Things to do in Stoke on Trent on a Friday night

[Elephant14]

What delights can SoT offer me and my 17 year old DD as we stay in Travellodge or similar, on a November Friday night prior to the Staffs uni Stoke on Trent campus open day?!

We live a v.long way away, train too expensive, drive on day too long and tiring, plus this is one we are really interested in so I thought yay get a £40 room stay over night, have a nice meal and look round the town - after all DD may end up spending 3 years there. I've been looking around the campus on Google earth images or whatever you call it, and it doesn't look promising.

So it will be dark and cold, I will have the car, hoping to arrive late afternoon what can we go and look at? Where should we eat? Tell me there is a thriving arts quarter, restaurant scene and cafe culture? Or whatever, I can take it (not sure DD can though!!)

The big cineworld at the potteries is good, as is the Odeon on festival park.

I was going to suggest some clubs, but not for your 17 year old!

I went to Uni in Stoke (graduated 5/6 years ago, have honestly lost count) and absolutely loved it :)

Oh, plenty of restaurants in the Potteries near to the Cinema too :)

There are some restaurants at Festival Park too, but I couldn't tell you which ones as I didn't go there on my last trip up in June :)

The halls accommodation in Leeds would take every penny of her maintenance loan, and Stoke has been recommended. I know we will like Leeds better, but its good to be informed. We are also looking at Norwich Arts and a college in London; they are slightly off what she wants to do but close enough to it be worth looking at (and much closer).

Stirling and Teeside are too far - she wants to be within an area where, if necessary, she can get a train back home within a few hours (and we can't even afford the fares to go and look at them!)

I know the town itself can be from for things to do, travel for entertainment etc. I was in Buxton for years with similar drawbacks for a 'student town'. However, it may be me being an old fast, but isn't the point of education, especially the optional college/uni, to study?
All that aside, it depends what she is into. A solitary character happy with a tv and PlayStation in her room will be absolutely fine. A social character will soon make friends with others on the course/in the study hall/in the campus common room etc, and as stated, Manchester and Sheffield even chesterfield are not major travelling distances by bus, but definitely easier by car (which at least one friend will inevitably have if she hasnt). 1st and foremost hard to be her quality of education, and as you stated, stoke came highly recommended. Seems like the decision has been made, just gotta iron out wrinkles

You know 3kids its a fair point as DD prefers her own company, just likes gaming and staying in, and most importantly she doesn't drink at all, even though she is perfectly welcome to drink anything she likes here or have alcohol with friends etc., she hates it and hates being around people who are drinking. So maybe what is around and about isn't important but I just want the area to be generally safe and welcoming.

It's not that bad. My dd was in Hanley last night, they went to Bon Pan Asian it's an you can eat buffet place then onto the cinema after. She is almost 17.

I had the misfortune to stay the night in Stoke when we were going to Alton Towers.
Never again.

I have family who live near SoT, it's not where I'd choose to spend three years of my life. Leeds is a fantastic city - but also another vote for Stirling, it's a fab city and uni. Trains are cheap if you book in advance.

It’s not necessarily the lack of nightlife (I was a teetotal student too), it’s the sheer grim awfulness of it. It’s a bog ugly city.

The new vic theatre in Stoke is brilliant. Maxine Peake play on at the moment.Have a look at Trentham gardens- shopping/ food. V close to uni.

Could you spend an evening at Moddershall Oaks together? 15 mins from the uni and there are always lots of mums and daughters there together.

Staffs does so many games design and film production type courses, there are loads of quieter, gamer, into nights in watching films, sort of students there. I did A level graphic design and loads of my classmates went to Staffs for those sorts of courses and had a great time.

IME, university in the area (Keele as well as Staffs) is very love it or hate it. People tend to either rave about what a great time they've had or say that you should never in a million years consider it.

YY to Trentham Gardens. If she is looking for a flat to rent I've got one and I'm a lovely landlady😊 In all seriousness, it's not a place I'd ever choose to go back to (grew up near there) but I think for a student it's fairly easy to get around and the people are very friendly. It's probably improved in the last twenty years too I would guess...

Haha I used to have a boyfriend from there. He said weekend wasn't considered a good'un unless you had a punch up after the pub, and that was just the women!

Oi, leave my city alone you lot!

Stoke is alright, if she’s used to big cities it’ll be a shock, but others have already shared some good ideas for places to go :)

Also I’m a Staffs grad and loved my course :)

I live in Stoke and it's not as bad as people here are making out. In fact I even grew up in Shelton, where the uni is.
If the course is good and the accommodation is cheaper, she'll be absolutely fine here.

Stone is about a 20 minute drive from Hanley and has lots of lovely non chain restaurants, pubs, cafes and some independent shops. New Vic theatre at Newcastle under Lyme and the film theatre in stoke are both good.

another vote for Stirling - so the answer to my query is leave and go to Stirling?! Well that would certainly fill the time eh?!

Seriously, thank you everyone, you have simply all confirmed what I thought - good and bad.

This thread made me think of this.

Staffs Uni has a good reputation but I would t go out on a Friday night unless itcwas to the theatre.

Friends of mine do run a great restaurant/bar in Hanley called The Quarter. It’s very popular withthe arty/theatre crowd. It does get very busy though so I’d advise booking.

There is a newish Cineworld in Hanley with some adjacent restaurants or if you are closer to Newcastle there is the Vue cinema.

The New Vic Theatre has some great plays on.

I’m a Staffs grad too, loved it and always felt safe there. It’s a bit run down but if you’re living there as a student, you don’t even notice it after a while. If I had my time again, I would go back! Granted there’s not a lot to do, but Manchester or Birmingham aren’t really that far away.