Many many businesses DEAD

[Slave]

I've seen Bargain Booze, but didn't realise they were a chain. I thought they were just grotty little indie off licences.

Same here - and I can't honestly say that if I HAVE ever been in one, I thought it was particularly cheap or I'm fairly sure I'd shop there more often.

Given how cheap (and prominent) alcohol is in supermarkets these days, off-licences must be having a fairly hard time of it.

 

[jivafox]

HOW has Bargain Booze gone bust?!

 

[lolly]

Are THORNTONS still limping on? We lost our last central shop a couple of weeks back. We had three going back a few years.

I think they made a mistake going into supermarkets with their boxed chocolates. I mean I don't think they are any better than Cadbury anyway, but it cheapened them. I think they have been squeezed out of both ends of the market, and ended up appealing to hardly anyone.

 

[lolly]

HOW has Bargain Booze gone bust?!

I suspect like Slave says, cheap supermarkets that are open longer hours.

 

[Zu]

I think there’s still a Thorntons in Liverpool Street station, not that I ever go there. Naturally as the glamorous urban sophisticate I prefer to go to Hotel Chocolat for exquisite cocoa-based gifts *smug face emoji*

I think Thorntons are much better than Cadbury’s though. I had a look at the Milk Tray ingredients a while ago and it’s all soy and muck

 

[wendy the Go_At]

Our local Bargain Booze (previously called Rythmn & Booze ) sells fabulous polish alcopops for a quid.
I must stock up before they close.

 

[octophone]

Thorntons still have a shop on Sauchiehall Street. They must be gutted that they weren't in the bit that went up in smoke...

 

[Slave]

I think they made a mistake going into supermarkets with their boxed chocolates. I mean I don't think they are any better than Cadbury anyway, but it cheapened them. I think they have been squeezed out of both ends of the market, and ended up appealing to hardly anyone.

I don’t know whether it’s “cheapened” them as such. I just wonder if it’s driven people away from their stores somewhat. My experience of Thornton’s is that they probably make a lot of money on impulse purchases but that relies on people going there in the first place.

 

[Slave]

Also, there’s the fact that loads of “luxury” chocolate brands are available in most supermarkets these days.

 

[Indie]

grotty little indie

HOW RUDE

 

[AGinAg (37)]

Thorntons Mini Caramel Shortcakes are one of the best things I have eaten put in my mouth. That is all.

 

[lolly]

Also, there’s the fact that loads of “luxury” chocolate brands are available in most supermarkets these days.

True, but did those have stores of their own to drive customers away from?

I just think that Tesco putting them on the shelves next to Roses and Quality Street did them no real favours long term; whereas before getting someone a box of Thorntons felt vaguely 'special', I think it lost that somewhat when they went into the supermarkets and could be bought in the same place you bought your baked beans and Toilet Duck - even if you can still buy Green and Blacks or whatever there as well.

They just feel kind of lost to me now - too (relatively) expensive to be a cheap treat, but too cheap tasting to be a special treat.

 

[Zu]

Exactly. Once the exclusivité of having to get them from a (overstating it somewhat here) boutique store has gone and they’re just up the aisle from the Penguins, bang goes the cachet

 

[Zu]

I always think of Lindt as being high class, even though it’s just up the aisle from, etc. It must be the gold leaf

I thought this might be because you don’t get Lindt shops (at least in London), although apparently there’s one in WEMBLEY

 

[lolly]

Particularly when Hotel Chocolat have muscled in on the High St in their place. I know they are up another price point again, but they have a perception of exclusivity and luxury that Thorntons can't compete with now.

 

[lolly]

To be honest, I'm happier with a packet of McVities chocolate caramel digestives than most of anything Thorntons or Hotel Chocolat have to offer. And if I fancy a proper chocolate hit, most of the supermarket premium own label bars are jolly good, and under two quid a bar to boot.

 

[lolly]

I always think of Lindt as being high class, even though it’s just up the aisle from, etc. It must be the gold leaf

I thought this might be because you don’t get Lindt shops (at least in London), although apparently there’s one in WEMBLEY

I like Lindt because it's CREAMY. I guess it depends what sort of moment you're having.

I still also get a little excited when I find a place selling a good range of MILKA

 

[Zu]

Particularly when Hotel Chocolat have muscled in on the High St in their place. I know they are up another price point again, but they have a perception of exclusivity and luxury that Thorntons can't compete with now.

I think it’s the design of the boxes, which is really rather fabulous, and the special occasion sleeves add a certain sine qua non. Also, they always seem to continue to bring out exciting new selections which poor dear sad old Mr and Mrs Thornton almost never do

 

[lolly]

I think it’s the design of the boxes, which is really rather fabulous. Also, they always seem to continue to bring out exciting new selections which poor dear sad old Mr and Mrs Thornton almost never do

Giving someone a box of Hotel Chocolat feels acceptable as a gift. A box of Thorntons smacks of 'can't be bothered really', or the rather more devastating 'the office whip round proved you're not quite as popular as you thought'.

 

[Marilyn]

I bought some Lindt’s for Easter and let me tell you the mango ones are simply to die for darling

 

[lolly]

I rather hope Mr L has got me a Lidl honeycomb egg for Easter. I'll be sure to report back if he has.

 

[Zu]

MANGO LINDT!

Obviously I’ll change my mind in 35 seconds and deny I ever said it but I think I’d rather have fudge than chocolate. Mmm... RUM AND RAISIN

 

[lolly]

Now I LOVE fudge, but HATE rum.

Or actually letting alcohol anywhere near chocolate is a NO NO from me. Like pineapple and pizza.

 

[Slave]

True, but did those have stores of their own to drive customers away from?

Oh no, I just meant that Thornton's USP as THE (affordable) luxury chocolate brand has been diluted by a greater number of companies offering the same sorts of posh chocolates stocked in supermarkets.

Indeed, I'd say that even the mainstream companies cater a lot more to that market now rather than just offering chocolate bars.

 

[Zu]

Now I LOVE fudge, but HATE rum.

Or actually letting alcohol anywhere near chocolate is a NO NO from me. Like pineapple and pizza.

Oh I never say no to a LIQUEUR

I don’t mind pineapple on pizza although it is clearly very wrong - although not as wrong as sweetcorn FOR WHICH THERE IS NO NEED - but what I cannot bear is sultanas and what not in savoury dishes

 

[Zu]

Not wishing to go completely off-topic obviously

 

[Raining on Me]

New Look just opened a new store in Poole, it was front page news in the Echo yesterday. And the comments were all ugly old men with moustaches moaning that there wasn’t a BURTONS.

I was gobsmacked to discover there's a Burtons in my high street despite said high street and town being a MISERABLE SHELL OF POVERTY.

What I find bizarre is that it's the only one in any town within about 50 miles and it's the least likely place you'd find it. Not that I've even gone in although I have no problem with Burtons itself

 

[Raining on Me]

So, it looks like Bargain Booze are going to be next. Where will I get my cheap box of crappy lager now?

Any supermarket ever?! I don't know Bargain Booze well but how cheap can you actually get for shitty beer?

 

[lolly]

We have a Burtons, but I'm not sure that I've ever been in it on the 8 or so years it's been in its current location. Who is their target demographic now? I imagine I probably pretty much am it.

 

[Raining on Me]

I imagine I'm it too but in this town it feels like it must be a trap to walk in and against other brands it probably doesn't stand out although I'm hardly the one to comment on THAT

All I know is Jamie Redknapp looms in their windows and as the man who destroyed Louise's career I cannot pay them a penny.

 

[Zu]

We have a Burtons, but I'm not sure that I've ever been in it on the 8 or so years it's been in its current location. Who is their target demographic now? I imagine I probably pretty much am it.

Me as well

*unsuccessfully tries to force gut into Cyberdog top from 1998*

I went into a Maplins yesterday and God it was dispiriting. All very fin de siècle Woolworths. I felt like a vulture vigorously gnawing at the remains of a dead spaniel while its owner stood there gently weeping, and decided I didn't really need a new USB cable THAT much

 

[lolly]

I will make it my MISSION to go into Burtons tomorrow and report back. It's important to set yourself realistic goals.

 

[Zu]

I'd rather wear dresses than EVER wear anything from Burtons

In fact, I'd ACTIVELY RATHER wear dresses. AND HEELS

 

[Raining on Me]

Prezzo closing 94 restaurants, together with all 34 of the ChimiChanga chain it owns.

Lovers of Italian and TexMex food REJOICE

Oh good, what an overcrowded market of tat that is. Prezzo, Zizzi, Ask etc, it's all the same blueprint and it's NEVER as good as they seem to think it is, or want you to think it is.

In almost all cases a local Italian ends up being the better option.

Frankie and Benny's next please

 

[lolly]

Frankie and Benny's next please

But where else can you learn Italian while you're having a piss?

 

[Zu]

Somewhere I've always objected to is Ed's Easy Fucking Diner which to my immense rage took over a fantastic coffee place at the Angel and to my immense pleasure has now CLOSED DOWN

 

[lolly]

Has Ed's Diner gone completely, then? I noticed their branch in Gloucester (we never had one here) closed a good while back.

Going back when I used to take my nieces to London to see shows I'd often go to the one at the end of Old Compton Street.

 

[Peekaboo]

I think that one in Soho is still going, or it was last time I went past. I can exclusively report that the one in Southport's glamorous Princes Park has bitten the dust though.

I would also imagine GAME does not have many months left. They may keep the website and some of the flagship stores but I can't see it lasting much longer. The price disparity in the shop VS online is now a good 25% or more and last time I walked into one it was mostly FIGURINES, T-SHIRTS and other TAT on the shelves rather than actual games.

 

[octophone]

I'd rather wear dresses than EVER wear anything from Burtons

In fact, I'd ACTIVELY RATHER wear dresses. AND HEELS

Always happy to help. PM me hun.

 

[octophone]

We have a Burtons in town but it's carefully secreted up the top of a Dorothy Perkins...for anyone far too manly to walk through DPs, you can climb an escalator and get in through the top. Of course, I used to do the exact opposite, entering and exiting DPs via the Burtons...