Craig Skelding, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Leisure, Culture and Heritage, said: “These awards are richly deserved for this excellent museum and its dedicated staff and volunteers, and they spread the news further afield that there is an absolute gem hidden here in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

“Not only is it one of the jewels in Newcastle’s crown, it stands out as one of Staffordshire’s best attractions and I’m delighted to see it recognised this way.”

Competition judges heard that the council-owned museum fully reopened in 2022 after a two year redevelopment, including funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. As well as a new café and shop, more secure cases and moveable walls increased exhibition space and a whole range of community programmes have been developed – supported by a dedicated team of volunteers.

Figures comparing spring 2023 to the year before showed a 62 per cent increase in visitors, with numbers boosted by the museum’s series of events celebrating the Borough’s 850th anniversary.

As the best of class in Staffordshire, the Brampton Museum will now go forward to the national competition.

Cllr Skelding added: “The range and quality of the exhibitions, talks and workshops there are outstanding.

“The team does a fantastic job and these awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication from the team who strive to go from strength to strength. If the current ‘Through the Frame’ exhibition, curated by local pupils and featuring work by Damien Hirst was on display in London, the queue to see it would be down the street.”

The awards, staged at the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield, also chose Keele University Events and Conferencing arm as the ‘Business Events Venue of the Year’.