M + S in the Boro shutting

It's holding its own, there has been expansion over the last few years but it's as big as it should be, maybe a little too big.

Everyman has bypassed a chunk of the region, it's amazing that the area around Northallerton has more pulling power than the whole of Teesside.

Aside from Barker's there are quite a few other retailers, do Barker's really have such a hold on what is allowed to open on the High Street, and if so the rates argument is completely debunked.

It is known locally that Barkers do have influence in the town and that is why we don't have any other 'decent' clothes shops in the high street. i think we have Sea Salt (for the ladies) and that's about it. I don't know for sure if the own any other properties in the High Street and can stop them like that, or if it is the rates.

Not sure why Everyman chose Northallerton. I wonder if they received VERY generous terms when the council was planning the redevelopment of the prison site.
 
Northallerton is probably protected more than Stockton high street due to local affluence. Yarm is similar; where else would you get some shops surviving like that computer shop and the diy shop for so long as they did

Is it an affluent town? There are wealthy people here but there are a lot of poorer families too. Maybe not in line with other poorer areas but I'd guess half the town doesn't have the cash to be out on weekends / shopping at M&S etc.

I dunno. It's a tough one.
 
The latest news. Co-op in Linthorpe Village to close in February.
That was announced a few days before this news. They clearly haven't been bothered about that store considering they let it slip to a 0 star rating in hygiene.

Everyman at Northallerton is a funny one. Been no update on opening dates for almost a year. I know there was a delay when the building contractor was changed but the opening wasn't due to slip by much. Not even listed as a coming soon on their website but the new one at Durham is.
 
It is known locally that Barkers do have influence in the town and that is why we don't have any other 'decent' clothes shops in the high street. i think we have Sea Salt (for the ladies) and that's about it. I don't know for sure if the own any other properties in the High Street and can stop them like that, or if it is the rates.

Not sure why Everyman chose Northallerton. I wonder if they received VERY generous terms when the council was planning the redevelopment of the prison site.
What about Montana, Fat Face, Lakeland, Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Brook Tavernier?
 
Is it an affluent town? There are wealthy people here but there are a lot of poorer families too. Maybe not in line with other poorer areas but I'd guess half the town doesn't have the cash to be out on weekends / shopping at M&S etc.

I dunno. It's a tough one.
It has a spread of wealthy to poor as everywhere else but enough at the upper end to keep it going. For now at least.
 
I find it incredible that people in this country will go on city breaks in Europe, walk round pedestrianised city centres with 4-5-6 story apartment buildings with thriving retail, cafes , bars and restaurants on the lower floors only to return to this country and conclude what is really needed is massive surface car parks and nobody living within miles of the place.
 
Is it an affluent town? There are wealthy people here but there are a lot of poorer families too. Maybe not in line with other poorer areas but I'd guess half the town doesn't have the cash to be out on weekends / shopping at M&S etc.

I dunno. It's a tough one.
The surrounding area is full of massive expensive houses and farms, like anywhere there are poorer parts but you can smell the Barbour wax as you walk around which is what funds barkers and Lewis & cooper

Rest of town is stuff like Edinburgh cotton mill and the like which is nothing amazing
 
The surrounding area is full of massive expensive houses and farms, like anywhere there are poorer parts but you can smell the Barbour wax as you walk around which is what funds barkers and Lewis & cooper

Rest of town is stuff like Edinburgh cotton mill and the like which is nothing amazing

That waxy smell belongs to the farmers... Have you tried separating them from their money? :D
 
Lakeland sell kettles.

Never heard of Montana & Brook Tavener. Big draws are they? Forgot about Fat Face - good shop. EWM? Is that still open? Can't remember seeing it recently.
They're clothing shops that may or may not compete with Barkers, one being more expensive, the other slightly less expensive. I was assuming that you knew Northallerton judging by your replies, you obviously don't. There are two Lakeland shops in the High Street, one sells clothes, the other sells household items.
 
They're clothing shops that may or may not compete with Barkers, one being more expensive, the other slightly less expensive. I was assuming that you knew Northallerton judging by your replies, you obviously don't. There are two Lakeland shops in the High Street, one sells clothes, the other sells household items.

Without revealing my exact location you could say I am very local and am on that high street at least twice a week. I have maybe not seen the shops to which you refer as I'm not looking to buy a woolly jumper or a Fat Face product.

I don't think those stores are really competing with Barkers - hence they are allowed. Maybe because the likes of Joules, Phase 8 etc have concessions in Barkers they don't want a shop there - but it might be the other way round, they aren't allowed in so use Barkers.

There are no 'designer' clothes shops or proper boutique stores like Yarm has, for example which I have always found strange. If you are a guy wanting clothes in Northallerton it's Barkers or bust.
 
Without revealing my exact location you could say I am very local and am on that high street at least twice a week.

I don't think those stores are really competing with Barkers - hence they are allowed. Maybe because the likes of Joules, Phase 8 etc have concessions in Barkers they don't want a shop there - but it might be the other way round, they aren't allowed in so use Barkers.

There are no 'designer' clothes shops or proper boutique stores like Yarm has, for example which I have always found strange. If you are a guy wanting clothes in Northallerton it's Barkers or bust.
That depends on your age and how much you want to spend, you don't know the shop selling more upmarket clothes than Barkers and you're there twice a week?

I've never bothered much with labels so I'm not sure about 'designer' clothing other than what I wore as a designer 😁
 
That depends on your age and how much you want to spend, you don't know the shop selling more upmarket clothes than Barkers and you're there twice a week?

I've never bothered much with labels so I'm not sure about 'designer' clothing other than what I wore as a designer 😁

Just googled it. It's a suit shop. I'm not going to know where it is as I have no need for a suit. But it's not really competing with Barker's smart / casual menswear business is it?
 
The divide and conquer strategy never fails in this country. The development of 'the other' is what keeps our weapons of mass deception busy, and the populace soaks it up.
Blimey, thats fanciful thinking.
Ive lived and worked in many different countries and the populace is not much different to the UK.
Can you give any examples that I may be missing?
 
Is it an affluent town? There are wealthy people here but there are a lot of poorer families too. Maybe not in line with other poorer areas but I'd guess half the town doesn't have the cash to be out on weekends / shopping at M&S etc.

I dunno. It's a tough one.
We go to Northallerton and stokesley regularly I would rather spend money at small independent retailers and local butchers bakers local markets etc than national stores. The kids won't set foot in stockton and the only time they go into Boro is to Primark. It's a real issue knowing what to do with Boro town centre as it's spread out more than Stockton. . MBoro seems to be clinging on to the notion it can still be a retail town when the reality is they might as well concede now and bulldoze the hill Street centre. I am quite enthusiastic about Stockton's plans for the Riverside at least it's got a post retail strategy. Lots of snobbery around teesside park as well on this thread it's functional and does what it says on the tin with free easy access for cars
 


We go to Northallerton and stokesley regularly I would rather spend money at small independent retailers and local butchers bakers local markets etc than national stores. The kids won't set foot in stockton and the only time they go into Boro is to Primark. It's a real issue knowing what to do with Boro town centre as it's spread out more than Stockton. . MBoro seems to be clinging on to the notion it can still be a retail town when the reality is they might as well concede now and bulldoze the hill Street centre. I am quite enthusiastic about Stockton's plans for the Riverside at least it's got a post retail strategy. Lots of snobbery around teesside park as well on this thread it's functional and does what it says on the tin with free easy access for cars
Hill Street Centre is privately owned. It is the one centre from the big three not owned by the council.
It is largely occupied but obviously the closure of Debenhams and now M and S will hit it hard.
The management of the Hill Street are really innovative in working with community groups, arts groups etc to utilise empty shop units for community use. Ironically far more so than the council owned Cleveland Centre.
There are two art galleries in the Hill Street Centre - Pineapple Black, Masham/Navigator North - admittedly the groups that run them can only afford time/money/manpower to open them part time but they are both open 3 days a week, including Saturdays. There is also a community drop in shop running different courses etc. There have previously been council and community information centres and they are so encouraging towards people doing book signings etc.
 
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