Petit Fours
(11 May, 2026)
𧹠This weekâs âTop Pickâ @WeightmanPR: new Motörhead museum and bar
A visitor centre aimed squarely at Lemmy and Motörhead fans was opened in Stoke-on-Trent at the beginning of this month. Old No. 6 - on Market Square, in Burslem - is the brainchild of IFK Legacy, the same organisation which commissioned sculptor Andy Edwards to craft the Lemmy statue which now stands proudly in the centre of the âmother Town of the Potteriesâ. Now attracting countless visitors to Stoke-on-Trent from all corners of the globe, the statue links closely with this new venue - and includes a bar serving official Motörhead beers and âLemmy lemonadeâ, alongside a mini-museum featuring Motörhead memorabilia and artwork. The venue will help to raise funds for the Lemmy Project: including plans to transform the Grade-II listed Queenâs Theatre into âKilmister Hallsâ - a 1,500 capacity music venue and cultural hub honouring the Stoke-born Motörhead frontman.
𧹠Save the date for Festé
Now firmly established as one of the biggest and best urban outdoor arts festivals in the UK, Derby FestĂ© is one of the highlights of the cityâs events calendar - offering locals and visitors alike the chance to enjoy a free large-scale live event packed full of spectacular performances, street theatre, music, dance and circus. Initially staged to help mark the opening of the Westfield Derby shopping centre (now Derbion) and then - the following year - the opening of Derby QUAD arts centre, Derby FestĂ© has grown in size and stature with thousands of people enjoying the spectacle of live daytime and evening performances by some of the best outdoor artists including those who come to Derby as part of their international tours. So save the date, and expect the unexpected, as the streets burst into life once again on 26 September 2026 with a spectacular mix of dance, theatre, circus, parkour, and aerial performance.
𧹠How a star was born
The image below shows a cosplayer outside the Museum of Making in Derby. A clever mash-up, given that Lara Croft was âmadeâ in the city, and that there will be a lively series of exhibitions and events staged there during this, her 30th âbirthdayâ, year - itâs one in a series taken by Visit Derby - for use by the travel media. The star in the pavement - one in a series of famous people and characters associated with Derby - commemorates the fact that⊠âNo-one could be more homespun than video game character Lara Croft, who already has a road named after her in the city. She may be fictional but the highly intelligent and athletic English archaeologist - beloved by millions in games and films - was âbornâ at Core Design in Derby. Lara first appeared in the video game Tomb Raider in 1996 and after a couple more games, Crystal Dynamics took over the series in 2003. Critics say that Lara is âa significant game character in popular cultureâ. She holds six Guinness World Records and was the first video game to make the transition to film. Many people were surprised not to see her on the first Walk of Fame but she now has her place in Iron Gate and a part of Derbyâs historyâ.Plans are now being put in place to make it a fitting 30th birthday celebration, with a series of events and exhibitions to mark the occasion - including an exhibition at Pickfordsâ House starting 24 July.
𧹠A school of thought: new exhibition at David Parr House opens 1 July
Opening in the Studio Gallery at David Parr House, Cambridge, Pictures for Schools will explore the legacy of the famous post-war initiative founded by artist and educationalist Nan Youngman. Between 1947 and 1969, the scheme enabled schools to purchase original artworks by contemporary artists, placing museum-quality art directly into classrooms and corridors. The 2026 summer exhibition from 1 July to 8 August, drawn from the collection of Robjn Cantus, brings together paintings, drawings and prints that once shaped the visual environment of British schools. These works - often modest in scale, but rich in imagination - reflect the belief that art should be part of everyday life. The Gallery and Shop is open Wednesday to Saturday, from 10am to 5pm. The House is open for tours Thursday to Saturday. Entry to the exhibition is free, but booking ahead is recommended.
