Town Centre Latest

[stevieb]

4 hours ago, Marc505 said:

Felt similar when I went through the other day, it's so sad. I bloody loved Coffee Grind and thats gone. The walk through town, down Bradshawgate and to Travelodge at night is nothing short of scary. Filth and junk everywhere.

There's individual features that are really good. Le Mans Crescent and the museum, the Octagon, Northern Monkey, one or two businesses here and there that are a credit to the town but the rest, awful.

Then you visit some of these other towns on away days and they put ours to shame. Even Doncaster looked a pleasant place to visit compared to us.

That's what 75 retail parks on the outskirts of the town and being a gateway town for muslamic rayguns for the past 20 years will do to you. 

[Rudy]

Just sent an email to the Mayor, and few MP’s

Went along the lines of 

“Dear Political bastards

The fuckin state of this place

Sort it or I’ll sort you”

Rudy The Bastard x

 

Im paraphrasing but you get the idea 

[Pablo]

New craft ale bar outside Market Place, next to that Cafe on the cobbles.

Really nice fella Jerry runs it, some cracking stuff on cask & Keg.

Get in and support him lads n lasses.

[Pablo]

Also a new bar in the Vaults in Market place, 'Bar Four'. IN the corner near Pepe's.

[jmjhb]

14 minutes ago, Pablo said:

New craft ale bar outside Market Place, next to that Cafe on the cobbles.

Really nice fella Jerry runs it, some cracking stuff on cask & Keg.

Get in and support him lads n lasses.

Yes it's decent, can't swing a cat in it though 

[Morizio]

18 minutes ago, jmjhb said:

Yes it's decent, can't swing a cat in it though 

Why would you want to do that?

 

This sort of behaviour is what scares away the decent people who don’t involve themselves in such loutish actions. 

[Tonge moor green jacket]

1 hour ago, Morizio said:

Why would you want to do that?

 

This sort of behaviour is what scares away the decent people who don’t involve themselves in such loutish actions. 

Guide dog is too heavy?

[MickyD]

13 hours ago, stevieb said:

That's what 75 retail parks on the outskirts of the town and being a gateway town for muslamic rayguns for the past 20 years will do to you. 

Look at the number of once large multi-national stores we had in Bolton: Co-op, Woolworths, BHS, Debenhams, etc., as well as large but more local stores such as Preston’s, Whitakers, Whiteheads. The only one still trading is Co-op and they’ve gone away from major shopping outlet to more local smaller stores.

Each of these stores were a draw, not just to shoppers but also to other smaller traders who hoped to get enough footfall to make their own business viable.

Who do you blame though? Technology which allows a person to shop without leaving their house? Greedy owners who failed to invest money in their own businesses? Planners? Councils? Government? Does it even matter who gets the blame?

[Rudy]

5 minutes ago, MickyD said:

Look at the number of once large multi-national stores we had in Bolton: Co-op, Woolworths, BHS, Debenhams, etc., as well as large but more local stores such as Preston’s, Whitakers, Whiteheads. The only one still trading is Co-op and they’ve gone away from major shopping outlet to more local smaller stores.

Each of these stores were a draw, not just to shoppers but also to other smaller traders who hoped to get enough footfall to make their own business viable.

Who do you blame though? Technology which allows a person to shop without leaving their house? Greedy owners who failed to invest money in their own businesses? Planners? Councils? Government? Does it even matter who gets the blame?

So it needs to be downsized then and made more central. How many buildings along Bradshawgate are empty? Make spaces sell the spaces to housing 

You could have an outdoor market going down the precinct local traders, but the shops surrounding it need to be attractive as well 

[mickbrown]

Who goes shopping in a town centre these days?

Can't remember last time I did that.

[Not in Crawley]

The centres that are doing better have a strong mix of independant shops - funnily enough though, these are the areas where people can afford to shop in these places and have the time to do so.

Visiable changes to a town centre are the last part of a shift, you can put all the business you want in somewhere but if there isn't the people to make those businesses viable its pointless.

Places like Folkestone took nearly 20 years to start attracting more affluent folk, the social issues haven't dissapeared, they are just less visible, and the people who have moved into the area from London is search of larger, cheaper housing have enough money to protect them and theirs against having to send the to the local schools/go in the cheap pubs/distance themselves from the undiserable parts of a town. Also low and behold now the kids of the local residents can't afford houses. Look, a perfect example here of an article in Harper's Fucking Bazaar: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/travel/a27583394/why-folkestone-is-kents-most-underestimated-seaside-town/

So it looks great but there are still real issues - and it's the same across the country. The reason why Bolton feels worse is there is no 'genetrification' but don't pretend a few decent shops, a food festival and a craft ale house is going to change it. One barber offering a beard wash does not a hipster summer make.

Bolton needs to start with proper, decent affordable housing, people not living in shitholes. Jobs for people to go to beyond just service industries or public sector so people don't feel they have to move away for more employment opportunties. Offer cheaper rates to start ups, or more investment in younger companies. Sort this stuff out and you'll get your Hoppy Mc Hops Grapefruit Beerkeller sooner, and most importantly it'll be sustainable.

So, where are with this levelling up agenda again...?

Edited May 3, 2022 by Not in Crawley

[Not in Crawley]

33 minutes ago, mickbrown said:

Who goes shopping in a town centre these days?

Can't remember last time I did that.

I do, all the time, Bromley town centre is great to shop in.

[little whitt]

3 hours ago, Pablo said:

Also a new bar in the Vaults in Market place, 'Bar Four'. IN the corner near Pepe's.

Owend by Bolton Gin 

who own the Tap and Cork 

and sponcer  BWFC 

[embankment]

Howfen and Horwich better places to shop.

Harwood is too near to Bury.

Strange folk as well 

[Tonge moor green jacket]

8 minutes ago, embankment said:

Howfen and Horwich better places to shop.

Harwood is too near to Bury.

Strange folk as well 

Kinell, Howfen is virtuality in Wigan.

 

[royal white]

4 hours ago, mickbrown said:

Who goes shopping in a town centre these days?

Can't remember last time I did that.

This. You can get virtually everything you need at the likes of middlebrook. If Middlebrook doesn’t have it then the TC. Add to that the free parking and lack of spice/smack head knocking about then it’s a no brainer, 

[Not in Crawley]

Middlebrook doesn't have every shop though, it has a cracking Home Bargains, but can't say there's another shop, other than Boots and Asda I've been in.

Also, Bolton could be a destination spot but....you need the infrastructure and currently it doesn't have it.

[royal white]

39 minutes ago, Not in Crawley said:

Middlebrook doesn't have every shop though, it has a cracking Home Bargains, but can't say there's another shop, other than Boots and Asda I've been in.

Also, Bolton could be a destination spot but....you need the infrastructure and currently it doesn't have it.

What shops do you want that either Middlebrook or the TC don't have? 

[MancWanderer]

Reckon the point about the size of Bolton TC is valid. Round here, Ashton, Oldham and Rochdale are utter shitholes but smaller. Bolton’s size just exaggerates the shitness

Manc is a good blueprint albeit as a city. Different developed areas for different tastes. Northern Quarter, King St, Deansgate Locks, Castlefield, Peter St, Printworks, Deansgate. Decent Arndale for shopping and traditional boozers dotted around in all areas. If Bolton could do a smaller version it would be great but it’s obvs a big ask

[Zico]

1 hour ago, Not in Crawley said:

Middlebrook doesn't have every shop though, it has a cracking Home Bargains, but can't say there's another shop, other than Boots and Asda I've been in.

When i first owned my own flat and was looking for furniture, i went in every furniture shop on middlebrook looking for furniture 

On boxing day 

Every single one

Quite enjoyed it to be honest

[Not in Crawley]

8 hours ago, Zico said:

When i first owned my own flat and was looking for furniture, i went in every furniture shop on middlebrook looking for furniture 

On boxing day 

Every single one

Quite enjoyed it to be honest

My first job after uni was in furniture land telling folks why their 'Italian leather' sofa was falling apart or wouldn't be there for Christmas. 

A mate who is a Norwich fan always took the piss oit of middlebrook saying he'd never seen so many Lands and Worlds in one place.

[Escobarp]

I’ve been in asda, tesco (if that counts) club shop (again if it counts) and American golf. When I’m in Bolton and want to go shopping the thought of going to middlebrook would never even cross my mind unless

i wanted a bedside cabinet or coffee table. Handy for petrol though before coming home. 
 

I would go to manc or trafford centre for shopping but would happily shop in Bolton town centre if it actually had any shops worth visiting. Good currently for a pie, a lucky 15 and a mooch round charity shops i suspect if that way inclined 

[royal white]

I struggle to see why anyone would choose town over Middlebrook. The only shop I would go in town for is Tessuti. 

[Rudy]

My point is more the state of it. I get shopping is better to go elsewhere but the state of the town centre is my main concern. 
Id happily flatten then lot and start again 😂

[Dr Faustus]

Went to shit when they closed Bergeracs