Non-football related post, but it looks like one of these is opening at The Glassworks: https://www.boombattlebar.co.uk/
I'm getting a little worried about the glassworks. After the museum's have opened and seeing just how much space is going to be taken up by the NHS centre it leaves very little room for shops especially with how a few shops are taking several units. Feels like there's going to be hardly any shops there which I think could see a big drop in footfall. And that's if the long awaited flannels, River island and Cineworld ever actually open. The problem with offering them long term rent free deals is that it's costing them absolutely nothing not to bother opening until they feel the economy has picked up which could be years.
Have you seen the plans for the NHS centre? It’s taking a tiny unit for an entrance on the ground floor and then the upper floors of smaller units - one of them being one of the museums. As far as I’m aware Flannels is due to open in February/March. Nando’s is currently being fitted out. TGI Friday’s have taken one of the biggest restaurant units and the two restaurants underneath Cineworld are now under offer meaning all the restaurants will be occupied.
Yes I've seen it, I was a bit disappointed that it was taking up so much of the upper floor. It's 4 units in total isn't it? I had assumed that the museums were a temporary measure to fill empty space until they were rented out but now I get the feeling they're more permanent I had expected it to basically be full of shops at some point but so far 20 units within the actual covered section of the glassworks are leased out and when all 20 of them open it's only actually 6 shops, at present because some are delaying opening its 20 leased and just 4 shops. As I said, I don't feel that's enough to sustain any footfall and once budgets bridge opens I think it will drop dramatically as anyone going to the entertainment area will park in market gate carpark and use the bridge leaving the shopping area empty with no reason to walk in. I'm also slightly disappointed (just personally) that it seems the the square is going to have more bars in it than restaurants but that's just personal preference. Out of interest where do you find information on the upcoming venues and shops because I look at the planning explorer regularly but don't see many updates.
The NHS centre is taking unit SU15 and the upper floors of units SU14 and SU19. I don’t yet know who is taking SU20 but that’s under offer from someone else. In terms of restaurants/bars around the square, R2 will be The Salt House R3 - Unknown R4 - Nando’s R5 - TGI’s R6 - Unknown R7 - Unknown R9a - Black & White Therefore, it’s hard to tell yet whether more will be bars than restaurants. L2 is Boom Battle Bar. I find my information from a number of places. Most of it can be found publicly via LinkedIn, online articles, and the council planning portal etc. A number of the units now have licensing notices in the windows and that lists the applicant
I thought l2 was the big one above the market that they wanted to be some kind of gym or something? Sad that they've settled for another bar instead. Town wil be taken over by them soon
L2 = Leisure Unit 2. It’s the upstairs space above JD and Deichmann with an entrance just after JD on the new arcade. These types of bars are all the rage these days. They have games like shuffleboard, beer pong, crazy golf and food and drink etc.
It might stop the 100’s of folk who piss off to Leeds every weekend then and get them spending there brass in Barnsley, a get what your saying about bars but it’s the bigger picture.........more revenue for taxi drivers, local food outlets and the clothing shops.......folk like to look dapper these days so it’ll hopefully drive the sales up in local clothing shops, personally I think when Flannels open it will be a big success for the town
Oh I'm sure the bars will help with things I'd just personally have preferred more restaurants than bars as I think they go better with the bowling and Cineworld. Flannels could go one way or the other. Either it will drag the place up a little by being more upmarket or it will be a huge flop. Again though if its successful (which I hope it is) then it's a shame that there won't actually be much room around it for more upmarket shops as we've given a large amount of space to museums, a mini hospital and a huge low market, 'fun' bar. Biggest disappointment of the lot for me is that the indoor market is empty with loads of wasted space so would have been a prime location to put the clinic in rather than on the same 'boulevarde' as flannels taking up 3 upper floor and 1 ground floor units. I'm also slightly concerned that that it's making the place very inaccessible for wheelchair users and those who are unsteady on their feet in general or parents. I know there are lifts available but 2 is nowhere near enough for the size of the multi story and rather than creating a ground floor and upper floor that people can move around on we seem to have gone down the approach of having doorways that people need to then go upstairs in. Cineworld has the entrance on ground floor but that's it, just an entrance. You then have to go upstairs. Bowling is nothing but a dark doorway leading straight to an escalator. NHS clinic? Doorway leading to stairs and a lift. Boom battle bar? Doorway leading to stairs or lift. Unit l3.small entrance leading to stairs or lift for the main unit upstairs. Carpark? Foyer leading to stairs or lift Market kitchen. Entrance leading to stairs or lift. Probably being overly critical with that (I know, you're shocked right) but it seems like a bit of a pain for any disabled person or someone with a pram having to use a series of individual lifts to access anywhere because we didn't install any kind of balcony or walkway upstairs.
Not for me , I'm all for supporting better shops, I like Frank Birds , but flannels, no way will I give any of my money to that **** house Ashley
that explains something! Flannels has just opened in Portsmouth… up the top end of town which is a bit run down compared to the bottom end, wondered why it was there but it’s in an ex sports direct unit
Intriguing choice. I'd shop at flannels but not Frank birds. Frank bird ltd became ashworth and bird ltd, but trading as Frank bird, with a new jersey based director, quickly went into admin owing £665k, including to my mate for his wedding suit hire for a dozen lads, no dividend to creditors, then phoenixed in its current form, assets having been bought by a jersey based company Frank bird jersey limited for £25k. no fan of Ashley but small isn't always beautiful. Have a fish round on the companies House website.
I can't wait till all the folk who are regularly eating and drinking in Leeds, Sheff abd Wakey see what Barnsley has ! The only issue i see is the lack of reputable taxis but at a fraction of wha5 some must be paying from Leeds surely a betrer option.
Talling of disabled access, full marks to whoever was in charge of seating. I think it looks really nice and there's plenty of it. The problems going to be what happens with the Alahmbra.
From what I can gather they acquired the infrastructure arm of NMCN after it was placed in admin, however, I haven’t seen anything to confirm which projects they’ve taken on - news articles do suggest some infrastructure projects weren’t transferred to Keltbray. NMCN was definitely awarded the contract to build the bridge by the council so the assumption would be it has been transferred. I’d assume this has delayed construction slightly as work was meant to start in December. If it hasn’t been transferred then god knows when the work will start. I know contracts contain confidential info, but BMBC really should provide an update if the work doesn’t start soon.
Frank Bird is now back in Barnsley ownership. Malcolm Bird is one of the Directors. It was Malcolm who sold Frank Birds to Jersey based Richard Clews. https://www.wearebarnsley.com/news/9989/menswear-shop-back-in-fashion https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12032026/officers
I've a feeling we'll eventually end up with a down-graded ( i.e. cheaper) version and continued matchday road closures.