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Thread: Went into the town centre today

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    Default Went into the town centre today

    I generally try and steer clear and haven't been there for at least 6 months however the wife was getting off the train at central and I needed to nip in the bank and opticians. WHAT A COMPLETE AND UTTER SHITHOLE. Parked on Church Square or whatever it's called off Bridge Street, someone had puked up on the stairwell down from the car park. Went to the opticians and then in a sports shop (lads Christmas trainers), that was full of scruffy urchins swearing at/in front of young kids. Walked up Church Street to the Nat West, the Christmas lights looked like something poundland thrown out for being shit. Must've seen 3 or 4 homeless folk in 500 yards. Went for a quick coffee in Cafe Nero, it was like a drop in centre for the unfortunate. Picked the wife up and I'm pulling out of the station there's 2 old boys completely ••••ed outside the Royal Alfred. The town, and quite a few of it's inhabitants are totally embarrassing. Depressed me even more after all the shit news on here.

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    Quote Originally Posted by CaseyJ View Post
    I generally try and steer clear and haven't been there for at least 6 months however the wife was getting off the train at central and I needed to nip in the bank and opticians. WHAT A COMPLETE AND UTTER SHITHOLE. Parked on Church Square or whatever it's called off Bridge Street, someone had puked up on the stairwell down from the car park. Went to the opticians and then in a sports shop (lads Christmas trainers), that was full of scruffy urchins swearing at/in front of young kids. Walked up Church Street to the Nat West, the Christmas lights looked like something poundland thrown out for being shit. Must've seen 3 or 4 homeless folk in 500 yards. Went for a quick coffee in Cafe Nero, it was like a drop in centre for the unfortunate. Picked the wife up and I'm pulling out of the station there's 2 old boys completely ••••ed outside the Royal Alfred. The town, and quite a few of it's inhabitants are totally embarrassing. Depressed me even more after all the shit news on here.


    Agree with you.

    Shopping habits have changed massively over the last 20-30 years, and people now prefer to go to 'destination' places. The town is located between two such shopping destinations in Liverpool & Manchester, with both the Trafford Centre and Cheshire Oaks also close by.

    Warrington (with all the benefits it's had since the the 70's from its new-town status) has done best out of the other towns in the region - both St Helens & Wigan have fared terribly (Widnes going the same way after losing its free parking). With Warrington, it's a virtuous circle - they hoover up a lot of local-regional shoppers (who don't want to travel as far as Liverpool/Manchester), so keeping more retailers in situ, which makes it more attractive to shoppers in comparison to neighbouring towns, which then brings in/keeps more retailers, and so on.

    There aren't enough high street shoppers to keep all towns in the local-region fully populated by all/most major retailers, so they're consolidating in town centres that still have decent footfall.

    This isn't just happening in our own little microcosm, it's across the whole country.

    Saying all that, too many councils have refused to move with shoppers' habits. The vast majority want to drive, park close for free, nip in a couple of shops for what they want, then leave. Councils, on the other hand, want to funnel shoppers into dirty multi-stories away from the shops they want to visit, charging them for the 'privilege'. Look at how busy the town's retail parks always are.

    Then there's the landlords who own almost all the properties on high streets. They milked retailers during the 90's/00's when footfall was much higher, but have largely refused to cut rents since. The complex financing arrangements many have (plus not wanting to drive down rents universally) makes it better for them to have an empty store than one with a heavily discounted rent. And rents in 'prime' high street locations have been well out of the range of small/independent retailers for years.
    He's not the Messiah, he's a naughty boy.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Brian Nazareth View Post
    Agree with you.

    Shopping habits have changed massively over the last 20-30 years, and people now prefer to go to 'destination' places. The town is located between two such shopping destinations in Liverpool & Manchester, with both the Trafford Centre and Cheshire Oaks also close by.

    Warrington (with all the benefits it's had since the the 70's from its new-town status) has done best out of the other towns in the region - both St Helens & Wigan have fared terribly (Widnes going the same way after losing its free parking). With Warrington, it's a virtuous circle - they hoover up a lot of local-regional shoppers (who don't want to travel as far as Liverpool/Manchester), so keeping more retailers in situ, which makes it more attractive to shoppers in comparison to neighbouring towns, which then brings in/keeps more retailers, and so on.

    There aren't enough high street shoppers to keep all towns in the local-region fully populated by all/most major retailers, so they're consolidating in town centres that still have decent footfall.

    This isn't just happening in our own little microcosm, it's across the whole country.

    Saying all that, too many councils have refused to move with shoppers' habits. The vast majority want to drive, park close for free, nip in a couple of shops for what they want, then leave. Councils, on the other hand, want to funnel shoppers into dirty multi-stories away from the shops they want to visit, charging them for the 'privilege'. Look at how busy the town's retail parks always are.

    Then there's the landlords who own almost all the properties on high streets. They milked retailers during the 90's/00's when footfall was much higher, but have largely refused to cut rents since. The complex financing arrangements many have (plus not wanting to drive down rents universally) makes it better for them to have an empty store than one with a heavily discounted rent. And rents in 'prime' high street locations have been well out of the range of small/independent retailers for years.
    My shopping destination of choice is the internet. I suppose if I had to actually go somewhere I'd go to Chester but mainly because there's plenty of decent pubs and restaurants. I agree with you though regarding shopping habits, considering it's 2 weeks before Christmas, town was dead save for older people and the usual town centre dregs of society.

    I went to Warrington in the summer to go to that foodhall place and have a few drinks, it was ok but nothing special and still full of the local scruffs, I didn't see any shops of note although wasn't looking. Leeds looked ok the other week although I only went in 2 pubs, a restaurant and a hotel, but again, the homeless situation was ridiculous. Manchester is decent but full of homeless. As for Widnes or anywhere else in the NW I wouldn't know, and I would have to have a very good reason to go to Cheshire Oaks or the Trafford Centre, I know the wife, my Mum and daughter went on Saturday morning, •••• that.

    It did occur to me sat in the car (I was a bit hungry) where in town could I go and get something decent to eat? There's chippy's, pie shops and a few crappy pubs, I'm no snob and like both a chippy and pies but there's nowhere even half decent to go and sit down during the day as far as I know. Although I doubt a fair amount of those in town would be able to eat a decent meal without taking a picture of it first and putting it on facebook.

    I think I'm just in a mood at the moment. I'm ready for Christmas NOW, my football team is shite, RL is being destroyed and I'm an old bugger with a trapped nerve in my shoulder.

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    Warrington & The Trafford Centre for most of the shopping for us. St Helens Town Centre died yrs ago and the idea of removing all the seats in the Hardshaw shopping where everyone met and chatted was stupid. Removing the kids snake climbing frame was stupid also.

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    Quote Originally Posted by CaseyJ View Post
    I generally try and steer clear and haven't been there for at least 6 months however the wife was getting off the train at central and I needed to nip in the bank and opticians. WHAT A COMPLETE AND UTTER SHITHOLE. Parked on Church Square or whatever it's called off Bridge Street, someone had puked up on the stairwell down from the car park. Went to the opticians and then in a sports shop (lads Christmas trainers), that was full of scruffy urchins swearing at/in front of young kids. Walked up Church Street to the Nat West, the Christmas lights looked like something poundland thrown out for being shit. Must've seen 3 or 4 homeless folk in 500 yards. Went for a quick coffee in Cafe Nero, it was like a drop in centre for the unfortunate. Picked the wife up and I'm pulling out of the station there's 2 old boys completely ••••ed outside the Royal Alfred. The town, and quite a few of it's inhabitants are totally embarrassing. Depressed me even more after all the shit news on here.
    Was in town last Saturday afternoon and night cracking day

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    Quote Originally Posted by philthompson View Post
    Was in town last Saturday afternoon and night cracking day
    Glad you enjoyed it but you must be easily pleased.

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    High Streets in towns across the country are dead and will never return as we knew them. Been places north , south ,east and west and they are majority similar.

    A few places have had some foresight. For town centres to work in these times they need to be changed to largely residential use. When I say residential use I mean nice places where working people want to live and NOT residences where undesirables, usually with one or more habits / dependencies reside are dumped. The latter just increases the downward spiral.

    We need decent housing where people with disposable income live and they can then spend it on their doorstep. Places that have had the foresight to do that see independent businesses springing up be it coffee shops, smart bars and eateries and independent clothes shops, etc. The days of chain stores has largely gone.

    Its a bit chicken and egg with the businesses requiring customers and residents wanting to live it the town centre. I know there is a regeneration plan for the town centre but I'll probably be in a box before it comes to fruition!!

    Generally speaking there is little attraction in the town centre certainly not on a retail basis . There are a handful of decent places to socialise. It is absolutely NOT exclusive to St Helens though.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Div View Post
    High Streets in towns across the country are dead and will never return as we knew them. Been places north , south ,east and west and they are majority similar.

    A few places have had some foresight. For town centres to work in these times they need to be changed to largely residential use. When I say residential use I mean nice places where working people want to live and NOT residences where undesirables, usually with one or more habits / dependencies reside are dumped. The latter just increases the downward spiral.

    We need decent housing where people with disposable income live and they can then spend it on their doorstep. Places that have had the foresight to do that see independent businesses springing up be it coffee shops, smart bars and eateries and independent clothes shops, etc. The days of chain stores has largely gone.

    Its a bit chicken and egg with the businesses requiring customers and residents wanting to live it the town centre. I know there is a regeneration plan for the town centre but I'll probably be in a box before it comes to fruition!!

    Generally speaking there is little attraction in the town centre certainly not on a retail basis . There are a handful of decent places to socialise. It is absolutely NOT exclusive to St Helens though.
    Where's there decent to socialise? There's the Lamb and the Cinema bar that's close to the centre. There's Barbusi and the Spanish place to eat. There's the cinema and not a lot else worth going to. I have to go into Warrington tomorrow to collect a Christmas present so will compare.

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    Warrington:

    Lots more food and drink options, looked to be some decent places too. Settled on the The Grill on The Square for parking reasons, had a lovely lunch.

    Shops - plenty more than St Helens but just seemed a lot of charity/vape/bookies/other crap. Nothing worth going out of your way for.

    Homeless folk - loads more than St Helens although I guess there's more chance of them getting a few quid. Poor buggers, it really is a depressing sight.

    General folk about - Seemed to be a bit more well heeled than town although plenty of the usual drunks/idiots on mountain bikes. Also a lot of single arab looking men.

    In summary; a slightly better shithole than St Helens.

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    Quote Originally Posted by CaseyJ View Post
    Where's there decent to socialise? There's the Lamb and the Cinema bar that's close to the centre. There's Barbusi and the Spanish place to eat. There's the cinema and not a lot else worth going to. I have to go into Warrington tomorrow to collect a Christmas present so will compare.
    Im probably talking on the fringes of town. You have named a couple. Cricketers and Turks really decent pubs for those of us that like real ale scene.
    I don't frequent the centre of town these days that is for sure. Years ago we have the Nelson and Market not sure what they are like these days.

    The place that used to be known as The Bullion was decent when I last went in. No idea if it survived the Covid times?
    My other points stand .

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    I had a meeting in Barrow yesterday - WOW! What a place that is, it's like the back of beyond. Stopped off in Ulverston though for some dinner, that seemed quite a nice little place

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