Tesco’s pub takeover sparks trader threat (From Daily Echo)
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Tesco’s takeover of The Castle pub in Midanbury sparks Southampton trader threat
12:51pm Monday 8th October 2012 in News
By Matt Smith, Politics and business reporter
Tesco’s pub takeover sparks trader threat
HUNDREDS of residents and traders have a launched a campaign against another Southampton pub being turned into a new Tesco store.
About 50 protesters gathered outside The Castle pub in Midanbury to hand a 600- name petition to Itchen MP John Denham, who is backing the campaign.
Tesco has acquired a lease to the pub, which closed last month, and plans to open a new Express store next year.
It does not need planning consent for change of use.
Traders at the nearby Midanbury Broadway parade at Witts Hill fear it will ruin their livelihoods and cost jobs.
Tesco says it will consult the community before pressing ahead with its plans and claims a new store will boost trade.
Several Southampton pubs including the Bulls Eye in Butts Road, Sholing, the Winning Post in Peartree Avenue, and Woodman in Coxford Road, have recently been converted into convenience stores.
Amit Sonchhatia, from SNA Premier Store in Witts Hill, said about 30 people were employed at shops along the parade, including his own store, a bakery, post office, and Co-op. There is also a chippy and a pizza outlet.
Mr Sonchhatia said: “It’s a big worry for the local community and traders. If business cuts down people are fearing they will be laid off.
Tesco might create 12 jobs but you could lose 25. The bakers will be majorly affected.”
He said there were already five Tesco stores within a one-mile radius and said the retail giant was creating a “monopoly” of local trade.
He added residents were also concerned about road safety from delivery lorries.
Ann Stevens from the Midanbury Bakery said: “We don’t feel we need a Tesco here. We’ve already got everything you could want here. It could shut the whole parade down.”
Mr Denham said: “The community is saying no to pubs being turned into shops.
“It is particularly concerning when Tesco already has several outlets in the immediate surrounding area.
“It would be dreadful if the competition from Tesco were to damage the parade and mean the loss of local businesses, many of which have been there for many years.”
He added: “I’m sad every time I see another pub close in Southampton. The Castle is one of far too many public houses that have closed in the city. Every time this happens we lose an important hub for the local community.”
Enterprise Inns confirmed it had sold the pub,.
Tesco told the Echo: "We can confirm that we have taken a lease and we will be writing shortly to residents, retailers and councillors to outline our exciting plans.
“Express stores are very popular with local customers and communities.”
Comments(35)
Here, There
says...
1:37pm Mon 8 Oct 12
Here, There
says...
1:39pm Mon 8 Oct 12
St Retford
says...
1:40pm Mon 8 Oct 12
Jeff Le Taxi
says...
1:55pm Mon 8 Oct 12
Georgem
says...
2:20pm Mon 8 Oct 12
Here, There wrote:This is the bottom line, isn't it? Very well put.
What do they want ? If it were a developer screams of not more flats blah blah, some wanted the pub closed due to trouble ?? Do they expect the land owner just to sit on it ??? If the community had used the pub this situation would not have arisen, once open they will use the Tesco end masses and yes even some in this photo
Mr. Miyagi
says...
2:34pm Mon 8 Oct 12
Georgem wrote:Locals always say NO to Tesco opening a new store near them and that its not needed, but have you ever gone into a Tesco and found it empty of customers? Like others have said, it will be used by all in the area. Local shops will suffer, which is a shame, but you can't beat value for money shopping with local sympathy.
Here, There wrote:This is the bottom line, isn't it? Very well put.
What do they want ? If it were a developer screams of not more flats blah blah, some wanted the pub closed due to trouble ?? Do they expect the land owner just to sit on it ??? If the community had used the pub this situation would not have arisen, once open they will use the Tesco end masses and yes even some in this photo
Georgem
says...
2:57pm Mon 8 Oct 12
Mr. Miyagi wrote:Amusingly, the same nay-sayers also cry foul whenever someone wants to build more residential property in their neighbourhood. Forgetting, of course, the boost that more residents will bring to the same local traders that they claim to care so much about.
Georgem wrote:Locals always say NO to Tesco opening a new store near them and that its not needed, but have you ever gone into a Tesco and found it empty of customers? Like others have said, it will be used by all in the area. Local shops will suffer, which is a shame, but you can't beat value for money shopping with local sympathy.
Here, There wrote:This is the bottom line, isn't it? Very well put.
What do they want ? If it were a developer screams of not more flats blah blah, some wanted the pub closed due to trouble ?? Do they expect the land owner just to sit on it ??? If the community had used the pub this situation would not have arisen, once open they will use the Tesco end masses and yes even some in this photo
Tone
says...
2:58pm Mon 8 Oct 12
Mr. Miyagi wrote:Value for money? Have you actually been into a Tesco Express? They don't sell their loss leaders there unlike the big Tescos, local shops are often cheaper.
Georgem wrote:Locals always say NO to Tesco opening a new store near them and that its not needed, but have you ever gone into a Tesco and found it empty of customers? Like others have said, it will be used by all in the area. Local shops will suffer, which is a shame, but you can't beat value for money shopping with local sympathy.
Here, There wrote:This is the bottom line, isn't it? Very well put.
What do they want ? If it were a developer screams of not more flats blah blah, some wanted the pub closed due to trouble ?? Do they expect the land owner just to sit on it ??? If the community had used the pub this situation would not have arisen, once open they will use the Tesco end masses and yes even some in this photo
Nicole23
says...
4:07pm Mon 8 Oct 12
A few sad looking overpriced vegetables,sausages or a packet of bacon for £3.50 because the things you actually need are always their finest (joke) range.
And then you join the queue for the one till that is open because they only ring the buzzer for help when the queue reaches critical mass.
Or you stupidly decide to use the self service tills, where is the bar code?
Unauthorised item in bagging area,please wait for authorisation,item removed from bagging area Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
!!!!
At the end of the day you vote with your feet,I just want decent service thats why i dont shop at Tesco's.
Georgem
says...
4:12pm Mon 8 Oct 12
Nicole23 wrote:#firstworldproblems
I dont really understand the appeal of tesco express.You know you go in there and they dont have a good selection of anything worthwile except sweets,pop and crisps.
A few sad looking overpriced vegetables,sausages or a packet of bacon for £3.50 because the things you actually need are always their finest (joke) range.
And then you join the queue for the one till that is open because they only ring the buzzer for help when the queue reaches critical mass.
Or you stupidly decide to use the self service tills, where is the bar code?
Unauthorised item in bagging area,please wait for authorisation,item removed from bagging area Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
!!!!
At the end of the day you vote with your feet,I just want decent service thats why i dont shop at Tesco's.
Fatty x Ford Worker
says...
4:20pm Mon 8 Oct 12
aldermoorboy
says...
4:26pm Mon 8 Oct 12
Tesco is a great British success story employing over 500,000 around the world, stop knocking our successful companies, they pay huge amounts of tax to help run our hospitals etc.
Let the people choose, that's competition.
mooky9
says...
5:11pm Mon 8 Oct 12
Jeff Le Taxi wrote:Yep I would have signed it. The pub was a hole and always empty or having the police rock up. The shops are overpriced and poorly stocked and the bakery ran out of cakes by 2.30pm today. So rather than moan pull your socks up and give decent produce at a decent price and people won't have a need for tesco. But until then tough
bet i could have gotten more PRO Tesco signatures than 600 in ONE day!
Frank28
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5:20pm Mon 8 Oct 12
Georgem
says...
5:21pm Mon 8 Oct 12
Frank28 wrote:Unlimited financial backing? Really? If I had access to unlimited finances, the last thing I'd waste my time doing would be opening more stores.
All over the country, Tesco have always got what they've wanted, with the aid of smart lawyers, and unlimited financial backing behind them. Will the Bookies be offering any odds that the pub won't become a Tesco Express?
SaintM
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5:28pm Mon 8 Oct 12
Nicole23
says...
5:33pm Mon 8 Oct 12
skin2000
says...
5:37pm Mon 8 Oct 12
Nicole23 wrote:Very true
I dont really understand the appeal of tesco express.You know you go in there and they dont have a good selection of anything worthwile except sweets,pop and crisps.
A few sad looking overpriced vegetables,sausages or a packet of bacon for £3.50 because the things you actually need are always their finest (joke) range.
And then you join the queue for the one till that is open because they only ring the buzzer for help when the queue reaches critical mass.
Or you stupidly decide to use the self service tills, where is the bar code?
Unauthorised item in bagging area,please wait for authorisation,item removed from bagging area Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
!!!!
At the end of the day you vote with your feet,I just want decent service thats why i dont shop at Tesco's.
Here, There
says...
5:51pm Mon 8 Oct 12
Nicole23 wrote:Nonsense...apathy contributed greatly to it not only from the community but from those who run the Pub and as highlighted above those who run the shops..you have to make it attractive to your existing and potential customer to buy from you, decent product at reasonable prices is not too much to ask for, providing a safe and clean environment for people to drink in will win every time even if you have to stand under a heated shelter for you puff !
The smoking ban caused all this.
D.a.v.e
says...
5:52pm Mon 8 Oct 12
This could their opportunity to capatalize on the increased trade coming into the area.
Buy a van to sell more but the least they could do is refubish.
10 Minute Man
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6:12pm Mon 8 Oct 12
andysaints007
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6:17pm Mon 8 Oct 12
Jeff Le Taxi wrote:Me too !!! What is so special about the shops already there then! Supply and demand !!
bet i could have gotten more PRO Tesco signatures than 600 in ONE day!
If Tesco's are so so bad then the shop will close quickly because according to all the anti big business moaners on here, no one wants them! Something tells me it will be a busy shop because they actually supply what MOST people want from a convenience store. If you don't want to use it then just don't go in there SIMPLE
Paramjit Bahia
says...
6:20pm Mon 8 Oct 12
Tesco would have done the market research to make sure about the viability of the business. Otherwise they would not have acquired this site.
Although I rather have larger Co-Op outlet than Tesco, I can’t deny that when compared with like of Mr. Sonchhatla’s business it provides better value for the money spent, which consumers want.
So I am not sure if John Denham is backing the right cause or in the long run he may end up in doing damage to local consumers financial interests.
I have the feeling that he may have decided to take this line of pro Sonchhatla owned business for the sake of appeasing his family, because some of them are also leading lights of Vedic Society Hindu Temple, which NuLabour views as its colonialised vote bank.
shabbycaddy
says...
8:03pm Mon 8 Oct 12
100%HANTSBOY
says...
9:48pm Mon 8 Oct 12
D.a.v.e wrote:Very true,Hoffers Bakery in Burgess Road has seen a massive rise in custom since the opening of the Sainsburys Local next door.
The baker is living in the past. In order to be profitable you have to compete.
This could their opportunity to capatalize on the increased trade coming into the area.
Buy a van to sell more but the least they could do is refubish.
mr.southampton
says...
12:49am Tue 9 Oct 12
Nicole23 wrote:Great description of your average Tesco. The places are a nightmare - especially at their peak times.
I dont really understand the appeal of tesco express.You know you go in there and they dont have a good selection of anything worthwile except sweets,pop and crisps.
A few sad looking overpriced vegetables,sausages or a packet of bacon for £3.50 because the things you actually need are always their finest (joke) range.
And then you join the queue for the one till that is open because they only ring the buzzer for help when the queue reaches critical mass.
Or you stupidly decide to use the self service tills, where is the bar code?
Unauthorised item in bagging area,please wait for authorisation,item removed from bagging area Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
!!!!
At the end of the day you vote with your feet,I just want decent service thats why i dont shop at Tesco's.
And they are all exactly the same, selling the same range of crisps, fizzy drinks and booze.
Honesty is best.
says...
7:47am Tue 9 Oct 12
As for the local shop, I'm sure Mr Sonchhatla has done well enough out of the local community over the years to not worry to much about the customers going to tesco......
bazzeroz
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8:48am Tue 9 Oct 12
G-man1
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8:51am Tue 9 Oct 12
Suntanned Snowman
says...
11:21am Tue 9 Oct 12
sarfhamton
says...
1:30pm Tue 9 Oct 12
Honesty is best.
says...
3:49pm Tue 9 Oct 12
parsonage 1
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9:25pm Tue 9 Oct 12
just2things
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7:19pm Wed 10 Oct 12
10 Minute Man wrote:Tesco forcing you to you bust? Up your game. The convienicen store is overpriced, Not surprised you are worried.
Time to up your game, create a Midanbury loyalty card etc etc, and make sure you are not competing on Tesco's strengths because you will lose and go bust !
Second, I do not see empty parades everywhere I see a Tesco. Townhill park has a thriving Fruit and Veg Store and other shops near it. In fact in Townhill park there is great demand for a bakery which isnt there.
Tesco range is limited, use the extra footfall and modify your range and prices you you as traders can make better.
Am I also right in saying near Tesco in Cobden there is still a Bakery and Butcher?
Teso is not either of these and while may have small ranges you can compete. Stop whining that you will not be able to rip off your customers any more.
G0Rf says...
1:14pm Mon 8 Oct 12
"He added residents were also concerned about road safety from delivery lorries"
How did the pub get its beer delivered?
How do all of the other shops on the parade get their goods delivered?
lorries a bit of a poor excuse!