Newcastle under Lyme guidebook

Newcastle under Lyme town centre has a split personality.

Visit during the day and you'll almost certainly be greeted by its famed Stones street market.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays you can shop for anything from scented candles and Hoover bags to homemade cakes and mountains of fresh fruit and veg.

On Tuesdays you can browse stalls of antiques and then on Thursdays it's the turn of the bric-a-brac merchants; although some would say there is often little difference between the two.

The compact town centre has unusually wide streets. You'll find most of the familiar high street chains, plus a fair smattering of independents. It lacks a large department store, but perhaps the individuality of its shopping experience compensates.

An entirely new shopping street, Castle Walks, was created by the redevelopment of the bus station. This led to tension with market stallholders who feared a drop in trade, but both parts of the town seem to be flourishing.

Once the shops and market stalls have shut up for the day, Newcastle under Lyme undergoes a complete transformation.

After dark, the pull-along trolleys and environmentally friendly shopping bags are replaced by wine bar doormen and the area's young and beautiful in their evening finery.

Over the past few years, Newcastle has become renowned as Nightlife Central for Staffordshire, which takes the form of trendy wine bars and pubs, many staying open into the wee small hours, plus an eclectic mix of cosmopolitan eateries.

Locals mix with the town's academics, the young mix with the less young, and you will be hard pushed to find a pub or restaurant that doesn't welcome everyone from teens right up to eighty-somethings.

Property Overview

The borough is made up of the town centre and suburbs plus a number of surrounding villages, some prettier than others.

According to the 2001 census more than 71 per cent of homes are owner-occupied and nearly 20 per cent rented from social landlords.

The town centre has a mix of attractive Georgian buildings, some with apartments on the first floor, and the overall district is quite traditional.
 
In recent years, however, there have been a number of new developments, mostly in the centre, including plush apartment blocks with swimming pools and gym facilities. Several more of this ilk are planned over the next few years.

Newcastle's 122,000-strong population are not ethnically diverse. According to the 2001 census 98 per cent are white and 97 per cent were born in the UK.

There tends to be a strong loyalty to the area, particularly in outlying villages and suburbs, with many people choosing to stay within streets of their parents and grandparents.

That said, the excellent motorway links and location slap bang in the centre of the country have attracted call centres and distribution businesses aplenty, bringing in people from outside the area.

Although Keele University lies within its borough boundaries, Newcastle under Lyme does not have a strong studenty feel. Plentiful accommodation on the university campus means there are no student housing enclaves in the town itself.

Property prices tend to be well below the national average, although higher than in neighbouring Stoke-on-Trent. Below is a brief run through what's on offer:

Areas in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Town centre: The last few years have seen the introduction of modern apartment blocks. 

Although demand was a little slow to start with, they have now proved popular with young professionals, down-sizers and investores.  At least two similar developments are in the pipeline.

The new-builds contrast with the terraces and semis on the outskirts of town where it is still possible to pick up bargains in need of renovation.
 
Wolstanton: To the north of the town centre, Wolstanton has some large semis and detached properties.

It has a village feel with a good selection of small shops, and the Wolstanton Retail Park has an Asda, Homebase and Matalan.

Westlands: One of the most desirable, and therefore pricey, residential areas.

Close to the town centre, it has mature, well-regarded semis and detacheds, and an increasing number of new-builds in the gardens of older properties.

The Westlands estate was built by quakers, so you won't find many pubs here.

Thistleberry: Made up of just a few streets, Thistleberry has a mix of terraces and semis.

It is a more affordable option than neighbouring Westlands - and it does have pubs.

Knutton, Silverdale and Parksite: Former mining communities, these interlinking areas have a strong sense of community and residents tend to be fiercely loyal to their roots.

There's a healthy lettings market in Silverdale for Keele students who opt to live off campus, and property bargains for those happy to renovate.

Regeneration cash is being pumped in, including £1.1 million recently spent on repairing historically significant bricks and tiles in Knutton.

Porthill: Street after street of small, traditional homes with names like Sparrow Terrace give Porthill an honest charm.

The prices appeal to first-time buyers, and a smattering of shops dotted here and there lend a sense of community.

Madeley: With its poolside setting the village centre is a rural idyll, although you will find some less attractive properties on its outskirts.

Ashley and Loggerheads: On the doorstep of rural Shropshire, these village communities are firm favourites with city commuters.
 
You'll pay more for a property here, but you'll find plenty of detached homes including some with land.

Whitmore and Baldwins Gate: A popular choice for people who want to escape to the country, but still be within 10 minutes' drive of the town.

You'll find detached homes and character properties galore, but they come with higher price tags.

Keele: Despite being a university village, you won't find many student (or even affordable) properties in Keele.

The village is a mixture of character, period cottages and larger, more modern homes with sizeable gardens.

Clayton and Seabridge: A number of large, detached properties have been built on Clayton Bank recently, adding to the selection of mature semis in this popular residential area.

Low rise flats offer a more affordable alternative.

Chesterton: A former mining village to the north of the town, Chesterton is well connected for the A34 and M6.

It has a healthy lettings market, and numerous properties in need of renovation mean it could be up-and-coming.

Living Here

Transport:

Trains: Nearby Stoke-on-Trent and Crewe stations offer mainline rail services.
 
Buses: The redeveloped bus station in the town centre has services out to most of the surrounding areas.

Road: Newcastle under Lyme scores top marks for its motorway links, sitting between junctions 15 and 16 of the M6.

Air: Manchester, Birmingham International, East Midlands and Liverpool John Lennon airports are all within a one-hour drive.

Shopping:

The Stones market runs six days a week and is a great place for bargain hunting. The town centre has most of the smaller high street chains plus independent shops.

The Roebuck Centre has 16 shops and Castle Walks is a fairly new shopping street. Out of the town centre many of the suburbs and villages have convenience stores, food outlets and smaller independents.

Eating and drinking:

Newcastle under Lyme has a mix of traditional boozers and trendy bars. You won't be short of choice.

Restaurant-wise, you'll find Indian, Chinese, Thai, Italian and traditional English.
 
Sports:

A multi-million-pound sports village is in the pipeline to replaced current facilities which are quite dated.

Stoke Speedway has its home at Chesterton.

Golf enthusiasts can choose between Newcastle Golf Club in The Westlands or the Jack Barker Golf Centre, Keele.

Leisure and entertainment:

The New Vic Theatre, Europe's first purpose-built theatre in the round, is in nearby Basford.

The Borough Museum and Art Gallery has a mix of permanent displays and temporary exhibitions.

The Vue Cinema Complex is in Newcastle under Lyme town centre, having replaced what was once voted the ugliest building in Britain, the orange- and green-clad Fine Fare supermarket.

Parks and open spaces:

The Queen's Gardens, Grosvenor Garden and Queen Elizabeth Garden are green spaces around the town centre, along with the pretty Brampton Park.

 BY JENNY AMPHLETT