A vacant building in Burslem is one step closer to becoming a music and arts venue following an agreement between the city council and the IFK Legacy Community Interest Company (CIC).

Plans to transform the Queen's Theatre in Burslem into a music and arts venue celebrating Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister have moved forward following a recent agreement.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the IFK Legacy Community Interest Company (CIC) as Project Lead.

IFK Legacy CIC was set up to create a memorial to Ian Fraser 'Lemmy' Kilmister in his hometown of Burslem.

The Queen's Theatre was completed in 1911 and served as a concert venue and theatre for Burslem.

Spiralling repair costs forced closure to the public in 1998 and the building has remained vacant ever since.

The plans build on the momentum from the unveiling of the Lemmy statue in Burslem's Market Place in May 2025.

The Lemmy statue in Burslem's Market Place, created by Andy Edwards, was unveiled in May 2025 (image via Nub News)

The statue, created by Andy Edwards, who also created the world famous Fab Four Beatles statue, has brought visitors from across the globe to the Mother Town. 

The council explained that the ambition is to restore the Queen's Theatre as a music and arts venue serving the community, providing access to music skills development and showcasing new talent while celebrating Burslem's rock heritage.

Cllr Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "The Lemmy statue has shown that our local culture isn't about industrial history or traditional arts.

"Something as recent as Motörhead can bring visitors from all over the world to the heart of the Mother Town.

"The best way to protect our city's heritage for future generations is to bring old buildings back to life with new uses.

"This agreement means we can explore ways to give Burslem a music and arts venue while breathing new life into one of the most important buildings in Burslem's Conservation Area."