Waterstones in Byres Road

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Waterstones in Byres Road

Postby stunev » Fri Jun 05, 2015 8:42 am

I see that Waterstones have a planning application in for a bookshop/cafe for the site at 351-355 Byres Road (the old Roots, Fruits and Mail Boxes shops). At last a bookshop back in Byres Road and a quality retailer.

https://publicaccess.glasgow.gov.uk/onl ... 7BSEX0NB00
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Re: Waterstones in Byres Road

Postby RDR » Fri Jun 05, 2015 3:20 pm

Are you serious? Waterstons a quality retailer?
Along with internet book sellers they have driven out of business or bought over any decent bookshop.
Their prices are consistently higher and stock poor.
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Re: Waterstones in Byres Road

Postby stunev » Fri Jun 05, 2015 8:33 pm

By the standards of any British high street Waterstones is a quality retailer, by the appalling standard of Byres Road, infected with its ghastly little charity shops, they're bloody superstars!

Independent bookshops in Britain are disappearing for a number of reasons, certainly competition from large companies hasn't helped but I think that when a history of British bookselling is written that Internet sales and the collapse of the Net Book Agreement, rather than the likes of Waterstones will be cited as the main reasons for the problems of the independents.
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Re: Waterstones in Byres Road

Postby HollowHorn » Fri Jun 05, 2015 10:16 pm

stunev wrote:the appalling standard of Byres Road, infected with its ghastly little charity shops

8O
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Re: Waterstones in Byres Road

Postby old jock » Sat Jun 06, 2015 9:01 am

Aye ghastly charity shops is a bit harsh

"Beggars Rd" retail wise I think is improving slowly, I prefer the Charity shops to when it was all estate agents (there are still quite a few). Its still got a way to go and despite Waterstone's reputation I welcome a book shop.

As of now the only book shop that springs to mind in the road is a charity shop and I find it pretty dammed good and reasonable unlike some other second had book shops in the area
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Re: Waterstones in Byres Road

Postby hound dog » Sun Jun 07, 2015 11:07 pm

old jock wrote:Aye ghastly charity shops is a bit harsh

"Beggars Rd" retail wise I think is improving slowly, I prefer the Charity shops to when it was all estate agents (there are still quite a few). Its still got a way to go and despite Waterstone's reputation I welcome a book shop.

As of now the only book shop that springs to mind in the road is a charity shop and I find it pretty dammed good and reasonable unlike some other second had book shops in the area


As someone who grew up in the Byres Road area and has lived in the neighbourhood all my life, I remember it when it was a fantastic shopping area - not just pubs, cafes, charity shops and estate agents. I am delighted to hear that there are plans for a proper bookshop again, and not just one selling 2nd hand books. As regards Waterstones being "expensive" -they simply charge the RRP unless they have a special offer on. Other than buying books online - which I don't do on principle - I don't know anywhere else that is cheaper. Works Outlet is good, but they have a limited selection.

Personally I think it is a scandal that small businesses are unable to pay what GCC is demanding for the prime retail sites, and these sites are being handed over to charity shops - presumably, at vastly reduced costs. Perhaps if the rent and rates were a bit more reasonable, then Byres Road could be restored to something of its former glory.
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Re: Waterstones in Byres Road

Postby old jock » Mon Jun 08, 2015 9:00 am

Hound Dog I'm in exactly the same boat.

I do remember when it had all sorts and was a great area, that's what it was like when we first bought a place here. I agree entirely with your comments.

Sometimes I think the council actively hates the area as we are all rich bohemians, allegedly, well it makes a difference from champagne socialists in the chambers.

Maybe its paranoia, but much as I love a pint, Ashton fekin lane is just ridiculous and I've seen cooncil literature advertize it as a westend gem? :roll:

After yesterday too, West End festival??? More like West End drinkathon from what I seen. God forbid if there had been a fire or an incident in the lane, it took me close to 15 minutes to get from the chip to what used to be the Cul De Sac. The overcrowding was bordering on negligent with the Stewards just hanging around and doing FA.
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Re: Waterstones in Byres Road

Postby stunev » Mon Jun 08, 2015 11:11 am

In Barratts newsagents earlier, I heard the guy behind the counter saying that the shop had been taken over. That might tie in with the decrease in the huge stock of newspapers that were there every weekend - I wonder if he'll keep the wide range of magazines they have at the moment.
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Re: Waterstones in Byres Road

Postby hound dog » Mon Jun 08, 2015 4:26 pm

old jock wrote:Hound Dog I'm in exactly the same boat.

I do remember when it had all sorts and was a great area, that's what it was like when we first bought a place here. I agree entirely with your comments.


Yep, one of the things that gave it character imo was the bohemian type students rubbing shoulders with the what we called "the blue-rinsed mob" from Kelvinside ::): All small, local, independent shops - two of my aunties had a wee shop between Highburgh Rd & Havelock St. Think it was a haberdashery shop, if I mind right. There was cobblers and an ironmongers - Tullies? - that's just off the top of my head.

Sometimes I think the council actively hates the area as we are all rich bohemians, allegedly, well it makes a difference from champagne socialists in the chambers.


I don't think the council hates the area Jock - just sees it as a cash cow Like many people who don't live in the area they tend to see us all as rich bohemians, as you put it - if only :roll:

After yesterday too, West End festival??? More like West End drinkathon from what I seen. God forbid if there had been a fire or an incident in the lane, it took me close to 15 minutes to get from the chip to what used to be the Cul De Sac. The overcrowding was bordering on negligent with the Stewards just hanging around and doing FA.


You surely don't expect them to limit the numbers of people who are spending money 8O Some of them made their way to Kelvingrove Park last night well under the influence - made a mental note to avoid the park on week-end evenings until after the festival / drinkfest is over
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Re: Waterstones in Byres Road

Postby HollowHorn » Wed Jun 10, 2015 8:52 pm

old jock wrote:Sometimes I think the council actively hates the area as we are all rich bohemians, allegedly

So, you rich bastards are the reason for the Victorian operating times of the Subterranean Railway?
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Re: Waterstones in Byres Road

Postby Guacho » Wed Jun 10, 2015 10:35 pm

HollowHorn wrote:
old jock wrote:Sometimes I think the council actively hates the area as we are all rich bohemians, allegedly

So, you rich bastards are the reason for the Victorian operating times of the Subterranean Railway?

Get Vicky Coren-Mitchell to take a whip to them ::):
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Re: Waterstones in Byres Road

Postby Vinny the Mackem » Thu Jun 11, 2015 1:27 pm

Guacho wrote:
HollowHorn wrote:
old jock wrote:Sometimes I think the council actively hates the area as we are all rich bohemians, allegedly

So, you rich bastards are the reason for the Victorian operating times of the Subterranean Railway?

Get Vicky Coren-Mitchell to take a whip to them ::):

Only if I can be first in the queue! :twisted:
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Re: Waterstones in Byres Road

Postby stunev » Sat Jun 27, 2015 4:43 pm

New Waterstones Byres Road opens July 26th complete with a Cafe W rather than a bloody Costa.
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Re: Waterstones in Byres Road

Postby deconstruction » Sun Sep 27, 2015 11:22 am

One of my fondest memories of Byres Road (in what I think of as the Golden Age) was eating with friends in a 'greasy spoon' cafe - but what was it's name?? did it begin with R? - and watching a group of boys (students, we assumed) trying to push-start a metallic blue Jaguar 420. Surreal, like something out of a film: the protagonists in dialogue, discussing their mission and behind them, the car silently passing the window, from left to right, then, a few moments later, from right to left, etc. etc. ::):
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Re: Waterstones in Byres Road

Postby Roxburgh » Tue Oct 06, 2015 3:04 am

hound dog wrote:
old jock wrote:Hound Dog I'm in exactly the same boat.

I do remember when it had all sorts and was a great area, that's what it was like when we first bought a place here. I agree entirely with your comments.


Yep, one of the things that gave it character imo was the bohemian type students rubbing shoulders with the what we called "the blue-rinsed mob" from Kelvinside ::): All small, local, independent shops - two of my aunties had a wee shop between Highburgh Rd & Havelock St. Think it was a haberdashery shop, if I mind right. There was cobblers and an ironmongers - Tullies? - that's just off the top of my head.

Sometimes I think the council actively hates the area as we are all rich bohemians, allegedly, well it makes a difference from champagne socialists in the chambers.


I don't think the council hates the area Jock - just sees it as a cash cow Like many people who don't live in the area they tend to see us all as rich bohemians, as you put it - if only :roll:

After yesterday too, West End festival??? More like West End drinkathon from what I seen. God forbid if there had been a fire or an incident in the lane, it took me close to 15 minutes to get from the chip to what used to be the Cul De Sac. The overcrowding was bordering on negligent with the Stewards just hanging around and doing FA.


You surely don't expect them to limit the numbers of people who are spending money 8O Some of them made their way to Kelvingrove Park last night well under the influence - made a mental note to avoid the park on week-end evenings until after the festival / drinkfest is over


Correct. It was Tullies (or Tully's). And there was a toy shop right opposite on the other side of Byres Rd.
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