howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i think the correct term here is "damned with faint praise".
Guest 695- Registered: 30 Mar 2010
- Posts: 426
#39 Very nice they were too - pity they didn't have more on offer. Perhaps next week they'll do some other stuff.
I heard there was going to be a Thai noodle stall, perhaps next week. It would be nice to have a wide variety of food.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer,
And, while not sneering, teach the rest to sneer.
Alexander Pope.
A totally accurate description of much of the comment on here. This is a brilliant achievement by David and his volunteer colleagues and should be recognised as such. It's a classic example of the community seizing the initiative when local government lets us down. I think once upon a time it was called the Big Society.
Keep it up chaps, I just regret I am too far away to support it in person at the moment.
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
fully agree peter, this is the biggest achievement in the town over the 10 years i have been here. last december i took a lot of photos of an empty stretch over biggin street, cannon street and market square(when the sun was shining), here in mid november gloom that same stretch is buzzing.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
I must be reading the posts differently to others, I thought the vast majority were very positive about the market.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
they are jan but there are a few nitpickers out there who are delighted when things look like failing
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
Couldn't see Barry's insurance advice store amongst them.
Guest 695- Registered: 30 Mar 2010
- Posts: 426
Peter, I am reminded why I don't often bother to post...
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
Passed through the market today on my way to a business meeting and it was indeed buzzing away. It was great to see this hive of activity in Dover Town on a gloomy November day. Hopefully next week I will have time to loiter, explore and buy, I feel lunch al fresco beckoning next Tuesday with all this talk of Tikka Masala and Thai Noodles ........ YUMMY!!!
Guest 782- Registered: 4 Oct 2012
- Posts: 357
Well here's the thing. Thai noodles are off the menu I am afraid. We had an email at 03.12 this morning from the chap saying that because we couldn't let him do burgers and dogs as well as dim sum, noodles, venison burgers, tea coffee and other beverages; it wasn't worth the fuel to come to the market.
We do now have a lovely lady who does the Deal Market coming along with her hot food, probably of an Asian nature. Delicious. I also believe that the Marina Hotel will be serving a paella next week, although that might be subject to change. The rabbit, pork, sausages and pheasant seemed to go well too today.
We are on the verge of securing a butcher and hope to add eggs to the mix too. The new faces at today's market say they did well and will be back. We hope that by bringing new people in all the time, we will keep the offer fresh for the customers and for the stalwart stallholders alike.
It has been a good start, but we have a long way to go, but the very best everyone can do is come to the market on a Tuesday and give it a whirl
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Thanks to those who have offered support and encouragement, its gratifying that people are prepared to roll their sleeves up and get involved. For example, Neil Wiggins was with us before 6.00 in the cold and dark putting up stalls and carrying sandbags, for no personal gain whatever.
As Neil and I agreed
If you want something doing ask a busy man.
As Simon points out, next week we hope to crack the 30 stall barrier.
Does anyone know of musicians/street entertainers/buskers that would like to come along?
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
I like that idea, a bit of music to jolly things along.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
You could have a go Jan - maybe some tap dancing or playing the harmonica
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
I thought you wanted the market to be a success
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
Simon if the noodle man wants to sell burgers and dogs to, why would that be a problem ??
I was living in Wimbledon some years back there is a small market, abbey mills
There was lots of food stalls in competition with one another, famous for its food
Abby mills market in colliers wood London, is a good example for a business model
Of what can be achieved in a market,
Well worth a visit on a Sunday morning for ideas and the food
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Its about sustainability Keith, the first week we had 24 stalls and Bobby Royston, a Dover fellow, had booked his hot dog stall. We thought it fair that until or unless the market doubles in numbers it wouldn't be profitable for two of them, as it happens the other bloke agrees and has decided not to come.
Out of interest how many stalls are at Colliers Wood?
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
Probably 12 foods stalls selling all sorts
The them is arts and crafts and the weird and wonderful
It attracts people from all over ,its very busy
It's only just over 1 hour in the car ,go have a look, very successful market all businesses doing well
It's next to Sainsbury on a sunday sw19 collier's wood
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Thats the key Keith, 12 food stalls at the moment we have 2!
If you take Borough Market its almost exclusively food and top quality, like SW London its in a different part of the world to Dover.
Hopefully we'll get enough stalls so we have 2 of everything but it'll take time, more importantly it will take support from locals and visitors.
Guest 782- Registered: 4 Oct 2012
- Posts: 357
Yes, we feel that in these early days it is about keeping everyone as happy as we can. Introducing another hot dog van, albeit one that does interseting stuff too, would be detrimental to Bobby Royston. To our own townsfolk we give priority.
Anyway, David makes a point about buskers. If anyone out there knows of people who are buskers or street entertainers, then please point them to Dover on a Tuesday. Obvioulsy we would like to know who they are, but failing that a "turn up" would be quite acceptable.
Guest 684- Registered: 26 Feb 2009
- Posts: 635
Congrats on the early successes of the market, by the way. Good to see something positive in the old town centre for once.
David and Simon: re street entertainers/buskers, there's an outfit called Driftwood based in Deal who often pop up for different events, such as at Deal railway station when the Orient Express is in town. We have some flyers in Platform 1 cafe, so I'll try to dig out a number for you.
Also, the Django Boys, two guitarists often to be found in Deal high street on a Saturday, are very good too.
All the very best,
Andy and Nick Stevens
#platform1deal
