New £6million bar set to open (From Bucks Free Press)
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New £6million bar set to open
7:00am Monday 5th November 2012 in Politics By James Nadal
New £6million bar set to open
A NEW £6million bar which will replace the old Lloyds bank in Marlow High Street is set to open in mid-December.
Baroosh, a chain owned by McMullen and Sons, is moving into the town centre premise.
The change from cash and cheques to champagne and cocktails has been in the pipeline for about two years.
It has been criticised by some who think Marlow has enough bars and coffee shops already.
Among the critics is Terry Price, chairman of Marlow People's Action Group.
"We need another bar like a hole in the head," he said.
"There's ten different places where we can get a cup of coffee but you tell me where's there's a butcher or a grocer?
"The character of Marlow has changed totally.
"I think the majority of people in the town are disgusted with what's happening in the town.
"If you were to turn Marlow High Street into the way it used to people would flock there in their thousands."
Lyn Skinner, 75, retired, from Bisham, said: "I think it's out of keeping where it is and we've got enough bars and coffee shops in Marlow already."
However, ex-mayor Derek Done, said it was better than having a boarded up shop.
He said: "The positive aspect of this is the High Street is still vibrant, though Spittal Street perhaps isn't.
"People say we've got enough cafes but if you have a market economy that's how it works."
Lloyds has moved to another High Street premise.
Thirty new jobs are being created by the new bar. McMullen and Sons Managing Director Peter Furness-Smith, has told the Free Press previously that the bar, described as stylish and contemporary, will add 'vitality' and 'value' to the town.
He said: "I am sure that there will be a minority who do not want to see any change but we are not making a £6m investment in Marlow lightly.
"We are therefore confident that a significant number of Marlow’s residents will appreciate and use Baroosh."
The Free Press asked McMullens what assurances it could give residents about anti-social behaviour in the town centre after a recent brawl among drinkers at another pub nearby.
Mr Furness-Smith said: "Our priority is to ensure that our customers have an enjoyable experience in a safe environment and our intention in Marlow is to further build on our good reputation.
"Unfortunately there are a few anti social individuals in most towns who will try and ruin a night out for the vast majority. Fortunately these types of unacceptable incident are few and far between but most towns will have experienced something like this."
Comments(12)
sparky49
says...
9:39am Mon 5 Nov 12
Mr Price, you can find a grocers and a butchers as well as a bakers. It's called sainsburys. The reason all the independent retailers with character have gone is rents too high and believe it or not people not using them because the multi nationals are cheaper and people would rather use one store. It appears you dream of those halcyon days. Use them or lose them.
Kadoogan
says...
9:53am Mon 5 Nov 12
I wonder how many shanty towns have a bars costing millions of pounds?
s6blr
says...
10:35am Mon 5 Nov 12
Voyeur
says...
11:41am Mon 5 Nov 12
Stalemate
says...
2:11pm Mon 5 Nov 12
Voyeur wrote:Yes, the number makes no sense at all.
£6 million seems a lot of money to convert a bank to a bar. Just saying.
In fact they could undoubtedly paper the walls in ten pound notes for less than that!
gpn01
says...
4:01pm Mon 5 Nov 12
Stalemate wrote:Maybe it's being spent on a high quality stock? Decent Champagne isn't cheap you know!
Voyeur wrote: £6 million seems a lot of money to convert a bank to a bar. Just saying.Yes, the number makes no sense at all. In fact they could undoubtedly paper the walls in ten pound notes for less than that!
realist_highwycombe
says...
4:20pm Mon 5 Nov 12
Marlow used to be a fantastic place to go for a night out. A nice meal, drinks etc.
The Red Lion shut down, R-Home shut down, The hogshead turned into the slug & lettuce so I think somewhere to go is good.
And as already stated - the reason traders are moving out is because the rent is too high because Marlow thinks its something its not!
Give traders a break and people may open up more independant premises!
Until then I wish this establishment every success :)
Lividov
says...
8:25pm Tue 6 Nov 12
I can't see though how you can make a profit after spending £6m on selling food and bev.
gpn01
says...
9:33pm Tue 6 Nov 12
Lividov wrote:"Marlow" is made up of over 17,500 residents. Some of whom have lived there for their entire lives. Others haven't. One of its strengths is that it has a mix of new and old - both in terms of how long people have lived there and the age range too. There'll be some people who're against dveelopments and some who're in favour. It's a mix of people, cultures and attitudes to change. As a result it's not accurate to say that "the residents of Marlow" are in favour of something or against it..
Ahem... what does Marlow think it is precisely? Well if the development of the centre is not what the residents want then it will become a destination for others with no real stake in the place other than that they bought a drink/cocktail/meal there. Shanley wants the town as a "themed" venue and slowly he will get his way unless the planning people wake up to the fact that the majority of residents don't want this. You can't leave everything to market forces - 10 years under Thatcher taught us that and recent "market forces" have left the economy in a pretty parlous state at the moment (although it's felt less in Marlow).
I can't see though how you can make a profit after spending £6m on selling food and bev.
Lividov
says...
2:21am Thu 8 Nov 12
gpn01 wrote:OK - so let it develop without a plan. As residents we are ALL a bit upset at how the village is changing. My point is Shanley is defining what Marlow is - not the residents.
Lividov wrote:"Marlow" is made up of over 17,500 residents. Some of whom have lived there for their entire lives. Others haven't. One of its strengths is that it has a mix of new and old - both in terms of how long people have lived there and the age range too. There'll be some people who're against dveelopments and some who're in favour. It's a mix of people, cultures and attitudes to change. As a result it's not accurate to say that "the residents of Marlow" are in favour of something or against it..
Ahem... what does Marlow think it is precisely? Well if the development of the centre is not what the residents want then it will become a destination for others with no real stake in the place other than that they bought a drink/cocktail/meal there. Shanley wants the town as a "themed" venue and slowly he will get his way unless the planning people wake up to the fact that the majority of residents don't want this. You can't leave everything to market forces - 10 years under Thatcher taught us that and recent "market forces" have left the economy in a pretty parlous state at the moment (although it's felt less in Marlow).
I can't see though how you can make a profit after spending £6m on selling food and bev.
gpn01
says...
8:42am Thu 8 Nov 12
Lividov wrote:"so let it develop without a plan"...No. Let's not. That's why Marlow Town Council has been working on a ten year plan. It's why Marlow featured in WDC's strategic plan to look at the vision for the future, focussing on High Wycombe, Princes Risborough and Marlow. It's why the Council did a consultant phase with the public to review the outline of what's being proposed as part of Marlow's future development.
gpn01 wrote:OK - so let it develop without a plan. As residents we are ALL a bit upset at how the village is changing. My point is Shanley is defining what Marlow is - not the residents.Lividov wrote: Ahem... what does Marlow think it is precisely? Well if the development of the centre is not what the residents want then it will become a destination for others with no real stake in the place other than that they bought a drink/cocktail/meal there. Shanley wants the town as a "themed" venue and slowly he will get his way unless the planning people wake up to the fact that the majority of residents don't want this. You can't leave everything to market forces - 10 years under Thatcher taught us that and recent "market forces" have left the economy in a pretty parlous state at the moment (although it's felt less in Marlow). I can't see though how you can make a profit after spending £6m on selling food and bev."Marlow" is made up of over 17,500 residents. Some of whom have lived there for their entire lives. Others haven't. One of its strengths is that it has a mix of new and old - both in terms of how long people have lived there and the age range too. There'll be some people who're against dveelopments and some who're in favour. It's a mix of people, cultures and attitudes to change. As a result it's not accurate to say that "the residents of Marlow" are in favour of something or against it..
Darren Hayday says...
8:59am Mon 5 Nov 12
Marlow is made up of the old and the new generations.