A Burslem-based brewery that has been making beer in Stoke-on-Trent for 40 years is brewing a special ale to celebrate the Stoke-on-Trent's 100th anniversary.

Titanic Brewery has teamed up with the city council to produce a limited-edition beer in honour of the city's Centenary.

Century Anniversary Ale - a traditional 4.7% ABV amber ale - will be available in bottles, cans and on cask in pubs across Staffordshire.

The beer's pump clips incorporate the city's famous bottle kilns and portion of the proceeds from every sale will go to the Titanic Brewery Foundation, which supports charities across the region.

David Glenwright, from Titanic Brewery, said: "When Titanic Brewery was established in 1985, founder John Pazio had a simple goal, to create great beer to bring together wonderful local communities.

"It is this same goal that drives us to this day, and whilst our beers may be enjoyed by drinkers around the world, we make sure they know their pint was proudly shipped to them from The Potteries.

"Stoke-on-Trent's 100th Anniversary is a momentous occasion, and we're excited to raise a glass or two of Century Anniversary Ale and say 'Cheers!' to 100 years of this incredible city and its people."

The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Cllr Lyn Sharpe, visited Titanic Brewery on 30 April to help bring this beer to life, alongside Titanic's head brewer Will Bott.

The initial brewing process, which took about a day to complete, involved bringing together the four key ingredients of beer – water, hops, malted barley and yeast.

Cllr Sharpe said: "I know first-hand about Titanic Brewery's historic role in this city as I worked there as a tour guide for a number of years until 2024.

The Lord Mayor, Cllr Lyn Sharpe, with the. new Century Ale pump clip. (Stoke-on-Trent City Council)

"Visitors loved learning about what happens to some simple ingredients in a brewery and how they're turned into a beautiful pint of beer for you to enjoy in your local pub. Stoke-on-Trent's brewing heritage has played a proud role in our first 100 years, and this ale is a fantastic way to toast our centenary.

"The designs on the pump clips mean that pubgoers across the region will learn about our centenary and be able to raise a glass to this historic year."

Debbie Whittingham, regional manager and employee director at JD Wetherspoon and James Mancell, pub manager at The Reginald Mitchell, in Hanley were invited along to the 'mashing' of the celebratory brew at the Titanic Brewery.

Debbie said: "I can tell you that the smell in that mash room was just unbelievably gorgeous. It was great to be reminded of just how genuine real ale is, being brewed in the same way for centuries. The art of brewing is a truly magical thing.

"We will be stocking the ale in all of our Staffordshire pubs and a few just over the border too and I can't wait. It's a fitting way to celebrate Stoke-on-Trent's centenary. Thank you, Titanic."

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Family 'heartbroken' as pottery firm struggles

Employment correspondent

Reporting fromStoke-on-Trent

Sharon Yates has been working at Dunoon Mugs in Staffordshire for more than three decades.

Four generations of her family have worked there - her mother, Irene, who has now retired, her daughter-in-law, Leian, and granddaughter, Madi.

But, the company, which was established 50 years ago, is struggling. The firm said its energy bills were now six times higher than they were three years ago; 20% of the workforce was made redundant and staff are working shorter hours.

Ms Yates told the BBC she "would not be able to cope" if the pottery closed. "It's my life," she said.

''I just love putting the handles on the mugs. It's hard work, but it's therapeutic," said Ms Yates.

"I'm proud to work here, it's in my blood."

Three Staffordshire potteries have closed this year, and Dunoon's director Alan Smith said it was "entirely possible" that Dunoon could be next.

Mr Smith said it was not just their energy bills - the rise in the minimum wage and employers' national insurance made it feel like the company was being "bombarded by all sides".

On Wednesday, Stoke-on-Trent's MPs, the GMB trade union and the industry body Ceramics UK will meet Industry Minister Sarah Jones to call for urgent action to save the potteries.

Ceramics is one of the most energy intensive industries in the UK and the sector is calling on the government to subsidise what it says are "crippling" energy bills.

It also wants businesses to be temporarily exempt from carbon emissions penalties.

The directors of Moorcroft Pottery announced last month the firm has stopped trading after more than 100 years.

It was the latest blow to the pottery industry in Stoke-on-Trent, a city affectionately known as The Potteries.

Ms Yates' mother, 81 year-old Irene, has lived around the industry all her life.

She said the city was once "buzzing", with more than 45,000 people working in ceramics.

She met her husband David working on the line at the now-closed Staffordshire Pottery, and added it was "heartbreaking" to think Dunoon Mugs could close too.

"I hope the government steps in to help us," she said.

Last week, Gareth Snell, the Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central, gave a speech in Parliament, warning the industry faced collapse.

He criticised the government's response to what he described as a "crisis" facing the industry.

Mr Smith also added he was not confident Dunoon would get the help it needed from government.

''I don't think they behave as if they're interested in traditional industries," he said.

In a statement, the Department for Business and Trade said: "Ministers continue to engage closely with the ceramics sector to understand the challenges and provide support, ensuring the industry is globally competitive as part of our Plan for Change."

A street in Stoke-on-Trent described as being a "magnet for fly-tipping" has been closed until 2027 in an attempt to tackle the problem.

Anti-social behaviour and illegal dumping on unoccupied Pyenest Street in Shelton has been going on for years, the city council said.

Concrete barriers are being installed to try to prevent more waste being dumped, ahead of the derelict land being cleared in readiness for redevelopment, which local business owners have welcomed.

The council says it then plans to give the green light to the construction of up to 141 homes on the site.

Tim Sherwin owns Stoke Flame, a fireplace business that looks out onto the land, and has a car park on a corner of it.

He said staff have to apologise to customers for the state of Pyenest Street

"It's been a central hub and hotspot for fly-tipping, drug dealing, stolen vehicles, prostitution, and there's quite a few homeless people living in these derelict businesses opposite us," he said

Mr Sherwin said as "proud Stokies" they do not want to move out of the area they have been based in since 1970, but it is embarrassing, and they welcome the prospect of the site being re-developed.

"Anything is going to be better than what we've got at the minute," he added.

Kishore Jammula has owned nearby Indian Restaurant Mirchi since 2012 and is pleased that redevelopment work is planned.

"It is really good for me, and the whole community around it," he said, describing repeated fly-tipping on Pyenest Street as "very frustrating."

The road closure will be in place until 1 May 2027, with some of the remaining buildings on the site set to be demolished in the near future, subject to consents, added the council.

"This area has been a magnet for illegal dumping for some time. It has also attracted anti-social behaviour," said councillor Amjid Wazir OBE.

"The area has so much potential to be a cleaner, greener and safer corner of the city."

A takeaway supplied a curry with four different types of nut to a customer who had told them he had a severe allergy, causing him to go into anaphylactic shock, a court has heard.

The man had ordered the curry from Ali's Kitchen in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, run by award-winning chef Muhammed Aaban Aamir Ali.

Despite assurances that the curry could be made nut-free, tests found it contained almond, peanut, hazelnut and traces of pistachio, the court heard.

The restaurant had also sent out a replacement curry after the restaurant was contacted about the reaction, which was not eaten, but Trading Standards found this also contained peanut protein.

The man had to use an EpiPen to alleviate symptoms, including a tightening of his throat and a rash, and an ambulance was also called.

North Staffordshire magistrates were told on Thursday that preparation of an allergen-sensitive dish should not have been delegated to another staff member.

Ali, 44, of Bignall Grove, Dresden, admitted failing to comply with EU provision concerning food safety and hygiene on the morning of his trial.

The incident happened in July 2023.

Ms Filmer, prosecuting on behalf of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "[A customer] phoned the restaurant and advised their partner suffered a severe nut allergy. They enquired as to whether the chicken tikka masala could be made nut-free.

"She was assured the chicken tikka masala would be made nut-free, with almond powder being removed. [Her partner] was dipping into the chicken tikka masala and immediately suffered anaphylaxis.

"His tongue tingled, his throat started to tighten, he was unable to swallow and came out in a rash. He used his EpiPen and an ambulance was dispatched.

"He suffered anaphylactic shock due to consuming just a small amount of food at home. It was fortunate he had an EpiPen to hand on this occasion."

Trading Standards were contacted, with officers attending the home to take samples of both curries.

Ms Filmer said: "[Ali] admitted his staff had not received specific allergy training.

"He shouldn't have delegated allergen-sensitive instructions. The consequence was an entirely preventable medical emergency."

Joanne Corbett, defending, said the incident had been a one-off and there had been no others reported to the council.

She added that Ali was an award-winning chef with more than 25 years' experience, and who had cooked for consulates in India.

She said: "He has an unblemished record with no previous convictions. He runs this business and opened it in 2022, he is still building it up.

"He prides himself on being able to supply meals to people with intolerances and allergies. On this occasion he is not quite sure what went wrong.

"The person who took the initial call perhaps has not had enough training. She had had some training and further training has been put in recently for people to acknowledge intolerances and what is required of them.

"As soon as the position was made clear another meal was sent. It wasn't just wilful neglect and he is unsure how it came to pass.

"The individual did have anaphylactic shock and an ambulance was called. By the time the ambulance was there the situation was under control and the EpiPen had done what it needed to do.

"[Ali] is extremely remorseful – it has had an adverse effect on him. He prides himself on his work," she added.

Magistrates fined Ali £432. He was also ordered to pay £500 compensation to the affected customer, as well as £2,068 in costs.

The 80th anniversary of VE Day is being marked through a host of commemorative events in North Staffordshire this week.

Germany officially surrendered to the Allies on 8 May 1945, and the news was greeted with celebrations across the UK and the world.

Here's the public events taking place in and around Stoke-on-Trent this week.

Bring your picnic and chairs and have fun at a VE Day party at Fenton Town Hall on Saturday 10 May.

Enjoy entertainment from Baker Street Belles, DJ Ian Price and Alan Barrett. Live music will play throughout the afternoon. The organisers plan lots of activities for children so it's a day for all ages.

The party runs from 12pm to 4.30pm.

The Lord Mayor will unveil a blue plaque from 11am at Fenton Town Hall in memory of John Grocot, a man from Fenton who was the first in house plastic surgeon outside London and an unsung hero of World War II.

The Lord Mayor, Cllr Lyn Sharpe, will be lighting a beacon at Park Hall Country Park on Thursday.

People are asked to arrive by no later than 9:15pm with the beacon being lit by the Lord Mayor at 9:30pm.

The lighting ceremony has been organised by Cllrs Craig Beardmore and Ross Irving using a contribution from their ward budget to ensure that this event can be open to the public.

Cllrs Beardmore and Irving said: "This event is open to anyone and everyone who is able-bodied and can make the journey on foot to the beacon - the ground is still going to be uneven as it's a country park so please assess your own capability before choosing to come."

A civic service will be held to mark VE Day at Stoke Minster from 7pm on Thursday 8 May.

The service is open to anyone and will be attended by the Stoke-on-Trent Lord Mayor, Councillor Lyn Sharpe, fellow councillors, city council staff, and representatives from local organisations and community groups.

Revd Alison Thomas, Interim Minister at Stoke Minster, said: "At this celebration service for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe, we will remember and honour the sacrifices, courage, and determination of all those who served during the Second World War, as well as those on the Home Front.

"We will celebrate them with pride, remember with sorrow all the casualties of war, and pray for peace in our world today."

A VE Day 80 service will be held at St. Giles' Church in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre at 8pm and following the service, the congregation will walk through to Queens Gardens where a beacon will be lit.

Reminisce: Recall and Relive will be led by Kath Reynolds and include multi-sensory experiences to evoke memories and give participants a chance to bond while recalling common experiences. It takes place at 10.30am.

The session will enable people to share experiences, recall treasured memories and spark lively discussion.

Meanwhile a free exhibition, "Victory from Home: How we Helped Win the War," runs at the museum until 16 September and a talk and book signing by Ros Unwin and Jane Pugh- marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day will take place on 10 May.

As well, The Brampton Museum is running two archive film showings will also be held by local film archivist and documentary film maker Ray Johnson - find out more here.

Brampton Park Museum & Art Gallery in Newcastle-under-Lyme. (John M)

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READ: Two new murals in Stoke town hope to bring 'fresh perspective' on city's industrial heritage

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Image of Brampton Museum & Art Gallery via Geograph, John M