City centre shoppers will be treated to free street entertainment every Saturday until the end of September including circus entertainers, drummers, DJs and singers.

It’s being organised by Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID to help celebrate the reopening of more retail and leisure businesses and welcome back shoppers.

The BID has also worked with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to extend the areas available for outdoor drinking and dining and to encouraging an ‘outdoor cafe culture’.

Traffic is being stopped from entering Piccadilly from its junctions with Stafford Street and Broad Street, Brunswick Street between Gitana Street and Piccadilly and Cheapside between Albion Street and Piccadilly, meaning that customers can safely enjoy food and drink outside of their favourite venues.

BID manager Richard Buxton said: “Whilst it is obviously important that we all take precautions to social distance where possible and remain safe when visiting the city centre, we recognise that having fun is of paramount importance too, particularly after months of staying at home.

“We’ve received fantastic feedback from people visiting the city centre about the street-safe entertainment and it’s great to see visitors of all ages having a boogie to the music we’ve organised. That’s why for the foreseeable Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID will be hosting entertainment every Saturday to engage and entertain shoppers.

“We are proud to be a COVID Confident City Centre with all the appropriate procedures in place that are evidently being followed by both businesses and their customers, but we feel bringing something a little different to the area goes a long way in maximising the enjoyment and experience of a day out in the City Centre.”

DJ Mark Askew will play music in Piccadilly between 2pm and 7pm on Saturday. Roaming acts including stilt walkers and drummers will perform in various locations around the city centre between 11am and 3pm.