howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
25 February 2011
12:5194124i was a bit taken aback this morning in town.
we all knew that the bookshop was closing but also "cooks" finishes today at 2 p.m.
both prime sites, ironically the luggage shop next door to "cooks" has started trading.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
25 February 2011
12:5494126The satellite TV shop opposite us closed a couple of weeks ago. He does all the work over the internet and from home now and does not need a £200 a week rent overhead plus business rates on top.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
25 February 2011
12:5694127Im not surprised when Greigs opened it must have been the death knell for them .I prefered it when it was a bakers shop.There is only so much money one can spend .The market always decide .
Now if a fresh fish shop were to open it might succeed where others have failed .
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
25 February 2011
13:1494131the greigs/greggs arrival did sound the death knell susan, we stll have 2 branches of vanes at each end of town.
i don't think a wet fish shop would be very successful, it would need a large afro carribbean or jewish population to make one viable.
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
25 February 2011
14:3594140Don't think so Howard, I've just been to Deal and bought today's lunch and tomorrow's kipper from the wet fish shop and had to queue - and everyone looked local.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
25 February 2011
16:0094144good point ray but i bet their customer base extends outside of deal, i notice a fish van from deal delivers around here.
cannot see a second business succeeding.
25 February 2011
16:0994152A wet fish shop would be great! When I worked in Surrey there was a wet fish van that came up daily from.......around here! It would be fab to be able to get lovely fresh fish direct from our own home town where it was caught. There is also something rather lovely about eating fish and chips looking out at the sea. I have often wondered why there isn't a good chippie right on the seafront. In Folkestone you can eat your chishy fipps looking out at the ocean. Lovely.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
25 February 2011
16:1694157Bern
Went to a pub named the Pembroke nr Gorey yesterday
I had homemade soup
fresh local fish n chips mushy peas salad
rhubarb crumble
£10 per person plus if a couple spend £20 you receive a £5 petrol voucher fot the local garage so it works out at £7.50. It was mobbed with the blue rinse brigade...and me the grecian 2000..

Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
25 February 2011
16:3794161An all round great experience there, Marek!!

Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
25 February 2011
18:3694173It's a shame but Howard is right as far as the writing was on the wall for Cooks when Greggs moved into town, but I think a 'wet fish' shop would rake in the business. Odd that Bern, when we lived in Cheam (Surrey), our fishmongers van came every Thursday from Folkestone, the queue went all the way from the village square to Nonsuch Park
Shame about L & Y Satellite closing down, Mazen had a nice line in Halal food, strange combination that.
25 February 2011
18:5094177A shared experience Barry W-S!! I was mostly in Wallington, but took in Sutton, Banstead, and, yes, Cheam, among others!
25 February 2011
19:4794207Dover would do well with a large shopping mall like chequers in Maidstone i feel but would it ever happen?
25 February 2011
19:4994211A large shopping mall: my idea of Hell!!! But I expect it would be good for Dover.

howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
25 February 2011
20:2194227the population and demographics of dover and maidstone are very different.
bern/barry
did either of you live in railway cuttings when in cheam?
25 February 2011
20:2894233Cor i would love it i could spend days at a time in there lol
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
25 February 2011
22:3794252Small world Bern, I lived at one time in Wallington, Carshalton Beeches, Banstead Village, worked in Sutton & Belmont.
Howard close, Station Way in Cheam Village, Sir Harry Secombe lived around the corner, met him a few times, a really nice chap

Guest 711- Registered: 1 Mar 2011
- Posts: 194
My husband noticed today that there is a sign in Cooks saying it will be reopening under new management.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i thought it said new ownership.
i would be surprised if it re-opened as a bakers, the previous business produced quality stuff, just that greggs came along and had a wider range at hard to beat prices.
Guest 711- Registered: 1 Mar 2011
- Posts: 194
Sorry - my mistake - hubby confirms it did say new ownership!
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
yes i saw that sign as well.