Town Centre Changes
 

There was thread some time ago about various shops and businesses closing down vut I can't find it and it's been a while since updating I thought I would start this years :eek:

Stead & Simpson shoe shop closing down.

Regency Bar is tonight being boarded up

Shoezone closing for refit ( or at least thats what they are calling it )

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Err...we talking about the Commercial Pub here?

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Is that what it used to be called ? The one on the corner of Church St/Blackburn Rd

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Deffo the Regency, think it used to be the Commercial, metal shuttering going up as I walked past earlier, I'd like to think it's for a refit but I very much doubt it. :(

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Just seen their Facebook page, last updated on Jan 4th which doesn't say anything other than normal business. Bit strange :confused:

Maybe they are expecting riots in the town centre :)

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Not directly Town Centre but the Boars Head has been boarded up for a few weeks too!
I noticed that Cafe in the Arndale has moved to a different unit near the Car Park exit.
The Bakers/Butty Shop that had opened in the Arndale a few months back also seems to have closed!

Best Regards - Taggy

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Is that Brunt Bread or something. Walked past yesterday and never noticed

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Thats the one Dave, it was closed when i went past Yesterday morning.

Best Regards - Taggy

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Probably why its shut;)

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It was the Commercial .
My mother worked there as a maid during the 1930's Depression , and she couldn't find work in the mills .
She was allowed home after tea , but had to be back for 10pm .

I can remember the restaurant upstairs in the Commercial Hotel .

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Bread shop in Arndale was closed last Saturday when I was going past, not just Accy though, Evans in Blackburn is shutting and I would think their HMV will be under threat.

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has Ethel Austins in Accy not re-opened? Blackburns Ethels has

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No sign of life there yesterday

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i was very surprised when i saw it open again in Blackburn just after Christmas

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I suppose the Commercial is just about big enough for a Wetherspoons.

As for the rest, does Accy have an Oxfam Charity shop? What about 50p shops? Any of those yet? If not, coming soon to your town centre.

Failing that, I suppose at least one of those premises would make an excellent 'Flash Mob' dancing office.

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Funnily enough Wetherspoons was mentioned to me today whilst on the market as they were boarding the place up ( the Commercial/Regency not the market :) ) Someone else said it was going to become flats. All idle chitchat, at least I think it was.

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BlockBusters on Blackburn road has closed and is being turned into a "One shop"
thats the blockbusters near longsdale street not the one in town

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What's a "One shop"?

We used to use that blockbuster cos you could just about park outside. Blackburn road is a real mess. The entrance into Accy and a disgrace to the town.

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I understand that plans are afoot to open that back up as a thoroughfare for vehicles. When that happens is anyone's guess but I don't think the town centre is beyond saving with a bit of decent planning.

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Whats the point in opening the back up people just drive and park on the pavement down Blackburn road many a time i have been waiting at the bus stop and had to move to let a car pass on the pavement:(

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I think It's a Mini-Market with Beer Wine and Spirits thrown in,could well be the re-siting of Kits shop.:drunk:

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There's pros and cons of course but I suspect that more traffic will lead to more dropping off in the town centre, plus allow people who are passing through to see what Accy has to offer.

If nothing else there's the opportunity for a traffic warden or two?

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I think you are on the wrong shop Ken.Mick is talking about the one on the way to Church traffic lights.:confused:

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This is the Regency Bar this morning. Absolute disgrace.

How come shops round here have to apply for planning permission to fit external shutters yet these clowns can just whack up some ugly steel sheets and make the place look like a ghetto ?

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Looks like they are expecting a riot or a football match:D
but it does look a mess

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It looks like a place in a ghetto :mad:

Which department in the council would I complain to ?

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Accy had 50p outlets back in 1979 :rolleyes:

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Burnley arn't due to play in Accy are they:D

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I am sure Cllr Moss can contact the relevant people and find out why they are allowed to make the town look a mess.

Is that something you can find out today Ken?

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The Leaders Office:rolleyes:;)

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[sarcasm] Ken......Ken...... hello is there anyone there?

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/a...1&d=1295002312

[/sarcasm]








I just know I will have to eat my words later when he does find out what the Council can do about it :rolleyes:

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UUrrrrgghhhh that is horrible saw them putting them up yesterday evening and had horrible visions and now reality. Accy is becoming more uglier by the minute and no doubt set to get worse as more businesses shut down, it'll soon look like a ghetto in all its yukky glory its depressive so far. After being to both blackburn and burnley town centres this week and their footfall is busier and a lot more choice less barren areas - accy is & cant seem to compete with it will seal accys downfall dramactically if the hyndburn council dont do something about it soon, but with the regency looking as it is - i see ghost town [even singing the song] happening already.

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Occasionally I have to leave Accyweb to do some work. Such a tedious interruption....

The council can serve what are known as S215 notices on unsightly properties to force the owners to make them look more presentable. An officer from HBC will evaluate the site in question and then it goes to committee for 'sentencing'.

Cllr Peter Clarke is portfolio holder for regeneration and is a good person to start with:

Councillors - Peter Clarke

I was hoping such a decent chap as yourself would have made a phone call and got the ball moving on behalf of AccyWeb.

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Consider it done.

For anyone who has other aesthetic queries such as those regarding the Regency bar write an e-mail to:

[email protected]

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Your a good un, I will never call you Councillors useless again :eek:

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I spotted some workmen in the upstairs window of the Regency this afternoon so they are either doing it up or stripping it out

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Are you sure they were workmen and not oppertunists.:D

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I know the guy who DJ`d there on a friday night , he said some weeks they only had 6 customers all night.......:rolleyes: so i doubt its in line for a refit.........

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Maybe they needed a better DJ ;)

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Maybe they're expecting a riot.

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That's so sad . When it was the Commercial it was the premier hotel in Accrington .

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On the plus side at least we are getting a Morrisons, although it will be replacing the Netto currently on the site.....I think it maybe an improvement.

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Nevermind.

At least H.B.C. has enough money, at least for a while, to fill the flower towers with pretty blooms.

They've still got the million quid bung Tesco gave them. Which they received as part of the deal for granting them planning permission for it's town centre store.

There might be tumble weed blowing past the boarded up shops, but remember, we are a bloomin' lovely Floral Market Town.

:daisy::daisy::daisy::daisy::daisy::daisy::daisy:

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I can remember not being able to move in the Regency as it was that packed on a thurs/fri/sat/sun night. It is a shame but alot of people including myself cant afford a night out like we used to ;)

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Even five years ago, most town centre pubs were busy, especially on Sunday, when they got packed, as people did the circuit.

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Looking back over my drinking career, I'm working far harder now than ever before and yet can't afford to go out when I want to.

For me, there's few sadder sights than a dead pub.

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Totally agree, I work hard and bring home a decent wage every month but dont seem to have the "spare" cash to go and have a few drinks (well maybe more than a few ;)).
Doesnt really matter at the min as I have other things on me plate but even so I think it is a real shame

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On a similar theme, please can somebody tell me what this pub was called, many thanks

Wadey

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I saw this mess at half five this morning and i thought ,:eek::eek:
how can they make accy town center worse than it is !!:confused:
ian

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I noticed the corner shop in the Post Office Arcade has shut, they always had a nice window display

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Isn't that the Pub that used to be called The Flying Dutchman on Bank Street? was later owned by Daltons Printers!

Best Regards - Taggy

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Thanks Taggy and yes it was Bank Street

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all Accy has to offer is £1 shops, charity shops & card shops, no wonder no-one bothers with it, I remember a few years ago Grange Lane was chocker with cars on a Saturday with people shopping in town, now there's hardly any cars there on a Saturday, who can blame people, Accy is going to the dogs, quickly

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I think there are a few more shops than that :)

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Maybe but nowt worth shouting about :D (apart from yours !)

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Well edited :D

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I occasionally used to get in that state myself heth:D:D:D

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I remember being told that, during the war, Winston Churchill, stayed at the Commercial, as it was called then. I also have very fond memories of being a customer and barman there in the long distant days of my youth. Ah heady days, premium lager was 50p per pint then, fags cost around 45p for twenty and you had real difficulty getting anywhere near the bar in any of the town centre pubs on a Friday or Saturday night.

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Wadey, I dont think that photo on Bank Street was the Flying Dutchman. I was always led to believe that name had been given to what we now know as The Arden pub on Abbey Street. Give me 5 mins to have a quick think.

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There was a Clogger's Arms at one time on Bank Street, but not sure if this was it ?
Oh, and a Colliers' Arms and the Bee Hive Inn...LOL.
And Shepherds' Inn. !

Do you think Colliers' as this was no. 34 and the Accrington Blind shop (which we can just see) is 32 ?

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I thought i'd seen something about this before, its on this thread, and was post number 5 from Retlaw!
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...pub-54433.html

Best Regards - Taggy

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A little bird told me that the 2 guys who were running the Regency only had a short term lease which was nearly at an end only then to find out that Thwaites had sold it........to whom and for what is not known.....Yet;)

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Taggy, there's still a bit of doubt in my mind that the pub on Bank Street was The Flying Dutchman. Am still thinking!

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I am looking at pubs in 1869 and the pub (Arden), was called the Flying Dutchman then. The Colliers' Arms was also listed at 34, Bank Street as this name in 1869 ... unless Retlaw went further back than this date ?

Oh hek, just spotted Retlaw did quote 1869 (would have had some ear-ache for that !). Maybe the Colliers became the Flying Dutchman after this date then ?

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Atarah .. have you worked it out yet ... I am getting really confused ! ... :D

According to the other thread .. Retlaw said the Arden was previously 'The Flying Dutchman' for a short while (1869):

Thats because it was back in 1869 & only for a brief period

According to 1891 Haslingden Registry entry .. was still called this then.

There was a Furriers' Arms on a Bank Street .. not sure if this was Accy though.

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Haven't spotted a 'change of use' for this property .. however, HBC have no applications showing since 10th December, or maybe the new owners haven't got around to it yet, or will be staying as a pub ? All will be revealed soon, I am sure.

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I think there may be some confusion, Churchill stayed at The Commercial in Haslingden, there is a Blue Plaque

Churchill Plaque, "The Commercial Hotel" (Pub) Manchester Road, Haslingden, Rossendale | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

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So, Wadey, after the questionable help of Retlaw (hee hee) on another thread, we appear to have established that it was The Farriers' Arms. Ok, I was a vowel out with Furriers. Different occupation I guess.

I can sleep now... zzzzzzzzzzzzz

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Thanks for the correction, Wadey, but doesn't that just show you how history can become distorted when passed on by word of mouth? I also remember being told that Mr Churchill addressed an audience at the Princess theatre on Edgar Street (the one that burned down and is now a car park). I suppose that is wrong too. Mind you, it often struck me as odd that the Prime Minister would want to take to the stage of a music hall rather than the Town Hall nearby.

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Thanks Katex and Bob it's going in The Gallery as "The Farriers' Arms" and you can all add any other names it may have had!

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Hahaha, Wadey, kept me out of mischief for a couple of hours. Was fun.

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Accrington RIP

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There were probably similar doom merchants in 1666, after the Great Fire of London.

Historically society has always been in a constant state of flux.

Always has been.

Always will be.

Change.

Sometimes for the better.

Other times not.

Only one thing.

You can't halt it.

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that wouldn't be in the period of early 60s to early 70s A-B, would it? although it defo wasn't you that barred us. P.M.S.L.

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Always look on the bright side.....
..when the revolution comes, there won't be a smashing up job done on Accy centre because there aint anything worth looting on sale :D

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I have heard a whisper about Wetherspoons today also..................:rolleyes:

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I was in the Arndale late this pm, and noticed the Ethel Austin shop had reopened....shame there are several empty shops still.

I also noticed, during last Saturday's heavy rain, that the roof still leaks around 25 years after it was first built. Thought they could have fixed it by now.

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Weatherspoons is one of the rumours that's going around concerning the Regency. But it does seem that almost every time a sizeable building comes empty in the town centre, the question of whether Weatherspoons would be moving in comes up.

It would be good though to get a Weatherspoons in Accrington. And in the past the Council as tried to get weathersspoons to think about Accrington, but without success.

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i hear many whispers 90% are usually utter crap.

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Well the relevant councillors have asked them to remove the metal sheets. Lets see who wins, the ratepayer or big business :rolleyes:

Hopes that landmark Accrington pub will reopen (From Lancashire Telegraph)

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Was Ken (Irish chap), the landlord then Cashy or did he come a bit later? I only started drinking in 1974 & i think he was there then!

Best Regards - Taggy

Town Centre Changes
 

I heard today that the loo's on Peel Street are to close

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I've heard that.

Cost cutting, as there are toilets in the Market Hall.

Not much use as you wait for a bus, on a dark and wet winter's night.

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ya can always pop into the Regency Bar:rolleyes:

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Not if you've signed the Pledge, you can't.

;)

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From the 1st of February they will be closed on Mondays & Wednesdays. I have heard this is a preulde to permanent closure. What a great advert for the town, even the busiest loos are being closed. :mad:

Despite the loos in the Market Hall, the Peel st ones are used by most of the Market traders, and of course those of us inj the shiops on Peel St ( the shops don't have loos ). Pathetic, and probably time to look elsewhere for our business if the people responsible for running Accrington don't want any shops in it :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

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They currently close at 5pm anyway. Fail to see how there is any cost cutting, they aren't manned most of the time now

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Probably nothing to do with cost cutting.

That's probably just an excuse.

More likely it's a ploy, to get a higher footfall in the Market Hall.

You should start a dirty protest.

A smear campaign, so to speak.

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We already figured that one out. Of course as long as the Market Hall footfall is okay bollox to anybody else :(

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I used to know somebody like that G, he used to sneak in the back door when nobody was looking:rolleyes:

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So if you decided to try late night opening, you, and the other shops on there, have no access to any toilets?

You should mail the papers.

We don't want anymore empty shops.

Scandalous.

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We can pay 10p to go in the Tardis, on the rare occasions it's not broken down

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I've heard of men like that.

Is he still a friend of your's?

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Who's the landlord of those shops?

Not the council?

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It is Hyndburn Council

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No he's dead;)

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I can't say I'm too suprised.

Although I hope you don't, if you and other businesses on there, do decide to move to a town with more accessible facilities, we'll know where to lay the blame for yet more empty retail units.

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I will be having a word with my fellow shopkeepers tomorrow about getting a petition up :)

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Out of curioisty does anybody know if this would come under a councillor(s) remit ?