The Glassworks

Ob

Obviously fake news.

 

Yep, you quite clearly avoided my earlier post, which shows the vast amount of rebuilding going on in the city centre.

 

Warning - humour by-pass alert.

 

Sheffield deserves better, but it’s falling further and further behind Leeds and seems low on the lists for further investment. I’d much rather go into Leeds.

 

Last time we went it was an absolute wreck. The Missis Sheffield born and bred was shocked at how bad its got. Not to say it can improve but there’s a long way to go.

 

The CEO of Poundland has a strategy to grow the business and move away from it's original style. Combining the existing old style stores into one new one at M&S,makes corporate sense. However what costs would be involved is difficult to assess, my belief is that M&S own the Freehold to their store. We are in the midst of a long standing recession here in the UK, despite what the politicians say.

 

Hi Walkley Tyke, what do you feel about the news that came out yesterday regarding the old John Lewis Store and it being given Grade 2 listing. Do you feel this will be a hindrance to the city's regeneration? I remember the council and Radio Sheffield asking the public for ideas,most sensible one's involved demolition and creating something new,residential perhaps. I got the impression listening to the cabinet member responsible, that it's put a spoke in their plans and wasn't of their doing.

 

According to this article they don’t own the Barnsley store:

https://www.drapersonline.com/news/us-investor-plans-to-sell-ms-stores

It might’ve been sold off and leased back at some point when they were really struggling.

 

Wow,that's a surprise Freddie, M&S saw owning their stores as a valuable asset. Anyway,I hope the improvements the council are making and have made,continue, it's making a great difference to the town.

 

What’s happening with the Glassworks media team of late they really are slacking now most big names are out. Dolly’s desserts announced on their TikTok that they had their keys for the new unit and were in the process of fitting it out yet nothing from the Glassworks has ever been announced and today I was in town. And low and behold Black and White the new bar is open for business out of the blue! But over on the glassworks media platforms it’s still telling us that the salt bar is now open.

I know to some it may be trivial but these people are investing in the town and this development yet they are not getting any sort of publication of their business even opening or agreeing terms. Poor really

 

Looks like TIG got too big for its boots (am l right in thinking they own all 4 of the squares bars?) Been in the Salthouse a few times now, missus sent more cocktails back - one tasted nothing like - shaker not cleaned from the previous cocktail. Inexperienced staff trying to make them, huge queues, no organisation, staff shouting at each other. Not necessarily the staffs fault, probably not trained adequately.

You cant charge the same price for cocktails as city bars do if you haven't got the expertise to make them. Same in the black and white (whichever way round) bar today, badly organised. Botanist should be open shortly to show them how to carry on.

 

Their venues look decent and they’re obviously trying to attract a certain type of clientele in Barnsley, but the service needs to be good to keep people coming back. Fingers crossed it’s just teething problems, although they’re probably not paying enough to attract the best staff. I find they have the music way too loud in Cucina and it ruins the atmosphere for me.

A couple of small updates:

Fit out of TGI Fridays seems to be moving a bit now so I’d expect that to open soon. At a guess I’d say October.

Flannels opens in 3 weeks (8th September I think). External signage is up and you can now see the fit out progressing inside.

I don’t think The Botanist will open until late Autumn. I thought the fit out had already started but I think it was just preparatory work to merge the two separate units into one. Happy to be corrected on that one as I’m really not sure.

Obviously most people have heard about Cineworld and their current financial issues*, but it’s still on track to open on the 23rd September.

*From what I understand (and I’m no financial expert) they basically want to file a certain type of bankruptcy so they can transfer debts to shares in the company. It’ll reduce the amount of debt they owe and dilute the value of the company for a bit, but will allow it to keep trading. They’re blaming Covid and a lack of blockbuster titles to bring in the audiences which will have had some impact, but the reality is they expanded into the US and bought a chain that was laden with debt. They attempted to buy a Canadian chain and then backed out and ended up being sued for an obscene amount of money. These poor decisions at boardroom level have left them in a mess, but even if it all goes tits up they could try and split up the business. It’s much better for all parties to get the one in town open and officially part of Cineworld’s UK portfolio than it being abandoned at such a late stage. A mothballed cinema with no operator is the last thing Barnsley needs.

 

When the glassworks is complete (and the bridge built), what next?

Is the town done or is more to be done on Eldon Street?

 

I haven't been to Salt House or Black and White, been to Cucina and Barista in Penistone, nice places but they all seem incredibly similar. All serve the same lagers and the odd craft ale, focus being on cocktails, similar food - doesn't seem to be much effort to introduce some variety to whats being offered.

But, it is nice to have these sorts of places in Barnsley, nice decor and that.

 

Yes. I’d assume about 8-10 weeks for fit out. I do think they’d initially planned to open in Summer. There’s been a bit of back and forth with the council on the plans for external signage, but all that’s been resolved now.

On another note, and not Glassworks related, the plans for the former Pizza Hut at Peel Retail Park have been approved. It’s being split in two. Half will be a tanning shop and the other half will be converted to a drive thru. The planning report seems to suggest it’s not going to be a fast food operator. I guess I’ll find out more on that one soon enough.

 

The Courthouse development and the rest of the recently adopted Urbed town centre strategy will be the next big projects. Eldon Street has got funding for improvements, but it’s not really a major project.

 

Isn't the Eldon street funding supposed to be applied for and used within a certain timeframe or have I imagined that?

 

The eateries in the market kitchen are brilliant. Jar Bar and Rajah foods being two examples.