"Would you like a receipt with that"?

[The Lone Gunman]

....work from home will destroy the hospitality jobs/ business as we order via takeway utopia, become more political correct....

Good grief. I genuinely believe you need help.

[The Lone Gunman]

It'll be back eventually, just that the population of Cardiff probably isn't bit enough to support both ends of town thriving at the same time - especially since everyone shops online these days.

So what end of town is thriving?

[xsnaggle]

My Wife is not British and she thinks Cardiff is a sleepy backwater with no decent shopping or places to eat, and that we are all basically country bumpkins

I suppose it depends where they started out

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Every city in the UK has seen a decline since the pandemic

And every city has lost out to Internet shopping

The street homeless situation mirrors that of society

Even in Bridgend there are people living on the streets off their head on spice

[HiVis]

in terms of development Cardiff really is a dump. In the past month I've been to Mcr, Brum, Glasgow, Nottingham, Bristol and Leeds and all city centres are way ahead of ours in terms of quality of development build in the past 30 years. In Cardiff the only buildings that look halfway decent and would grace say Brum would be HMRC, Admiral, WMC and St David's, the rest are utter dogshit.

[Rjk]

Out of interest, how often do you visit the city centre? And at what times as an average?

not very often these days, maybe once a month if that, usually either popping to some shops on a Saturday or after work, occasionally during my lunch break. or the odd evening out (including tonight).

the biggest difference is where once upon a time going to a few shops meant immediately making a Beeline for queen Street, nowadays im much more likely to be in the other end of town

[North Cardiff Blue]

I think Cardiff City Centre shopping area is too big, the new bus station they are building is in the wrong place, they should have knocked down the top end of queen street and the capital centre to build the bus station, then the shops could have started at the new opened up Dock Feeder at Chuchirchill way. At the same time allow car access through the Queen street railway Station to the big car parks in and around St David Two and John Lewis.

[North Cardiff Blue]

not very often these days, maybe once a month if that, usually either popping to some shops on a Saturday or after work, occasionally during my lunch break. or the odd evening out (including tonight).

the biggest difference is where once upon a time going to a few shops meant immediately making a Beeline for queen Street, nowadays im much more likely to be in the other end of town

It's at it's scruffiest in the mornings when the street sleepers are either still asleep or waking up and peeing in the doorways.

[Rjk]

I think Cardiff City Centre shopping area is too big, the new bus station they are building is in the wrong place, they should have knocked down the top end of queen street and the capital centre to build the bus station, then the shops could have started at the new opened up Dock Feeder at Chuchirchill way. At the same time allow car access through the Queen street railway Station to the big car parks in and around St David Two and John Lewis.

they should also knock down the massive prison and build a new one more fit for purpose somewhere else.

ridiculous that so much prime real estate is being used for a prison

[splott parker]

Ideal for visiting relatives though

[Wales-Bales]

Oh, in one city centre bar after ordering a pint of Guinness, the lady serving me asked me if I wanted anything else? - I asked her if I could have a packet of Scampi Fries, to which she replied... "Of course you can my lovely"

You need to learn the latest local code words!

[+ the native hipster]

why are we now being asked if we want a receipt ? it didn't happen a year ago , why do i suddenly need a receipt for my hob nobs and vodka ?

[Tuerto]

why are we now being asked if we want a receipt ? it didn't happen a year ago , why do i suddenly need a receipt for my hob nobs and vodka ?

In the words of Zammo and co..." Just Say No"

[Michael Morris]

why are we now being asked if we want a receipt ? it didn't happen a year ago , why do i suddenly need a receipt for my hob nobs and vodka ?

you should get a printed receipt as standard. this business of asking you is to try and get your email so they can harvest your details

[Alan Lung]

They do it in Sainsburys on the self serve machines. Of course I'll go for a receipt because how else could I prove to the uniformed thug on the door that I've paid for my goods?

[+ the native hipster]

They do it in Sainsburys on the self serve machines. Of course I'll go for a receipt because how else could I prove to the uniformed thug on the door that I've paid for my goods?

the machine asks if you need a receipt ?

[insider]

A thread that started with good things to say disintegrated into moaning.
Just about sums this message board up these days.

[goats]

I'm genuinely surprised by this. Cardiff's city centre is an utter cesspit by comparison to how it was five years ago, let alone ten years ago. Empty shopping units all over the place and many of those that are still occupied are either fast food outlets, vape shops or pound-shop-style discount stores.

Meanwhile, the physical state of Queen Street is an absolute disgrace, while the number of beggars and homeless people populating the area has hugely increased in recent years (and some are a real and persistent problem).

I walk through the city centre on my way to and from work most days. It's a very pale imitation of what it used to be in almost every respect.

I agree, it used to be something to look forward too, now there’s barely any shops worth a look, it’s more like “I’ve got to go to town today”.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Other european countries seem to manage to build in historic centres of their cities in a manner that will last and retain the original character of the place.

I was in Poznan recently , and the main square is really nice - far better than any part of cardiff to be honest from an architectural point of view, and none of it is original

Attachment 6186

A lot of the Victorian and especially Edwardian era properties we have aren't actually anything special - it just seems that way because we seem incapable of building anything that isn't completely shit these days. Tiny rooms with paper thin walls and no architectural merit whatsoever.

I'd be up for large swathes of Cardiff being knocked down and rebuilt if we had some kind of quality control on what was put there to replace it, unfortunately that isn't likely to happen so we are better off keeping them.

I have visited cities in literally every country in Europe and I don't think that Cardiff is that special at all.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

the machine asks if you need a receipt ?

Indeed. The same goes for several supermarkets. I have been shopping for an elderly lady once a week since Lockdown was introduced and I send a photograph of receipts for her shopping to her daughter, who forwards me lump sums that in advance and which should last a couple of months. Occasionally, I didn't specifically request the receipt on the self-service tills and felt the need to apologise to the daughter for the lack of an audit trail.

[The Lone Gunman]

not very often these days, maybe once a month if that, usually either popping to some shops on a Saturday or after work, occasionally during my lunch break. or the odd evening out (including tonight).

the biggest difference is where once upon a time going to a few shops meant immediately making a Beeline for queen Street, nowadays im much more likely to be in the other end of town

Unfortunately, there are lots of empty units in the main centres now, but Queen Street is especially poor in that respect, particularly at the train station end. I fully appreciate that online shopping has had a big impact and the public's shopping habits have changed in some other respects too, but I also believe uncompetitive rates and energy costs must be significant factors.

As regards Queen Street itself, the paving is a disgrace (loads of broken or loose slabs along the length of the street) and the whole street looks increasingly shabby. It's very poor considering its location and the council are firmly to blame for that. A combination of this Tory government and this Labour council has been a disaster for Cardiff city centre in my opinion. The decline in recent years has been fairly rapid.

[The Lone Gunman]

A thread that started with good things to say disintegrated into moaning.
Just about sums this message board up these days.

Stop moaning.

[The Lone Gunman]

I think Cardiff City Centre shopping area is too big....

There's definitely something in this. The number of empty or derelict units throughout the centre is clear evidence.

[Rjk]

Unfortunately, there are lots of empty units in the main centres now, but Queen Street is especially poor in that respect, particularly at the train station end. I fully appreciate that online shopping has had a big impact and the public's shopping habits have changed in some other respects too, but I also believe uncompetitive rates and energy costs must be significant factors.

As regards Queen Street itself, the paving is a disgrace (loads of broken or loose slabs along the length of the street) and the whole street looks increasingly shabby. It's very poor considering its location and the council are firmly to blame for that. A combination of this Tory government and this Labour council has been a disaster for Cardiff city centre in my opinion. The decline in recent years has been fairly rapid.

well I was just in town last night, parked in st David's 2, then walked through the Hayes and cut through an arcade to st Mary's street to meet a mate of mine visiting from London and none of those places appeared run down at all really. my mate also remarked how nice it was.

[Robin Friday's Ghost]

The Capitol end of town is on its uppers at the moment. The John Lewis end though is bustling. I think the feeder being opened, despite it's short length, will help rejuvenate that end of town. Obviously that's the hope anyway and I think it will work. The rest of Queen Street needs a rethink though. I appreciate I've opened up a whole new theme for people to moan about by mentioning the feeder.