I live in Basildon. We lost M&S about 10 years back. I don't think we've even got a Weatherspoons any more. Good luck getting a Gails in the town centre here!
What wasn't mentioned by any of those locals was the fact that the shop space now occupied by Gails was once an independently owned pizza restaurant. Complaining about a chain coming onto the street is a tad ironic when the independent business that was there before wasn't supported enough by the locals.
Quite often it is greedy landlords jacking up the price forcing the independents to close and only the big chains can afford it. Small business can't compete with the economies of scale.
l grew up in Walthamstow it's always absorbed new people as others move out so tastes will change. Blocking off all the roads and crazy parking restrictions didn't work for me. Growing up didn't realise Walthamstow Village was going to be exclusive used to walk through it all the time. Was proud of the counter protests to the riots and the fact that all the residents got together and lifted a bus of a guy after it ran over him. Things like that make me groud to say I grew up there.
I’m far more peeved that Waltham Forest council has allowed two new large, cumbersome, overbearing tower blocks to be built and loom over predominantly low rose Walthamstow High Road adjacent to the Viccy Line tube station. Its wrecked the vibe in the area!
There are maybe five independent shops always empty, nobody use them. The Spar is more expensive than Waitrose and the local people behave as if the village is Portofino.
Walthamstow village is not a diverse blah blah community. Has always been gentrified with properties costing a fortune. What are they complaining about?
Would you like a Gail's Bakery at the end of your road?
I live in Basildon. We lost M&S about 10 years back. I don't think we've even got a Weatherspoons any more. Good luck getting a Gails in the town centre here!
Is there a decent bookshop in Walthamstow? There's The Owl in Kentish Town, which is rather nice.
Yes great coffee and not bad cakes just a short walk away sounds great.
What wasn't mentioned by any of those locals was the fact that the shop space now occupied by Gails was once an independently owned pizza restaurant.
Complaining about a chain coming onto the street is a tad ironic when the independent business that was there before wasn't supported enough by the locals.
Quite often it is greedy landlords jacking up the price forcing the independents to close and only the big chains can afford it. Small business can't compete with the economies of scale.
l grew up in Walthamstow it's always absorbed new people as others move out so tastes will change. Blocking off all the roads and crazy parking restrictions didn't work for me. Growing up didn't realise Walthamstow Village was going to be exclusive used to walk through it all the time. Was proud of the counter protests to the riots and the fact that all the residents got together and lifted a bus of a guy after it ran over him. Things like that make me groud to say I grew up there.
I’m far more peeved that Waltham Forest council has allowed two new large, cumbersome, overbearing tower blocks to be built and loom over predominantly low rose Walthamstow High Road adjacent to the Viccy Line tube station. Its wrecked the vibe in the area!
Typo! *Hoe Street* not High Road!!🙈🤣
There are maybe five independent shops always empty, nobody use them. The Spar is more expensive than Waitrose and the local people behave as if the village is Portofino.
Never heard of Gails…. Until now!
Love this - 1:30 seconds in, this is so cool and needed - I like their rosemary cakes - but lets support the independents!
Noooooooo, EAT17 shutdown to make way for Gail’s! Me & Mrs use to love their breakfast!
Walthamstow village is not a diverse blah blah community. Has always been gentrified with properties costing a fortune. What are they complaining about?
Walthamstow has such amazing independent coffee places we don’t need Gail’s our places are genuinely so much better!
Is this some Southern thing I'm too Northern to understand?
haha the entire city has long been gentrefied beyond dispute, that Horse has long bolted. The whole city is for the rich and no one else