Bolton Gate Arts

Nestled discreetly in the residential suburb of Weston Coyney, on the outskirts of Stoke‑on‑Trent, lies the unique setting of Bolton Gate Farm. Once a busy saddlery and stables, it now stands as a central hub for the local community, where traditional sheep grazing, a café and an outdoor creative arts space all come together. As you step inside the grounds you are instantly met with its rustic charm, with weathered farm buildings and a bustling new café. Continue further and as you reach the brow of the hill the landscape suddenly unfolds to reveal sweeping countryside views and a natural grassland, which is now home to Bolton Gate Arts CIC.

The company was initially founded by Joe Mathews and Emma Sanders in September 2021. The idea first took shape during the COVID pandemic, when Joe- having just moved to London to pursue his acting career-was forced to return home and at the same time, Emma, an old friend, had taken on temporary work in a school office, as she was unable to maintain her stage management role within the theatre.

What began as a “crazy idea” from Joe to create an open‑air theatre company on a working farm is now in its 5^th year of operation and is continuing to grow in ambition and scale. With both Joe and Emma now serving as its Creative Directors they are guiding an venture that has evolved far beyond its original expectations.

From the initial concept, it took nearly a year for the business to fully take shape. Joe’s father had long envisioned establishing a small family business on the farm as part of his retirement plan, having been in ownership of the farm for over 12 years. When a small parcel of unused land became available it presented the perfect opportunity for Joe and Emma to develop their idea. Drawing on Joe’s background in hospitality and the arts, they aimed to combine these passions and create something unique. The project has now not only transformed their careers but the direction of their lives and future plans.

Joe’s ambition was always to establish an arts centre in a place no-one would expect, using unconventional rural spaces to host creative projects to bring people together. Over time, their original vision has evolved significantly, with them continuing to learn, develop and adapt as they expand. The organisation has become increasingly community-driven, with local residents and visitors playing an active role in shaping events and activities, providing feedback event by event. The local community has now fully embraced the venue as a local creative hub and are regular active participants at most events.

The organisation is supported by an advisory board of local professionals in the arts sector and a steering group made up of representatives from community organisations such as Equal Base and Futures Together. These groups help guide decision-making and ensure events reflect community interests. Success is evaluated following each event using a range of methods from QR codes, audit forms, online reviews, direct engagement, demographic data, ticket sales and actual attendance. Collectively, these insights enable Joe and Emma to shape future programming with far greater expertise and confidence.

The business was built organically from scratch, initially relying on word-of-mouth, free advertising and locally distributed leaflets. However, as it has grown, Joe and Emma have recognised the importance of using social media and printed brochures to broadcast their events, reaching much wider audiences across neighbouring areas.

The café marked the beginning of the business, created by converting the farm’s old saddlery and stables, it is now a thriving addition to the farm. Run by Joe and his father, the café has become a central feature of the venue and has played a key role in raising the organisations profile, attracting increasing numbers of visitors, especially on events days.

During their first major opening weekend in 2021, they hosted an arts fayre called “Creative Countryside”, featuring a market, theatre performance, and art exhibition. Launched alongside the café’s opening, the event acted as a pilot to gauge interest and footfall and exceeded expectations by drawing in large crowds. Although the two businesses operate as separate entities, they work closely together, sharing customers and supporting one another whenever events take place.

Accessibility is a major priority for the business, and this can sometimes present challenges for visiting guests with restricted mobility due to the uneven terrain on the farm. Visitors are encouraged to discuss accessibility needs in advance, so that accommodations can be made available and Emma always tries to provide a personalised service in meeting people where possible to remove any barriers. The site includes an accessible toilet and flexible parking arrangements, with disabled parking and overflow parking onsite if required.

Bolton Gate Arts aims to create an inclusive and welcoming environment where people feel comfortable exploring creativity without the formal barriers often associated with larger arts organisations. All events are targeted towards anyone with an interest in arts, craft and nature. Although most attendees are either young families or of retirement age, they are always looking for new ways to bring in new audiences and are open to any suggestions. Their ethos centres on community engagement, encouraging visitors to try new experiences, develop skills, and enjoy a relaxed and interactive atmosphere.

I had the pleasure of meeting the team during the launch of their summer event, ‘The Garden Gate’, on 2 May, where they hosted a free family arts day for attendees travelling in from surrounding counties. The programme offered a day full of nature‑themed activities and DIY garden crafts; such as building bug hotels from recycled materials, stone painting, pot decorating, and hands‑on planting in the herb and vegetable garden. Guests could also join wellbeing walks across the landscape, take part in a poetry workshop, or follow a Wildlife Trust nature trail that sent young explorers hunting for clue‑filled information cards around the site. Throughout the day, live music played as the DJ set up for Gigz@thegate, an increasingly popular open‑mic event and monthly highlight of the calendar. Each edition sees 12 performers take to the stage, offering an evening of live music and entertainment for an enthusiastic audience. Everyone at the event was really welcoming and appeared passionate about its purpose, creating an atmosphere that immediately made visitors feel at home.

The 2026 social calendar shows no signs of slowing down, with a lively mix of unexpected and engaging activities, from UV resin pendant and fused‑glass workshops to prosecco‑and‑paint sessions and recurring quiz nights and Gigz@theGate events. Seasonal highlights also include Easter, Summer, Autumn and Christmas markets selling high quality local goods, open‑air theatre performances featuring various plays and shows, pumpkin carving plus cookie decorating, and a festive Christmas wreath workshop- all contributing to what is shaping up to be a vibrant year.

Alongside its packed programme of themed events, the venue also offers a weekly Wednesday community gardening club, with family‑friendly planting activities for visitors to enjoy at their leisure, a free monthly Craft and Chatter drop‑in session at the café, and a monthly Book Club where you can relax, chat, make friends and connect with the community. Joe and Emma also offer bespoke workshops for schools and community groups, giving young people the chance to explore creativity outside the classroom.

The majority of these events are held in the Manège Outdoor Arts Space, formerly a horse‑training arena, but now transformed with a stretch‑tent canopy it keeps activities running smoothly whatever the weather. As colder winter conditions set in, some events however move indoors to the café, ensuring the full programme can continue without interruption. The majority of events are pet friendly, including the café, with the exception of some of the more delicate craft events which are not accessible to pet owners due to safety reasons.

A dedicated team of 17 volunteers assist in delivering the annual programme of events, with roles matched to individual interests. Additional volunteers are always welcomed, and no previous experience is required, as comprehensive training is given, allowing everyone to feel supported and confident to contribute to a safe and welcoming environment.

Theatre events operate a “pay what you can” ticket scheme, helping to improve accessibility for everyone. Ticket prices typically range from £10 to £20, allowing attendees to choose a price that suits their budget and circumstances. Theatre tickets generally follow this scale, with supporter tickets at the higher price helping to subsidise the lower-cost options. Attendance at each workshop does vary so if you are interested in an event be sure to book quickly to reserve your place.

Strong relationships have been built with returning artists and theatre companies, with collaborations now forming a key part of the organisation’s success. As a not‑for‑profit organisation, every penny earned is poured straight back into future events and into supporting local artists. This commitment also makes it possible to offer a rich mix of free community activities, including events like The Garden Gate, ensuring that creativity remains accessible to everyone.

Although the business has taken time to set up Joe and Emma have enjoyed every minute of the journey. What they didn’t anticipate though was how tough securing initial grant funding would be, as many of their early applications were unsuccessful. Support from Outside Arts, the Community Foundation, Arts Council England, and B- Arts in Stoke have all been vital to the company’s survival. These organisations have played a crucial role in enabling Joe and Emma to move the organisation forward and have given them the strength they needed to push their vision forward and imagine what their organisation could be.

With the right timing, space and support Joe and Emma are now showing that you can turn a bold idea into a real, sustainable business. As they attract more audiences, they are gaining more momentum each year and providing even greater ideas of how to connect the local public with nature in one welcoming rural setting. Their goal has always been to be accessible to everyone and over the next 5 years they hope to continue to expand event capacity while still being accessible to all. They are also interested in developing a sponsorship model and welcome any support or collaboration opportunities. Their main objective is to continue to focus on what the community want and steer the business in that direction, but they would also love to encourage the local community to discover new skills and interests and to try things they may never have experienced before or ever believed possible. Their message is abundantly clear- go and experience one of their outdoor events, take time to relax, learn and explore- and above all, enjoy a fantastic day out.

Bolton Gate Farm, Leek Road, Weston Coyney, ST3 5BD.

Website - boltongatefarm.co.uk/showsandevents to book tickets and see the full calendar of events with dates and times.

Or email arts@boltongatefarm.co.uk for further information.