Stafford shops closing - Turning into a ghost town?

Wormella

Well-Known Forumite
A nice co-working/makerhub space would be nice.

That’ll never happen in Stafford though.

It will do if you start one, every makerspace / community garden shed / co-working space I know of has started by a grass roots / volunteer led initiative. There then needs to be the right mix of infrastructure and interested people to keep it going - I'm pretty sure the latter part there's plenty of people who would be interested
 

Thehooperman

Well-Known Forumite
I know what proper customer service should be, what quality food and drink are, how staff should behave with customers and I know when an establishment is being properly managed. All of which the Apothecary failed on.

What more do I need to know as a paying customer, mate?

Ps I am not Jon Snow by the way!!!!
 

markpa12003

Well-Known Forumite
Nail hit squarely on head.

There is a demand amongst some in Stafford for this kind of place but not located in Stafford itself.

We want to travel to the bright lights for that kind of thing and those already in the bright lights neither want to or need to travel to Stafford for it.

I disagree that there isn't enough demand in Stafford. During it's time as an upmarket (ish) drinking establishment it has been very popular. However, people will only go to these places if they are well run and providing a quality service consistently.

I work in Birmingham and regularly go to places like the Post Office / Apothecary and I want to be able to go to this sort of place in Stafford.

With regards to the prices charged, this establishment isn't that expensive. It's comparable to the swan, however the swan (in the main) have always provided quality food, drink and service.

Note - I've said in the main above because I've recently had cause to complain about the swan because of appalling customer service, which means I'm unlikely to to go there again anytime soon.
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
It will do if you start one, every makerspace / community garden shed / co-working space I know of has started by a grass roots / volunteer led initiative. There then needs to be the right mix of infrastructure and interested people to keep it going - I'm pretty sure the latter part there's plenty of people who would be interested

Just a hunch but I suspect Stafford/Staffordshire council will have 0 interest in funding a Hackerspace, sadly 3D Printer and other machinery donations don't exactly pay the rent.

They'll probably just say "Oh, we have two 3D printers in the library, isn't that enough?"
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
Just a hunch but I suspect Stafford/Staffordshire council will have 0 interest in funding a Hackerspace, sadly 3D Printer and other machinery donations don't exactly pay the rent.

They'll probably just say "Oh, we have two 3D printers in the library, isn't that enough?"
Yarnfield Park are usually quite amenable to co-working groups if you ask them provided you buy your coffee through them when attending. No idea about the 3D printer bit though.
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
Yarnfield Park are usually quite amenable to co-working groups if you ask them provided you buy your coffee through them when attending. No idea about the 3D printer bit though.

Hacker/Maker spaces are more about providing a collaborative space with tools you won’t often find at home. Some examples from my line of work would be: a large area VR setup, Hololens, large 3D printers, equipment for rent/borrowing, etc. You can sometimes also find stuff like vending machines full of small electronics, laser etchers, machinery you’d find in a school woodworking workshop (i.e the big stuff, not handheld)

They’re more of a permanent space you can drop into
 

Gareth

Well-Known Forumite
I know what proper customer service should be, what quality food and drink are, how staff should behave with customers and I know when an establishment is being properly managed. All of which the Apothecary failed on.

What more do I need to know as a paying customer, mate?

The f all was in fact you have no idea about why the apothecary failed, you can presume and guess but you do not know why and making assumptions a tiny amount comments from people on a forum. Many establishments thrive regardless of service or tosh they throw out.

Let alone you were a tool about my own minimal recent experience and observations. Hence u know f all.
 

Tilly

Well-Known Forumite
The f all was in fact you have no idea about why the apothecary failed, you can presume and guess but you do not know why and making assumptions a tiny amount comments from people on a forum. Many establishments thrive regardless of service or tosh they throw out.

Let alone you were a tool about my own minimal recent experience and observations. Hence u know f all.


Does this get sorted out 'outside'?

I'v not seen a real live fight in weeks
 

c0tt0nt0p

Well-Known Forumite
The f all was in fact you have no idea about why the apothecary failed, you can presume and guess but you do not know why and making assumptions a tiny amount comments from people on a forum. Many establishments thrive regardless of service or tosh they throw out.

Let alone you were a tool about my own minimal recent experience and observations. Hence u know f all.

Somewhat a classless post
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Is it just me, or has M&S cut its opening hours? Was sure it used to open til 8pm but it's now 7, was someone else stood outside looking confused too.
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
Is it just me, or has M&S cut its opening hours? Was sure it used to open til 8pm but it's now 7, was someone else stood outside looking confused too.

If so then yes it has. It’s always been 8, it’s a standard time for most retail units in developments like Riverside and retail parks
 

c0tt0nt0p

Well-Known Forumite
Indeed...

upload_2018-1-11_11-3-31.png
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
If a store like M&S is cutting hours is the new shopping centre really working, or is it just that their customer demographic don't go out late?
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
If a store like M&S is cutting hours is the new shopping centre really working, or is it just that their customer demographic don't go out late?

I saw plenty in there whenever I went in between 7 and 8. Mostly in the food section.

7-8 was a great time, so it sucks that they've removed it. 6-7 you can manage just about but you have the tails of rush hour, anything before that and it's going to be an awful experience. I generally try not to visit any supermarket before 7 if I can help it.

In other news, The Apothecary/Post House was the frontpage story on today's paper, regarding its closure. Someone on the front (I think it was a councillor?) talking about how great it was.

Must have been a bloody long time ago.
 

jacs

Well-Known Forumite
If a store like M&S is cutting hours is the new shopping centre really working, or is it just that their customer demographic don't go out late?
I think all the other shops there (except perhaps Primark) close at 6, so staying open until 8pm isn’t going to get many customers when there’s nowhere else to go?
 
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