News

Pub chain in talks over Arcade spot

By Stephanie Cockroft
May 28, 2012

A PUB giant is in talks with an Aldershot shopping centre about opening its first watering hole in the town.

JD Wetherspoon is negotiating with the owners of the Arcade about opening one of its 800 national pubs in the town centre.

Discussions are in the early stages. The company has not yet submitted any planning application to Rushmoor Borough Council.

The news follows a petition launched by Arcade shop owners, who say they are being pushed out by developers.

At the start of the year, traders with a five-year lease in the Arcade were given formal notice to leave by August – and not told why.

They claim Dunedin Properties Ltd, the London-based firm which owns the Arcade, will leave the centre as a ‘white elephant’.

Reza Asjadi, who has run his Aladdins Cave shop from the Arcade for six years, asked the developer to allow outgoing businesses more time.

But he says he was told it was not possible.

Mr Asjadi said: “Dunedin has been not co-operative at any time. They have no interest in helping Aldershot and they are throwing us out to make money. We have now been forced to sell four van loads – more than 5,000 pieces – of our garments at a fraction of their cost price to a buyer in London, because we have nowhere to go and needed to get rid of it.”

Discussions between the developers and JD Wetherspoon are the furthest down the line of any company which has expressed an interest in the Arcade.

A less firm possibility is Poundland, which has also shown an interest.

There is no JD Wetherspoon in the town, although the chain has premises in Farnborough, Camberley and Fleet.

Under the vague timescale mooted, the pub would apply for planning permission in June.

The site would have to be levelled at the back, allowing the pub to open at Easter, if the correct licence is approved.

Rushmoor Borough Council had a meeting with the developers last week, but has little power over what happens to the arcade.

The council’s planning committee will have to determine the application, if and when it comes to the committee.

David Phillips, town centre manager, said the company had made it ‘very clear’ they were in the town as property developers.

He added: “But until they have had all their meetings and identified what is going to happen, it is difficult for us to comment. It is also difficult to liaise with traders when we are not sure what is going on. We will just see how things progress.”

Despite the traders’ concerns, many in the town see the chain’s possible investment as a boost for the town’s economy.

Town centre resident Sonya Freedman said: “As much as I would like to support smaller businesses, the Arcade is not great at the moment and at least a Wetherspoon’s would fill it.”

And David Layton, from Manor Park, said: “Although I don’t think we necessarily need another pub, we don’t have a Wetherspoon’s in the town and so it would be good to have something different.”

Gordon Kelly, from Dundedin Properties Ltd, and a spokesman for JD Wetherspoon said they could not comment at this stage.

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Most recent user comments 11 of 11

@ ChrissyD, Aldershot I think that I have had a little drink in all or most of them over the years. I have just realised I am a failour, I never once managed to get into a drunken brawl. We have a Wetherspoon open in Farnborough and during the day it seems to have become popular with more mature people possably due to no TV, no loud music and no clanking fruit machines, you can actualy hear what people are saying

@ Dinez taxi How about a place where the kids or teen-agers could improve their skills or make use of their time wisely and productively? I often see young kids loitering around, guidance is essential for young kids

I love the sentiment but the arcade is a commercial town centre venture and you could never raise the finace needed

UKR
30/05/2012 at 11:48

New businesses will also help the community, there will be jobs and the business area in Wellington Centre will still be visited inspite of the upcoming mall.

Policing is another issue.

Google Dinez Taxis Farnborough, Rushmoor area
30/05/2012 at 11:04

Some people would like to have these kind of foods

http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/food/quality

Google Dinez Taxis Farnborough, Rushmoor area
30/05/2012 at 11:03

It's funny how, when a new pub opens in the town, there are cries of "Oh no, just what we need, another pub". People seem to forget the number of pubs that used to be in Aldershot. In the town centre there were: Boulters Hotel, The Cannon, The Imperial Hotel, The Imperial Tap, The Volunteer, The Pegasus, The Princess, The Rising Sun, The Royal Arms (Union St), The Royal Camp, The Royal Exchange, The Royal Hotel, The Royal Military Hotel, The Globetrotters, The Havelock Arms. Of course, not forgetting The George, which is now The Goose, and the night club which has undergone various incarnations. All of these have closed down due to the rising cost of alcohol and rents but were all open in the days it was relatively safe to walk the streets of the town at night. This was because you had a choice and drinking was spread out. Now everyone is forced into four main pubs (Vic, Goose, Funky End & Yates), and crammed in with queues forming outside, with Yates' and the Funky End seemingly acting as nightclubs. So I think that another pub would be a good idea and may help start spreading out the boozing a bit.

ChrissyD, Aldershot
30/05/2012 at 09:38

How about a place where the kids or teen-agers could improve their skills or make use of their time wisely and productively? I often see young kids loitering around, guidance is essential for young kids.

Dinez taxi Farnborough
30/05/2012 at 03:50

More pubs Lol , just what town is missing !!!!! Where is all the decent clothes stores.....Thats why no1 shops here theres sod all to buy !!!! Need some of the big retail names back ie topman etc.....Theres more than enough pubs here already.....

pcamm, aldershot
29/05/2012 at 11:22

I am all for small traders and use them as and when I can, but mostly they cannot compete on price, The demise of small traders is not the fault of the multiples but down to the unfare burden of taxation in this country

UKR
29/05/2012 at 10:44

Another Pub! are they determined to make Victoria Rd a no go area at night? can the town sustain another pub, will we gain this one and 6 months later, the Queen Vic, Yates or The Goose close down because they cannot afford to trade therfore leaving yet another empty building, the other option a Poundland!!! wow, how long before there is no individuality in Aldershot, only big companies and their branding, every town needs sole traders / small companies, for a little diversity

Odessey
29/05/2012 at 09:22

At least the whole of arcade will be used, instead of empty shops all the time, more money to boost for the town’s economy.

Aldershot Born
29/05/2012 at 09:06

I have been in quite a few J D Wetherspoo pubs as I have travelled around the country and found them well run and no trouble. No juke box, no TV, no noisy machines, Just a quiet pint and conversation.

UKR
29/05/2012 at 09:06

Yeh Aldershot really needs another pub! How about some decent places for people, especially young people to meet and have a good time that doesn't involve copious quantities of alcohol. before anyone says I know that Wetherspoons serve food but that is a sideline. The Cinema in the new centre will give people a decent place to go but we need more diverse attractions than pubs, betting shops and amusement arcades