Sign of the Times ...

[JoM]

Shell, we used to have a fantastic greengrocers in town which, like the one you mention, always had a queue out of the door. There was always a really good range for produce and it was lovely quality yet not expensive. The owner decided he’d had enough of early mornings at the wholesale market so sold to someone who decided to change the place into a deli with a smaller range of produce which didn’t work and it had closed down within six months.
I really do miss that shop, and we’ve only got supermarkets now for fruit and veg.

[TheOstrich]

.... and you have to be very, very careful with some supermarket fruit and veg. It may be cheap at Aldi, but we've found it's quite often on the turn.

My barber charges £12 for a No.2, WM, takes about 5 minutes with the football chat (he used to play locally). Anyway, that's up from £8 pre Covid. But I only need to go once every 2 - 3 months these days.
We do have a barber's shop run by a Turk in the town, Victor, but word is he's either a Syrian or Afghani refugee.

Two empty High Street units in town are being refurbished for new use at the moment - the old butchers is going to become a betting shop - just what we need - and the old TSB is due to become a Domino's (to compliment the four other pizza take-aways in town ) and I wouldn't touch their stuff with a bargepole!

[Kaz]

That's a problem isn't it Ossie? Quality retail being replaced by betting shops, fast food and poundshops So depressing!

[meriad]

I live between Woking and Guildford, both quite large towns and both used to be a bustling hive of activity. Woking now is a very sorry state of affairs - the council ploughed a lot of money into it and made some horrendous business decisions resulting in the council having officially been declared bankrupt to the tune of 2.something billiion pounds, vital roadworks being completed at snails pace meaning getting in and out of the town centre a nightmare; new high rise buildings standing empty, minimal pedestrian footfall resulting in no business for the shops that are there and the town centre is slowly but surely dying - so sad !!!! Guildford used to have lots of little independent stores, but most have closed and whilst still a pretty town it too is not as busy as was.

[Kaz]

Oh goodness Ria, when relatively prosperous towns like Woking and Guildford are struggling, you know things are bad.......

[Suff]

It's been quite a while since I was there Ria (10 years now), but it was really vibrant when I worked there.

I'm seeing a lot of this in France too. We were in Thiers on our way back from Germany. The old town up on the hill was dead. Huge number of shops and businesses closed with no sign of any take on by new businesses or any refurb.

Very sad.

[cruiser2]

I live in Wigan. The town centre is being demolished It was only rebuilt in 1988. There will be a new market hal. a bowling alley, a hotel and a cinema.
Everybody you talk to say it is a waste of time and money. Being done by Chinese company

I go to a privately owned cafe. It has a lot of regular customers. It is in a little arcade. In what was the main shopping street, there are two opticians four banks,
several cafes and pie shops such s Greggs.
We are now going to lose Wilko so tere will only be B&M and the Poundshop
I go to Chorley. It has a good green grocers. You can pick your own veg not wrapped in plastic. There are also two butchers. One sells delicos sausage. Also cuts
pork loin stakes asthick as you want them. Then the cheese stall Varieties you cannot get in a supermarket. Some are very strongbut delicious.
Well worth the free bus ride. I also have lunch at a cafe. A mug of tea and a bowl of hotpot with two slices of bread. £7.50. Good home cooking.

[TheOstrich]

A mug of tea and a bowl of hotpot with two slices of bread. £7.50. Good home cooking.

Superb value, Cruiser, and I shall be badgering Mrs O now to cook us up a hotpot .....

The town centre is being demolished It was only rebuilt in 1988.

As a Brummie born and bred, I've known three completely different versions of the Bull Ring !