Jobs in Stoke-on-Trent | Pictures of Stoke-on-Trent

Stoke-on-Trent came into being on March 31, 1910, with the federation of the six older towns - Tunstall, Burslem, Stoke, Fenton, Longton and Hanley, made famous by Arnold Bennett's memorable descriptions of the area during its industrial heyday in his novel Anna of the Five Towns – something of a misnomer given the fact that the city is actually made up of six towns, but that's a minor technicality.

Otherwise known collectively as ‘the Potteries', its name is also a clue to the area's industrial past and present, a creative melting pot that still produces some of the world's finest ceramics. In just one city, you'll find the names you instantly associate with fine china – Wedgwood, Moorcroft and Spode – all jostling for attention.

Today Stoke is known as the birthplace of the singer Robbie Williams and the location for the 2008 British film, Souled Out – alluding to Stoke's prominence as the home of Northern Soul - about music and clubbing in the Seventies – a nightlife tradition that is as boisterous today as it was more than thirty years ago.

Getting around Stoke-on-Trent
The main train station for the city is based in the Shelton area of Stoke despite the fact that the main commercial and business district is located some 3 miles to the north in Hanley, which can prove to be a little inconvenient of you are commuting by train from nearby Longport, Longton, Crewe or Stafford.

However, the bus network in Stoke is very reliable and frequent services stop outside the station en route to Hanley and the centre of Stoke itself, with the unfortunately named First PMT operating the majority of services. The main bus terminal is in the centre of Hanley where all local routes terminate.

Commuting to and from work by car can be problematic depending on what area of town you are coming from. The main A500 arterial road that links the city to the M6 a few miles away to the west and the M1 to the east is prone to congestion despite a number of significant road improvements in recent years. Although there is only one Park & Ride scheme in operation – which allows up to 4 people from the same car to travel for as little as £3 altogether - there are a significant number of bus services that provide a frequent link into the city centre.

Eating, drinking and shopping in Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent takes its shopping very seriously, almost as seriously as its nightlife. Being the biggest of the six towns, Hanley is the main shopping district for the city, dominated by The Potteries Shopping Centre which is home to more than 90 stores including the likes of Debenhams, Boots, Next and HMV.

Elsewhere, Freeport Outlet Shopping Mall on the outskirts of the city has discount designer outlets selling everything from big name fashion brands to kitchenware. Whilst nearby Trentham Garden Centre has increased the city's shopping offering by a retail division, The Village, as part of a £100m refurbishment. And if you have an eye for a bargain, Stoke-on-Trent has a number of indoor and outdoor markets throughout the six towns.

Not forgetting the factory shops that keep the area's heritage alive, selling crystal glassware and the quality china for which the region is famed – such as Royal Doulton, Spode and Wedgwood.

But when the sun goes down, that's your signal to immerse yourself in the nightly buzz of activity that brings the Cultural Quarter alive. The city is home to the Art Deco gem of the Regent Theatre where West End shows and theatre regularly tour in addition to being the northern base for Glyndebourne's touring operas. At the top of the hill in Hanley is Victoria Hall, the city's main venue for live gigs and concerts along with The Sugar Mill and Fusion. Whilst the New Victoria Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme is one of the leading theatres in the region.

But for an after-work or after-show drink, Hanley is your best bet. Whether you're a serious clubber, a cash-strapped student or someone with a mature taste looking for a quiet place to read the paper over a pint in a relaxed environment – chances are you will find it here.

A number of bars and clubs are centralized around the Trinity Street and Piccadilly areas of Hanley - all within walking/staggering distance of one another. Whereas Etruria Road and Church Road in Stoke also offer a pretty good choice of bars.

And where the bars are located, the restaurants follow suit. The city has a number of eateries, café bars and restaurants, most of which can be found in Stoke and Hanley with a number in the Shelton area – studentland, mid-way between Stoke and Hanley. However, serious gastronomes may struggle to find a sufficient choice of fine dining options with the notable exception of The Church bar and restaurant, a 19th-century former Methodist chapel, which serves locally sourced food and English cuisine. Whilst Café Davide is a great place for coffee or Mediterranean food after a day in Trentham Shopping Village .

But while the nightlife might tempt you into a bar or two, Festival Park is the city's main entertainment complex with a ten-screen cinema, bowling alley and lots of chain restaurants (Fatty Arbuckle's, Brannigans) as well as the Ski Centre and Waterworld. Alternatively, Alton Towers theme park is just ten miles away. And Etruria Industrial Museum - the last steam-powered potters' mill in the UK – and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery are also worth a visit.

Stoke City's promotion to the Premier League in 2008 gave the city a well-needed boost of confidence and coincided with a £1.4bn regeneration programme that will give people more of reason to visit the city other than football and pots.

Main residential areas
Since 1998, property prices in Stoke have increased by more than 150 per cent – partly due to the overall national trend and partly due to the considerable investment that is being ploughed into regenerating many parts of the city.

Following the trend of redeveloping the ‘dark satanic mills' that have long been derelict, developments such as Lock 38 near the Trent & Mersey Canal have become the most sought after locations for young professionals and first-time buyers, with prices starting at around £130,000 for a two-bed canal side flat.

Equally, Waters Edge is part of the wider City Waterside development, with a number of apartments and penthouses selling for the same price as those in Lock38 and the Cliffe Vale area.

If you're thinking of moving to the area, take a look at some of the current property available to buy or let in Stoke-on-Trent.

Take a closer look
A picture is worth a thousand words. You can see some images from in and around Stoke-on-Trent below.

Looking for local vacancies? See all current jobs in Stoke-on-Trent or find out more information on the local area.