Days During 2013 – dannyhowell.net

Turning The Shop Lights Off Because Trade Is Slow In Warminster

Thursday 24th October 2013

Danny Howell writes ~

You know trade is slow in Warminster when you walk into a shop, as I did at lunchtime, and find it only lit by daylight because the light bulbs are turned off. The shopkeeper then turned the lights on, openly telling me and two other customers: “I only put the lights on when people come in and I turn them off when the customers leave.” This had nothing to do with being energy friendly for the planet or the environment. The shopkeeper said: “Things have been bad and have been getting worse since car parking charges were introduced in Warminster and the pavements were widened which did away with much of the on-street parking. Turning the lights off saves the cost of running a shop where the number of items sold is getting less, thanks to less customers, thanks to no-one wanting to pay to park. My customers are not interested in the parking scheme. They would rather drive to another town.”

Why Our Town Centres Are Not Performing Like They Used To

Wednesday 11th September 2013

Nick Croker, the owner of Stationery Plus, who is about to shut up his shop for good at the Cornmarket, Warminster, has listed on his Facebook Page the few issues (parking, rent and rates, management, supermarkets, and the internet) he says are the reason for our town centres no longer performing like they used to. He has contacted Mary Portas on Twitter. She agrees with what Nick says, but reckons it will take policy changes to make anything happen. To read what Nick says, click here.

Serendipity Is To Close

Saturday 27th July 2013

Serendipity, the gift shop in the Market Place,
Warminster, next to the entrance to Chinn’s Court,
is to close down.

There is 20% off all stock.

Photographs taken by Danny Howell
on Saturday 27th July 2013.

There Ought To Be More To Life Than Work And Oblivion

Tuesday 5th February 2013

Warminster Civic Trust, on their website, have the following words to say about recreation facilities in Warminster:

“Thankfully, regimental punch-ups seem to have become a thing of the past, now that our soldiers have more obvious and real foes to concentrate on. Nonetheless, if you are a young man with time and money on your hands – in the employ of Her Majesty or not – you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere in Warminster to spend either. Except ‘the pub’. We’re great fans of boozers, and are sponsored by The Organ Inn – definitely Warminster’s most civilized licensed premises – but there ought to be more to life than work and oblivion. Warminster ought to be able to support a permanent cinema (The Athenaeum is excellent, but intermittent) and a civic sports/leisure centre (some of us don’t equate sport with leisure). Our library is excellent, but situated at the end of a dreary shopping precinct populated by fag-smoking trolls: a deterrent to all but the hardiest bibliophiles.”

Baker And Gray Have Closed Their Shop At Silver Street, Warminster

Sunday 3rd February 2013

Baker And Gray, interior decoration, have closed
their shop at 4 Silver Street, Warminster.

www.bakergray.com

The premises are now empty.

The opening times for Baker and Gray,
as portrayed in the window, were:
Wednesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mondays and Tuesdays by appointment.

The shop is now to let via Cooper and Tanner.

The flat above the shop is to let by WSB.

Photographs taken by Danny Howell
on Sunday 3rd February 2013.

Where To Shop In Warminster (Compiled New Year 2013)

Wednesday 2nd January 2013

Information about shopping in Warminster and district, written by Danny Howell for the Wikivoyage page for Warminster.

Warminster has a busy high street lined with a mixture of national chain stores, and local businesses. It also has two pedestrianised shopping malls (Three Horseshoes Walk, and The Cornmarket. Small specialist shops and businesses are situate at Chinn’s Court. For national names go to the Castlemore Retail Park at Fairfield Road.

Annabelle’s Gilt Shop, 3 Silver Street, BA12 8PS, â˜Ž + 44 1985 218933. Gilt work.

Baby Shop And Schooldays, 7 George Street, BA12 8QA. Baby and children’s clothing, school uniforms, prams and pushchairs, toys, accessories, sewing and knitting goods and knitting wools.

Batchelors, 24 Market Place, â˜Ž +44 1985 213221. Cycle shop offering sales, service and repairs.

Bargain Booze, 45 Market Place, BA12 9AZ, â˜Ž + 44 1985 214976. Off Licence.

Batsford Timber Ltd., â˜Ž +44 1985 219555. Longleat Sawmills. All types of fencing materials, decking, gates, barrels, sheds, garden furniture.

Bedeguar Books. Book publishers (local history) and booksellers.

Boyton Farm Shop, â˜Ž +44 1985 850381. Boyton.

J. and K. Burton, The Old Warehouse, 13 Weymouth Street, +44 1985 219602. Animal feeds.

Card Box and Thorntons, Three Horshoes Walk, +44 1985 219298. Greetings cards, gifts, chocolates.

Car Mart, 6 Weymouth Street, BA12 9NR, â˜Ž +44 212467. Car parts and accessories.

Chappell Contracting, Westbury Road. +44 1985 218626 or mobile 07979 413012. Seasoned dry logs, with free delivery.

Checkpoint, Woodcock Trading Estate, Woodcock Road, +44 1985 215148. Auto tyres, exhausts, and MOT centre.

Coates and Parker, 36 Market Place, â˜Ž +44 1985 213030. Stationers, booksellers, newsagents, and publishers of the Warminster Journal newspaper.

Coco’s, 8 George Street, BA12 8QA, â˜Ž +44 1985 220263. Ladies fashions.

Anthony Cole Antiques, 16a Silver Street, BA12 8PS, â˜Ž +44 1985 212121. Mobile 07798 606419. Established 1989, dealing in 17th Century – 20th Century English furniture, decorative items and pictures. A regular exhibitor at the January, April and October Decorative Antiques Fair, Battersea, London. Regulary updated stock online.

S.L. Corden and Sons, 4 High Street, â˜Ž +44 1985 212115. Ironmongery, kitchen ware, household goods, gardening tools and seeds, DIY tools, key cutting service, glass, sugarcraft.

The Cornflower, â˜Ž +44 1985 847714. The Cornmarket. Sylish and innovative floristry for all occasions. E florist member.

Country Market (formerly the Women’s Institute Market). Friday mornings in Warminster Library Meeting Room. Local produce, cakes, preserves, garden plants, and crafts.

Crockerton Furniture Centre, Crockerton. +44 1985 211690. The largest furniture showroom in the area. Open M-Sa 9:30AM to 5PM and Sundays 10AM to 4PM.

David Wiltshire Photography, 14 George Street, â˜Ž +44 1985 213376. Photography service, camera sales, accessories, film, developing, enlargements, framing, instant digital prints.

Dents Glove Factory Shop, â˜Ž +44 1985 212291. Furneaux Lane. Gloves, handbags, belts, accessories.

Domestic Electrical Services, 90 Market Place, BA12 9AW, â˜Ž +44 1985 212410. Washing machine and electrical appliances, sales, repairs, apares.

Farmers Market. Outside Warminster Library, Three Horseshoes Walk. Local produce.

Friday Market. In the Central Car Park on Friday mornings. Local produce, flowers, plant stall, butcher, pet foods.

Frock Shop, 2 High Street, â˜Ž +44 1985 846244. Designer label dress agency, selling fashion on commission.

Hallmark, 12 and 14 Market Place, â˜Ž +44 1985 846681. Greetings cards, wrapping paper, gifts.

Homemaker, 5 and 6 George Street, BA12 8QA, â˜Ž +44 1985 219200. Electrical appliances. Kitchens.

Iceland, Three Horseshoes Walk, +44 1985 219724. Supermarket.

The Ink Shop, 84 Market Place, BA12 9AW, â˜Ž +44 1985 300143. Original manufactured and compatible printer ink catridges and ink cartridge refill service.

Junction 18 Ltd., â˜Ž +44 1985 847774. Warminster Business Park, Furneaux Lane. Giftware.

Lakeside Garden Centre, Crockerton. +44 1985 217413. A family business that’s been growing since 1967. Everything for the gardener including plants and tools, ornaments and paving. Walk around the lake. Garden Room restaurant. Open M-Sa 8:30AM to 5:30PM and Sundays 10:30AM to 4:30PM

LGC Computers, 2 George Street, â˜Ž +44 1985 847573. Custom built PCs, new and secondhand laptops, repairs, upgrades, networking, we design, hosting. Friendly helpful advice. “We come to you.”

Lidl, Station Road, +44 870 4441234. Supermarket. With free car parking.

The Little Flower Co., 10 High Street, â˜Ž +44 1985 216570. Florist for retail, events, corporate, Interflora UK and overseas delivery. Wedding specialists.

Lizzie Lou, 6 Weymouth Street, BA12 9NR, â˜Ž +44 1985 216478. Lingerie, top brands and own range of silk lingerie.

L.W. Golf, 9 Elm Hill, +44 1985 212110. Golf equipment.

Magpie, East Street. Gifts and crafts, tearoom, art studios and craft workshops.

Margaret’s Miniatures, 31 Copheap Lane, BA12 0BG, â˜Ž +44 1985 846797. Dolls houses, dolls house furniture, accessories, brick pattern and tile pattern papers, kits, construction service.

Mirage Signs, 10 and 11 Chinns Court, â˜Ž +44 1985 846318.

Morrisons, Weymouth Street, +44 1985 846866. Supermarket. With free car parking.

Nick’s Shoe Repairs, 47a High Street, +44 1985 216834. Shoe accessories and repairs. Key cutting. Leather goods. Trophies.

One Stop, 28 Imber Road, â˜Ž +44 1985 218268. Convenience store, newspapers, magazines, off licence, and National Lottery.

Original Factory Shop, 41 High Street, â˜Ž +44 1985 216050.

Pampurred Pets, 11 and 12 The Cornmarket, BA12 9BX. +44 1985 216657. Pet foods and pet accessories.

Pensworth Dairy, Woodcock Road, +44 1985 213407.

Pine Furniture Shop, 9 and 10 George Street, BA12 8QA.

Portway Stores, 26 Portway Lane, BA12 8RD, â˜Ž +44 1985 218430. Grocery and Off Licence.

Raves From The Grave, 5 Weymouth Street, â˜Ž +44 1985 213707. Music, cds, vinyl records.

C.J. Robbins, 76 Market Place, â˜Ž +44 1985 213052. Family butcher.

Scholars, 42 George Street, BA12 8QB, â˜Ž +44 1985 847757. School uniforms, sportswear and related products. Friendly, family business, established 1952.

Serendipity of Warminster, 18 Market Place, â˜Ž +44 1985 219907. Gifts.

E.J. Shanley, 43 Copheap Lane, â˜Ž +44 1985 213348. Car spares.

Simpsons Seeds Ltd., â˜Ž +44 1985 845004. Walled Garden Nursery, Horningsham. Seeds and Chilli Peppers.

Silver Street News, 33 Silver Street, â˜Ž +44 1985 213374. Newsagent, confectionery.

Sofa Co Plus, 15 George Street, â˜Ž +44 1985 847031. High quality luxury sofas, candles, coffee tables, specialist lighting, handbags, sculptures, artwork, cushions and throws.

Springfield Nurseries, On A36 between Upton Lovell and Codford, +44 1985 728197 or +44 1985 218604. Variety of hardy plants, shrubs, climbers, trees, hanging baskets, bedding and patio plants. Open on Saturday and Sunday 10AM to 4PM

Steve’s Tackle, 35 George Street, â˜Ž +44 1985 847634. Fishing tackle and bait.

Sutton Veny Woodlands, Coopers Bottom, Sutton Veny. +44 1985 840687. Firewood.

Tesco Express, 2 Thornhill Road, â˜Ž +44 845 0269404. Convenience store, newspapers, magazines, off-licence, National Lottery.

Think Outside The Box, 10 Chinns Court, â˜Ž +44 1985 211725. Fabric, wool, haberdashery, arts and crafts.

Tony’s Carpets, 16 George Street, BA12 8QA, â˜Ž +44 1985 216978. Free quotes, free measuring, free fitting.

Tony Pryce Intersport, Three Horseshoes Walk, +44 1985 217891. Sports equipment and clothing.

Town Pets, 22 Market Place, â˜Ž + 44 1985 846606. Pets, pet foods, and pet accessories.

Travel Angels, 70 Market Place, BA12 9AW, â˜Ž +44 1985 211733. Travel agents.

Waitrose, Station Road, +44 1985 848441. Supermarket. With free car parking.

Warminster Antiques Centre, 6 Silver Street, BA12 8PS, â˜Ž +44 1985 847269. China, ceramics, furniture, 19th century, 20th century and contemporary.

The Warminster Jeweller, 9 High Street, BA12 6QF, â˜Ž +44 1985 213022. Goldsmith, silversmith and diamond merchant.

Warminster Lions Book Shop, George Street. Secondhand books, DVDs, cds and jigsaws. Proceeds donated to charities. Run by volunteers.

Warminster Metalworkers, Deverill Road Trading Estate, Sutton Veny. +44 1985 840502. Wrought ironwork items.

Warm Wishes, 8 The Cornmarket, +44 1985 214356. Gifts and Greetings cards.

Webbs Motor Caravans, â˜Ž +44 1985 212222. Crusader Park.

West Parade Stores, 34a West Parade, +44 1985 212321. Grocer, general store and off-licence.

W.H. Smith, 8 and 10 Three Horseshoes Walk, +44 1985 846757. Newsagent, bookseller, stationery, and Post Office.

Wiltshire Smokehouse, 16 Deverill Road, â˜Ž +44 1985 840452. Trading Estate, Sutton Veny. Traditional smokers of fish, meat and game.

Wylye Valley Vineyard and Farm Shop, Sutton End, Crockerton, +44 1985 211337. Vineyard, producing and selling wine. Wine tastings. Farm shop stocking local produce. Cheese, Beer, Cider, Smoked produce, Olives, Vegetables, Gourmet ice cream, preserves, fruit juices and everyday essentials.

Local Folk Receive New Year Honours

Three people in the Warminster and Westbury area are among the recipients of the 2013 New Year Honours:

David Leonard Deacon, well known in Warminster for his property portfolio, has been awarded the British Empire Medal, for his charitable services to the community. Mr. Deacon, who lives south of Warminster, near Semley, founded the Rose Trust in memory of his late mother.

Mrs Daphne Vivienne Pullen, of Upton Lovell, near Warminster, who is Chairman of CLIC Sargent, has been awarded an OBE.

David William Edgington, of Westbury, Wiltshire, has been awarded an MBE, for services given to the industrial heritage of stationary engines.