Got planning permission earlier on in the year for flats and 3 retail units beneath them. The retail units have not let so they went back to Mole Valley planning for a change of use (restaurant etc.) for 2 of the units. Apparently, ASK - the Italian restaurant chain have taken one of units and another 'upmarket' Italian restaurant/bar called Piccolino is going to open up adjacent to it.
Have also heard, that the former Woolworths is now 'under offer.' Great news - just hope it is a good quality clothing retailer rather than another cheapo pound shop!! Any news on what Woolies is expected to be would be very welcome.
What about the the GREAT NEWS. The farmers market is returning to almost the centre of town. Who ever dreamed up that idea to site it in South Street ?? The history of Dorking is slowly being re-drawn. The cobbled area on the High Sreet is where the market should be, thats where it always was. At long last we are heading in the right direction, this at least will help to get it back to its rightful home.
The St Martin's school Punishment Book records an entry showing that 2 boys were caned for "interfering with horses in the market place" i.e. releasing the bridles from the railings on the east side of the cobbles. This was before the market was transferred into what is now St Martin's Walk. What a difference the meaning of a word makes after 70 years.... Headmasters had no hesitation in punishing kids for out of school activities in those days! Indeed, society demanded it.. There are many similar out of school activity canings recorded - for breaking Westminster Bank window, upsetting Brownies' games on Meadowbank, wilfully damaging a local resident's garden flowers, even 'stealing from mother's purse whilst father away in the army' meaning that the lady actually arranged for her son to be caned! O Tempora, O Mores!
Betcha 10 quid that Dorking gets a 99p Store or a Poundland instead of a much needed store like a New Look, H&M, Wilkinson, Next etc. Also was is the relevance of the post above? People of Dorking let us try and bring the town into the 21st Century rather than spewing out some random facts from the past. Also question the wisdom of having two Italian restaurants next to one another in the former Harley Davidson's old site. Miss the Harley Davidson unit but hey, I wont go on about it. Alistair Darling
As I expecting a baby early next year, would be great if Dorking had a Mothercare, Early Learning Centre or a decent place to buy maternity and childrens' clothing. Somehow the M&S in Dorking does not quite cut it! Have noticed plenty of young mums have moved to the town over the last two to three years from the likes of Clapham, Wimbledon and Fulham and the only place that caters to them is the Starbucks on the High Street. It is absolutely crucial that the former Woolworths attracts a good tenant as, it is make or break for Dorking. Very pleased to hear that the market is relocating to South Street tomorrow (Tuesday) as it has been absolutely wasted down in the depths of the St Martins Walk car park. Gala night is coming up on Thursday and hopefully the very wet and dreary weather will be gone by then. Jo
Maybe Dorking will be blessed with a decent fast food restaurant like a McDonalds or a Burger King. Wimpy is so dated and needs a complete makeover. Dorking Kebab, KFC, Superdish are all so rancid and expensive. Can't see a good clothing retailer opening up in Dorking as the population is not big enough for a start and the vast of majority of us tend to go to Crawley, Guildford or Kingston! How about an indoor market for the ex-Woolies? Especially as the weather has been so dire recently.
Alastair. Not everyone wants to just whine about what shops Dorking hasn't got and I dont see that many contributors on this site have influence as to which shops will or will not open - unless they are entrepreneurs themselves... In view of the massive success of Poundland in many other towns I dont think it wise for a PeopleofDorking contributor to talk so disparagingly about such shops. If Poundland took over a shop like Woolworths it would completely change the face of that sad site.
A possible reason for the Cockerel's disappearance is the amount of moaning that his site was attracting so let's have a few more light hearted contributors "spewing out random facts from the past" in addition to the wish-lists of shops. Any shop (even adjacent Italian restaurants!)is better than an empty shop and at least the entrepreneurs behind them are doing more than just talking about it...
Hi Alistair You seem to have overlooked the 'relevance' of my 'random fact from the past'. Go back to 6th December post and you will see that contributor GOSSIP posted a comment about the market in which she said that the history of Dorking is slowly being re-drawn. She mentioned the High Street cobbles, where the market was and where she thinks it should be now and her hope that it may, one day, go back to its rightful home. My post was "a random fact from the past" about 2 schoolboys who were punished for untethering horses from the railings (still there?) in the market on the cobbles and which caused a certain major mayhem... This was in the 1920s. Eventually, the motorised traffic through the High Street became too heavy (the by-pass wasn't built until the mid 30s). So, the market went into its new home opposite and by the time I was going there on the way home from school in the 1940s "another spewed out random fact") the market, being clearly visible from the main street and not hidden away out of sight, was massive with many animals including Dorking chickens, many many stalls including a 'quack' doctor with medicine for virtually everything from a sore throat to sore feet, an auction room, even a man who repaired bicycle punctures while you waited! Everything you would want of a market. OK. You would not get the animals or the 'quacks' these days but a substantial, visible farmers' (or anybody else's) market would be a very good thing to help 'bring Dorking into the 21st century' to please Alistair....
I'll be visiting the market in its new site. Despite only having lived here for two years I always thought putting the markets in the car park, hidden away from all but locals, was a bad idea. Doking is a Historic Market Town according to the signs on the A24 - it should make sure that the markets are on show!
I think today's market is just a trial run to see how it works...fingers crossed - I think it's a lovely idea. Also very excited about a new deli opening in the old post office site...at last, some positive news about town... South Street Resident
The old South Street sub Post office was located at 45 South Street. It closed a couple of years ago and has been empty since. It was situated right next to the South Street Wine Bar. It just has been given approval by Mole Valley and I was under the impression that it was going to be an 'upmarket takeaway restaurant' selling things like rotisserie chicken etc.
Tuesday a wonderful day for Dorking. The market returns to the town. Now its done lets GET IT BACK in the High Street. South Street is to narrow the High Street is wide enough to take all the traffic while its on. The Friday Market can be up on the High Street. BROWN SQUIRREL
I know why don't we all just shop in Dorking, get all our friends and family to do the same, get the neighbours and the guy across the street, then we might have a chance of some decent shops coming instead of oh joy a libary in St Martins walk.
Got planning permission earlier on in the year for flats and 3 retail units beneath them. The retail units have not let so they went back to Mole Valley planning for a change of use (restaurant etc.) for 2 of the units. Apparently, ASK - the Italian restaurant chain have taken one of units and another 'upmarket' Italian restaurant/bar called Piccolino is going to open up adjacent to it.
ReplyDeleteHave also heard, that the former Woolworths is now 'under offer.' Great news - just hope it is a good quality clothing retailer rather than another cheapo pound shop!! Any news on what Woolies is expected to be would be very welcome.
Cricketers Chris
What about the the GREAT NEWS.
ReplyDeleteThe farmers market is returning to almost the centre of town.
Who ever dreamed up that idea to site it in South Street ??
The history of Dorking is slowly being re-drawn. The cobbled area on the High Sreet is where the market should be, thats where it always was.
At long last we are heading in the right direction, this at least will help to get it back to its rightful home.
The St Martin's school Punishment Book records an entry showing that 2 boys were caned for "interfering with horses in the market place" i.e. releasing the bridles from the railings on the east side of the cobbles. This was before the market was transferred into what is now St Martin's Walk. What a difference the meaning of a word makes after 70 years.... Headmasters had no hesitation in punishing kids for out of school activities in those days! Indeed, society demanded it.. There are many similar out of school activity canings recorded - for breaking Westminster Bank window, upsetting Brownies' games on Meadowbank, wilfully damaging a local resident's garden flowers, even 'stealing from mother's purse whilst father away in the army' meaning that the lady actually arranged for her son to be caned! O Tempora, O Mores!
ReplyDeleteDavid N
Betcha 10 quid that Dorking gets a 99p Store or a Poundland instead of a much needed store like a New Look, H&M, Wilkinson, Next etc. Also was is the relevance of the post above? People of Dorking let us try and bring the town into the 21st Century rather than spewing out some random facts from the past. Also question the wisdom of having two Italian restaurants next to one another in the former Harley Davidson's old site. Miss the Harley Davidson unit but hey, I wont go on about it.
ReplyDeleteAlistair Darling
As I expecting a baby early next year, would be great if Dorking had a Mothercare, Early Learning Centre or a decent place to buy maternity and childrens' clothing. Somehow the M&S in Dorking does not quite cut it! Have noticed plenty of young mums have moved to the town over the last two to three years from the likes of Clapham, Wimbledon and Fulham and the only place that caters to them is the Starbucks on the High Street. It is absolutely crucial that the former Woolworths attracts a good tenant as, it is make or break for Dorking. Very pleased to hear that the market is relocating to South Street tomorrow (Tuesday) as it has been absolutely wasted down in the depths of the St Martins Walk car park. Gala night is coming up on Thursday and hopefully the very wet and dreary weather will be gone by then. Jo
ReplyDeleteSorry forget the word 'am' before I and expecting. Must proof read my comment before it is posted. Jo
ReplyDeleteMaybe Dorking will be blessed with a decent fast food restaurant like a McDonalds or a Burger King. Wimpy is so dated and needs a complete makeover. Dorking Kebab, KFC, Superdish are all so rancid and expensive. Can't see a good clothing retailer opening up in Dorking as the population is not big enough for a start and the vast of majority of us tend to go to Crawley, Guildford or Kingston! How about an indoor market for the ex-Woolies? Especially as the weather has been so dire recently.
ReplyDeleteAlastair.
ReplyDeleteNot everyone wants to just whine about what shops Dorking hasn't got and I dont see that many contributors on this site have influence as to which shops will or will not open - unless they are entrepreneurs themselves... In view of the massive success of Poundland in many other towns I dont think it wise for a PeopleofDorking contributor to talk so disparagingly about such shops. If Poundland took over a shop like Woolworths it would completely change the face of that sad site.
A possible reason for the Cockerel's disappearance is the amount of moaning that his site was attracting so let's have a few more light hearted contributors "spewing out random facts from the past" in addition to the wish-lists of shops. Any shop (even adjacent Italian restaurants!)is better than an empty shop and at least the entrepreneurs behind them are doing more than just talking about it...
Hi Alistair
ReplyDeleteYou seem to have overlooked the 'relevance' of my 'random fact from the past'. Go back to 6th December post and you will see that contributor GOSSIP posted a comment about the market in which she said that the history of Dorking is slowly being re-drawn. She mentioned the High Street cobbles, where the market was and where she thinks it should be now and her hope that it may, one day, go back to its rightful home. My post was "a random fact from the past" about 2 schoolboys who were punished for untethering horses from the railings (still there?) in the market on the cobbles and which caused a certain major mayhem... This was in the 1920s. Eventually, the motorised traffic through the High Street became too heavy (the by-pass wasn't built until the mid 30s). So, the market went into its new home opposite and by the time I was going there on the way home from school in the 1940s "another spewed out random fact") the market, being clearly visible from the main street and not hidden away out of sight, was massive with many animals including Dorking chickens, many many stalls including a 'quack' doctor with medicine for virtually everything from a sore throat to sore feet, an auction room, even a man who repaired bicycle punctures while you waited! Everything you would want of a market. OK. You would not get the animals or the 'quacks' these days but a substantial, visible farmers' (or anybody else's) market would be a very good thing to help 'bring Dorking into the 21st century' to please Alistair....
David N
I'll be visiting the market in its new site. Despite only having lived here for two years I always thought putting the markets in the car park, hidden away from all but locals, was a bad idea. Doking is a Historic Market Town according to the signs on the A24 - it should make sure that the markets are on show!
ReplyDeleteI think today's market is just a trial run to see how it works...fingers crossed - I think it's a lovely idea. Also very excited about a new deli opening in the old post office site...at last, some positive news about town...
ReplyDeleteSouth Street Resident
Where is the old Post Office site?
ReplyDeleteThe old South Street sub Post office was located at 45 South Street. It closed a couple of years ago and has been empty since. It was situated right next to the South Street Wine Bar. It just has been given approval by Mole Valley and I was under the impression that it was going to be an 'upmarket takeaway restaurant' selling things like rotisserie chicken etc.
ReplyDeleteCricketers Chris
Tuesday a wonderful day for Dorking.
ReplyDeleteThe market returns to the town.
Now its done lets GET IT BACK in the High Street.
South Street is to narrow the High Street is wide enough to take all the traffic while its on.
The Friday Market can be up on the High Street.
BROWN SQUIRREL
I know why don't we all just shop in Dorking, get all our friends and family to do the same, get the neighbours and the guy across the street, then we might have a chance of some decent shops coming instead of oh joy a libary in St Martins walk.
ReplyDelete