Join us for a Big Fountain Switch-On!

Tuesday 15th August, 12.45 to 1.30pm

Switch-on at 1pm sharp.

Join us for traditional music and creative fun as we celebrate the return of our four water-breathing dragons, and the public switch-on of the 1894 Hammersley Fountain, perhaps for the very first time in living memory.

We'll be joined by Trentham Brass Band and Etruria Artists, who will be providing hands-on pottery activities for families, inspired by our special dragons.

The countdown and switch-on of the fountain itself, with Lord Mayor Councillor Ross Irving, will take place at 1pm sharp.

The restoration of Hanley Park is being made possible by a generous grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund through their Parks for People programme, and by National Lottery players.

The event is kindly supported by Aura Conservation Ltd.

Please note: This event takes place in the Cauldon Grounds area of Hanley Park, next to Stoke-on-Trent College. This is a short walk across College Road from the larger part of the park. 

As the restoration of the landscape is not yet complete, use the park's Stoke Road gates to access the event, and do allow plenty of time to park at our main car park, off The Parkway.

Click for a map showing the location of our Stoke Road entrance 

Eagle-eyed visitors will have noticed work is already under way to create a new route for vehicles to access our event field (avoiding passing through the play areas).

Contractors have also been working to create a safer pedestrian path around the car parks. In addition, workers already on site will soon be getting started with repairs to the lake edges.

What's next for our park restoration?

We're hugely excited to confirm that our last and biggest restoration contract now has an official start date of Monday 4 September.

Our latest contractors will then be joining us on site for 52 weeks. During this time, visitors will notice an increase of visible restoration work in the centre of Hanley Park itself.

Work will include the long-awaited revivals of the main pavilion, terrace garden, bandstand, boathouse, canal bridges, bowls pavilions and park lodges.

There will also be lots of fresh landscaping and planting, giving our historic park a new lease of life as we enter our 121st year.

In 2018, our visitors will be able to enjoy a brew with the best view in the city on the park's sun-kissed terrace. This will be a park with much-improved event capabilities, and a landscape that will feel altogether safer and more welcoming for all.

So, see you in the park!

Friends of Hanley Park open meeting

Saturday 12 August, 10.30am

Friends of Hanley Park is an independent, constituted community group that works with the council to improve the park for the whole community. They have played a key part in making our £6m restoration a reality.

Members volunteer their time as often as they are able, supporting gardening projects, developing events and activities, and bringing extra funding into the park.

Their next open meeting takes place at the former bowls pavilion in the centre of the park at 10.30am on Saturday 12 August.

To find this location, starting from the play areas and Parkway car park, simply cross the canal by the bandstand and look for the building over to your right.