2003 – Stoke Pride

A Stoke Pride event was originally planned in 2003 but was cancelled due to fears of a homophobic backlash following opposition from local residents and BNP Councillors.  In 2006 The Club and Three Tuns along with other established venues hosted the “Big Pink CarPark” event.  This was the first event that could properly be called Stoke Pride.

LGBT+ Memory Fair

You are invited to join us at the LGBT+ MEMORY FAIR, which is led by the North Midlands LGBT+ Older Peoples Group (OLGBT) and GRAIN Projects, an event hosted at the libraries to explore and celebrate the identity and heritage of LGBT+ residents of Stoke-on-Trent.

Celebrating Fifteen Years Photo Gallery

We marked the fifteenth anniversary of the group’s first meeting at a special celebration event that took place in the ballroom at Fenton Town Hall on Monday the 16th December 2024.  The photo gallery below was created from pictures taken by Ruby Nixon

2024 – Trip To Manchester

Photos of a fabulous trip exploring our LGBT+ history and heritage including a guided tour of Manchester Art Gallery and a visit to the archives.

Celebrating Fifteen Years

In December 2024 we Celebrated the fifteenth anniversary of the group’s first meeting. The video below was created for a special celebration event that took place in the ballroom at Fenton Town Hall

2024 – Pride in Place

2024 – Pride in Place This Pride themed walk, hosted by Anna Francis and led by Maurice Greenham and Deb Rogers, was one of a series of four walks organised by Friends of the Spode Rose Garden. Maurice has a long history of campaigning to support people living with HIV and is the chair of […]

2024 – Stories From The Heart

2024 – Stories From The Heart “Stories From The Heart” was the title of a community theatre performance co-created by Potboiler Theatre working with members of the North Midlands LGBT+ Older Peoples Group and other local LGBTQ+ people. It was the final event of the Gay Stoke project in which we explored our local LGBT+ […]

1969 – The Stonewall Riots and the Birth of Pride

1969 is the year in which the Stonewall Riots took place. This post explores how this was reported at the time and in the years that followed when Gay Liberation Front groups emerged around the UK

1968 – The Killing of Sister George

The Killing of Sister George is a 1968 American film based on the 1964 play by British playwright Frank Marcus. The film attracted considerable controversy due to an explicit lesbian lovemaking scene. In this post we explore some of the local press coverage.

2008 – Inferno Gay Sauna

Inferno was Stoke’s first gay sauna – an openly gay venue that was clearly and unambiguously promoted as a place where men could meet for sex. It was based in Garth Street in close proximity to The Club and opened around 2008. The company wound up some time in early 2012. Gay Saunas have a long history