£1million tearoom for Trentham Gardens
VISITORS at a tourist attraction will soon be able to enjoy refreshments in a £1 million cafe.
Trentham Gardens unveiled plans for a new facility at the western edge of its Italian Gardens.
Work on the Garden Room restaurant began in October and is expected to be completed in time for the summer season.
The cafe replaces tearooms which date back to when the estate had its own caravan site.
Mike Herbert, regional director of developer St Modwen, which part-owns Trentham Gardens, said the new construction shows the firm's determination to plough money into improving the attraction despite job cuts last year
He said: "The reorganisation has not taken away our determination to make Trentham better and better.
"We decided three years ago that the old tearoom was in desperate need of replacement or major repair.
"We are getting an increasing number of people visiting the gardens and we want to improve the experience for them. What we have come up with is a very modern design to go in a historical setting.
"We are very excited about it and I think it will look absolutely stunning."
A glass frontage to the cafe will offer diners views of the lake and gardens.
Visitors to the self-service cafe will be able to choose from a range of items such as cakes, pastries and paninis.
They have also been reassured that St Modwen aims to serve the food on locally-produced pottery.
The cafe will be able to accommodate 80 people, with more room for guests on an outside tea terrace.
A small number of new jobs could be created, but the majority of workers will be those who used to work in the old tearooms, which closed in September. Trentham's gardens and estate manager Michael Walker said the cafe adds to other improvements in that area of the attraction.
Over recent years they have included a maze, a barefoot walk, a play area and a JCB driver track for children.
Mr Walker said: "The cafe will be the biggest element to improvements to the western area of the garden.
"The design of it is very fresh and it will fit in well with the message we are trying to get across.
"We have a very historical landscape, but we are trying to bring it back to life rather than restore it.
"The aim is to bring a sense of life back into the garden in a contemporary way."
Visitor Graham Lynch has welcomed the new facility.
The 61-year-old, from Longton , said: "Any extra food and drink places in the gardens are useful.
"I would imagine a lot of people would use the new place, but it will depend on how much things cost in there."
33 Comments
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by N, Hanley
Thursday, January 08 2009, 10:11AM
“If Trentham want to spend £1M on a tea room then it's up to them,it's their money and not public money,and if you don't want to pay £10 on a cup of tea to help pay for it then no one is making you drink there.
Its nice to see something positive in the area rather than all of the negtivity we are seeing - credit crunch,decline of the pottery industry,Wedgwoods problems etc.”
by David, Old Vic
Wednesday, January 07 2009, 1:02PM
“As a people of the people of Decadents?
I agree with the majority of comments on this site. Why? Because regeneration of this city is to the interest of the outsiders and not the interests of the citizens which developed this city! You see, from decadence comes decadents who no longer want to be governed for greed and the benefit of the chosen few.
I am currently baby-sitting land developed for the benefit of the people of Stoke, that for the past 11 years has suffered decadence and before the land becomes decadent, I took action to claim Adverse Possession on the 1st January 2009 for the people of Stoke.
Planting my tent on the back of the Boothen End and adjoining Stoke Minster Primary School who were promised land, which has became desperate since its amalgamation with other schools outside Stoke.
Therefore, to encourage awareness of local issues concerning the people I took action! Why? Because our local representatives arn't prepared to stand and address local concerns regarding regeneration.
Trentham Gardens and the Victoria Ground are very important to this city's regeneration and owned by St Modwen Developments Ltd, who are partners with Stoke-on-Trent City Council in Stoke-on-Trent Regeneration Ltd and governed by Staffordshire County Council. ?
I believe in democracy for Stoke and refuse to be ignored!
The Victoria Ground, Abbey Mills and pool gave the town its motto and received herraldic recognition from King Henry VII in 1487. The spiritual home of Stoke City Football Club for 119 years and formerly the heart and soul of the community, where the roar of the crowd once reverberated around its ancient surroundings and inspiring the community. Is becoming decadent!
Setanta Sports visited the land yesterday, leaving abruptly and can be seen on Saturdays live match programme v Liverpool. I wonder what impreesion they left with? We'll soon find out.
Dave Barker
Apark4Stoke”
by steve, stone
Tuesday, January 06 2009, 8:38PM
“Ladies and Gentlemen, please calm down and get a sense of reality here!
I located to this area after commuting for 8 years. My wife and Children love the area and the majority of people. I am writing on 2 issues:
Trentham Gardens and Wedgwood.
Firstly, Trentham is a jewel in the crown. You should all be proud of it. It has generated tourism in the area plus jobs and has restored an area of beauty for all to see. Has anybody making these negative comments walked the lake? Have they seen the Rowing Club being developed? Before anybody comes back and says that this is for the middle classes, don't! The rowing club has an excellent youth division that comes from all classes and backgrounds that have been winning competitions all over the country!
Regarding the wheel, where is the problem? Relatives of mine recently visited from outside the area have found the experience wonderful! They spent money on the wheel and also in numerous shops at Trentham. They all wished that they had something like this close to them.
Now let's look at Wedgwood. The whole scenario is very sad but all is not lost. Yes the Company was not sustainable. Any Business with 400 million euro of debt could not survive. However, it is a brand (along with Royal Doulton) that will survive. This may result in some job losses and some painful decisions to be made but it still has a future.
Finally, will all you negative people stand back and take a look at yourselves. When i relocated to this area, a lot of people "down-south" thought i was mad!
However, they did not take into account the surrounding countryside and more importantly the people. I love it here and would not wish to move back. Now please, please, please, you locals appreciate what you have got and cherish the good aspects of Stoke rather than talking yourselves down all of the time”
by Jenny, Ex Joke-On-Trent
Tuesday, January 06 2009, 5:57PM
“You can Mick.I have had Stoke surgically removed so sorry you are wrong again!”
by Archimedes, Stoke
Tuesday, January 06 2009, 5:47PM
“MICK, Wits end
Well said.”
by MICK, Wits end
Tuesday, January 06 2009, 5:36PM
“You can take the girl out of stoke but not Stoke out of the girl eh Jen?
why not support the investment?”
by Jenny, Ex Joke-on-Trent
Tuesday, January 06 2009, 5:24PM
“Joe, I am very sorry that people having a different opinion then you makes you sad, however, I grew up in Trentham and therefore I believe I am fully in my rights to express my opinion should I feel the need to. I hardly think this give you he right to call me that. The really funny thing is, you are expressing the exact qualities you think you dislike so much in others.”
by Archimedes, Stoke
Tuesday, January 06 2009, 5:14PM
“Gem,N/C
Your spelling has got absolutely nothing to do with me, in fact its quite amusing in a SIMPLE sort of way but people read your prolific comments on here and think are they all like that in Stoke no wonder its one of poorest paid city's in the country. So Gem don't doom all of us with your ignorant, slothenly, idiotic comments, give it a rest please, can't you find an episode of Trisha on Gold to go and watch instead.”
by joe davis, Staffs moorlands
Tuesday, January 06 2009, 5:08PM
“reading some of these comments makes me sad......
especially the bitter ones like Jenny and Gem who take great delight in slating a wonderful venue and ridiculing themselves and the area.
Trentham is fantastic and i would pay 10.00 for a cup of coffe if it meant i didnt have to mix with the likes of these Pikeys who are as common as dirt and obviously been dragged up.
shame on you.”
by mick, wits end
Tuesday, January 06 2009, 5:00PM
“Whatever............”