Coming Home Tomorrow,

[Caran]

We have been away with two friends for New Year. We came to Street in Somerset. Stayed at the Bear hotel. A bit disappointed with the hotel. Because we wanted groundfloor rooms we are staying in cottages down the road from the hotel. Accomadation is fine but hotel closed at six pm NY day. No food or drink beyond that time. We went on a hunt in the town. Nearly everywhere shut. Found pizza express was just open. Had a meal there but they wanted o close at 8.30!! Parking in town horrendous even with disabled badge. High street too narrow to park. Managed to park near Clarke's village which was great. But we got locked in. Had to get security to let us out. What a one horse town Street is. No pubs open at all. Ended up back at cottages having a drink with friends in bed room. Thankfully we can go home in the morning. NYE was okay in hotel but strange to have to go down the road to bedrooms after the event.
Still great to get away with friends.

[Mamyalynne]

A mixed review then but at least you had a break away Caran.

Happy New Year x

[Ken4155]

My (now deceased) next door neighbour originated from street where she ran a pub with her ex-husband. She became a postie for a good few years and her son, who followed her up here, became the landlord of quite a few houses. in and around the area. I decorated many of his houses, including the one in which i still live, though it has changed hands a couple of times since he owned it. Both never had a good thing to say about Street.

[Ken4155]

I do believe 'neither had a good word to say..." is better English. I'll blame the medication - and i don't mean alcohol.

[Gromit]

I was a bit caught out today.
I finished work at 9pm tonight instead of 10pm. And was hoping for a nice session.
Everywhere was shut except for the two rough pubs in town.
Reluctantly went in those and had a fine old time.

[lady-janine]

Healthy and happy wishes for 2022 to Caran and hubby; mamy and ken.
Expectations are everything. I would expect everywhere to be closed.

[anneasquith]

I wouldn’t expect anywhere to be open on NYD except maybe a small convenience store on limited hours .

[Buenchico]

>>> What a one horse town Street is. No pubs open at all

What? Not even the J D Wetherspoon's one there???

[sanmac]

I see what you mean about High Street. I just looked up Street, UK on Google Maps, and it looks like the side-walks are wider that the street!

[tonyav]

There are quite a few families with Street as their surname in my area. I'm guessing that their ancestors probably originated from there.

[lady-janine]

I've visited Street quite a few times and thought it must be a reasonable place to live. Not a lot of ever-present places and shops which make it 'Anywhere'.

[tonyav]

I wouldn't mind giving it a visit, lj.

'Anywhere'.

Yep, charity shops, banks and poundshops these days.

[Toorak]

Banks?

You are lucky tonyav :-)

[tonyav]

Yes I know, Toorak. Much less of them and Building Societies in the high street these days ( It''ll get worse yet I think ).

[Toorak]

There are none left in the village I used to live in (there used to be four) :-(

[tonyav]

Where I live all the satellite villages that surround our main town had banks ( more than one ), none now. We have to go into town ( very difficult to park these days to ) if we need to actually go into a branch.

[Buenchico]

>>> Yep, charity shops, banks and poundshops these days

That sounds close to my definition of a perfect town! OK, I don't need the banks (and I do need a decent pub or two) but a town without at least a dozen charity shops is hardly worth visiting in my opinion (and a few pound shops helps too). I sometimes drive 50 miles or more just to visit a town SOLELY for its charity shops and then drive straight home again. Even if I've not bought anything at the end of it, I'll still have enjoyed a great day out!

[tonyav]

I know where your coming from, Chris. But you must admit that the internet has decimated the average high street, very few indipendant shops around these days.

[Buenchico]

Around here, Tony, it seems to be mainly chain stores that are disappearing from our high Streets, with a big growth in independent shops. Ipswich is very much a case in point, with vacant units along the main streets where BHS, Debenhams, etc used to be but with an ever-growing number of successful indie traders to be found elsewhere in the town:
https://allaboutipswich.com/blog/2020/indie-shops

[tonyav]

Thats good to see, Chris ( hope it spreads ), the nearest place to me that I would say is similar is Lichfield ( very posh indeed ).

[rowanwitch]

Ipswich used to have some really good pubs, and when I stayed with a friend for a few days some time ago I was very impressed with the charity shops.
Nearest centre to me is Northfield which has a reasonable high street, including a few independent stores cheap homewares mostly. Only 4 charity shops A small precinct where some of the chains are located and a big Sainsburys at one end. Only one pub a big Wetherspoons in a lovely big black and white timbered building. Keeps its beer well which is a bonus and has a very big beer garden around the local bowling green.
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/birminghams-cosiest-pubs-with-fires-10742534

It's a relatively deprived area which keeps prices down not always a bad thing. If I want nice...I can get to Harborne for M &S, Waitrose, and a few nicer shops.