Inside Stoke's newest wedding venue in old potbank - and it opens this weekend
A new wedding venue has been unveiled at a major former potbank in Stoke. The Spode Museum Trust and the Dog and Bone Group, owners of the Potbank development in Spode Works, have created new facilities to host weddings, meetings and community events.
The work carried out includes a renovation of the 'Blue Room', housing the museum’s enormous collection of Blue Italian ware, which will cater for up to 60 people. Additionally, a new contemporary video conference and meeting room has been created for up to 20 people as well as an enlarged and improved workshop space that will allow the museum to host community-based activities.
These facilities were part of a scheme funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) that also renovated the Secret Garden and the various display facilities within the museum. Leading property development company Dog and Bone completed the works and provided funding for the renovation of the Blue Room, the new AV and conferencing facilities, and enabled the museum to access to the Potbank’s lifts and other disabled access facilities.
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The new spaces will also provide an important revenue source for the museum as well as increasing footfall. The Quarter at Potbank is hosting a wedding fair on September 22 and the new wedding set up will be open for couples to see what it will be like to get married in the museum and party the night away in Potbank.
"We are delighted to open this new facility and provide a space that can bring people together for memorable occasions," said a spokesperson for the Spode Museum Trust. "This venue is a testament to our commitment to preserving the heritage of Spode Works while also contributing to the community's future."
Jeff Nash, owner of the Dog and Bone Group, added: "We were really pleased to be able to help the museum complete its SPF funded works and to enhance these with the new wedding and conferencing facilities. This will enable us to work with the museum to provide local people with a historic backdrop for their weddings and other special events.
"The new conference facilities will also be used by the Spode Site’s creative technology companies and has already hosted some of
the Summer Graduate internships provided by the Createch cluster companies at Spode. The new wedding facilities will improve the wedding offer at Potbank and also provide work for our other suppliers.
"This is also a great example of how businesses, cultural assets and the historic settings can work together - creating jobs and opportunities - by engaging local people and businesses with their heritage."