How you can help shape the future of a historic fire-damaged Stoke-on-Trent pub
Residents can have their say on potential uses for a fire-hit historic Stoke-on-Trent pub later this month as part of a viability study into its future.
Middleport Pottery owner Re-Form Heritage is exploring options for The Leopard in Burslem, which suffered serious damage in a blaze in January 2022.
Re-Form Heritage was chosen as the city's Heritage Development Trust in 2023 via a national Architectural Heritage Fund and National Lottery Heritage Fund programme.
The Grade II-listed Market Place landmark was the meeting place of Josiah Wedgwood and James Brindley where they discussed building the Trent and Mersey Canal in 1765, and features in many of Arnold Bennett's novels as The Tiger.
Re-Form Heritage chief executive Dr Alasdair Brooks said: "We are quite excited by the potential for this well-loved historic building. It is a prominent landmark in the community and people feel very strongly about it.
"We are looking to identify a viable future for The Leopard and we want to hear what ideas come from members of the public.
"In addition, it is on the site of possibly one of the most historically significant potbanks in the entire city – and I don't make that claim lightly – so we will be looking into what that could involve."
A viability study is now taking place to allow the pub's owners, Daneets Developments, to determine whether to restore the building in partnership with another organisation or transfer ownership to an appropriate regeneration lead.
The study, which is funded by Historic England and the Architectural Heritage Fund, will also allow Re-Form Heritage to make an informed decision over whether they want to take on the regeneration.
Representatives from Re-Form Heritage and Daneets Developments have visited the site with structural engineers as part of the first phase of the study, although the building is too unsafe to enter.
The viability study will also involve a desk-based assessment of the site's archaeological potential, as it sits on top of one of Josiah Wedgwood's early potbanks, known as Brick House Works or Bell Works. It was here that Wedgwood perfected creamware, which he supplied to Queen Charlotte from the works.
A drop-in community engagement event will take place at Burslem School of Art on Thursday, April 24, from 11am to 3pm.
The day will start with an introductory talk by Zoe Sutherland, heritage officer at Re-Form Heritage, and will also include displays about the history of the building and drone footage of the site.
Zoe said: "We hope the event will prompt discussion about what makes the building special and what its future might look like, and give people the opportunity to share their thoughts through some activities and questionnaires.
"We encourage everyone who cares about Burslem's history to come along, share their ideas and help shape the future of this much-loved landmark."
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