Grant Fondo
Guru
- Location
- Cheshire
My village used to have 3 banks and 3 hairdressers, that's changed to zero and 8.
How has your high street changed?
- Thread starter Regular.Cyclist
- Start date
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My village used to have 3 banks and 3 hairdressers, that's changed to zero and 8.
Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
One recently closed (I only saw the sign in the window today) and one closing soon. A friend who has had a ladies clothes shop, selling 'high end' stuff is closing after 31 years, with her shop sold to someone who's going to turn it into an office. She told me the other day she's had enough and is retiring, also stating that Accrington will stop being/having a shopping centre soon and become a one bedroom flat, town.
As you can see, the Arndale Centre built in 1991 and opened by Ken Dodd (I was there that day
) hardly has any customers these days. I could be in there and in half an hour and see about 30 people, who are more likely just walking through it to get somewhere else rather than actually shopping!
As you can see, the Arndale Centre built in 1991 and opened by Ken Dodd (I was there that day
) hardly has any customers these days. I could be in there and in half an hour and see about 30 people, who are more likely just walking through it to get somewhere else rather than actually shopping!
Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
I also heard on the shop owners/workers grapevine today that the Scope (or is it called Sense 🤔) charity shop was broken into last Sunday. The scumbags stole electrical items and other easy to carry out stuff and took what was left in the till. Then as a calling/leaving card they smashed up what they couldn't steal and did 'body functions' in the place! Let's just the plod took this seriously and took DNA samples of the scumbags you know whats!
Kingfisher101
Veteran
Where I am all the decent shops are long gone and it's all blatant money laundering outfits like nail bars and Turkish barbers that are constantly empty. If I want something its either now online or from the supermarket. All the shoplifting that's going on as well wont encourage anyone to open a legitimate local shop.
Mad Doug Biker
Just a damaged guy.
- Location
- Craggy Island
Our 'main street' here is a Key Store (with a dance studio and boxing gym above), Asian run convenience stores/newsagents and a hardware shop that seems to sell a bit of everything from paint to bins, to bird feeders to Woks, to mug trees to little windmills for kids
The Pharmacy, The Library, a couple of pubs (used to be 3), cafe(s), takeaways, a bakers and a flower shop. There are also the usual Turkish barbers (there are two, run by the same people within a few hundred meters of each other... Same with car washing garages (Money laundering?) and a hairdresser/nailbar.
We have an Indian (actually Nepalese) buffet that I like, but the most recent thing is a Lebanese restaurant which has taken up residence in the old bank.
Oh and there is a small coffee place up by the station which is open in the morning.
I sometimes go into the Polish shop nearby and play a game of Russian Roulette when it comes to correctly guessing what I am buying! 😆 Also along that way, in the Clydebank direction is an ice cream parlour, another barber, another florist (I think), a pub, a Mobility Scooter shop more takeaways, a newsagent and a paint/decorating shop, before there is (yet) another pub... Followed by another Hairdressers , which is actually around the corner on the street down to The Golden Jubilee Hospital.
For anything major, one goes to the Shopping Centre in Clydebank (or Glasgow), which despite having some big brands as well as smaller shops and a market, is definitely a ghost of it's former self and has been for years.
Not bad really, I guess.
The Pharmacy, The Library, a couple of pubs (used to be 3), cafe(s), takeaways, a bakers and a flower shop. There are also the usual Turkish barbers (there are two, run by the same people within a few hundred meters of each other... Same with car washing garages (Money laundering?) and a hairdresser/nailbar.
We have an Indian (actually Nepalese) buffet that I like, but the most recent thing is a Lebanese restaurant which has taken up residence in the old bank.
Oh and there is a small coffee place up by the station which is open in the morning.
I sometimes go into the Polish shop nearby and play a game of Russian Roulette when it comes to correctly guessing what I am buying! 😆 Also along that way, in the Clydebank direction is an ice cream parlour, another barber, another florist (I think), a pub, a Mobility Scooter shop more takeaways, a newsagent and a paint/decorating shop, before there is (yet) another pub... Followed by another Hairdressers , which is actually around the corner on the street down to The Golden Jubilee Hospital.
For anything major, one goes to the Shopping Centre in Clydebank (or Glasgow), which despite having some big brands as well as smaller shops and a market, is definitely a ghost of it's former self and has been for years.
Not bad really, I guess.
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Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
Now that Wilko's has shut in our town I don't think there will be much reason to go any more. We have a Boots ,W H Smiths and Tesco's . The Council have put up parking charges with it being dearer on Sundays than in the week now .
Everyone in town must be extremely fit as there are gyms , tattoo , and nail bars opening up everywhere. And so that people can find where their friends are in such places there are plenty of phone shops . We also have plenty of charity shops.
Surely all this craze for online shopping will come to an end ! Alright I have bought 4 things over the past month but they were all second hand . But the last 2 items were delayed in the post . One small item which I thought was lost took 16 days to arrive . This seems to be becoming more frequent as the mail companies want to drive down wages so they can pay themselves huge amounts .
There must be a limit as to how many times things can be recycled in charity shops . Clothes will eventually get worn out , things get broken .
I used to like going shopping and buying things on the spot ! I don't want to have to wait to have things delivered or go and collect it later by which time I might have gone off of it . Having to wait in for something and then for it not to turn up is a right pain . Also things getting lost and having to get a refund and to reorder is also a pain !
I can see that it is unfair the way in which shops on the high street are penalised for just trying to trade compared with out of town shopping malls and online retail . Parking charges are one drawback, rent and rates are another. Online businesses aren't paying their fair share ! There needs to be a big shake up!
Everyone in town must be extremely fit as there are gyms , tattoo , and nail bars opening up everywhere. And so that people can find where their friends are in such places there are plenty of phone shops . We also have plenty of charity shops.
Surely all this craze for online shopping will come to an end ! Alright I have bought 4 things over the past month but they were all second hand . But the last 2 items were delayed in the post . One small item which I thought was lost took 16 days to arrive . This seems to be becoming more frequent as the mail companies want to drive down wages so they can pay themselves huge amounts .
There must be a limit as to how many times things can be recycled in charity shops . Clothes will eventually get worn out , things get broken .
I used to like going shopping and buying things on the spot ! I don't want to have to wait to have things delivered or go and collect it later by which time I might have gone off of it . Having to wait in for something and then for it not to turn up is a right pain . Also things getting lost and having to get a refund and to reorder is also a pain !
I can see that it is unfair the way in which shops on the high street are penalised for just trying to trade compared with out of town shopping malls and online retail . Parking charges are one drawback, rent and rates are another. Online businesses aren't paying their fair share ! There needs to be a big shake up!
Kingfisher101
Veteran
I don't think its a craze as such for online shopping, its that there's not much choice otherwise. People just cant get what they want otherwise without it being a real hassel and a lot more expensive. I want a new pair of MTB shoes and I've ordered 2 pairs so far that had to be returned because they didnt fit. I want a pair but what do you do? I really need to try them on beforehand.
Also if you go into town there's a problem of being hassled every 2 minutes by beggars, and others asking for money etc which I cant stand.
Also if you go into town there's a problem of being hassled every 2 minutes by beggars, and others asking for money etc which I cant stand.
Mad Doug Biker
Just a damaged guy.
- Location
- Craggy Island
Charity shops are great things, you never quite know what you are going to find!
I don't understand why people are always so negative towards them.
As for things getting worn out, yes, some things can be a bit ropey, but I doubt there is going to be a slow down in people donating good things just yet!
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
Things used to be different. We used to be able to go into town and buy things we wanted . The variety of shops we had from saddlers to fish mongers . The decline seems to have started with the doing away with the 1 hour lunch break . People would often go into town to do shopping . The town was full of people ! Working away from home also has had an effect . Most towns had a major employer which employed hundreds of workers . When those factories shut people would have to travel further away for work which meant that shops lost their captive clients . It has all been a gradual erosion which has had an effect .
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
Home shopping vs High St - 5 very recent examples:
Mrs SD wanted a new pair of semi-smart 'trainers', budget £100-150.
Tried 4 shops in Kendal, either limited range and nothing suitable or "sorry we don't have your size in stock but do have one size smaller if that's any good". As if!
By coincidence we were heading off to York for a few days break so we thought Big City! - that'll do the trick. Same story 7 shops later.
Ordered online, suitable shoe, right size in stock and next day delivery.
***
Needed a new headboard for the guest bedroom. Max' budget £200. Tried 3 shops in Kendal, found suitable option in 2 stores, one quoted 5 weeks delivery and one 8 weeks. Ordered online and arrived 2 days later.
***
Needed a new cast iron riser bar for Baxi open fireplace. Visited specialist shop in Kendal with appropriate measurements and photos of the broken one. Got told that "if they still made them" (utterly stupid comment, of course they do) they would order one and it would be at the shop in a couple of weeks. Ok we said - not urgent. 3 phone calls and 2 emails later we were having no joy. Ordered online and the (heavy) thing arrived 3 days later.
***
Just last week we needed a new coal scuttle. Local shop in Kendal "waiting for stock, not sure when they will arrive". Ordered one from Amazon late the same evening and it turned up the next day.
***
I needed half a dozen small screws of a certain type/size. None at B&Q, Toolstation & Screwfix. Specialist supplier would only sell me a box of 100 for £7.95. Ordered 10 (minimum quantity) from Amazon and they turned up 3 days later for 95p deliverd (how they do that I don't know).
I could do a much, much longer list of similar experiences over the years.
Mrs SD wanted a new pair of semi-smart 'trainers', budget £100-150.
Tried 4 shops in Kendal, either limited range and nothing suitable or "sorry we don't have your size in stock but do have one size smaller if that's any good". As if!
By coincidence we were heading off to York for a few days break so we thought Big City! - that'll do the trick. Same story 7 shops later.
Ordered online, suitable shoe, right size in stock and next day delivery.
***
Needed a new headboard for the guest bedroom. Max' budget £200. Tried 3 shops in Kendal, found suitable option in 2 stores, one quoted 5 weeks delivery and one 8 weeks. Ordered online and arrived 2 days later.
***
Needed a new cast iron riser bar for Baxi open fireplace. Visited specialist shop in Kendal with appropriate measurements and photos of the broken one. Got told that "if they still made them" (utterly stupid comment, of course they do) they would order one and it would be at the shop in a couple of weeks. Ok we said - not urgent. 3 phone calls and 2 emails later we were having no joy. Ordered online and the (heavy) thing arrived 3 days later.
***
Just last week we needed a new coal scuttle. Local shop in Kendal "waiting for stock, not sure when they will arrive". Ordered one from Amazon late the same evening and it turned up the next day.
***
I needed half a dozen small screws of a certain type/size. None at B&Q, Toolstation & Screwfix. Specialist supplier would only sell me a box of 100 for £7.95. Ordered 10 (minimum quantity) from Amazon and they turned up 3 days later for 95p deliverd (how they do that I don't know).
I could do a much, much longer list of similar experiences over the years.
They must all be over stretched selling "Mint Cake" in your shops.
BoldonLad
Not part of the Elite
- Location
- South Tyneside
You are so right. Online is so much easier, than travelling to the shops.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
I've never lived anywhere that's had a high street.
However, I'm about to move to Northampton, who's High Street is full of kids fighting, puddles of vomit, and abandoned sofas of outstanding natural beauty. It was ever thus.
However, I'm about to move to Northampton, who's High Street is full of kids fighting, puddles of vomit, and abandoned sofas of outstanding natural beauty. It was ever thus.
Kingfisher101
Veteran
There's been a massive slow down of people donating to charity shops. Its been on the news about it, and they have said how much charity shops are now struggling themselves etc. People are making do with items longer and selling on Ebay/Fbook etc as opposed to donating as much now.
