Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

I have set up a poll to give me a rough idea who shops in the market hall in Accrington….

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

i do

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

i do

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

I do, but will miss Nolan's, so won't buy as much in there, as I used to.

By the way, everthing I do buy in there, is bought on the ground floor.

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

I do sometimes, but I don't like the place much anymore.
It has lost its verve.......it just doesn't feel vibrant like it used to

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

have to agree it has lost its heart, and everything i buy is on the ground floor

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

I haven't been to the upper level either.
It just feels like there is too much 'dead space' in there.

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

This has been known for quite some time.
I take wet wipes with me to use after visiting the toilet.......I usually use paper towels(these are far more hygienic)...or if there are no paper towels I usually have a paper napkin in my handbag.

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

i believe that this is because the upstairs is managed by hyndburn enterprise trust (also upstairs) and as such the units are for their new business startups

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

The floor.

Love the idea, of the uncovered old flags.

Really dislike walking on it, and feel it's potentially dangerous, especially near the doorways.

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

i think the market hall is spoilt by the bloke selling the furniture, it takes up a hell of a space and doesn't look nice, he used to have a stall on Blackburn market, a market hall that size isn't the place to sell big bulky furniture, it looks a mess

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

he's got to trade somewhere and as people aren't exactly queuing up for stalls coupled with the fact that they've destroyed blackburn market it may as well be where it is. someones got to rent the space

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

Agree. You can't call that a traditional market stall.

Looks a mess.

Plus I got all giddy recently, when I saw a bench placed outside the Market Hall.

Until I got closer, when I saw it was his, with a price ticket stuck on it.

:D

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

Quite true, Busman, went to many a lecture on this with the industry I was involved in and, I, like MargaretR, wipe my hands with other cleansers afterwards.. mainly an anti-bacterial foam I carry in my handbag.

As for buying anything in the Market Hall ...very, very rarely, never see anything that appeals to me. Did buy a feather duster about 5 years ago. I do enjoy the atmosphere in there though, and like to sit on the benches in the centre for a while.

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

There were stalls there, until the refurbishment happened the other year.

Yes, I do think it all looks good.

However some traders found it so hard, physically, and financially, being shifted about, whilst all the work was done, that they packed up, and sadly never came back.

A few units upstairs selling beads, and a few cards with lace stuck on, don't make up for the traditional market stalls we lost downstairs.

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

personally i think the lack of stalls is a bigger issue

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

i understand that he refit has caused problems and lost a lot of stall space but what is being done to attract new stallholders?

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

Whenever I go down accy its usually closed well most of it is

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

Well there's certainly not traders on the outside market, queuing up, to come inside out of the cold.

That's sadly died a death. Since that was moved, and 'improved'.

As I'v said before, it's rare that I see any of the great and good, the decision makers, out shopping in the town centre.

I saw simply loads, the day I spent shaking my bucket in Tesco's in April.

:rolleyes:

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

Matt, that stall is a mess, it's all over the place

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

That is my thought too.
It used to have an air of hustle and bustle...now it is more like a library....without the books!

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

hasn't that dried food stall closed down now too? the one that sold dried black peas and lentils and the like

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

as i said earlier, I believe that these are New businesses that have recieved help to set up by hyndburn enterprise trust. an initiative providing business setup advice and assistance to the local community. which is free to use as well.

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

Probably everything.

It looks slightly better now, than when it was reopened.

A few crocheted gonks, and some benches, couldn't disguise how empty a space it had become, after the renovations.

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

i don't disagree with you shazzles but at least it's there!

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

:cool:

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

Though everything comes at a price.

It's 'free' to them, but costs the tax payers who fund it.

I'd like to know the long term success rates, for busineses who recieve start up grants.

The other year I mentioned I'd seen a local person on a website, being presented with a cheque, to start up a public relations company. When asked, a relatively short time later, it was apparently no longer trading, sadly.

First rule of business.

Offer people something they want, and if you offer it at a competitive price, you'll be a success.

That applies if you start with nowt, or are given a ten grand start up grant, and 'free' office space above a once thriving market hall.

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

Yeah.

Went there on Tuesday, to but some things.

Was Nolan's.

Now no more.

:mad:

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

I voted yes but if the poll is for market research it would have been better with options like often, sometimes or rarely. Mine would be rarely, I tend to use the outside market traders for most stuff I get 'on the market.

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

I still shop on the Market and Market Hall at least once a week. I always get bacon from Lens, and generally get meat from Slacks Farm or Slingers. Fish always comes from Bramwells and most of the veg comes from the market too. I only get tins and packets from supermarkets if I can help it. I believe that the market is much better value than the supermarket. Meat and fish tastes nicer and the bacon is much better than the water and phosphate filled crap that you get in the supermarkets.

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

We did. At the end of this month it will be 3 years. If we get to 4 years it's unlikely to be in Accrington

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

I use the Market hall, though far less than i used to do, go upstairs occasionally just to pick the boss up from the hairdressers, who she says is very good.

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

the majority go on to be very successful businesses and as i believe it to be there is very little given away in the way of funding and virtually no grants, only loans. the only organisation to do so is the princes trust and to reach the stage of getting any funding you have to have a watertight business plan along with the accreditation of your business mentor and it financial projections are scrutinised by a panel of adjudicators before you even get your business loan which has to be repaid

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

I have not been in since its refurbishment started. Which too say was rather ongoing, as it never closed during the work. (except for Wednesdays):p

The photo's and the threads on here, show the massive sums of cash thrown at something nobody wanted, but was spent to get a " Excellent Council " plaque, posted on every entry to the borough.

Sorry but I shop elsewhere.:do-one:

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

Have voted 'Yes', but agree that the place has lost it's heart. Were it not for Len's and the very helpful Mannie, I doubt that I'd use the place - except to shelter from the rain.

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

Good.

That's great, except the not in Accrington bit.:eek::(

I didn't know.

I'm sure everyone would hope they do help, and aid long term success.

More power to you.

Still like to know though, what percentage are still grafting away, three, five years later.

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

Hardly ever go in anymore, its just not the same since the refurb. the flooring gives it a cold feel, just not a warm friendly feel to the place anymore.

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

That's great to hear.

Where is this information from, showing the 'majority' go on to be 'very successful businesses'?

It'd be interesting to know what percentage that majority is.

In case anyone's thinking of taking advantage of a start up grant, so they can weigh up the odds, before deciding it's worth the risk.

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

I agree its lost its character, but being a creature of habit i still go in,though as i said its less n i used to do.

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

Not being mean, as it's been posted before, and the person concerned has already said this company was no longer trading.

Hyndburn Enterprise Trust - Means Better Business

How many new start-up businesses, who receive government money, are still trading after whatever number of years, and what percentage aren't. It would be interesting to know.

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

'Twas ok when the curtain stall was there.Just no consideration nowadays.:hehetable

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

i can only really comment on the princes trust enterprise programme as this is the only one i have had full dealings with. they do not give out grants but loans which have to be repaid (although i believe that this is the case for the other enterprise trusts as funding for grants has dried up)

statistics here: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/184summ.pdf

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

I can remember before it was modernised you had to fight your way through the door (opposite wilkinsons) to get in. Now you could carry a plank sideways and not bother anyone.

:(

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

I'm not really interested in charities, like the Prince's Trust. More grants from the government, local or national, that are funded by the tax payer, as in the case of Hyndburn Enterprise Trust.

Not trying to make any particular point, just interested in what suceess rate there is.

re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

fraid i can't comment on that one as i've not had the dealings with them

Re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

I really like the way the Market Hall has been rennovated - it is a truly lovely building and can now be seen to be so from the inside. Hate all the cheap stalls in the new outside market which crowd out the external view. I much preferred the old 60's outside market compared to what has taken it's place.

I agree though that there seemed to be a lot less people shopping there when I passed through recently.

I can't really vote on this pole but i did always used to visit the second hand book shop in the past to stock up, it seems to have gone though...

Peoples habits have changed and now shopping is a much less sociable activity -everyone is "too busy" and wants to get everything in one session at the supermarket. You can't beat fresh local produce though and i too remember when it used to be a hive of activity, shopping there as a girl with mum and always meeting up with my Grand-parents and others on Broadway every Saturday morning...

Re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

The late Eric Sykes and Tommy Cooper would have had no problem, then? (The Plank - a brilliant sketch made when comedians were funny and didn't resort to sexual innuendo or foul language).

Re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

Highlight of the week, circa 1969.

If we pestered enough, and had been good.

Being allowed to ride the mechanical horse, in the corner of the bustling Market Hall, outside the cafe.

Innocent pleasures.

Even if I was in my early thirties, at the time.

:eek::rolleyes::D

Re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

Weren't you the lucky one - we got dragged round the outside market to chose the latest cloth for our new dresses, up to the wool shop so we could have matching cardis made and then Mum would spend ages trying things on in the Lucky Shoe shop....
We'd look at the sweet stall in the Market Hall as we passed by but that was a near as we got to some sweets. Never got to go on the mechanical horse there were always these two boys from Ossy monopolising it :rolleyes:

Re: Do you shop in Accrington Market Hall
 

Good god you've aged well:D