I visited Stoke several years ago and I have to say that it I quite possibly the worst place I have ever been (after Hull).
There seemed to be a grey charcoal colouration to every element of the city. The paths, roads, buildings and the people seemed to carry the same grey gloom with them as if possessed by body snatchers. It’s almost as if Stoke had been covered in a depressing film of dust after a nuclear explosion. Then the city council had replaced all the destroyed buildings with red brick eye sores.
