On Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 SMDC opened the doors of Cheadle Market to allow community and business owners along with local councillors to take a look inside and find out what their plans are regarding development. Visitors, gathering on the market square The architect in attendance from Stride Treglown explained their vision to groups of 17 people, this was because they had 17 hard hats available. It was a good number, with visitors within hearing distance and able to see

Ken Riley of Rileys Watchmakers and Jewellers by the Market Cross on the High Street is retiring this month. We caught up with Ken just before he closed the doors permanently following 4 decades of serving the people of Cheadle. He's seen some changes over the years we chatted with him about few of his special memories. He describes how the first watchmakers’ shop in the town was run by a Mr. Birch, roughly where the Samaritans shop is today. Ken's first shop was behind the

Town historian Mike Plant recently shared a comprehensive history of Cheadle town and how the market developed. A market has been held in Cheadle since the Lord of the Manor, Ralph Basset, was granted a charter for a market and fair during the reign of Henry III in 1250.* The granting of the charter meant that Cheadle was forever a town, rather than a village,* but what of recent history? COGNEWS shares the story so far. Cheadle Indoor Market showcases intricate red ironwork

No Reply on Cheadle in Doom Assets Letter Councillor Bentley asked if a reply had been received to the important letter sent to SMDC last month. He had proposed at last month's meeting that the clerk write to SMDC to ask for the four main assets of the town as well as the costings of running them. The council had authorized this request. The Town Clerk's response was that she has not had a reply. You can see below a copy of the actual letter that was sent and note the differe

This week, a new shop opened on Cheadle's historic High Street. Situated in the old Mother Nature building, "Little Dots" specialises in beautiful fashion and toys for ages 0-6. We met with owner Samantha Rowley-Corns to find out more. Samantha and some of her hand picked British Brands Samantha started her business two and a half years ago, a retail store and play cafe in Stone, when her daughter was just 4 months old. She told our reporter that she was very much inspired by

Tickets for the third annual LIV Golf United Kingdom presented by JCB 2026 are now on sale. The tournament is extending to 72 holes this year promising fans four days of world-class golf and entertainment in Rocester, Staffordshire Hospitality and general admission tickets are available as the JCB Golf & Country Club prepares to welcome the global golf league back to Staffordshire from July 23rd to 26th. This will be the league’s fifth time visiting the UK since launching i

Located about 30 minutes from Cheadle, Hartington Village - just over the border in Derbyshire - is well worth a trip out. Our editor, Lori, visited on a sunny spring afternoon; here's how she got on. The Picturesque Duck Pond The drive from Cheadle through Ipstones, Onecote, and Warslow, passing through the Peak Park, is breathtaking, particularly on a sunny day. The round trip takes about an hour, and with free parking available in the village of Hartington, it offers a ve

One of Staffordshire’s oldest family pottery firms has wished JCB and Lord Bamford a happy 80th birthday – with the creation of a unique handmade vase. Stoke‑on‑Trent‑based Moorcroft, founded by William Moorcroft in 1913, is renowned worldwide for its rich colours and distinctive tube‑lining technique, in which raised outlines are applied by hand before painting and glazing. The company’s skilled team has produced a four‑sided vase designed by Emma Bossons, one of Moorcroft’s

"You've been Cogged!" is a peek into someone else's world. It's something the team at COG has the opportunity to do on a regular basis, and hearing those stories, appreciating the work and life of the person, celebrating them even, is something we're honoured to be able to do. We've worked together to create a new segment focusing on the role individual people play in their local communities, often unheard but essential for the mechanism to work, just like the humble COG. We

Accommodation and dining, national visitor attractions and experiences, plus inclusive, accessible tourism and more proves again that Staffordshire Moorlands officially has the best in the business. The 2026 Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Tourism Awards showcase the very best of tourism across the region and many Moorlands businesses brought home awards. Five local businesses took the top awards in their categories: The Tawny Hotel won the top award in the Large Hotel o

Free to attend Wade Conference CentreHartshill, Stoke-on-Trent Wednesday, Apr 8 from 9am to 4pm Cybercon Staffordshire is back, the region’s biggest cybersecurity & tech event with expert insights for CEO's, IT Managers, CISOs, and CTOs The day promises industry-leading insights, expert speakers, and actionable knowledge, tailored for IT Managers, CISOs, CTOs, and tech professionals. It gives business owners and leaders the opportunity to stay ahead of evolving cybersecurity

The UK government has announced a new central hub for businesses looking for clear, trustworthy and relevant support at each stage of their journey. The platform brings together guidance on starting up, growing, exporting and investing, making it easier for businesses to access the information they need. The site tailors its support to individual business by asking a few straightforward questions about their sector, stage and location. From there, it provides personalised re

Tuesday, 12 May 2026 Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM The Beaconside Group, Weston Road, Stafford ST18 0BF The Staffordshire Business Support Conference 2026 brings together local businesses, support organisations, and industry experts for a dynamic day of insight and collaboration. Designed for start‑ups, SMEs, and growing enterprises, the event offers an interactive environment where attendees can learn about the latest support, funding opportunities, and expert guidance available

16-20 March 26 FREE Newcastle-under-Lyme's Business Festival - Shaping the Future - is returning for 2026. Taking place from 16-20 March, the five-day Festival will feature inspiring keynote and guest speakers, hands-on workshops, and opportunities to connect and network. Monday 16 March - Employment and Entrepreneurs Day (St Giles Church) Tuesday 17 March - Innovation and Sustainability Day (Keele University) Wednesday 18 March - Business and Network Day (The Boulevard)

"There are opportunities for businesses of all sizes, including micro businesses. It's about visibility and taking the opportunities to work together," says Zoe Wallis of The Little George, Eccleshall. Zoe is encouraging businesses across Staffordshire, not just those in the visitor economy but in every sector, to get involved in this year’s Staffy Trail as part of Staffordshire Day. “The 1st of May is Staffordshire Day, a day all about celebrating and showcasing Staffordshir

It's not too late to enter this year's Staffordshire Business Awards - here's the link! https://staffordshirechambers.co.uk/awards/ Staffordshire Chamber have announced this year's Business Awards- an excellent way to get your business seen, establish trust and credibility and make some new business friends along the way. This year's has a twist - this year, after the trophies are handed out, the celebrations will continue at the Chamber's first AFTER PARTY - a late-night

At COGNEWS, we are eager to have local jobs filled by local residents whenever feasible, which is why we've established our new Jobs Board. This platform allows local employers to post their job openings at no cost. If you have a vacancy you wish to advertise, please contact our editorial team . Trainee inspector of health and safety Closing date 2 March, 40 roles available The Health & Safety Executive is currently r ecruiting for trainee inspectors of health and safety acro

Being struck by a vehicle is still one of the main causes of fatal and major injuries in the workplace. The workplace transport section of HSE's website has a range of guidance, advice and other resources to help reduce the risks and keep workers safe. This includes: vehicle safety site safety lift trucks You can also download relevant publications from the HSE website, including: workplace transport safety - an employer's guide workplace transport safety - an overview The f

Work-related stress: a proactive approach to risk management 5 March, 11.00am to 12.00pm. Mental health conditions continue to be the leading cause of work-related ill health. In 2024 to 2025, 964,000 workers reported stress, depression or anxiety caused or made worse by work. This exclusive webinar, from HSE and their publishing partner TSO, explains how the work-related stress Management Standards and the Stress Indicator Tool can help organisations take a proactive, eviden

A full‑sized JCB digger dressed up like a collector’s scale model stole a few hearts on Valentine’s Day – and stopped Londoners in their tracks outside an iconic railway station. The ‘JCB Backhoe in a Box’ drew huge crowds when it was first unveiled at the digger maker’s World HQ in Rocester, Staffordshire. Now the capital is digging the love for this innovative display as it arrives in London - proving romance really does come in all shapes and sizes, even giant, beautifully