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[mercuryg]

Well well well after all the hype and the great anticipation to the Grand opening of the Red Lion, Wetherspoons show how much it knows or cares about Bedlington. Who? Have they invited to open it, is it our home grown personality 'Tommy The Egg Man' No! Is it a sporting great in the vane of Alan Shearer? No! Is it the 'Big Cat' from the golf course? No! Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttttttts the one, the only The Great Mr Ian Lavery (MP)

MP in this case stands for MUPPET. Wetherspoons have committed a "Pomme de terre" (Del boy classic) here this bloke doesn't even know where Bedlington is! It's not even open yet and they've already lost 10 potential customers. Well done to your advertising and PR exec's Wetherspoons, fantastic, bye

That's incredible. Talk about not doing your market research. I have an idea - let's start a campaign: The Golf Course Lynx to Open The Red Lion!

[John Fox (foxy)]

They asked for council permission to demolish. It was granted on condition that rebuilding immediately follows! So either a care home or the ubiquitous block of flats!

As for the aesthetics, there was an old thread on this site with reference to what is being proposed there, and it isn't visually pleasing, in fact what was passed will dominate the street view.

[John Fox (foxy)]

They asked for council permission to demolish. It was granted on condition that rebuilding immediately follows! So either a care home or the ubiquitous block of flats!

As for the aesthetics, there was an old thread on this site with reference to what is being proposed there, and it isn't visually pleasing, in fact what was passed will dominate the street view.

My daughter who lives very close to Elliots garage phoned the council to ask what safety procedures would be in place while the asbestos was being removed, The man at the council said he wasn't sure but "just make sure you keep your windows shut on that day" Lets hope the weather does'nt pick up and we get a heatwave!

[Merlin]

Your daughter didn't get this man's name by any chance?

[Merlin]

Merc, an organism of the bubonic plague would be more welcome than this non entity!

[John Fox (foxy)]

Your daughter didn't get this man's name by any chance?

Sorry, he was a stand in for some absentee.She was told to ring back later for more "technical info"

[Merlin]

Sorry, he was a stand in for some absentee.She was told to ring back later for more "technical info"

This link might be of help to you foxy.

[tomtom]

Why in Gods name ask Ian Lavery to open the pub - I've never seen the man in Bedlington - come on Wetherspoons be a bit more progressive and lets have some person we all know!

[Merlin]

Why in Gods name ask Ian Lavery to open the pub - I've never seen the man in Bedlington - come on Wetherspoons be a bit more progressive and lets have some person we all know!

Wetherspoons are not interested in our views. I pointed out a few facts to them about this person on another site, there were a few others with the same views, low and behold all our posts were deleted and all that remains are the lick my backside posts and I'll lick yours.

Wetherspoons, what a start to life in Bedlington, not doing your homework, upsetting your potential clientele, what a chance you have thrown away with the people of Bedlington by inviting this non entity to visit our town never mind open one of our new business's! I can't even put into words how angry, and ashamed I am to have this man in Bedlington. Get on with it, you have absolutely no idea. I hope you have all the success in the world in Bedlington, but your opening day...........well that's another matter.

[Monsta®]

Well well well after all the hype and the great anticipation to the Grand opening of the Red Lion, Wetherspoons show how much it knows or cares about Bedlington. Who? Have they invited to open it, is it our home grown personality 'Tommy The Egg Man' No! Is it a sporting great in the vane of Alan Shearer? No! Is it the 'Big Cat' from the golf course? No! Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttttttts the one, the only The Great Mr Ian Lavery (MP)

MP in this case stands for MUPPET. Wetherspoons have committed a "Pomme de terre" (Del boy classic) here this bloke doesn't even know where Bedlington is! It's not even open yet and they've already lost 10 potential customers. Well done to your advertising and PR exec's Wetherspoons, fantastic, bye

whats alan shearer got to do with bedlington?

That's incredible. Talk about not doing your market research. I have an idea - let's start a campaign: The Golf Course Lynx to Open The Red Lion!

think it will be hard to get a hold off !

we could always get one of the perry's! (wheel clamper!)

[Pete]

whats alan shearer got to do with bedlington?

think it will be hard to get a hold off !

we could always get one of the perry's! (wheel clamper!)

[Merlin]

Monsta, I said "In the vane of Alan Shearer" not actually said person! Even Osoma Bin Laden would be more welcome than the person they invited!!!!!

[BigTessi]

Recruitment open day on Tuesday 12th October, at St Bedes Church. Starts at 11:00 am. Good Luck.

Also heard a whisper that they are only recruiting people on 'New Deal' this cannot be right, can it?

I was one of the people that went to the recruitment day and was 1st turned away as 11am was for people with secured appointments only( not as advertised!) then went back at 1pm to be again turned away as I wasn't armed with a CV. I then went home, typed up a CV and went back again ( more nosiness than needing a job)I eventually got a mini-interveiw to be told that they are opening on 16th november. They asked if I would be ok starting work at 5AM!!! When I questioned this I was told that they are planning on opening for breakfasts at 7am every morning! Is it just me or this this a bit hopeful in their eyes! I can't imagine many people wanting a greasy spoon breakfast at that time of a morning! Maybe they will have more luck at 9am when the kids get dropped off at school but I can imagine this will just aggravate the west end parking problems! Seems to me that the solution to one problem may create the escalation of another?

I didn't get called back for a second interview but my less than enthusiastic attitude at the 5am starts may have been a big factor in that!

[Malcolm Robinson]

I believe there was more than 350 applicants..........

I certainly agree with your assertion......''seems to me that the solution to one problem may create the escalation of another'' but this is what happens when there is no forward planning for the town in place!

[Monsta®]

sounds like hell! slavery or worse!

but thats the way the uk is going with a bunch of monkeys incharge!

[Vic Patterson]

What am I missing? why is everyone so negative towards the new owners? the negative tones appears in most of the strings being posted!

[Brian Cross]

What am I missing? why is everyone so negative towards the new owners? the negative tones appears in most of the strings being posted!

I am with you on this one Vic, what is wrong with what sounds like an aggressive new style business for Bedlington, and where is the problem in a 0500 start if you get a job..........Breakfasts at 0700 Great.

[Mr Darn]

I'm on this band wagon too.

The fact employment is being created, a cheaper place to socialise is coming to town, and the fact Bedlington is finally showing signs of development has to be good things in my book.

Personally, i'm not surprised local businesses want nothing to do with Bedlington.co.uk either. I tried to convince a relative that advertising her business here would be a good thing, and after spending a week or two watching the boards, she thinks its a place for children and schoolyard banter.

The thing that annoys me the most is this was noted and catered for early on, with the creation of Chat Central, yet the topics in TOTT are on par, if not worse for inappropriate comments and blatant flaming, and are rarely moderated even when reported.

The attacks on the local radio stations setting up here are a fine example. Its not even constructive, it just seems to be arguments for arguments sake.

I know my opinion here is worthless, and at best will just feed the fire. I just think there is such potential here, and it is being wasted.

I can honestly say i am embarrassed to say i still visit these boards when the topic arises, and just cannot think of a good reason to recommend the website any more.

"So why do you still come here?" i hear you ask?

I just don't know. I guess i just like the attention.

[Andy Millne]

after spending a week or two watching the boards, she thinks its a place for children and schoolyard banter.

The problem is not with the people posting it lies with the people *not* posting.

If your relative does not post and contribute to the site herself how can she complain about the content?

The tools are there for people to use, if they choose not to then there is very little we can do for them.

You are beginning to create a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy Mr Darn. Perhaps your welcomed enthusiasm and positivity for the town could also be directed to it's website?

[Brian Cross]

The problem is not with the people posting it lies with the people *not* posting.

If your relative does not post and contribute to the site herself how can she complain about the content?

The tools are there for people to use, if they choose not to then there is very little we can do for them.

You are beginning to create a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy Mr Darn. Perhaps your welcomed enthusiasm and positivity for the town could also be directed to it's website?

Well said 4G

[Malcolm Robinson]

What am I missing? why is everyone so negative towards the new owners? the negative tones appears in most of the strings being posted!

Vic/Brian,

I am not sure 'negative' is the right word maybe 'fearful'? We now have one of the country's most aggressive pub chains in the town and they will claw their market share by whatever means necessary. Let's not kid ourselves this is a slick operation targeting a specific marketplace and within that they have achieved market dominance. The recently announced 'austerity' measures by our Gov and increasing price inflation will mean less disposable incomes for just about everyone here and putting the two together I can see only one conclusion, but that bet still stands!

If we now consider the Tesco expansion, again another aggressive national player, I think the face of Bedlington will change. What we should be doing is recognising that and working with it to lever in more investment into the town instead of sitting back taking a supine stance.

[Mr Darn]

The problem is not with the people posting it lies with the people *not* posting.

If your relative does not post and contribute to the site herself how can she complain about the content?

I've spoke to her, RE: your above comment and this is what she had to say:

"I would love to use the local website to both discuss local issues and promote my new business, but if i want a meaningful conversation about the town and its future, i'll go to an official meeting, not the local pub."

I guess she's a lost cause now.

To make sure i cast no further negativity on the website, i'll now keep my opinions to myself. I'm sure everyone now knows how i feel on the subject, and will try to be more positive in future posts, or say nothing at all.

If you wish to continue this at all, feel free to use my Messenger.

---------------------------------------------------

On another note, i think the Red Lion is coming along great!

After several months of watching the place deteriorate, its nice to notice a new face on it as i passed through this week.

That along with the Market Tavern's face lift and the new (?) signage on Moby Dicks and John Grenfells funeral directors, i think these are all positive steps for the image of the town. Shame about the Top Club though

Is it time to start naming and shaming those shop fronts that are letting us down? or is there another route we can take to levy a little bit of pressure?

[mercuryg]

Am I the only one who thinks Wetherspoons will be a complete failure?

For a start, nobody is going to go for breakfast at 7am. This isn't a town with a major transport terminus that allows for people with a little time to spare before their bus/train leaves. Opening at 7am can only cater for locals, as nobody comes into Bedlington at that time otherwise. They will soon knock that on the head as a needless expense.

Next is th question of where the trade is going to come from. I have had conversations in the many pubs with people who believe that when it opens people will flock from miles around to come to the new Wetherspoons. Why would they? Ashington has their own anyway, Blyth has cheap pubs; the only trade that Wetherspoons will attract will be, again, local. Great, the beer is cheap and the food is cheap too, and I will safely bet that for the first couple of weeks the place will attract a lot of interested punters - i'll go and have a look for a start, and other like me undoubtedly will - but if the attraction of a drinking joint was price alone we would all drink in the clubs and the pubs would be shut.

This isn't going to suddenly revive Bedlington in any way at all; beer is still very cheap in the supermarkets, people don't suddenly have any more money to spend, and it's just another pub. Those of us who frequent our local pubs do so not just to pour ten pints down our neck, but to have a bit of a natter, get out of the office, the house, whatever, and relax and have a laugh. I'm afraid that 50p off a pint isn't going to do it for me - and others like me - if the place is as sterile, boring and downright unwelcoming as other Wetherspoons establishments I;ve visited. And it certainly isn't going to attract a mass of people from neighbouring towns who suddenly see Bedlington's Wetherspoons as The Place To Be.

I doubt it will last long at all.

On another note, I wouldn't advertise my local business on this site. While I enjoy it, it doesn't present the right tone.

[Malcolm Robinson]

Is it time to start naming and shaming those shop fronts that are letting us down? or is there another route we can take to levy a little bit of pressure?

A few are taking advantage of the THI funding initiative and we should soon see them with much better frontages.

[Monsta®]

Am I the only one who thinks Wetherspoons will be a complete failure?

For a start, nobody is going to go for breakfast at 7am. This isn't a town with a major transport terminus that allows for people with a little time to spare before their bus/train leaves. Opening at 7am can only cater for locals, as nobody comes into Bedlington at that time otherwise. They will soon knock that on the head as a needless expense.

Next is th question of where the trade is going to come from. I have had conversations in the many pubs with people who believe that when it opens people will flock from miles around to come to the new Wetherspoons. Why would they? Ashington has their own anyway, Blyth has cheap pubs; the only trade that Wetherspoons will attract will be, again, local. Great, the beer is cheap and the food is cheap too, and I will safely bet that for the first couple of weeks the place will attract a lot of interested punters - i'll go and have a look for a start, and other like me undoubtedly will - but if the attraction of a drinking joint was price alone we would all drink in the clubs and the pubs would be shut.

This isn't going to suddenly revive Bedlington in any way at all; beer is still very cheap in the supermarkets, people don't suddenly have any more money to spend, and it's just another pub. Those of us who frequent our local pubs do so not just to pour ten pints down our neck, but to have a bit of a natter, get out of the office, the house, whatever, and relax and have a laugh. I'm afraid that 50p off a pint isn't going to do it for me - and others like me - if the place is as sterile, boring and downright unwelcoming as other Wetherspoons establishments I;ve visited. And it certainly isn't going to attract a mass of people from neighbouring towns who suddenly see Bedlington's Wetherspoons as The Place To Be.

I doubt it will last long at all.

On another note, I wouldn't advertise my local business on this site. While I enjoy it, it doesn't present the right tone.

sure it will fail but im sure the first couple of weeks it will be packed (with youngins!) so they can alway open a creche and soft play to make ends meet!