The best and worst of Southampton

[alpine_saint]

Clubbing has always been pretty good in Liverpool, in terms of all of the above, plus the sheer amount of diversity ( rock clubs, indie clubs, funky house clubs, trance clubs ).

 

Despite being a little under-sung compared to its provincial contemporaries, London is actually my favourite clubbing city in the UK.

 

I've never heard of any club being open until 7am and serving booze, not even now with 24hr licensing.

 

And I have lived in Manchester.

[The9]

I've never heard of any club being open until 7am and serving booze, not even now with 24hr licensing.

 

And I have lived in Manchester.

 

There were about 6 of them in my hometown for a week after 24 hour licensing came in, not so much since.

[pap]

I've never heard of any club being open until 7am and serving booze, not even now with 24hr licensing.

 

And I have lived in Manchester.

 

Who said anything about serving booze, mate?

 

(Have you any idea what clubbing has actually entailed for the last 20 years, Alps?)

[alpine_saint]

Who said anything about serving booze, mate?

 

(Have you any idea what clubbing has actually entailed for the last 20 years, Alps?)

 

I couldnt give a sh*t what clubbing entails nowadays. If I cant drink, I aint interested.

 

Not interested in your skanky weed and E's.

[Turkish]

I couldnt give a sh*t what clubbing entails nowadays. If I cant drink, I aint interested.

 

Not interested in your skanky weed and E's.

 

E's are sh*t and have been since 2001. I've heard.

[pap]

I couldnt give a sh*t what clubbing entails nowadays. If I cant drink, I aint interested.

 

Not interested in your skanky weed and E's.

 

Oh dear, oh dear.

 

Where do we start?

 

I was responding to your disbelief that there are clubs in this country which stay open 'til 7am, aren't lined with snarlers and play decent music. Not actually a tall order in this day and age.

 

Large numbers of people go to clubs all over the country, want to stay up all night and either don't drink alcohol, or don't mind not drinking after 2am. There is a market for this crowd and it has existed for around 20 years, and guess what - loads of clubs that stay open until crazy hours. Doesn't matter that they can't serve beer. Decent profit margin on Red Bull and bottled water too, mate.

 

I feel odd enough pushing forty and explaining recent club history to you, Alps.

 

How the hell do you justify being in your mid-forties and trying to define what it is?

[Essruu]

As mentioned above , the planners have made a right cöck up with the place.

This is harbour city with a huge maritime tradition.... Lets use it!

Give us a vibrant waterfront and a decent pier. How difficult can it be?

 

Otherwise , a pretty greyl town until you get outside of it. Like Oxford St though.

 

 

I haven't read this whole topic, because I knew it would be full of stupid comments like this one and those made by Crab Lungs earlier in the thread.

 

This is indeed a harbour with a huge maritime tradition. It is, as it has been for hundreds of years, a working port though. Unlike traditional recreational seaside resorts, we have no large beaches. The pier was originally built almost 200yrs ago, at a time when the city was much smaller, and the concert hall, and the events held there were a focal point for residents. The original wooden and added structures deteriorated fairly quickly and renovations were needed almost constantly. ABP closed it in the 80s after it was deemed unsafe and in need of major renovation and rebuilding. Other entertainment venues have sprung up since the 19th Century, there's no train line down there anymore, and we're not a seaside resort that needs a pretty pier: so why would anyone think spending a huge amount of money on rebuilding one a good idea? Some of the land that was incorporated into the old pier area is now used by Red Funnel parking anyway. Kutis have done a decent job with the Pier Building itself though, it has to be said.

 

I agree that some of the waterfront planning has left a lot to be desired. Ocean Village for example could be better for visitors, but it is a busy working marina and houses the Royal Southampton Yacht Club. If more shops went in there we'd get the same people moaning about 'more shops'.

 

As for the CITY being a 'grey town' - WTF? Southampton has some of the best city centre parks outside of London in the country. And it's probably one of the greenest cities too. Take a walk from Watts Park, through East Park, Palmerston Park, Houndwell and onto Hoglands Parks, take in the colours, the statues and the history, and only an idiot would say our city is grey. That's before you even think about the 300+ acre Common.

 

Southampton was bombed to shīt in the war. Unfortunately, most of the rebuilding took place in the 60s and 70s when concrete seemed to be the architects' material of choice. Combined this with some decades of lacklustre councils, and I'd agree parts of the city looked bizarre - ugly blocks of flats in French Street next to medieval walls (because emergency housing was needed), 'modern'-fronted shops along London Road, Above Bar and High Street amongst stunning buildings, parts of the Medieval Walls even being taken away in some cases were nothing short of scandalous. However, of late, things are starting to happen.Guildhall Square is coming along and if/when the Arts Quarter ever occupies the temporary green space where Tyrrell & Green once stood, it will transform that end of town. Work on Central Station has also started and if the vision for the future actually gets followed through, then that area will also be something to be proud of.

 

You have the recently opened and Sea City Musuem, the newly renovated Tudor House in the city centre - both of which are stunning. The sprucing up of Old Town is starting to take shape and the history of our city is starting to come back to life for visitors to appreciate and Sotonians to be proud of. It's small things, but things like the Old Town signage, new paving, information signs, re-siting of the one of the QE2 anchors outside of Holy Rood Church etc are all helping to show people what we have.

 

As a taxi driver, I see many parts of this city that most people won't: not just as in areas or streets or buildings, but in the detail of buildings, in the history of places, and in things that most people going about their busy lives would just walk past daily without even giving it a second thought. Open your eyes, people. This is a fine, fine, (and green) city.

[View From The Top]

I haven't read this whole topic, because I knew it would be full of stupid comments like this one and those made by Crab Lungs earlier in the thread.

 

This is indeed a harbour with a huge maritime tradition. It is, as it has been for hundreds of years, a working port though. Unlike traditional recreational seaside resorts, we have no large beaches. The pier was originally built almost 200yrs ago, at a time when the city was much smaller, and the concert hall, and the events held there were a focal point for residents. The original wooden and added structures deteriorated fairly quickly and renovations were needed almost constantly. ABP closed it in the 80s after it was deemed unsafe and in need of major renovation and rebuilding. Other entertainment venues have sprung up since the 19th Century, there's no train line down there anymore, and we're not a seaside resort that needs a pretty pier: so why would anyone think spending a huge amount of money on rebuilding one a good idea? Some of the land that was incorporated into the old pier area is now used by Red Funnel parking anyway. Kutis have done a decent job with the Pier Building itself though, it has to be said.

 

I agree that some of the waterfront planning has left a lot to be desired. Ocean Village for example could be better for visitors, but it is a busy working marina and houses the Royal Southampton Yacht Club. If more shops went in there we'd get the same people moaning about 'more shops'.

 

As for the CITY being a 'grey town' - WTF? Southampton has some of the best city centre parks outside of London in the country. And it's probably one of the greenest cities too. Take a walk from Watts Park, through East Park, Palmerston Park, Houndwell and onto Hoglands Parks, take in the colours, the statues and the history, and only an idiot would say our city is grey. That's before you even think about the 300+ acre Common.

 

Southampton was bombed to shīt in the war. Unfortunately, most of the rebuilding took place in the 60s and 70s when concrete seemed to be the architects' material of choice. Combined this with some decades of lacklustre councils, and I'd agree parts of the city looked bizarre - ugly blocks of flats in French Street next to medieval walls (because emergency housing was needed), 'modern'-fronted shops along London Road, Above Bar and High Street amongst stunning buildings, parts of the Medieval Walls even being taken away in some cases were nothing short of scandalous. However, of late, things are starting to happen.Guildhall Square is coming along and if/when the Arts Quarter ever occupies the temporary green space where Tyrrell & Green once stood, it will transform that end of town. Work on Central Station has also started and if the vision for the future actually gets followed through, then that area will also be something to be proud of.

 

You have the recently opened and Sea City Musuem, the newly renovated Tudor House in the city centre - both of which are stunning. The sprucing up of Old Town is starting to take shape and the history of our city is starting to come back to life for visitors to appreciate and Sotonians to be proud of. It's small things, but things like the Old Town signage, new paving, information signs, re-siting of the one of the QE2 anchors outside of Holy Rood Church etc are all helping to show people what we have.

 

As a taxi driver, I see many parts of this city that most people won't: not just as in areas or streets or buildings, but in the detail of buildings, in the history of places, and in things that most people going about their busy lives would just walk past daily without even giving it a second thought. Open your eyes, people. This is a fine, fine, (and green) city.

 

Bravo sir, bravo.

[sambosa75]

Southampton city centre planning... Get a massive plot in the town centre close to the sea and whack a bloody great big blue monstosity called Ikea in it.

[Essruu]

Southampton city centre planning... Get a massive plot in the town centre close to the sea and whack a bloody great big blue monstosity called Ikea in it.

 

What would you have put on the main road and next to other warehouse-style stores on the retail park then, Einstein?

[pap]

What would you have put on the main road and next to other warehouse-style stores on the retail park then, Einstein?

 

That only really works if you think the warehouse style stores in the middle of town were a good idea to start with.

 

I think they're a profligate use of space - completely unsuitable for a city centre.

[Essruu]

That only really works if you think the warehouse style stores in the middle of town were a good idea to start with.

 

I think they're a profligate use of space - completely unsuitable for a city centre.

 

I agree wholeheartedly. But West Quay Retail Park is there and has been for some time. That being the case, when the land that IKEA sits on became available to develop, what exactly does the person who queried the logic of having it there think should've taken it's place?! It's also very easy to say 'this should've gone there' or 'they could've done that with it', but other developers or businesses weren't exactly falling over themselves to take it on. Love or hate IKEA, people travel from miles around to go to their stores and it brings jobs, people and money to the city.

[Dr. Kucho]

That only really works if you think the warehouse style stores in the middle of town were a good idea to start with.

 

I think they're a profligate use of space - completely unsuitable for a city centre.

 

Who ever decided we should have these warehouses here should be banned from the city. I reckon if you offer those warehouses a place outside the city where they are easy accessible from the motorway they would take it. Then redevelop the plot by building town houses like on Carlton Crescent, some as houses, some as apartments. Living close to the city centre and the water will appeal to many.