Another Burnley shop to close

[mikeS]

From 1st March, Wilkinsons Cameras on St James Street will be gone.
Another long-term business to leave our high street.

[mdd2]

More to come once NI kicks in
Whilst a small company I know is not closing it has got rid of employing two technicians who have set up their business and will be doing a lot of similar work for the company they have left meaning collectively now avoiding the hike in employers NI
So that move although “small beer” will mean less NI tax for the Government

[Leon_C]

Their Burnley branch is one of several, and they have - what I believe - is a solid online store.
I have no insider knowledge of the business, but their balance sheet at CH looks relatively healthy so I suspect this has been a long time coming.

[agreenwood]

The club should step in and buy it.

The social media team take lots of photos, so there’s real synergy here.

[Bow]

I can’t imagine there’s much demand for cameras now, certainly not enough to warrant a high street shop.

[CardyTheClaret]

We are in the same boat - we've gone totally online online only. Fewer staff and more flexible hours. Business rates are just killing the high street.

[Casper2]

We are in the same boat - we've gone totally online online only. Fewer staff and more flexible hours. Business rates are just killing the high street.

The high street was killed years ago.

[LS7]

The market for 35mm film cameras is about to take off - sad timing

[LS7]

(As part of general analogue tech trend). Eg Pentax launching a new model.

[dougcollins]

Couldn't believe the response when I put my Canon AE1 (plus lenses) up on eBay.

[Bigvince]

Couldn't believe the response when I put my Canon AE1 (plus lenses) up on eBay.

Not surprised, it’s a fantastic camera!

[dougcollins]

Not surprised, it’s a fantastic camera!

Good job I have another at home!

[Dyched]

The market for 35mm film cameras is about to take off - sad timing

Over the past 5 years (at least) it’s been big. Brands are now making brand new film cameras again!! The price of some of the old ones are crazy and only getting higher.

[Clovius Boofus]

The market for 35mm film cameras is about to take off - sad timing

Is it a retro fad, or do photographers consider it superior to digital?

[Dyched]

Is it a retro fad, or do photographers consider it superior to digital?

There’s certainly those who do it for the lo-fi effect. But serious photographers use film too. To me, it’s far superior than digital.

[Clovius Boofus]

There’s certainly those who do it for the lo-fi effect. But serious photographers use film too. To me, it’s far superior than digital.

Cheers for the info.

[ChrisG]

Cheers for the info.

I've got a Canon DSLR, and an Olympus OM1 film camera. The latter makes me think more about composition as I can't just snap a load and delete the ones I don't like straight away

[Goalkeeper]

2024 was a terrible year for the High Street. Over 10000 stores closed and over 130000 jobs were lost.
Can and will the High Street recover.
The info on cameras was fascinating. Nice snippet about using film makes for a more careful use and more particular choice of shot.

[Clovius Boofus]

I've got a Canon DSLR, and an Olympus OM1 film camera. The latter makes me think more about composition, as I can't just snap a load and delete the ones I don't like straight away

I see what you mean.

[mikeS]

2024 was a terrible year for the High Street. Over 10000 stores closed and over 130000 jobs were lost.
Can and will the High Street recover.
The info on cameras was fascinating. Nice snippet about using film makes for a more careful use and more particular choice of shot.

It woukd be interesting to find out where all the trade that these businesses did disappear to. Can't just have ended. The products and services woukd still be needed and there'd be a market for them.
I wonder What percentage moved to online provision? And how much was taken by American online giants like Amazon who contribute nothing to the UK retail industry devouring our shops, services and goods like a black hole.

[Walton]

More to come once NI kicks in
Whilst a small company I know is not closing it has got rid of employing two technicians who have set up their business and will be doing a lot of similar work for the company they have left meaning collectively now avoiding the hike in employers NI
So that move although “small beer” will mean less NI tax for the Government

Crikey, how much do you think they're paying at Wilkinson's?

The hike in NI would be more than offset by the increase in Employer Allowance from £5,000 to £10,000.

Any small companies closing or laying off staff because of ill-informed scaremongering would be advised to speak to a proper accountant and not take their news from right wing scare stories

[Goliath]

It's baffling that there's not really many (if any) restaurants in the centre where all the cafes are. Its perfect for some nice outdoor seating which could be covered in winter.

[Loyalclaret]

It's baffling that there's not really many (if any) restaurants in the centre where all the cafes are. Its perfect for some nice outdoor seating which could be covered in winter.

There seem to be far more restaurants in the town centre than I can remember in the last 20 years. Explosion of coffee shops as young people (and old) change their socialising habits.

Recently the town welcomed Icaro, Nandos and Taco Bell on the new Pioneer complex - at least Icaro has outside seating but not sure on the others. If you mean St Jame's Street, there is Ellis's and the Mexican place near the top. There is an issue with the early evening economy in town though.

[Goliath]

There seem to be far more restaurants in the town centre than I can remember in the last 20 years. Explosion of coffee shops as young people (and old) change their socialising habits.

Recently the town welcomed Icaro, Nandos and Taco Bell on the new Pioneer complex - at least Icaro has outside seating but not sure on the others. If you mean St Jame's Street, there is Ellis's and the Mexican place near the top. There is an issue with the early evening economy in town though.

Ye I meant st james street. It's all cafes rather than restaurants. It could be a nice night time spot with a few nice restaurants.

The others you mentioned are just chains, basically fast food restaurants. Where are the slightly higher end places. Maybe some live music as well...Everything seems to go on the outskirts of the town centre rather than the centre itself.

[GetIntoEm]

There seem to be far more restaurants in the town centre than I can remember in the last 20 years. Explosion of coffee shops as young people (and old) change their socialising habits.

Recently the town welcomed Icaro, Nandos and Taco Bell on the new Pioneer complex - at least Icaro has outside seating but not sure on the others. If you mean St Jame's Street, there is Ellis's and the Mexican place near the top. There is an issue with the early evening economy in town though.

The coffee shops all seem to be filled with the elderly and the unemployable. Good job they've got enough spare for a fiver pound coffee.

Town centre is on its arse really for evening/night time entertainment. Theres not many people in the pubs these days which is a shame, and it's not just about prices. Society has just changed.

I suggested they should use the market hall as more of a food/drink hall, similar set up to now but open till 9 or 10 on a weekend. You just get shouted down by the older generation harking back to when Burnley market was great and didn't smell of "foreign food"

God knows where they go for their buttons and off cuts of fabric now.

[Loyalclaret]

The coffee shops all seem to be filled with the elderly and the unemployable. Good job they've got enough spare for a fiver pound coffee.

Town centre is on its arse really for evening/night time entertainment. Theres not many people in the pubs these days which is a shame, and it's not just about prices. Society has just changed.

I suggested they should use the market hall as more of a food/drink hall, similar set up to now but open till 9 or 10 on a weekend. You just get shouted down by the older generation harking back to when Burnley market was great and didn't smell of "foreign food"

God knows where they go for their buttons and off cuts of fabric now.

Agree about the market, I haven't been down but they were trialling Friday nights with live music but not heard how it went - should aim towards Altrincham markets.

Also agree about changing habits, although not my choice of food, I'm happy about the Pioneer development. Younger people have been travelling to The Rock etc exactly for the businesses on Pioneer. Forgot the new food court on Manchester Rd.

Goliath we seem to have improved daytime slightly, increased restaurants overall but still lacking that 4:30-10pm scene. Little White Horse and Cork House style places with food on St James's St would be good but can't see it working at the minute.

[Scott Arfield's Swag]

On a slightly more positive note, JD Sports is moving and expanding into a new conversion of a load of empty units that used to house H Samuel's and the COVID vaccination centre.

[Goalkeeper]

The coffee shops all seem to be filled with the elderly and the unemployable. Good job they've got enough spare for a fiver pound coffee.

Town centre is on its arse really for evening/night time entertainment. Theres not many people in the pubs these days which is a shame, and it's not just about prices. Society has just changed.

I suggested they should use the market hall as more of a food/drink hall, similar set up to now but open till 9 or 10 on a weekend. You just get shouted down by the older generation harking back to when Burnley market was great and didn't smell of "foreign food"

God knows where they go for their buttons and off cuts of fabric now.

Bit of a rant at the older generation here, most of it totally inaccurate.

[GetIntoEm]

Bit of a rant at the older generation here, most of it totally inaccurate.

It's not specific to the older generation, it's aimed at anyone who is unwilling to embrace change. People these days don't want a market hall that sells tat, it's not what people are buying or want.

As much as people enjoyed it 40 years ago, doesn't make it right now.

[AfloatinClaret]

...anyone who is unwilling to embrace change. People these days don't want a market hall that sells tat, it's not what people are buying or want.

As much as people enjoyed it 40 years ago, doesn't make it right now.

Town centres are in decline everywhere, not just Burnley and if one aims to make this an ageist issue, then the younger folk are probably the more to blame; as has ever been the case, younger people more readily embrace change.
Even in our small town there has been a steady stream of our traditional/long-standing shops closing in recent years, most often being replaced by another cafe/coffee bar/tea-room for the visitors and holidaymakers.
One often hears local residents bemoaning these closures, without considering how their own shopping habits have changed: They want/need those local shops to buy whatever they've forgotten to include on their weekly Tesco delivery order, or the odd small but urgent item for which they can't wait twenty-four hours for Amazon to deliver; you can't run a business on that sort of trade.
It's similar with the pubs, especially those in the outlying villages: Everybody wants their village pub - statistics suggest that a house in a village with a pub sell for around £5k more than an equivalent house in a village without one - but for the most part, they only use it on New Year's Eve and for the odd pint/Sunday lunch when they have friends visiting. Again, it's hard to make a business pay with that sort of trade.

[GetIntoEm]

Exactly, don't moan if you don't use it.

Take oddies for example, it wouldn't have closed if they had enough business to sustain it. People who moan about pubs closing and then in the same breath complain about paying a fiver a pint.

Use it or lose it

[JohnMac]

I've got a Canon DSLR, and an Olympus OM1 film camera. The latter makes me think more about composition as I can't just snap a load and delete the ones I don't like straight away

Spray n Pray

[No Ney Never]

Town centres were supposed to be transitioning from mainly retail destinations to places of leisure, but the cost of employment and business rates is making even this an activity priced out of the reach of the average person. I'm struggling to imagine for what is a town centre of the future going to be purposed?

[jrgbfc]

Agree about the market, I haven't been down but they were trialling Friday nights with live music but not heard how it went - should aim towards Altrincham markets.

Also agree about changing habits, although not my choice of food, I'm happy about the Pioneer development. Younger people have been travelling to The Rock etc exactly for the businesses on Pioneer. Forgot the new food court on Manchester Rd.

Goliath we seem to have improved daytime slightly, increased restaurants overall but still lacking that 4:30-10pm scene. Little White Horse and Cork House style places with food on St James's St would be good but can't see it working at the minute.

Is Little White Horse what used to be William's bar?

[Scott Arfield's Swag]

Is Little White Horse what used to be William's bar?

The Little White Horse is in the same place it's always been. Albeit it did become Illuminati for quite some time. It's on the corner of Hammerton/Hargreaves St. It's excellent in there too. Cork House, Little White Horse, Hatters Bar and on to the Bridge is a regular run for us.