Another one gone - Shops closing in Stafford

Status
Not open for further replies.

Gadget

Well-Known Forumite
The wetherspoons thing is a company policy aparantly as i've had freinds remark on it from several places now. I've taken kids in the Sun before now so unless they've changed their policies since i've been gone you should be ok in there. When i worked for spoons in late'97 early 98, back when they had themes and it was rather fun lol (my place was full of dinosaurs) it was a strict no kids rule. So strict that i had to borrow one of the bar staff to come outside and hold my baby whilst i ran in and grabbed my rota, that got rather tiresome after a while esp as the rota was done on a day i was off and they would't tell me over the phone.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I was in the Sun on Sunday, they were fine with a little un. Can only assume the Whetherspoons rule is a reflection of their usual customers.
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
Funnily enough I noticed a sign outside The Picture House the other morning advertising they were 'child friendly'.

The 'spoons' we have been into in the past have been very good at serving us a round of drinks and then informing us kids have now got to leave' immediately' as it's 5pm,6pm etc.

We walked in the Torquay Wetherspoons last year with our 16 year old. Despite the place being nearly empty and mid-afternoon we hadn't even reached the bar when,before we could open our mouths to order,the barman very nastily said "You can only come in here if you ALL order a meal!" We had intended to anyway,but instead we just turned around and gave the more friendly establishments our custom for the rest of that fortnight.

Always found The Sun and The Swan been OK with us taking our teenager in with us during the evening.
Hubby only saying last night we are long overdue for a visit to the Swan for our favourite pizzas ....... looks like a night out soon!:yay:

Seen lots of younger kiddies in The Yard as well (not so keen on the place myself for some reason, but the food did taste good)
 

Thehooperman

Well-Known Forumite
I'm still wondering what sort of licence they hold for the pavement. You can't drink out there, so not a proper licence surely? But you can't smoke, and it's a public pavement, so they must have some sort of licence for exclusive use? I assume a FOI would be needed to see what they pay the council and for what rights?

The Picture House has signs saying children welcome until 8pm and if adults want to buy alcohol then everyone has to buy a meal. No mention of limited to one drink each though.

Interestingly The Butler's Bell are doing a Mother's Day 3 course deal and there are children's meals options. On the order forms you can order alcoholic drinks including bottles of wine.
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
I noticed the 'child friendly' pavement sign that I saw the other day was no longer there outside The Picture House when I went past again yesterday afternoon. Just the permanent sign on the outside wall saying 'family dining'.
 

flossietoo

Well-Known Forumite
I know they owe one of their bar staff £500 - text her saying 'we're closed, sorry'

No, what a horrible thing to happen to anyone. It must be dreadful enough losing your job but at least you get paid and some notice to organise your finances. The idea of losing your job so suddenly AND not receiving money you had relied on is awful. Is there no protection for employees in that position?
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
That's awful! I could never screw over people I'd employed, it's just not fair. If there is no money to pay them they should have been told immediately, to give them a chance to find other employment. After all 500 is a few weeks at least they've not been paid for.

As an employer I'm sure you just think if we can get through the next few weeks we'll be ok again and can pay them, but that's because you value your business more than your staff.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Anyone know if the old post office on the wolvo road has another owner, or is it still empty? Or the map place on the Marston road? Not sure where I'd look to see who's renting them out.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Front page of Express & Star on Thursday quotes:
'Milletts,which has a store in Gaolgate Street, announced it is planning to close although no date has yet been revealed. Bosses have confirmed a new location is being sought in the town centre'
I just grilled a staff member in Millets about the various rumours - I got a quite believable denial of any knowledge of the future intentions and was unable, in such a public scenario, to apply a more forceful interrogation technique.


I also see that the Dreams bed shop up by the new Dunelm is now empty and has a notice on the door saying that they're 'trading as normal' at the Hough. However, their website denies there being any stores in Stafford now - http://www.dreams.co.uk/ - I haven't been down there to check if the Hough one is still going, though...

I've got to pass by there in the next few days, however, if nobody else checks first.
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
I just grilled a staff member in Millets about the various rumours - I got a quite believable denial of any knowledge of the future intentions and was unable, in such a public scenario, to apply a more forceful interrogation technique.


I also see that the Dreams bed shop up by the new Dunelm is now empty and has a notice on the door saying that they're 'trading as normal' at the Hough. However, their website denies there being any stores in Stafford now - http://www.dreams.co.uk/ - I haven't been down there to check if the Hough one is still going, though...

I've got to pass by there in the next few days, however, if nobody else checks first.
*Snort* Just had to go look for myself...

Dreams have only ever had one store in Stafford.....The poster has been put there by Bensons For Beds (or Dirty Bensons as its affectionately known in our household), who have a store on The Hough. ;)
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
*Snort* Just had to go look for myself...

Dreams have only ever had one store in Stafford.....The poster has been put there by Bensons For Beds (or Dirty Bensons as its affectionately known in our household), who have a store on The Hough. ;)
Ah, right! I was a bit suspicious, but my knowledge of those sorts of shops is very limited. A bed shop is a bed shop to me. However, I didn't actually get out of the car to inspect the sign properly.

Sharp move, though.
 

Confused

Well-Known Forumite
Anyone know if the old post office on the wolvo road has another owner, or is it still empty? Or the map place on the Marston road? Not sure where I'd look to see who's renting them out.

The map place has moved to new premises, just behind the old place in Wogan Street. Looks like a form of downsizing to me. Although as they only appeared to be open Saturday am, it could be argued do they need premises at all?

http://www.mapkiosk.com/pages/kshopdetails.html
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Thanks, we've been in contact with the map people. They were trying to turn the shop into a flat, but planning seems to have been a pain. It shall hopefully be a shop again soon.
 

Gareth

Well-Known Forumite
Surprised by how quiet the news on dreams was, will be losing over 100 stores in total with a buy out looking on the cards for the rest
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top