Is the High Street doomed

[ska invita]

I'm on furlough, chef in the pub industry. The only spending I've done on none essentials is buying supplies to paint to keep myself distracted.

The CEO of Stonegate keeps telling us all he's optimistic and that ALL the pubs will re-open again but... I live in fucking Blackpool, the loss of a summer like this is going to wipe the town off the map. The high street here was already past terminal and I really don't see how the thousands of small hotels and B&B's can possibly continue when the notion of a customer base isn't going to become a reality until perhaps next year (both cos nobody is allowed out of the fucking house and even if they do they have no cash).

Yeah anywhere in the world reliant on tourist trade is going to be gutted from this year. In the UK it's the seaside towns probably the most vulnerable...though maybe one lifeline, if there is a let off of lockdown in summer, there'll be more staycationing? But still, definitely going to take lots down unless the government gives out a lot more money

 

[William of Walworth]

The CEO of Stonegate keeps telling us all he's optimistic and that ALL the pubs will re-open again but... I live in fucking Blackpool, the loss of a summer like this is going to wipe the town off the map. The high street here was already past terminal and I really don't see how the thousands of small hotels and B&B's can possibly continue when the notion of a customer base isn't going to become a reality until perhaps next year (both cos nobody is allowed out of the fucking house and even if they do they have no cash).

Yeah anywhere in the world reliant on tourist trade is going to be gutted from this year. In the UK it's the seaside towns probably the most vulnerable...though maybe one lifeline, if there is a let off of lockdown in summer, there'll be more staycationing? But still, definitely going to take lots down unless the government gives out a lot more money

That's one half-decent hope for people in Callum91 's position, I'd very tentatively venture.

I really appreciate that Blackpool is in a shite position, but I still think it's a bit too early to write off the entire summer yet (note emphasis).

 

[Callum91]

Yeah anywhere in the world reliant on tourist trade is going to be gutted from this year. In the UK it's the seaside towns probably the most vulnerable...though maybe one lifeline, if there is a let off of lockdown in summer, there'll be more staycationing? But still, definitely going to take lots down unless the government gives out a lot more money

If people are too scared to travel abroad, or if the government starts imposing health based travel restrictions etc then I do think Blackpool could (after the local council is purged of the fucking loons) seriously rebrand itself as the fun capital of the UK once again. We do have a massive, clean beach. We have the space. It would take a few billion from the central government to clean the place up, bulldoze most of the town center and the slum areas surrounding, knock the piers down and build bigger, better ones, build a second damn tower! Pay off the small hotel owners that want out and let new enterprise move in. Get the army of beggars off the streets to stop them harassing families that come here for fun. GET THE AIRPORT BACK.

It could be done. But it won't. Winter is coming for Blackpool. It's fucking GRIM here in winter...

 

[ska invita]

Id add plant some trees and plants to that list. What has Blackpool got against greenery?

 

[William of Walworth]

If people are too scared to travel abroad, or if the government starts imposing health based travel restrictions etc then I do think Blackpool could (after the local council is purged of the fucking loons) seriously rebrand itself as the fun capital of the UK once again. We do have a massive, clean beach. We have the space. It would take a few billion from the central government to clean the place up, bulldoze most of the town center and the slum areas surrounding, knock the piers down and build bigger, better ones, build a second damn tower! Pay off the small hotel owners that want out and let new enterprise move in. Get the army of beggars off the streets to stop them harassing families that come here for fun. GET THE AIRPORT BACK.

It could be done. But it won't. Winter is coming for Blackpool. It's fucking GRIM here in winter...

Not just yet, man! August and especially September are a long way off still ......

I really hope anyway that thinks turn out better than you think for you and the town this year, Callum91 !
Somehow, anyway -- good luck!

 

[Callum91]

That's one half-decent hope for people in Callum91 's position, I'd very tentatively venture.

I really appreciate that Blackpool is in a shite position, but I still think it's a bit too early to write off the entire summer yet (note emphasis).

The pub sector here at this time of the year in particular has become heavily reliant on all the student farmers coming here for their annual mega piss up. Nets my pub £150K+, it's one of the reasons we're allowed to stay open. There's no chance of that now, or in the near future. The summer trade is decent but not enough without that farmers week, and then after October it drops off a cliff and Winter sets in. Christmas bookings for the past few years have been abysmal.

 

[Sprocket.]

Read earlier that Primark and Next currently have £15 billion of spring and summer stock either in stock or sat at suppliers they can’t sell yet.
Bargains to be had in autumn for next year maybe?

 

[William of Walworth]

The pub sector here at this time of the year in particular has become heavily reliant on all the student farmers coming here for their annual mega piss up. Nets my pub £150K+, it's one of the reasons we're allowed to stay open. There's no chance of that now, or in the near future. The summer trade is decent but not enough without that farmers week, and then after October it drops off a cliff and Winter sets in. Christmas bookings for the past few years have been abysmal.

Cheers (or not!) for that -- there's nothing like local knowledge
You might have to hope that some student farmer gangs put off their piss up week until when it does becomes possible for them.
Grasping at straws there though, I confess

 

[Callum91]

Cheers (or not!) for that -- there's nothing like local knowledge
You might have to hope that some student farmer gangs put off their piss up week until when it does becomes possible for them.
Grasping at straws there though, I confess

I could say more but... never know who's reading this . Needlessly to say, we treat them rather ironically, like lambs to our slaughter.

Edit ; Any expense caused due to damage is miraculously found...somehow

 

[Teaboy]

It is clutching at straws a bit I suspect any part of the UK's tourist industry which mainly caters for UK citizens will probably come off better than the sectors that rely on international travel. I just can't see large scale international travel happening for ages . Problem is I can't really see the pubs and restaurants being allowed to reopen for a long time either.

 

[weepiper]

Not just yet, man! August and especially September are a long way off still ......

I really hope anyway that thinks turn out better than you think for you and the town this year, Callum91 !
Somehow, anyway -- good luck!

You know the Edinburgh Festival has already been cancelled, William? August isn't happening this year.

 

[Callum91]

It is clutching at straws a bit I suspect any part of the UK's tourist industry which mainly caters for UK citizens will probably come off better than the sectors that rely on international travel. I just can't see large scale international travel happening for ages . Problem is I can't really see the pubs and restaurants being allowed to reopen for a long time either.

If governments across the world have collectively decided to use Covid-19 as an excuse to start resource control then I can definitely see the writing on the wall for pubs/clubs/restaurants in general, the idea of over consumption is going the way of the Do-Do. There are too many fast food outlets and now we have to accept the fact huge swathes of young workers are gonna find themselves permanently without access to an easy ''first job''.

Even before this pandemic there had been alot of pressure in my company to really reduce resource use, turning heat lamps off as soon as the orders go out, turning the heat down on ovens etc. The money just isn't there.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Oasis and Warehouse in big trouble.

Just confirmed they have gone into administration.

Oasis and Warehouse collapse into administration with 2,300 jobs at risk

British fashion retailers Oasis and Warehouse have fallen into administration, joining a growing list of stores pushed over the edge by the coronavirus emergency

www.mirror.co.uk

 

[Hollis]

I've been vaguely trying to work out how exposed business are like this - even with government measures. While they can put their staff all out to furlough, I guess rent still has to be paid eventually - so a 'holiday' doesn't do much good. They'll then be all the other standing costs that aren't covered and interest will still eventually have to be paid on debt... are there any other government schemes they can tap into?

One of our suppliers - a caterer - clearly wanted to go into hibernation - rather than try to deliver any services..

 

[William of Walworth]

You know the Edinburgh Festival has already been cancelled, William? August isn't happening this year.

Edinburgh's enormous -- quite right that events as mega as that have been cancelled.
But 'August isn't happening' is too sweeping an overall statement at this stage, I'd say.

Smaller happenings in places like Blackpool, e.g. a few staycations, some shops or even bars! reopened, etc., might still occur by August or September.
Under terms and conditions, obviously. And I emphasise might ....

I did suggest 'might' in my original post too, and I repeat that for now.
It's all about the details of how (and which aspects of) lockdowns are released/relaxed, and when.

At this point I still think it's a tad premature to say all aspects of August/September everywhere are full-on cancelled.

 

[Cloo]

My guess, and it's suggested by thinking of people in the know about public health etc, is that any easing of lockdown will be on a local level and movement between different parts of the country may well be constrained for a good while.

Part of me thinks there is a degree of opportunity for local high streets in some areas - perhaps you could open up 'non-essential' shops in secondary/tertiary local high streets (like ours) long before you can open up prime city centre or malls. I mean, if you think about our local flower shop, or bed shop, or games shop, you seldom see for than two customers in at a time, so you could manage distancing at their normal level of custom. Maybe clothes, leisure or homeware chains could open 'pop ups' in these sorts of high streets for 6-18 months - fuck knows there's enough empty shops about. I appreciate many of them are not the right dimensions, but it could be worth a try so these shops can reach customers, employ people and keep afloat.

 

[cybershot]

Arcadia Group may permanently shut down stores amid Covid-19 crisis

Philip Green’s fashion group serves notice on landlords but move may signal negotiations rather than closures

www.theguardian.com

 

[kebabking]

whenever the restrictions start to ease off we won't be going overseas - everyone in the medical profession is saying that this thing is going to go in peaks and troughs for the next 18 months or so, and that restrictions are going to ebb and fall: i simply have no intention of going to Greece or wherever and enjoying a nice two week holiday only to discover that our flight home has been cancelled, with it taking the FCO another month to get us back to the UK.

we'll stay in the UK, go self catering so we're not dependant on others or next to others, but i'm afraid we won't be going to blackpool...

 

[8115]

Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge in big trouble.

 

[purenarcotic]

Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge in big trouble.

Their food is rubbish tbf (obviously total shite for their workers).

 

[cybershot]

Agreed, would never use either unless I have a massive discount voucher.

 

[8115]

I agree Bella Pasta is awful, I actually really like Cafe Rouge and the french style atmosphere. Having said that I have only been 3 times in my life.

 

[mx wcfc]

I agree Bella Pasta is awful, I actually really like Cafe Rouge and the french style atmosphere. Having said that I have only been 3 times in my life.

I used to like Cafe Rouge for the same reason. iirc, they used to have an excellent beer list. Then, I think, it changed hands, went down hill, and I haven't been for years.

Bella Pasta was just another run of the mill chain pizza/pasta place. No surprise at all that's gone.

 

[8115]

If Frankie and Benny's survive then my theory that it's a massive money laundering operation looks basically proven.

 

[Tankus]

My next couple of holidays are going to be at home with the money spent on DIY projects.... And start saving harder overall, for a bigger safety net.

 

[Sprocket.]

My next couple of holidays are going to be at home with the money spent on DIY projects.... And start saving harder overall, for a bigger safety net.

I think people future proofing will become a growing interest/activity.

 

[hash tag]

I appreciate it is not shops, but it is local holidays. My father used to go away with Shearings quite a lot. Lot's more jobs gone...thinks, could the coaches and drivers be quickly redeployed
to help keep transport less crowded as people start to return to work?

Specialist Leisure Group collapses into administration

More than 64,000 bookings have been cancelled due to the collapse of Specialist Leisure Group.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Aladdin]

Yeah anywhere in the world reliant on tourist trade is going to be gutted from this year. In the UK it's the seaside towns probably the most vulnerable...though maybe one lifeline, if there is a let off of lockdown in summer, there'll be more staycationing? But still, definitely going to take lots down unless the government gives out a lot more money

This is the hope / dread here in Ireland.
That the restrictions will be eased by August and people will get a seaside holiday at home.
Its a double edged sword though. It might save certain tourist spot businesses and it would be good for people's mental health to get a holiday.but it will risk a second wave that could close everything in Sept and put us back at square one.

 

[Cloo]

I think people future proofing will become a growing interest/activity.

Generally, if people have any sense (they probably don't) society and economics would move away from growth and towards resilience - this whole thing has shown that a pan-global problem brings everything grinding to a disasterous halt.

 

[Dogsauce]

They're halfway through demolishing and rebuilding a shopping centre here in Nottingham. It's right by the station and you basically have to go through it to get into the city centre. I fully expect it to be abandoned in its current skeletal state any day now, leaving a vast and hideous scar on the city.

Inevitable questions about why the city council gave a company that was already listing to port the green light to start such a big project.

the centre of Bradford was blighted for about a decade by a development that went under after the 2008 recession. Big hole, several hectares with hoarding around it.