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Bishop Auckland bustles, despite its empty Woolies

Graham Soult February 28, 2010 Department Stores, Independent Stores, Market Towns, Woolworths 1 Comment

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Gregory's bakers in Bishop Auckland (6 Feb 2010). Photograph by Graham Soult

Gregory's bakers in Bishop Auckland (6 Feb 2010)

The recent focus upon all that’s been happening in Newcastle means that I haven’t had as much time as I would like to explore some other topics of interest – there are at least half a dozen on my ‘to do’ list.  

One thing I’ve been … Continue Reading

Tamworth Market: the worst street market in Britain?

Graham Soult January 26, 2010 Market Towns, Property 3 Comments

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George Street, Tamworth (24 Dec 2009)

George Street, Tamworth (24 Dec 2009)

Take a look at the photograph above, captured in Tamworth’s main shopping street just before Christmas. Now, from a retailing point of view, see if you can work out what’s wrong with that scene.

To the right of the man in the photograph are some of Tamworth’s permanent shops – the lifeblood of the town centre. To the left of him are the backs of market stalls, … Continue Reading

Taking a look around Alnwick

Graham Soult January 24, 2010 Independent Stores, Market Towns, Property, Variety Stores, Woolworths No Comments

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Former Woolworths (now M&Co), Alnwick (23 Jan 2010). Photograph by Graham Soult

Former Woolworths (now M&Co), Alnwick (23 Jan 2010)

I’m ashamed to say that in more than a decade of living in the North East, I’d never – until yesterday – paid a proper visit to the attractive and historic Northumberland market town of Alnwick – named by Country Life magazine, in 2002, as the “best place to live … Continue Reading

Durham – a rare blip in the Waitrose success story

Graham Soult October 07, 2009 Market Towns, Property, Retail History, Supermarkets 2 Comments

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Waitrose fascia

Waitrose fascia

In recent weeks, hardly a day has gone by without some good news involving Waitrose – if it isn’t stellar sales figures, it’s been news about stocking 100% British own-brand dairy products, snapping up Duchy Originals, … Continue Reading