Agreed on both points. She was the best speaker by far on a day that also included Professor Brian Cox and a couple of similarly famous and more obviously relevant speakers on the future of retail. She was incredibly frank about her peers. She clearly respected but disliked Mike Ashley, and was open about her absolute hatred of Philip Green. Of course Sports Direct already do both city centre and out of town stores, but it would be a change to Primark’s business model. TWT as a wise man once said.
And I believe lots of grants have to match funded by the company too, and aren’t straight cash, they are to pay for business support etc (£5k ones certainly are)
If Primark moved out of town they'd probably lose half their customers, teenagers who don't have the means to transport themselves to remote retail parks. I also think big in-town shopping centres have a part to play for a while yet. I used to catch the train out of Hull towards Sheffield each Sat morning a year or so ago.and they were always rammed with folk going to Meadowhall. People do need to have jobs and money though...
I first met Philip Green in the mid 80’s, he’d just bought the Jean Jeanie chain of shops and head hunted a mate of mine to be a buyer. I went in to talk to them about shirt production, he was fairly flash even back then.
And I suspect your reception might have been different had your friend been female, which I think was Mary’s main issue with him.
He's put it to good use, honing his cocktail making skills, and increasing his repertoire. As Mrs A learnt this when we were eventually allowed to join them for a socially distant drink in the garden.
Theres quite a few pubs that are open but not for inside drinking . Went for a walk down Saltshouse rd last night and it seemed a bit busy at the Golf course . Went to see what was going on and the Bar was open to get a drink and go and sit on the grass . Furleys as been open also with a few buying today and just standing outside for a takeaway drink . All seemed rather civilised.
Not quite Hull but I had an errand to run in Beverley yesterday morning and it was the first time I’ve been to a town centre since COVID restrictions. I must admit I thought it a very odd atmosphere. Queuing outside the shops to get in, Perspex screens and one ways systems everywhere. Some places still not open at all, like Lakeland, Costa or Carluccios. Reduced numbers of market stalls. People chatting 6 feet apart. Very different to an old-normal cheerful bustling Saturday there. I thought things were almost back to normal, but clearly not. I refused to queue for shops where I’d have to wait more than five minutes to get in, which is a shame for the shops as obviously I didn’t buy anything. But I was on a 2 hour parking and everything just takes longer to do at the moment. Plus I kept getting side-eye for wearing a mask - but not from shop workers who seemed to regard me with some solidarity. Bloody uncomfortable in warm weather, but as the saying goes on social media, a lot less uncomfortable than a ventilator.
Lakeland looked more long term shut too when I walked past on Friday. Just checked their website and it’s not on the list of their stores re-opening tomorrow. EDIT - though that’s not to say it won’t be re-opening at some point in the future
I have missed pubs, but to be honest while we often went out for a drink and food etc, I’ve never really been one for having a local and habitually being in the same place. So I think I’ve missed getting together with friends more, and sometimes that would be pubs sometimes each other’s houses. Strangely I played golf for the first time in about 6 years though, and played Sutton Park on the day they opened the bar for take outs and sitting drinking on the putting green! I must have sensed it
Yeah I thought when in Rome ! So grabbed a beer and sat overlooking 1st tee. Looks lovely and green . A fair few 20 year olds where there .
Not exactly complex but I’m just having a Sacred pink grapefruit gin and fever tree...delicious! My mojitos have definitely improved, and I’ve perfected an Old Fashioned to a recipe I had in New York and craved ever since. Working up to a Corpse Reviver No 3 after having one at my brothers, but I’m out of absinthe...and I’ve never owned Lillet Blanc (in fact I don’t even know what it is yet, but it’s bloody nice with the other stuff in it)
