DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

The Telegraph carries a story about DJ and television presenter, Stuart Maconie, who's written a book which features Accrington.

It's been branded as unflattering.

In it he says the main street is a crowded, unlovely hotchpotch of cheap shops, minicab offices and fast-food outlets that can fur your arteries just by looking at their logos and a few desultory and cheerless pubs.

He also mentions the town being peopled by pallid youths, and chain-smoking women.

Er...as much as I love the town, that doesn't sound too far from the truth.

We do have loan, and mobile phone shops, scattered amongst the charity shops, and empty stores.

People given Gregg's pasties as babies, instead of dummies, are bound to be a bit 'pallid'.

Mind you, the author's from Wigan, so he should have felt right at home here.

Michael Whewell, a chamber of trade member and owner of Whewells of Accrington in Bridge Street, is reported to have said 'Cash Converters is a national chain. We also have a Costa Coffee and a Marks & Spencer but I notice he doesn’t mention those.'

Unless the book has been written, published, and reviewed in the last few weeks, it's unlikey he would have mentioned Costa Coffee, because it wasn't even open.

Peel Park, and the Haworth art gallery are described as highlights in the town.

What do we think?

Misleading, or an accurate description of Accrington?

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk...d__insulting_/

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Well, I haven't read the book....and it is a bit risky taking comments and making judgements on it, because the true context may be lost.
Newspapers, even the local ones tend to sensationalise things, that in an ordinary sense, would have little in the way of news value.

However, looking at the comments that the LT have published, I think it is a fair evaluation of the town.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

YouTube - ‪Stuart Maconie's Hope and Glory‬‏

This is the official website of Stuart Maconie, author of Pies and Prejudice and Adventures on the High Teas Hope and Glory: The Days that Made Britain

I think it's quite a coup for Accrington to be thought worthy of a mention.

Bill Bryson never made it to the town.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

reading the link, Miles Parkinson says "its easy to knock from the outside" whilst that is true, he omits to say its the truth n pretty near the mark. its sad to say this of what once was a great little town, am well aware people are working hard trying to improve n make difference to accrington, but they should ask themselves why? "Answer" cos its degenerated that far! get real wake up n smell the coffee.:(

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Ebury Press has acquired a travel title from BBC TV and radio broadcaster Stuart Maconie. Deputy publisher Andrew Goodfellow bought world rights from agent Kate Haldane to Hope and Glory.

The book, which will be published on 9th June in paperback priced £11.99, sees Maconie take a look at the events, people and places that stood out in the last century of British history. A single event from each decade of the 20th century and its impact on our present society is scrutinised. Goodfellow said: "With 'Hope and Glory' Stuart has raised the bar. Without losing any of his wit, warmth and charm, it is his most monumental and ambitious book to date."

In the book Maconie covers all kinds of events, from pop culture to politics spanning from the death of Queen Victoria right through to the death of New Labour. "Hope and Glory is a popular history and travel book. By popular, I mean it is a people's history," said Maconie. "It is also a very personal history. I go to places that interest me and tell the story very much through my own eyes."

Hope and Glory is the fourth of Maconie¹s travel books to be published by Ebury, following on from Cider with Roadies, Pies and Prejudice and Adventures on the High Teas.

Ebury Press buys the people's history from Maconie | The Bookseller

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Yes Stuart Maconie is an 'outsider', in that he's not an Accringtonian. He's from Wigan, but he still lives in the north.

Not really that much of an outsider. He's not from Bradford, or Basingstoke for goodness sake.

Seems to me he's just saying it as it is.

The town prospered because of cotton being more easily worked in our damp climate.

The textile industry has all but vanished.

We are a bit down at heel, relative to other towns. That's just a fact of life.

The people left are still the friendliest in the country.

That's also a fact.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

well said, perhaps its those in ivory towers or in denial that get the hump, sad gits.:rolleyes:

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Lol, I did try to change 'north', to he still lives in the north-west, but that edit button had vanished.

A bit like most of the industries, that once made this area wealthy.

:rolleyes:

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

The truth is often unpalatable....and it matters not one jot where this chap hails from....it makes no appreciable difference to the fact that he has seen Accrington as it is and has reported it....as it is rather than perhaps, how we would like it to be.

He isn't talking the place down......and from the look of the comments on the LT site, it seems like most folk believe he is spot on.
Isn't it a shame that our ex Leader of HBC couldn't see it in the same light.....a bit Emperor's New Clothes like.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Nobody could realistically deny that his comments are true, although they could apply to lots of other towns in poorer areas of the UK. It seems worse in Accy, though, simply because at one time, the town was such a thriving and attractive shopping destination, pulling in punters even from areas outside the town. When M&S was opened in 1961, it was the first new store in the chain to be opened since the war, which says a lot about the town at that time.

Accy seems to have fallen so far and so quickly. I still love the place, and always will, but its decline is obvious for anyone with eyes to see. :(

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

I can only assume he thinks Church St is the main st seeing as that does not describe Broadway.

I mentioned the other day about the wino's sat drinking outside the Market Hall and we are probably the only town centre in the UK where the drug barons and alcholics get their free meals from an increasing band of shops on Abbey St.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

I somehow assumed that he meant coming into town via Blackburn Road...because the description doesn't really fit Church Street either.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Ya may be right :)

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Exactly, he never even mentioned that a fifth of the town centre is now given over to the Maunday Model Village, complete with genuine smack-head tour guides.

The town big-wigs probably slagged off George Orwell, when he reported what he found, in The Road to Wigan Pier.

:rolleyes:

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Maybe he visited on flea-market day when he would have encountered the cream of Accrington society....!

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Unfortunate that he saw the negative. In a slightly different mood he could easily have seen the positives. "Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself", so I think he'll probably find lots of people will see the negatives about his book and it will be a flop, unless his negativity was just a one-off. It's no big deal, Accy ain't great, but it's not bad either.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Was that your one-off negative observation?

:rofl38:

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

No, it was that

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Good.

Then we shall look forward to more hilarious contradictions from you.

:rolleyes:

Unless someone's actually read the book, it's a little difficult to gauge the negativity of the book;s view of Accrington.

The article in the paper mentions he describes Peel park, and the Haworth as being two of the town's highlights.

Which they are. Fact.

Just as it's a fact we do have a lot of down-market shops.

;)

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

His comments are quite near to the truth, but having said that he comes from Wigan for gods sake, i have done a lot of work around Wigan and lets just say it aint no shining beacon of architecture and culture, so maybe he should take a look closer to home before knocking other towns;)

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Yes balance. Of sorts.

A negative, followed by a positive.

Which he may have done too.

Though that might not have given the newspaper a sensational headline to publish.

As posted above, the article mentioned he's written in a positive way about one of our parks, and the art gallery.

Might be a very balanced report of how he found the town.

Only a fool, or someone who'd not travelled further than Burnley, would argue that the streets of Accy are paved with gold.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Uncle Joe's mintballs, pies, a bit of mock Tudor tat near the station.

Wigan's a very cultured place.

With Ince at it's epicentre.

:eek::D:eek:

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

People make culture, therefore Accy's the most cultured place in the country. I wonder if that's his conclusion...

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Is that upper ince or lower ince?:D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

He failed to mention Mouldy Grange, St Dorothy's major attraction to the undesirables that choose to linger around the post office area on the look out for 'easy pickings' on pension pay-out days.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Well I haven't read the book and have no intentions of doing so but over the last 20 years I have spent quite a lot of time in the Wigan area, and I would think anybody who actually comes from there has a cheek in criticising any other part of the country, maybe he should take a look round his home town before writing about other places;)

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

I really wouldn't consider it 'knocking' Accrington.......after all he isn't as far as I know comparing it to Wigan and saying Wigan is better.

Accrington does feel very 'down at heel'....and I have visited lots of other northern towns...so I rather think he is portraying the town without the benefits of the rose coloured spectacles.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

I'm not sure that the author of the book made that observation, or whether it was one that Garinda himself noted.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

To be fair margaret i didnt say he was comparing it to wigan , it is just a case of people in glass houses and all that.And i also actually agreed with him in a way and you, in that accy is a bit of a dump but we dont need pie munchers to tell us that;)

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

No I know you weren't, and to be honest, I think we are doing this author a disservice by relying on what the LT tell us he is saying...they really aren't interested in what the book says,(or Accrington's reputation for that matter) they may have taken what he said out of context just to make it a bit contentious...and of course to sell newspapers.........the publicity won't do the book any harm either.

The town is like many northern industrial towns, it has had a shiny past, but in general these towns have all suffered from the loss of industry(because it was that that made the town rich...in every way)and a lack of investment.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

the unfortunate thing is that the book isn't available to the folks of Accrington since there isn't a decent bookshop in the town :eek: :eek:

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

We could always get it off Amazon.:)

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Surely you cant think the LT or the press in general would take things out of context :D I think we are both saying the same thing but just in different ways , what gets my goat though is people in the public eye taking a pop at towns like accy when to be honest we all know of its bad and good points we live here, but books such as this can be read by a wider audience who by reading them have a preformed picture of our town/ area,through the eyes of a person writing these things just to sell books and not by forming their own opinions.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Know that :D was just pointing out that a Borough the size of Hyndburn/Greater Accrington to be without a decent bookshop is a bit sad and a poor reflection on the town ;)

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Yes, you are right.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Mr marconi would perhaps state that we dont need one one because most of the pallid inhabitants are illiterate :D:D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Yes you are right, but maybe in some way that just underlines the sad decline of the town.....people are no longer wanting to spend money on books......maybe they can't afford them, maybe they don't read, maybe they aren't printed in the right language......maybe they would rather do other things.
Doesn't bode well for this guy making much money does it?...which might be why the LT wants to stir up some emotion.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Oh yes I remember It well,The Wigan Kebab,Four pies on a skewer.:hehetable

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

In wigan what time is it if there are two pies ont town clock?
Summat to eeet:D:D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

It is interesting, when others see things we sometimes take for granted.

My Italian friend thought Accy was like Wimbledon village.

Whilst Scottish friends thought the town was as quaint as Brighton's Lanes.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...age-23398.html

We really need to know the context, regarding Stuart Maconie's observations.

It might be a glowing description, in relation to other places, for all we know.

Royal Tonbridge Wells might well have had a right slaggin'.

:rolleyes::D

Re: DJs book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Why I can get a book from amazon in a couple of days without moving outside, and usually post free

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Four pies piled on a' top the other.

A Wigan wedding cake.

:D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

You can buy, and order books in W.H. Smiths.

There is a bookshop in Ossy.

But since it's run by someone who stood as a National Front candidate, in General Elections in Hyndburn and Blackburn, I don't spend much in there personally.

Oh, and there's one in Arrod. Thankfully not run by a right-wing extremist.

:D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Book sales, like much of the printed media, are in decline nationwide.

I don't think that reflects particularly bady on the town, as opposed to any others.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

As the lord said seek and you shall find:D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

...and as the Furher said, 'Pass me those guide books Eva. This afternoom we're invading Poland.'

:D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

And as jones said "They dont like it up em":D:D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

In a way Accy is luckier than Blackburn.

Get slightly away from the main drag and we do have a selection of independent retailers. Warner Street's full of them.

Can't think of many in Blackburn.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

That i don't recommend, went in a couple of years ago,asked about a book i was buying as n xmas pressy in (November early) twas looked up fer me online n they said i would have it in 2 weeks max, which was fine so i ordered, mid December still not arrived, i called in n they told me twas outa stock.:mad: i could not get before xmas after trying outa town, so have never been in yon fer a book since.:rolleyes:

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Gary, I went to Cheltenham and was really disappointed...yes there was a portion of the town that was 'posh'....but the main part of the town was no better than Accy.
Just my perception of it(Oh, yes...Ma wasn't impressed either)

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

me late wife was expelled from school in Cheltenham, cos they were picking on her younger sis, (cos of being northerners) so as well as being a bit of a dump, its full of tarts as well.:D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Yes, Cashy....I was expecting something a little more up-market.......it was a huge disappointment...but now I have seen it, and passed judgement...I hope not to go there again. It was not to my taste.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Tis true.

There are also many down at heel areas in the capital. Some just yards from the most expensive real estate in the world.

Nevertheless, as most of us seem to agree, it doesn't make this author's description any less true.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

"Badger Books" 22 Keirby Walk Burnley is shutting down !

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

You see we don't know if Stuart Maconie mentioned Accrington's illustrious past......and the fact that the town had once been glorious....I think maybe he might have done because wasn't he looking at the Pals Regiment.......we are only told of his derogatory(but seemingly fair and true) remarks.
This is what I mean when I say we should not rely on what the LT tells us.....in relation to context.......and anyway, didn't someone once remark that there was no such thing as bad publicity?

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Hardly a shock wadey, as most dingles are illiterate.:D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

You're right.

As far as I can make out he visited Accy because of the Pals.

Which can only be a good thing, and help further their fame even more.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

I'll drink to that!:drink:

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

It even made it to the "Big Telegraph".

Writer upsets Accrington with description of 'unlovely' town - Telegraph

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Well, Stuart Maconie didn't upset me with his criticism........I am pretty sure there are lots more like me who couldn't really care what Stuart thinks.........he is entitled to his opinion(which, to be honest, is a fair representation).
I think there is little chance in the near fututre for Accrington to become any better....given the global financial situation.......that's reality, we have to live with it, but we can try to improve our image little by little.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Maybe it will get visitors flocking in to see if it really is as bad as he says.:)

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

As said it's a fair representation really.

I was in Sutton Coldfield on Monday. Quite a boring town, nothing to distinguish it from Accrington/Blackburn shops wise however at 11am on a Monday morning I was the only person under 60 who wasn't a mother in her mid 20's-30's pushing a pram, the people of working age were all at work, surely that is the target, if that happens the town will improve dramatically. Until then let's enjoy the cheap houses ;)

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Don't be daft.

Twenties, and thirties?

That'd be the kiddies grans.

:D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Article coming up on Granada Reports soon. If they managed to interview anybody who looks washed and isn't smoiking then we know the intial information was wrong :)

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Thanks for that.

Not something I watch. Well unless I'm on it.

:D

I thought they showed a fair selection....of chavs.

As for the girl walking down Broadway in her all in one pyjamas, I just loved her!

Accrington looked good.

The people not quite so good.

Those two pit bulls didn't look pallid at all though.

:D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

We all laughed at that one :D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Rindy's fashion tip.

This season we will all be wearing giant baby-grows, in pastel shades, featuring nursery prints.

Ok, perhaps it might just be one or two, at the cutting edge of style, who'll be able to carry this look off, whilst sucking the meat out of a Gregg's sausage roll, whilst sashaying their way to the Maunday Model Village gift shop.

:D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

The funniest one was the lad who said the town was full of thugs in trackies, as he stood there wearing his trackies :D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

With his mates behind him, all in trackies, neatly tucked into their socks.

I love Accy, and it's people.

It's like League of Gentlemen - The Next Generation.

:D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

We often refer to our shop being in the middle of a TV outside broadcast, Jeremy Kyle Street Version :D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

You can take the lad out of Accrington but can't take Accrington out of the lad:D in your case Burnley Dave:D:D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

The thing about Burnley and as far as I've seen Blackburn the town centre doesn't attract the planks like a moth to light as Accrington Town Centre.

I still maintain the biggest reason for that is an establishment that should be moved to an out of town industrial unit.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Thank goodness they got that shot of that big banner.

Reminding us all we have an award winning market hall.

I'm setting off now, on my Saturday shop.

As I think we are going to be overrun with tourists tomorrow.




Make that setting off in an hour.

My new baby-grow's not quiet dry yet.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

One thing Burnley has, that Accy doesn't, is a thriving nightlife.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Na Gift Print is great where it is Dave:D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Bitch :p

Re: DJs book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

To be quite honest G Burnley has always had a pretty good nightlife, have to say don't really know what its like now but it was first class in the late 60s early 70s

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Looking to see if there was a clip of the Granada Reports item, came across this...

YouTube - ‪Accrington Victorian Arcade‬‏

Sort of sums things up.

We should have a sparkling jewel.

Sadly it's been hocked, and is in Cash Converter's window.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Dont be daft "eleven am"all the ner do wells would still be in bed that
early in the morning making more babies, for the twenty to thirty year old grannies to push round :rolleyes::D:D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Sorry, please could you explain what you mean.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Sorry, I think I get you. It's not been sold to Cash Convertors.

Yes, it should be a sparking jewel and a no. 1 priority, imho.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Yes, hocked meaning pawned.

hocked - Idioms - by the Free Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

Little play on words. Since Marconie mentioned this particular pawn shop.

As we both seem to agree, this arcade should be a civic jewel.

Sadly, it's not.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

I must have led a sheltered existence, never had to hock anything, and always thought it meant 'sold'. The arcade and Church St would make a great connecting route to Warner St, where effort has been made. A tasteful renovation would make the whole town seem bigger and a much better shopping experience. It would put the focus back on the local shops instead of the arndale chains. I hope the council can do something about this. Is it not in their power?

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Not sure what they could do about private companies charging extortionate rents for empty units

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

No neither have I, but it's a word in common usage, and in every dictionary.

Nothing to do with a sheltered life.

I've never been to the moon, but know quite a bit about it.

Now must get on.

I have to stew this ham hock, before I can sit down and enjoy a glass of hock, whilst wondering what I should hock tomorrow.

:)

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

As you say, it's privately owned.

Not really a lot the council can do.

Wasn't it mooted in the press some wide-boy wanted to turn into a Victorian themed pub?

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

It was mentioned. I did speak to one of them and he said it was very much in the ideas stage. Not heard owt since.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Here it is...

Accrington bar owner reveals major plans for town (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Though have heard of no further developments.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Much like the 'business man' who was about to turn the Con club into a £15 million development. Apartments, shops, and an arboretum, if I remember correctly.

Easy to talk big.

Reality's sometimes different.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

We need a bit more room but have to wait until Tesco & then B&Q vacate our new shop :D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

You should make the Maunday Model Village an offer, she can't refuse.

That'd be a step in the right direction.

Get rid of the facilitator, and the pushers, and junkies would begin to disappear from our streets.

:rolleyes::D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Not knocking entrepreneurship, by the way.

Just sometimes a little sceptical.

Talk is cheap.

Easier to take more seriously when someone has a proven track record, has made sure an idea is actually feasible, and that there's a market, and also has access to the money to fund their grandiose plans.

Who can forget in the eighties, when Huncoat was going to rival Disney as a worldwide tourist destination, with the Zeri centre, or whatever it was going to be called?

:rolleyes:

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

You beat me to it was just going to mention Mr quigiliotti or whayever his name was:)

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

twas Eddie Quigliotti, the marvel that never was.:rolleyes:

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Apparently sadly no longer with us, but here's his obituary, which mentions the Zeri centre.

Mr Eddie Quiligotti MBE planned to call the centre Zeri after his home village in Tuscany.
The former tile company boss announced the plan to an incredulous population amid a blaze of publicity in 1989.
It was to have featured winter and summer worlds, a huge 15,000-seater stadium and a 300-room hotel spread over the 300-acre site of the former power station.
It would have been Europe’s largest theme park and holiday centre, and it was projected to create 5,000 jobs and attract 4,000 visitors a day.
The idea was embraced by planners as a way of guaranteeing Hyndburn’s fame and fortune for years to come.
The winter wonderland was to have contained an ice palace, ski-ing on six dry slopes, a toboggan run and a lake while a sea world would have provided aquaria, water rides and boat trips.
Also earmarked for Zeri were restaurants, shops, cinemas, villas, a conference centre, gardens and an adventureland with light shows and white knuckle rides.
And the diverse attractions would have been linked by a one-and-a-half-mile-long cable car track similar to the one used in ski resorts.
The idea was taken extremely seriously for a time, with then planning officer John Tilley stating: "This is the biggest thing that will ever happen around here. People will be attracted to the area for holidays and some may never set foot outside the complex."
But the plan never got off the drawing board and four years later it was announced that the bubble had finally burst.
Mr Quiligotti had pledged £1M of his own cash to the scheme but as a recession began to bite he failed to attract the financial backing for the remaining £299M.
He said sadly: "It is all over. I have been banging my head against a brick wall."
But critics said they had known what would happen right from the start.

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Nearly got it right:D:D:D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

I wonder if the wall was made of nori's:D:D:D

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

Yeh what happened?
Back in the grey days of the Major government, Accy was thriving 4 nights a week. Sunday nights people were queuing up to get into the bars. Lots of new bars opened.

During the early naughties it started to tail off, the nightclub mysteriously burnt down, then the smoking ban.

In the last year it has probably picked up a bit at weekends, remaining pubs on Abbey St quite busy Friday & Saturday nights. Bees Knees busy after about 1130pm but I'm saying nowt about what some of them look like.

So what happened and how to get it back?

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

It's actually moving to Standish St

Re: DJ's book 'unflattering' about Accy.
 

I agree with everything that Maconie has to say on the subject of our not so lovely town, shame he didn't mention the Maundy blight, seems like no-one is willing to take on St Dorothy, I hadn't realised until this evening that the empire now includes the old Taskers store.