It read like you was making a judgement on the all-nighter scene when you don't really support the all-nighter scene. Stoke and two in Sheffield, Sammanthas I presume, in the last 12 months is hardly your typical all-nighter scene.
And as for the local venues, I live in the same area as you and the only two I can see that play something other than the same old same and oldies you hear everywhere are The Attic (which I will get to very soon) and The Union Soul nights at the Brit, I have to travel even for a soul night as the others have little to offer in the way of anything different from the playlists I've read and comments from mates round here.