Forum Topic

We don't need a starbucks/nero/coffee republic etc..

I was in the Weir the other night and there was a whinging lady in a suit saying how crap Brentford is because it still hasn't got a proper coffee culture atmposphere as with most regenerated areas of London. This was reason for her not to buy a flat in the area and look to Ealing instead!I simply had to butt in say to her that we have at least two very decent local home grown coffee shops, one at the lock and one on the high street and both had great customer service and coffee that was probably far superior to the burnt tasting muck Starbucks serves up.  I also said that Brentford people could manage well enough without one of these coffee chains rogering local business enterprise.It got me thinking with the on-going redevelopment of out high street is there anything we can do to keep the creeping of these national chains away from us and stop the high street from becoming "High Street Anywhere."  The people of Primrose Hill managed to stop Nandos and Starbucks from opening places.  I know we are alot different, but I'm thinking ahead here.  Should we not be quite vigilant at this point in time that the on-going changes to the High Street won't turn it into Chiswick Part 2, crammed full of the same old names that make it that little bit less interesting.  The Evening Standards' Save our High Street Campaign has highlighted the problems faced by high street areas regenerating. So what do you all think?

Conal Stewart ● 7194d16 Comments

Hi everyone, my first forum post!I live at the Brentford Lock development, and should like to point out that one of the reasons for the commercial properties still being empty so far on the "Piazza" (as they refer to it!) is mainly because of local residents blocking applications for alcohol and entertainment licenses, which so far EVERY business interested in these units has applied for. Already on the development there are two properties with an alcohol license (The very cool Grounds, and CostCutter) so surely there is no need for any more here? Brentford already is infamous for the amount of public houses (and drinkers!) it has, and I guess we feel enough is enough. We certainly don't want our homes to be direcetly above a square that seems to be devoted to drink, and drinkers. Having said that, it does seem inevitable, given that one of the units (which faces the High Street by the stairs) is purpose built to be a public house, and another, opposite Grounds, is believed to be a restaurant, part of a chain, which will sell alcohol too but hopefully shouldn't be too rowdy. The shame is, Grounds does bring character to the area, and I agree wholeheartedly with the rest of the posts that it is this character that is most important to the new development, and Brentford as a whole, but I think the chains will eventually move in.

Danielle May ● 7174d

The numbers who turned out for the Waterside Festival yesterday despite the dodgy weather shows that people will come down if there's a reason.Conal is absolutely right in saying that we should try and avoid looking like just about about every town centre in Britain. For me, there's two parts to it. It's regrettable that there has to be the same shops in every High Street but what makes it worse is that it's made every town centre look the same.Next time you're in Chiswick, or Nottingham, or Oldham, or wherever, look up from the shops. You'll probably see some nice Victorian or early C20 buildings. Look down and it's the same plate glass logos and corporate identities.The Evening Standard are on the right lines with their campaign. Also worth looking at a report by the NEF, New Economics Foundation, on Clone Towns - http://www.neweconomics.org/gen/news_clonetown.aspx

Matt Harmer ● 7190d

Conal makes a good point. I think perhaps a few of us think we can't afford to be picky yet. It's almost as though these chain Coffee shops put an area on the map.I often feel like there are more people on this Forum than there are on the streets of Brentford, espesially at night. I went out last Saturday and the High street was a ghost town apart from some youths who on first impression were quite scary, but turned out to be quite charming.

Justin Anderson ● 7191d

when 'grounds' first opened i made comment that never heard of it, due to no advertising. the owner did say this  was on purpose whilst they found their feet. not sure maybe he can answer the question. i am sure it will have its busiest day so far tomorrow with the waterside fete going on. lets hope the weather is nice for it.

M Dowling ● 7192d

Perhaps wider advertising is called for. Part of the problem must be that it is the only unit that has been taken up and opened in that square. If the other units were taken up, offering a more lively environment, and especially if the High Street frontages by the steps leading to the square were open, there would be more incentive for passers by to enter the square to see what was there. At present, the coffee shop is a solitary provider unseen from the High Street. This being one of the better developments despite the height, it has a potentially attractive congregating point with this square that deserves to succeed.The fact that so many of the retail units lie dormant does call into question the value of any further High Street development. I'm all for the unpleasant, dated shops we have now being replaced with more attractive ones, but it seems doubtful that this will suffice of itself to attract trade and traders.The shortage of either in the first of the High Street new-builds, must I suppose cause us to wonder whether or not we already have the High Street we deserve and want?

Nigel Moore ● 7193d

'grounds' is no longer opening at 7 but changed to 9am due to not enough customer demand.TBH i pass frequently when i take ds to feed the ducks and have never seen more than a couple of people in there.

M Dowling ● 7193d

If there was a way to achieve Conal's objective I would support it.It must in the end I suppose, come down to the eventual freeholder of the premises that get built, and hopefully they would see the benefit in a sense of place providing a bigger draw when selecting tenants.Nothing wrong with saying what we'd like at this stage,- after all, we ended up with "Grounds" because people here said that was the sort of place they wanted.

Nigel Moore ● 7193d

Again, I agree with you that Brentford should retain a unique "sense of place". But I've always found that one of the advantages of Brentford is its proximity to places like Ealing, Chiswick and Richmond.What do you have against Chiswick by the way? Not that I want to open another can of worms (refer to Isleworth TW7 thread!).

James de Vivenot ● 7193d

Well we know that and I supose ther is a degree of powerlessness but we do need to try and do something and we should be ensuring that the redevelopment of the high street provides some assurances for local businesses.  I don't particularly want Brentford to look like Ealing. I don't want it to be like Chiswick either... for many reasons.

Conal Stewart ● 7193d

I agree with your sentiments and personally I will always try and support small local businesses where they offer a  good value alternative to the standard fare offered by the big chains.However, realistically speaking whilst much has been said on this forum and elsewhere about the desirability of ensuring that the redeveloped high street does not become a "clone town", when push comes to shove, people tend to vote with their wallets and head to the nearest big name coffee shop, fast food restaurant, high street retailer or out of town shopping mall.

James de Vivenot ● 7194d

I agree quite nice especially if you like Peri Peri but its just a thought that we do need to make sure that Brentford High Street has something different to offer when it is being redeveloped however some may scoff at it...Making sure we don't end up like everywhere else around is has to be something to be valued.

Conal Stewart ● 7194d

Mmmmm...Nandos!! :-)

James de Vivenot ● 7194d

It doesn't seem that it needs another Chippy anyway.

William E Hughes ● 7194d

I don't see it as a question of being picky.. have you read the Save Our High Streets Campaign at all?

Conal Stewart ● 7194d

Brentford High Street being "picky" like Primrose Hill and Hampstead.....please pick me up off the floor when I finish laughing.

Nick Jenkins ● 7194d

There'll be no retail infrastructure improvement until the ABC1 demograph increases. You pays your money...

The Pseudometer ● 7194d