Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
may be awfall but true
Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,992
We went to Ashford yesterday to have a look around the new extension at the Outlet Centre. 50 new shops and really nice design. Absolutely packed with queues outside coffee bars and food sellers.
Called in at St James' on way back. No further retailers taking up empty shops in at least last six months and in weeks leading up to Christmas notice on toy shop that it is closed on Sundays so workers can 'spend more time with their families'!
The way things are going I can see a lot of people at present 'employed' at St James' having a LOT more time to spend with their families unless thins improve
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,832
I am surprised that the toy shop is closed on a Sunday especially in the run up to Christmas, maybe the owners are religious so do not believe in Sunday trading.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,023
What a mistake they could have closed for five minutes to observe the silence.If not careful it will be silent down there all the time .Of course people will go to Ashford nice day out.I went to Marks at St James on Saturday,how I miss the clothes and gift section.
Still family are taking me to Canterbury on Saturday .What with Stage Coach s attitude to River and the failure of KCC to provide a safe crossing at Kearsney then it’s family trip by car.
Karlos- Location: Dover
- Registered: 1 Oct 2012
- Posts: 2,495
Good news for Cap't Haddock
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dover/news/application-for-tanning-salon-at-retail-park-229131/
Plans to open a tanning salon at St James in Dover have been submitted - unit 24
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,992
Dover - staying classy!
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,992
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Dover Pilot- Registered: 28 Jul 2018
- Posts: 345
Trafford Centre owner prepares contingency plan for administration. The traditional high street could still adapt for local needs but these shopping centres are history.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/jun/23/trafford-centre-administration-intu-lakeside-rentSue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,023
I think you are right .I much prefer the small shops .Dover still have some .I like Smiths .Works .Curiosity .John Angels .We need a baker and greengrocer.
Pablo- Registered: 21 Mar 2018
- Posts: 614
And a fishmonger. You can’t find a Dover Sole in Dover!
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
you cant find a sole in dover, pablo
Weird Granny Slater
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 7 Jun 2017
- Posts: 3,019
'Pass the cow dung, my dropsy's killing me' - Heraclitus
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,992
Yup. £10.95 in Dover to see a flim compared to less than half that price in Thanet, + free parking, + a half decent shopping centre including a large M&S with two floors and wide stock, + cheapest petrol in the district.
Can't see how the Dover 'offer' is not doing better .....
Dover Pilot likes this
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Dover Pilot- Registered: 28 Jul 2018
- Posts: 345
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,023
I don’t think DDC could have anticipated Covid 19.everywhere is suffering .Let us hope our little cinema can survive .
The Gov and Pablo like this
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,992
The death spiral continues.
Message to Councillors everywhere. PLEASE stop having 'ideas'.
Just try to provide our basic services at a reasonable price and leave the rest to the 'market'.
Let's face it. If you knew bugger all about business, investment, planning, economics etc you wouldn't have ended up where the biggest thing you've ever done in life is cutting a ribbon at the latest local retail opening.
(And even more pathetic asking the local press if you could have a free photograph of doing the same!)
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Guest 3706- Registered: 21 Jul 2020
- Posts: 126
What did people want in place of St James'?
I remember what it was like before and it was dire.
Sure not all units are let, but that's the economy.
The Cineworld has closed 'for now'. They are at least being sensible.
Judith Roberts likes this
Weird Granny Slater- Location: Dover
- Registered: 7 Jun 2017
- Posts: 3,019
Had Sherlock Holmes been on the case, poor business and a virus might have appeared as red herrings in Watson's narrative, but would ultimately have been dismissed by the superbrain since all the evidence pointed to the true culprits, a diktat-hungry mob of jejune, ignorant and sniggering delinquents who mysteriously got themselves elected to parliament. (And had Basil Rathbone been in the film, there would have been a staring-into-the-distance homily at the end about how democracy is no guarantee against despotism. Although we wouldn't have known, as there would have been no cinemas to show it.)
'Pass the cow dung, my dropsy's killing me' - Heraclitus
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,023
When a Buckland Paper Mill closed it was a bitter blow for many people .Generations of local people had worked there.The old rag mill in River was very quickly developed for housing but the Mill site was much harder to be redeveloped.SEEDA were called in to help with development of the site. however in 2012 that agency was dismantled.How many recall the banner across the building.So the development of the site took a lot more time.First we had the two blocks of flats built in fact alongside Charlie Elphicke I had the pleasure of opening these and looking round the flats and talking to the residents .Please note Bob a ribbon was cut .Then over the years the roof space has been converted into loft dwellings .A gym occupies space on the lower floor .Now the Coop have had the confidence to open a new store .Quite rightly the current Chairman opened the store with ribbon cutting .Bob the role of the Chairman is non political and it falls on that person to carry out these sort of engagements .It was a day to celebrate and a good picture it was too.Yes the redevelopment of the site has taken along time but the developer can only build as the money comes in.Now we have an application for 136 Houses ,A brown fields site not a green field site .So let us celebrate some progress.
Judith Roberts likes this