This sort of place to wander around or order online, roll up and have it put in your car? I know which I would rather have. I know someone whose daughter who lives in Valencia and he spends a lot of time there and wishes we had similar here. And he is a Londoner. A shame Hammonds couldn’t be like this place which remains open until 2am in summer. Though that wouldn’t work in this country where necking a load of beer would come before the eating. And we don’t have family groups out until late like they do younger ones have to be out by 9 pm.
Apart from the fact I don't use Amazon or have any bitcoins, do go to the supermarket, and local shops, on a regular basis, have never preordered food or have someone put it in my car, that's very similar to my experience of shopping. The views expressed in my posts are not necessarily mine.
It's obviously dumb to use for an individual item but if you're doing a daily grocery shop and buying a bunch of things then it'd be worth it. When the delivery charge is more than the product you're buying of course it's dumb.
In most northern European countries, if you take your children out eating jamon until 0200 on a school night, you'll get a visit from the child services team eventually. England isn't too bad - Sunday opening, evening opening and plenty of families out eating in restaurants. Far more than 40 years ago. I enjoy the social life when I'm back. Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Norway have most things closed after 1800 and on Sundays (not restaurants and bars obviously). There is the argument that longer opening hours impact the lower paid in society and reduce their family time. I don't know that much about Spanish family culture, but I wouldn't have time to visit a food/restaurant hall regularly with mine during the working week.. up at 0630 for school, homework, activities, sports, hobbies, friends etc... The week just goes. Maybe I should aim to meet a Valencian woman in the next life.
A good properly run profesional market is a huge draw for visitors. I've visted some excellent well run and well supported indoor markets. Leeds is particularly good at this, look at Camden Lock or the beautiful indoor market in St. Helier in Jersey and Newcastles Bigg market as good examples The outdoor market in York is still decent although there are always stalls unoccupied. Christmas markets are also a huge attraction, one off's. But I'm afraid markets in Hull have been on the decline for decades, and as a result the city centre as a shopping venue is too, they go hand in hand. You need footfall and not just for a couple of hours on a Saturday. Hull is no different to other cities of a similar size, several recessions, poor management, changes in shopping habits, the internet, filling the city with low end budget shops, cost of car parking, and a general lack of money in the area all take their toll. It's a race to the bottom and it will take something drastic to reverse that downward spirall.
Its Grainger Market in Newcastle, Bigg Market is a cluster of curry houses and **** pubs across the road. Even Grainger Market is struggling post-Covid, some long standing traders have moved on and there seems little coming though to replace. There are some fine food outlets there still though, plus the Tyne’s number one haven for wacky shoes and it’s best tea shop.
As a few have mentioned on here internet shopping is playing a big part in killing high streets and City centres. I would guess 80 per cent of us under 70 have shopped on line whilst out kids and Grandkids will hit the 99 percent mark in the future if not close now. The large Supermarkets built in the late 90,s and 2000,s will never be built again as the big boys are now copying the Aldi model of smaller stores. This is 100 percent due to the internet. Councils need to be forward thinking regarding their shopping areas in the future. New ideas. Really not easy trying to second guess trends and the future. Well organised farmers markets are a great idea as are food festivals, music festivals(sesh).social areas where families want to dine linked to the old town and marina. The new town needs those affordable apartments and social areas will follow them.
Does anyone know why the thriving Marina area of the 90,s/2000,s with its numerous bars declined. It used to be packed even more so on a bank holiday?
Accepted, l knew the tool man in there and the last time I was spoke to him he said things were a bit tough and stalls were becoming empty when only a few years ago you could sell your pitch, now they are available for free( rent obviously) My point was I always considered that Market Hall to be far superior and better ran, and supported than our own in Hull.
And in a sense, successful indoor markets show how town centres can react. Good food outlets, specialist shops that offer the kind of sage advice the likes of UP and his tool sales friend will dispense, places to socialise over a coffee or beer, higher end stores where you want to touch and see a product before you lash out. Trouble is, most town and city centres are much bigger than the footprint needed to serve these remaining markets. And it’s a bold and potentially risky strategy to repurpose a part of your town centre for something else. It’s a step they have taken in Stockton on Tees and it will be interesting to see how it works - I personally think it will work but TWT.
You obviously didn’t read what I or misread it. I quoted a couple of southern European countries. And I was talking ones like the Lisbon one being open until late not food halls like the Valencia one though they are open until 9pm. As for families going out and eating here fine if you can find somewhere where families are welcome and where they would feel comfortable which are few and far between compared to European countries and where younger ones have to be out by 9pm even on a weekend, Maybe you should experience the Spanish way where longer hours, made possible by people doing different work hours not one person working all the hours they are open. Spain tops surveys for contentment with life whilst here it is full of people whinging.Spain also is near the top for life expectancy and quality of life in older people so these longer opening hours don’t seem to harm them. Of course the better climate helps compared to the more northern countries, There is a different attitude to life in the South of France compared to Normandy and Britanny.
They tend to shut during the day though so their opening hours are probably similar, just split up. I went to Milan last year and during the middle of the afternoon it was next to impossible to find somewhere decent to eat.
I think you're being negative on what England has to offer. Clearly some pubs aren't suitable for children. But many are. In most English big cities the size of Valencia, there are a huge number of options for eating and drinking with family. What restaurants/gastropubs in England don't allow or welcome children in the evening? Even in the 1980s, i remember going to restaurants with my parents in Hull - Pier Luigi's, Chaplin's, Raffealos (?). I haven't worked or lived in Spain, so i can't comment on lifestyle differences there. Good weather certainly helps I've been on holiday to Spain, but not lived or worked there, so I can't compare lifestyles or working conditions. I have lived and worked in Italy though and a lot of those late night food hall visits are afforded by multi generational living and adults in their 30s still living at home with parents, over-educated and working part time jobs. I'm not sure of your background but think you've got a bit of a downer on England. It's a great country for socialising. Every reasonably sized town has a multitude of restaurants of varying quality and types of cuisine. All restaurants I've been to have been perfectly welcoming towards families and have never felt the need to leave at 2100, when my children were younger. Huge numbers of pubs, some clearly aimed towards adults and others family friendly. I look forward to trips home visiting friends and family and going out in various places in the UK. Sure... The inclement weather means a midnight cafe visit in winter isn't common, but there's plenty more to do instead - the country works with what it's got.
I was at a wedding reception in Cornwall in summer. It was private event, so maybe the rules are different, but many children were up until midnight.
A lot of licensing laws around the country do not allow children in pubs after 9pm. As for having a downer I live here whilst you choose not to. I did work for short periods in Europe in the early 1970s and enjoyed being treated like an adult staying out late when our pubs were shut at 10.30. Though having said about the continental ways of operating and opening it wouldn’t work here with people whose sole intention when they go out is to get wasted. 90%of pubs in this country are closed before midnight. I used to go to Pier Luigi’s and Chaplin’s when I lived in Hull (BTW one of the original co-owners is a big City fan and though he now lives in York is at every City match) those, plus a aFrench restaurant opposite Pierre Luigi’s were the only places on Princes Avenue you could get a drink. I got in enough trouble when the nearest place was Botanic which shut at 10.30. If it had been like it is now it would have ended in divorce.Tell me which bars I could take my 12 year old grand daughter in after 9 pm? I would have no problems in Europe.
