. It will be a theatrical afternoon tea to make it a pleasurable experience."

The bar has also launched a new concept called Financial Fridays where the bar turns into a live stock market. Dereece, aged 30, said: "From 4pm on Fridays, the prices go up and down depending on demand. For example if people come in and in the last 10 minutes no-one has bought a vodka and coke the price will go down. If people time it right they could really get themselves great priced drinks. Nothing will ever go higher than what it should actually be.

"The concept is giving people a real excitement, a real buzz. We started it in October. It has been really good. People love it. It is really good fun.

"We wanted to bring something new to match the venue. We wanted something that gets people out on a Friday."

Dereece added that they aim to serve up food to customers in the New Year. He added: "Things have really changed in Hanley. People need a reason to come out. We have established ourselves as the best cocktail bar in Stoke-on-Trent. But we know people love to come out for a bit of food. We want to add to that. Light bites, appetisers and small plates are going to be our thing."

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