Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Sorry I do not know about that, but the cost of a house down south is much more than up north,and sorry do not agree with what is said a bout depressing north towns all over the UK there some better then others and years ago you were right about the north but not now. There are some very nice places up there and the higher you go the better they get.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,931
What's happened over the years is house prices in many Northern towns have increased .
But you can still get a good buy if you shop around .
The only problem with selling up and moving to Northern town for a cheaper place is that you restrict yourself ever moving back down South through cost
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,101
On Wednesday I had a meeting in Dover so it gave me a chance to wander round the town. St James' was almost deserted still with over 1/3 of units still empty and Market Square to the Maison Dieu was like a ghost town apart from the new wine bar opposite Wetherspoons which was packed with the usual suspects much the worse for wear and howling at the moon by early afternoon.
It was all rather depressing and I really don't see a 're-imagined' Market Square or renaming the urinal known as the underpass or a portacabin doss-house on the harbour arm turning things around.
In Deal seafront and pier have been busy all week with the area outside King's Head, Port Arms and Dunkerleys doing a roaring trade. Yesterday the town was absolutely packed and looking very busy, the market having to enforce a one-way system.
I noticed that the RSPCA charity shop has now closed and was talking to one of their ex-staff. Apparently their lease has expired and the cafe next door is expanding into their premises and they are unable to find anywhere else in Deal to move in to!
Meanwhile house prices are still 'enjoying' exponential growth as half of London realises that if they have to work from home they might as well have a home by the sea-side!
Having read all the election literature for the upcoming KCC elections I don't envisage things changing for Dover whoever gets in. Zero vision or understanding of how retail and work are changing.
On the plus side our LOCAL MP has sent me her monthly cut and paste on how well the vaccine roll-out is going!
All rather sad.
Dover Pilot, Arthur and ray hutstone like this
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
Yes how one Town like Deal thrives and Dover ?.
hThe attitude to Dover needs a change.St James is not we expected is it Bob .I still enjoy The Dover Marina Hotel but for the rest no go for me .
Guest 1416 likes this
Guest 4245- Registered: 25 Apr 2021
- Posts: 1
Hi, I am the owner of the new wine bar in Dover. And find your comment extremely offensive. Especially in such difficult times opening in covid. We are trying to bring something new to Dover, with wines that you will not fine anywhere else. Even in your town of Deal. Maybe you should all pop in at some point to have a drink, instead of making comments about somewhere that you have never been to
Judith Roberts, Brian Dixon, The Gov and
2 more like this
Judith Roberts, Brian Dixon, The Gov, Ross Miller and Guest 649 like this
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
Re the above post .I worked in Lukeys for six years .The family at one time owned four shops in Dover.They had shops in Deal and Walmer .
You say you have fine wines.Can you purchase a bottle of very fine wine in you premises .?
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,879
I wish the business luck I think it might be needed in that position.
The above defensive and rather offensive comment from Vinoteq about a member of this group is not the way to drum up new customers, it has put me off visiting. Does it possibly explain why " the usual suspects much the worse for wear and howling at the moon by early afternoon" comment was made by the Captain.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,101
Hi Vinoteq. Offensive? Moi?
Merely reporting as seen. On arriving back in Deal was still remembering some half cut woman chortling the non-sequitur 'I don't need no money as it's all in my head' at the top of her voice twice as her companions didn't seem to be listening.
It's still rattling round my head, a bit like Gavin Bryars 'Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet'!
I'm seriously thinking of using it as some sort of art installation on Dover sea-front, possibly a Tracy Emin like neon sculpture, as a companion piece to Jenny Holzer's 'Protect me from what I want' but can't see Dover Peacocks knocking out a $40 tee shirt and Dover needs to go modernist before post-modernist presumably?
Seriously best of luck to anyone opening up a business anywhere (apart from Bookies and Brighthouse obvs).
To quote Withnail "We want the finest wines available to humanity! We want them here and we want them now!"
Was merely hoping that a wine bar was slightly more than a place to openly drink in the middle of a pedestrian area without getting moved on by Mr Plod citing local bye laws.
XXX
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
STOP IT hiting at Dover it is not that bad thats why none of the big banks have closed it doors unlike Deal one bank closed and came over to Dover it has closed shops just like all the towns and Ilike ST JAMES easy parking and good shops.
Use it or lose it and get a bigger car park there with no shops great food atM@S Next is a good shop, in fact they are all good .
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,706
I find nothing in the post from Vinoteq offensive or for that matter defensive.
I pass his establishment twice a day pretty much every day and have never seen or heard anything like Bob describes; in fact my experience is the complete opposite with a cheery welcome from the staff, and decent customers making the most of a good quality new venture in town.
Anyone who is prepared to take the risk of opening in a town center, especially something a little different or in the hospitality space should be applauded and we should make every effort to support them.
As ever Cap'n Bob you are wearing your snobbery loud and proud.
Judith Roberts, Brian Dixon, Guest 1292 and
2 more like this
Judith Roberts, Brian Dixon, Guest 1292, alexiatrade and Chris like this
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 1292- Registered: 23 Jun 2014
- Posts: 23
Haven't you all realised by now that Captain Haddock (why the pathetic pseudonym when everyone knows who you are, sad) does nothing but put Dover down? I would go as far as to say that he takes great pleasure in "being right" about Dover and we are supposed to think of him as being a great oracle because he was a teacher and Councillor as if no-one else can aspire to such "greatness". Maybe he could use his "obvious connections" to kick our Councillors up the ar*se, since they are of his ilk and his erstwhile colleagues. Deal is "wonderful" but Dover is dire. I wonder why but then I look at those whom are our elected representatives on our wonderful Council. Hmmm, those whom make the decisions don't seem to live in the Town and therefore have no personal investment in Dover.
Brian Dixon, Captain Haddock and Jan Higgins like this
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,879
Sorry Ross but that was how I read the post, so I apologise to Vinoteq if I got it wrong.
Edit, love your last sentence.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ray hutstone- Registered: 1 Apr 2018
- Posts: 2,158
Sue Nicholas wrote:Re the above post .I worked in Lukeys for six years .The family at one time owned four shops in Dover.They had shops in Deal and Walmer .
You say you have fine wines.Can you purchase a bottle of very fine wine in you premises .?
Sue - I was a delivery driver for Lukeys way back in the early 70s when I was still at school in Folkestone. My mother was a bookkeeper for them and talked Pat Lukey into giving me a job. I was based in Sandgate Road but regularly delivered to Dover. I don't suppose you were around at the time.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
I was at Lukeys 1974/80 .
Reginald Barrington
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Dec 2014
- Posts: 3,257
Ross Miller wrote:
As ever Cap'n Bob you are wearing your snobbery loud and proud.
As ever the Cap'n Is taking the proverbial p#ss and getting all the right responses from all the right sources, those that know him know this and know that is why he does it, for 'The craic' as they say!
Arte et Marte
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,931
We walk in fear of being a critic.
That's the worrying trend of today .
Whilst our Bob will always go over the top that's his way, we should heed some of these warnings .
Of course as I started this post, recognise all the good the town has, I think what Bob is aiming at is could be so much better.
I think we should applaud any new business deciding to open up around the town .
The wetherspoons does often have the clients that Bob suggests (I wish I could afford to drink all day/night) but if I could I'm not sure I would want to!
Jan Higgins likes this
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Judith Roberts- Registered: 15 May 2012
- Posts: 637
Vinoteq is a great addition to our town and we should warmly welcome anyone who is bold enough to start a new venture in these difficult times. Cactus Kiss ne is another great local business that has recently opened a shop near the underpass. They have lovely and unusual houseplants. Negativity from residents and particularly those who live in nearby towns is Dover's worst handicap. Let's try to be positive and support local business ventures wherever possible.
Guest 3925, Pablo, Brian Dixon and
4 more like this
Guest 3925, Pablo, Brian Dixon, alexiatrade, The Gov, Guest 649 and Ross Miller like this
Gary39- Registered: 7 Jul 2017
- Posts: 451
I wonder how many people in Deal actually work in Dover? I see a lot more cars coming to Dover then going to Deal to work in the morning.
Guest 3925 likes this
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,931
Of course new business should be encouraged but we should be able also to be critical
Guest 3925, Jan Higgins and Arthur like this
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
I agree with this Keith.Still waiting/to hear if you can purchase a bottle of fine wine .
