The death of the high street.

Author
Discussion

kev1974

4,029 posts

128 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
Latest list of M&S closures.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jan/15/m...

Antrim (the Junction)
Ashford, Kent
Barrow
Bedford
Boston
Buxton
Cwmbran
Deal
Felixstowe
Huddersfield
Hull
Luton Arndale
Newark
Northwich
Rotherham
Sutton Coldfield
Weston-super-Mare

shakotan

10,679 posts

195 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
Thankyou4calling said:
janesmith1950 said:
Let's be fair, the average JD customer doesn't have to worry about such things as salary, jobs or the economy.

Simply keep telling the benefits people how your bad back makes you a cripple and spend the resultant tokens on sports gear and Sky telly. Word.
Have you ever been in a JD store?
Methinks he has JD Sports and Sport Direct confused, however I will admit there is little to separate the two.

Previous

1,434 posts

153 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
WSM is where I grew up (no longer there but close enough to keep an intetest in local news)

The M&S store layout is really odd, think triangle shaped with an exit on each corner. This layout was developed in the early 90s when the high street shopping centre was developed (small centre by todays standards - maybe 25-30 units).

For years it has looked dated, except for the food section which is busy: but probably smaller then a motorway services M&S food.

Also its smack bang in the middle of a pedestrianised high street (the other exits lead to a now half empty shopping centre and a road full of amusement arcades).

The high street, like so many others has very few big name stores left, if any, and is full of charity shops, cash generator type shops, bookies and a few coffee shops. A lot of the bigger units have been empty for some time; some since the last financial crisis (4 story TJ hughes building for anyone familiar with the area).

This is also coupled with a high number per capita drug rehab centres (lots of old empty hotels) and a highly visible and often confrontational 'homeless' community (more people than council numbers confirm are homeless in the area - many of these actually have accommodation provided - typically nearby b&b's (fillong those old hotels again) and use begging as a source of income.

Oh, and they've recently introduced on street parking charges which is zealously enforced by private contractors.

Pretty much all of the issues mentioned previously on this thread.

The council have taken action however:

Spurred on by the profits of the retail sector over the last 20 years the local council has taken out a £90M loan to buy the out of town retail park, for which it is now the landlord.

That should go well...

On the flip side, on a sunny summmer day, if the tide is in, and you dont venture into the town centre, a day out to the beach can be fun.



classicaholic

1,689 posts

69 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
I remember flying into WSM and landing on the beach lawn, it was bizarre having nearly 100 helicopters in what was a pretty run down town!

Lemming Train

5,567 posts

71 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
Is that carvery take-away still on the corner near the coach park/truck park? I forget the name of it now, Carvery Fayre perhaps? Ring any bells with you locals? I used to have a regular run from Leeds to Exeter and back in my truck and I used to park there of an evening and get a carvery meal. Must be a decade+ ago now but iirc it was about £7 for a good choice of meats, spuds, veggies and gravy in polystyrene boxes and it was absolutely FANTASTIC! I could not praise them highly enough. Much more healthy than gnoshing on a MaccyD or BK which are often the only choices we have. The place quite often had a queue out of the door when I went as well. Would have loved to have seen more of that take-away carvery style business rolled out across the UK but they're few and far between.

AlexS_LDN

3,766 posts

63 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
Previous said:
WSM is where I grew up (no longer there but close enough to keep an intetest in local news)

The M&S store layout is really odd, think triangle shaped with an exit on each corner. This layout was developed in the early 90s when the high street shopping centre was developed (small centre by todays standards - maybe 25-30 units).

For years it has looked dated, except for the food section which is busy: but probably smaller then a motorway services M&S food.

Also its smack bang in the middle of a pedestrianised high street (the other exits lead to a now half empty shopping centre and a road full of amusement arcades).

The high street, like so many others has very few big name stores left, if any, and is full of charity shops, cash generator type shops, bookies and a few coffee shops. A lot of the bigger units have been empty for some time; some since the last financial crisis (4 story TJ hughes building for anyone familiar with the area).

This is also coupled with a high number per capita drug rehab centres (lots of old empty hotels) and a highly visible and often confrontational 'homeless' community (more people than council numbers confirm are homeless in the area - many of these actually have accommodation provided - typically nearby b&b's (fillong those old hotels again) and use begging as a source of income.

Oh, and they've recently introduced on street parking charges which is zealously enforced by private contractors.

Pretty much all of the issues mentioned previously on this thread.

The council have taken action however:

Spurred on by the profits of the retail sector over the last 20 years the local council has taken out a £90M loan to buy the out of town retail park, for which it is now the landlord.

That should go well...

On the flip side, on a sunny summmer day, if the tide is in, and you dont venture into the town centre, a day out to the beach can be fun.
Most M&S stores I have been in (vey occasional trouser purchases) have been poorly laid out, the staff look like they have lost the will to live, you could cut the tension with a Stanley knife. Bit like Toys R Us in their dying days. Lost ground to the likes of Next and to online shopping, sadly. The Mrs complains that skirts often have the wrong size lining fitted (size 8 lining in size 10 skirt) so quality control is not what it was...

Majority of high streets are ruined by lack of parking, lack of variety etc. Council rents are pushing shops to the wall, so I expect more stores to go this year, Debenhams, HMV aren't looking great.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 16th January 2019
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alock

4,224 posts

210 months

Wednesday 16th January 2019
quotequote all
I've recently started a new job near Wickham in Hampshire. The high street in Wickham is what every small high street should aim for. Lots of parking spaces in the centre with the shops around the edge. 30 mins free parking or 30p for an hour.

As someone who used to be able to count on one hand the number of trips to the high street per decade, I'm now averaging 1-2 per week! It's just so easy to drop in at lunch time or after work to pick something up.

walm

10,609 posts

201 months

Wednesday 16th January 2019
quotequote all
alock said:
I've recently started a new job near Wickham in Hampshire. The high street in Wickham is what every small high street should aim for. Lots of parking spaces in the centre with the shops around the edge. 30 mins free parking or 30p for an hour.

As someone who used to be able to count on one hand the number of trips to the high street per decade, I'm now averaging 1-2 per week! It's just so easy to drop in at lunch time or after work to pick something up.
wavey
I am just up the road in Droxford!

If you want a good local example of a dying high street / community just pop to Fareham.
M&S closed last year.
The Woolworths died ages ago.
BHS is now B&M.
How the Debenhams is still going I have no idea. Not sure the Next will last.

Out-of-town killed it with the excellent Whiteley and Gunwharf Quays so close by.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 16th January 2019
quotequote all
JPJPJP said:
No surprise, I have often walked by and wondered how they are in business. I can't see how they expanded to 130 shops when they only seem to sell overpriced cards and wrapping paper to middle class yummy mummies.

Can we add Jack Wills to the list of companies in trouble too?

https://news.sky.com/story/jack-wills-lenders-hire...



Byker28i

58,823 posts

216 months

Wednesday 16th January 2019
quotequote all
Previous said:
WSM is where I grew up (no longer there but close enough to keep an intetest in local news)

The M&S store layout is really odd, think triangle shaped with an exit on each corner. This layout was developed in the early 90s when the high street shopping centre was developed (small centre by todays standards - maybe 25-30 units).

For years it has looked dated, except for the food section which is busy: but probably smaller then a motorway services M&S food.

Also its smack bang in the middle of a pedestrianised high street (the other exits lead to a now half empty shopping centre and a road full of amusement arcades).

The high street, like so many others has very few big name stores left, if any, and is full of charity shops, cash generator type shops, bookies and a few coffee shops. A lot of the bigger units have been empty for some time; some since the last financial crisis (4 story TJ hughes building for anyone familiar with the area).

This is also coupled with a high number per capita drug rehab centres (lots of old empty hotels) and a highly visible and often confrontational 'homeless' community (more people than council numbers confirm are homeless in the area - many of these actually have accommodation provided - typically nearby b&b's (fillong those old hotels again) and use begging as a source of income.

Oh, and they've recently introduced on street parking charges which is zealously enforced by private contractors.

Pretty much all of the issues mentioned previously on this thread.

The council have taken action however:

Spurred on by the profits of the retail sector over the last 20 years the local council has taken out a £90M loan to buy the out of town retail park, for which it is now the landlord.

That should go well...

On the flip side, on a sunny summmer day, if the tide is in, and you dont venture into the town centre, a day out to the beach can be fun.
Marks and Sparks is the wrong store for WSM, which is going more downhill everyday. Probably get turned into a vape shop. The place seems to have it's fair share of druggies frown

alock

4,224 posts

210 months

Wednesday 16th January 2019
quotequote all
walm said:
alock said:
I've recently started a new job near Wickham in Hampshire.
wavey
I am just up the road in Droxford!
wavey
Near = A Droxford address
On the A32 between the two.


miniman

24,826 posts

261 months

Wednesday 16th January 2019
quotequote all
alock said:
wavey
Near = A Droxford address
On the A32 between the two.
Newtown?

Red 4

10,744 posts

186 months

Wednesday 16th January 2019
quotequote all
Anyway, the next "retailer" to disappear from the high street ?

Swinton Insurance.

Already closed lots of branches ...

I can see a bit of a niche market for people who prefer to pop into a branch or aren't computer savvy but I reckon this broker will be toast within the next 12 months.

alock

4,224 posts

210 months

Wednesday 16th January 2019
quotequote all
miniman said:
alock said:
wavey
Near = A Droxford address
On the A32 between the two.
Newtown?
Just some converted farm buildings off the A32.

V8 Fettler

7,019 posts

131 months

Wednesday 16th January 2019
quotequote all
The best thing about Weston-super-Mare was the beach race.

glazbagun

14,257 posts

196 months

Wednesday 16th January 2019
quotequote all
I think Kirkcaldy High street is defacto dead, they just haven't admitted it. A big Woolworths & HMV hollowed out the indoor shopping centre and were never replaced with something of the same size, then after some years of decline Tesco gave up, in no small part due to competition from the Retail park which had a massive Sainsburys and an equally big Asda just out of town. From there it's all been downhill- Debenhams, BHS Next & M&S have all left/gone bust & last time I was there the place actually felt a bit edgy after closing time which was an entirely new and unwelcome experience.

They've tried with pop-up shops and the like at the cheaper end of the street, and I don't know what the parking charges are any more, (but getting a space looks to be a lot easier than before), but it all looks doomed. If it's like this in every other town then Amazon will be all we have left in another 20 years.


https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/58...

miniman

24,826 posts

261 months

Thursday 17th January 2019
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Look at it. There’s only one solution - knock it all down, concentrate what stores are surviving into a smaller area.

glazbagun

14,257 posts

196 months

Thursday 17th January 2019
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Those shops are facing the magnificent Burtons building (another retailer I'm surprised is going- do they own all of their shops outright?). Cornerstone by Mr Burton himself.


And the whole street is peppered with interesting old buildings/banks (including a stone cinema that died in the 90's). It's like the high street version of having things that are too good to chuck out.

walm

10,609 posts

201 months

Thursday 17th January 2019
quotequote all
glazbagun said:
Those shops are facing the magnificent Burtons building (another retailer I'm surprised is going- do they own all of their shops outright?). Cornerstone by Mr Burton himself.
It's part of Philip Green's empire so may not be "going" on a standalone basis.