Post by: on May 10, 2002, 12:59:24 PM
That's not all, what about nightime facilities? If Mark Whittaker's Marple pub guide is to be believed the Jolly Sailor and Bowling Green public houses are thriving businesses... for building developers maybe!
The nightlife in Marple is only salvaged by 2 or 3 establishments i.e. The Edge Restaurant, Murillo's and the Crown (the later being marred by recent events, stabbings, etc) but generally you'll find more life in Mellor Cemetary
so I'm finding that I increasing have to travel for a decent entertainment.
Post by: admin on May 10, 2002, 09:27:23 PM
In the same period on Stockport Road near the Post Office there was a shop that was a total disgrace. It was a real eyesore and featured regularly in the letters page of local papers. Today it is a thriving tanning shop, not everyone’s cup of tea, but a major improvement nonetheless.
I accept that the closure of Hanbury’s is a bit of a set back, but if the rumours I hear are true, this will not be a problem for long and could be an improvement. That area of course has had a major face-lift since you moved here with the new paved area on the Hollins. It is also true that there are a number of empty premises near the cinema (how many towns the size of Marple have their own cinema?) but these have been empty for more than three years.
Now, as far as your comments about nightlife and entertainment are concerned, well it’s not Manchester, but to state that The Edge (a new restaurant opened within the last year, so hardly a demonstration of decline! ) Murillo’s and the Crown are the only places to go is ridiculous. It's also interesting to note that it was the retirement of a solicitor which freed up the premises now occupied by The Edge, one of your favorite places! We have many other good places to eat out. The Kineray is as good as any curry house in Rusholme and the Marple House just a few doors away is an excellent Chinese Restaurant. We have a fine Italian in La Romantica and many of our local pubs do very good value food. If you’re a meat eater, give the Lane Ends a try and you won’t be able to fault value for money. The Ringer’s, the George at Compstall, the Hare and Hounds (Dooley Lane and Mill Brow) and the Romper, to name just a few, all do very acceptable food and good beer too.
Incidentally, I would hazard a guess that you wouldn’t have used the Jolly or the Bowler in the last three years, even if you’d been able to. If they had been thriving businesses competing with the places you find acceptable, they wouldn’t have closed.
If you’re pining for some real late nightlife, then Kelly’s nightclub is just on your doorstep. If it keeps my two sprogs  (18 and 20) happy, then it must be pretty good, although I’d prefer a night in Mellor cemetery myself!
Maybe I have simple tastes, but I find I don’t need to go out of Marple for anything except work and I’d do something about that if I could!
Post by: Iona on May 11, 2002, 10:46:02 AM
Incidentally if the posters in the window are to be believed the old 'Hanburys' has been bought by 'Peacocks' who, as far as I am aware, are a clothing/ homeware store with outlets nationwide.
Post by: on May 17, 2002, 12:59:07 PM
My complaint is with Marple Town Centre itself not the whole area. Most of your other suggestions I have tried already and enjoyed, and I must say that, for food, the Lane Ends and Sportsman are undiscovered Gems. But these are in the outlying areas and not in Marple.
Last time I visited the Jolly Sailor, well before I moved to Marple, the drinks (?) were awful and there generally appeared to be some affection for drug culture!
I doubt if I'll be attending Kelly's Nightclub. I've been once with my younger Brother but I think at 33 I exceed the maximum age limit.
However, I too have also seen improvements on Market Street, some specialised shops have come and gone as is there nature, and we are fast becoming a Mecca for Fast Tanning. There's even been an attempt at pavement culture (The Cafe Bar), but I still feel there is something missing. Okay, living so close to Marple town centre I wouldn't like to see development on a massive scale like Didsbury, but you only have to visit somewhere similar, like Poynton, to see what a for a little variety can do. The fact is that I believe that the public should be encouraged to visit use Marple for more than just the Co-op.
Incidently, The Edge doesn't occupy the premises vacated by the Prickett Partnership - that's on the other wrong side of the road.
Regards,
ML
Post by: MCMarky on May 17, 2002, 01:35:30 PM
Burgulary: My Girlfriend’s parents, residents of Rose Hill, were burgled last Wednesday. Although the Police say they can guess who the culprits are, they cannot do anything without evidence and the jewellery stolen will probably be used to fund someone’s drug habit.
Under-aged drinking: has anyone noticed (or been pestered to buy for) the throng of under-aged drinkers hanging around Marple Centre at night. I recently witnessed a bunch of kids, some who looked as young as 12, all gathered around in Memorial Park with several cases of larger, etc.
Am I expected to lie down and assume this is the sign of the times?
ML
Post by: Harry on May 17, 2002, 05:06:42 PM
The younger people tell me these are the 'scallies' (spelling?) of Marple. Â It has also been pointed out to me that there is a hierarchy. Â The ones low down the pecking order tend to loiter near the Texaco garage, next group near Harlequin, then the Hollins and finally, the scalliest group, in Memorial Park. Â It would be quite amusing if it were not so pathetic.
Oh by the way, MCMarky, don't lie down, they will walk all over you.
Post by: Dave on May 18, 2002, 07:59:16 AM
Have we all forgotten what we used to do in the evenings when we were 15: hang out near the off-licence daring each other to go in and ask for a bottle of beer, and shocking passers by with our salty language. Â And now we've grown up (?) to be hand-wringing whingers, hanging around on this website wearing woolly cardigans and slippers and bemoaning the state of the world etc. Â The kids are called scallies, so maybe there should be a word for the likes of us as well. Â What about 'wallies'? Â
Post by: Peter on May 18, 2002, 09:38:52 AM
Post by: admin on May 18, 2002, 12:15:04 PM
| Quote (Mark Lynch @ May 17 2002,12:59) |
| Incidently, The Edge doesn't occupy the premises vacated by the Prickett Partnership - that's on the other wrong side of the road. |
Regarding the above, The Edge occupies the former offices of solicitor George Cope, who I think had been there since the sixties, maybe longer. He retired a year or two ago.
Your analysis of the Jolly was spot-on, in a nutshell that was why it closed.
With regard to there being something missing, what do you think that is? Personally I'd love to see a heritage centre in a high profile position in the town. If this could be combined with some kind of community centre - like the ideas being put forward for the Jolly in another topic - then even better.
Now then Dave, how is it you could tell that Peter was wearing a woolly cardigan and slippers?
Post by: Osdog on May 18, 2002, 04:25:54 PM
Mark, Â Could take umbridge that you seem to think that the Lane Ends is out in the wilds somewhere.............it's not a million miles away you know........
Post by: on May 26, 2002, 08:26:24 PM
| Quote (Peter @ May 18 2002,09:38) |
| Can't disagree with Dave at all but remember when we used to do it how it wouldn't have been half as inviting if we hadn't had so called 'wallies' moaning at how "it was never like that when we were young". I don't defend the drink culture but surely none of it is new. Thankfully most of these youths will grow to be responsible citizens like, possibly, MacMarky or even Norris (well maybe not). |
Well, Peter. I really enjoy a drink myself but I'm not likely to go and smash up the local florist am I? Perhaps you would like to take resposibility for the actions for the small number of youths that seem so intent on wrecking the place for the rest of us Marple residents.
By the way, In my youth I was involved with a couple of local bands and followed the Punk movement. You're right, perhaps we should forgive the local youth for their exuberance but breaking the law is one step too far!
Post by: Peter on May 27, 2002, 05:48:36 PM
Post by: MCMarky on May 28, 2002, 12:46:35 PM
I agree, there are loads of great things going for Marple - It's certainly better than more deprived areas I could mention - but as usual, the minority (or big business) appear to ruin it for the rest of us.
Lets hope that the Magic Pub Company (or whatever they're called) don't make any more of our local pubs dissappear. Do we really need any more nursing homes or high-priced property?
M
Post by: Howard on June 10, 2002, 02:37:30 PM
It seems that all the much vaunted CCTV cameras have done is drive the vandals off the main streets onto side streets.
We really are starting to have a problem with vandalism in Marple - but I'm at a loss to see what we can do to stop it - particularly as this appears to have taken place around 4am Sunday morning.
Post by: MCMarky on June 11, 2002, 04:57:21 PM
The phonebox next to the Texaco Garage and right under the nose of the newest CCTV camera, opposite the Jolly(?) Sailor, has also had all it's windows smashed.
Post by: MCMarky on February 25, 2009, 09:00:04 PM
I take it all back. Just moved back to Marple after 4 years living a pointless existence in Poynton. (HOORAY!). Celebrated a bit too hard and fell asleep in the Ringers. Sorry everyone.
M
Post by: Dave on February 26, 2009, 01:11:54 AM
Thanks for resurrecting this historic thread, Mc Marky. It's interesting to reflect on the issues raised in it, nearly seven years later. Have things got better or worse since 2002?
Let's be honest though, how many of us miss the Jolly Sailor or the Bowler? ::)
Post by: nbt on February 26, 2009, 10:18:14 AM
Let's be honest though, how many of us miss the Jolly Sailor or the Bowler? ::)
Welll they'd both closed before I moved to Marple so I've never visited either - but as I've mentioned below, I do miss being able to get a pint that isn't Robbies!
Post by: Dave on February 26, 2009, 01:00:07 PM
I do miss being able to get a pint that isn't Robbies!
I sympathise, although I do like Robbies myself. But you don't have to venture far for a choice: the excellent Sportsman (Strines), the Hare and Hounds (Dooley Lane), the Lane Ends (Glossop Road) and the Springers (Compstall Road) are all Robbies-free zones. So is the Romper, but I can't afford their beer. And then in Marple Bridge there's the Norfolk, and the Midland, but I can't comment on those either as I'm too old for the former and too poor for the latter............ ;D