Guest 842- Registered: 11 Dec 2012
- Posts: 28
Hi all, for this all replies will be hugely beneficial and of course therefore appreciated.
In Dover, what location would you most prefer for a new cafe?
1) Old Evans Store - has the option for an outdoor seating area.
2) Old Thomas Cook Store - has no outdoor seating option, but does have views over the town area.
We are by no means planning a new cafe yet, we are just considering the current rental avaliabilities in Dover.
Charlotte Harrison
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Charlotte, the old Thomas Cook store would be on the wrong side of the road for a cafe.
The Pencester Road - Biggin Street traffic is a nuisance, one would have to cross several busy roads to get there.
Costa and Amina's, just opposite, are on the right side of the road, as on that side, Pencester road is serviced with a traffic light and pedestrian crossing.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
In the Tourism Strategy that I have written, as well as the Plan of Action for Dover Town, I have said that what would be great, is for the Market Square (on a non-market day), to be like a Spanish/French/Italian Piazza and have out-door seating around it with cafes/restaurants serving them.
This would of course only be during the summer time/decent weather, unless they had outdoor heating like Cie La Vie in Biggin Street.
Of course we need to take action to turn Dover into a destination Town, rather than a to-it-and-through-it one that it is today. But that seems to be further away than ever.
Roger
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Spot-on there Roger....
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Thanks Barry.
Roger
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
I don't think any body would disagree with Roger, but I get confused when people say
we need to take action to turn Dover into a destination Town
That is an obvious statement, and Roger, I'm not being confrontational here, but please define "we". So many people have been saying this for so many years but nothing changes, nothing happens, its time for a completely different approach. The Town Team are doing their little bit and have plans for more but it will only scratch the surface.
I understand the Chamber of Commerce has been reborn, any ideas what their remit is?
The £1m grant money is apparently available, who knows what that entails.
I get into trouble for saying this but the DTIZ is nothing but a mirage, its time DDC held their hands up and changed direction.
Perhaps with the change at the Port the cable car will get the go ahead, perhaps Neil and his team will breathe some new life.
Others will discuss the Westen Heights and Farthingloe.
The point is, the defintion of stupidity is doing the same thing time and again and hoping for a different outcome - thats where Dover is at.
btw Charlotte, good luck wherever you take the plunge.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Post one.
Do not go ahead with this plan at this time,Dover have alot drinking outlets and meals,cafes etc.
Guest 643- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,321
I think the old Evans shop would be an ideal place for Charlottes cafe.
Good luck to you Charlotte, I hope you do open and that you are successful.
Negativity is pointless, let's encourage new business not send it away
There's always a little truth behind every "Just kidding", a little emotion behind every "I don't care" and a little pain behind every "I'm ok".
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Said this many times before,it is about funding and the amount you can put into it,and can you cover the cost of it ,if it does not pay for its self.All very well seting up anew business many will tell you go for it,but in the end it is you and you own funding.This is not the time to open anew food or drinking outlet in Dover,the cost of doing will be high with a small return,and not best time of the year as well.And even in the summer weeks if the weather is not good returns will be low and the summer weeks even if good will not last long and you will have to make money in them weeks to carry you in the bad weather weeks ahead.So again unless you have alot of funding put by .Do not go ahead yet.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
charlotte has made it clear that any cafe would open at an appropriate date in the future.
Guest 729- Registered: 27 Oct 2011
- Posts: 44
Next to Barclays Bank could be good..
Also Vic. Eva's opened not long before Christmas and they are doing very very well in a not so prime location.
Guest 719- Registered: 11 Jul 2011
- Posts: 443
Illy cafe in king st has outside heating for those who like myslef like to sit outside to keep a eye on Howard when he go,s for his bus home is all so doing very well
:suspect :
Yorkshire Born And Yorkshire Bred
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
Although I share the view of the number of cafe's already in place, I'm sure that all the homework will be done before setting up.
Thomas cooks office would not be ideal(in my opinion)
But I realy do wish you well in your venture
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
been past a few times ted, they seem to be doing very well after a slow start.
not seen you outside yet.
Guest 719- Registered: 11 Jul 2011
- Posts: 443
Yorkshire Born And Yorkshire Bred
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I have explained a few times before on here about what to do.
There are measures that can be taken to make Dover a destination Town. For a start, working with the Coach Tourism Council and having an entry on their website, which is seen and promoted by the coach companies around the Country.
Having a familiarisation-trip organised and run in the Town Hall, with all the Hotels that wish to be involved in accepting coach business would be invited to attend and take part. All historic sites, museums and attractions would all be invited to show what they have, including of course EH and NT.
There is more to it, but that would be a good beginning.
Roger
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Yes it is a good beginning Roger but it comes back to the same thing - funding.
The reason we are all struggling is lack of money, if you can find a way of implementing the above it would be great, but it will be hard to get it off the drawing board
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Not many people on the Forum know that, before Britain joined the Common Market, people from France and Belgium would come flocking to Dover, usually on Friday-Saturday, and buy trolley-loads of shopping in the supermarkets.
Prices here were significantly lower than on the Continent.
The French would actually buy Normandy butter in bulk. Red salmon would disappear from the shelves into trolleys, and so much more.
The restaurants and cafes were literally full of customers, local and from abroad. At the age of 9 I used to work in a restaurant, washing and drying dishes. The work was non-stop, as the dishes came by the hundreds at a time.
Often customers were asked if they'd like to come back after half an hour, as the tables were all occupied.
This was common practice in the restaurants all over Dover.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
I think most of us knew that. They also used to flock to Canterbury where the shopping was much better even in those days, I am talking about the sixties and early 70s.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
actually alexander i remember reading about french shoppers stripping the kwik save shelves of "quality street" and "roses." casting my mind back i think mr sheldon posted about belgian seafarers cycling back to his ship with a "leg of lamb" over their shoulder.