Midland chandlers - Store closures?

[Jen-in-Wellies]

8 hours ago, MtB said:

 

Fiscal drag, MTD, and on it goes. Endless cost and regulation being heaped onto small business. 

 

"Growth is out Number One Priority" someone once said. All lies. 

 

Remind us all who said this in the HoC on 29th January 2025... 

 

"With your permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to update the House on the Government’s work to unlock investment and secure economic growth. That is the No. 1 mission of this Government. Without growth, we cannot deliver on the priorities of the British people, cut NHS waiting lists, rebuild our schools or put more police on our streets. That is why the pursuit of growth is our first mission, putting our country on a new path towards a brighter future after 14 years of failure from the Conservatives. By helping businesses to invest and create wealth, we ensure they can provide jobs and opportunities that change lives, putting more pounds in people’s pockets and rejuvenating communities across the country." 

 

What a load of cobblers and lies. 

 

I'll get orf me hobby horse now!

 

 

 

 

 

A reminder of one of the forum rules. Please keep Politics to the appropriate section of the forum. Not here. The original post has been hidden. 

Jen, doing moderator stuff. 

 

Posting any material deemed to have a primarily political theme not strictly related to inland waterways and/or boating is prohibited unless submitted within the designated Political & Current affairs forum

[pearley]

10 hours ago, MtB said:

 

Their site at Braunston is probably worth about £3m sold for housing, at a wild guess. 

 

This is probably quite a big factor in their decision to take that money off the table. 

 

 

And that would be the end of the elsan and rubbish, if they haven't already been removed.

[stagedamager]

As a business sometimes you need to go in and see things, usually on last minute break downs, and at times you need to be able to make a job work with a kit of parts, which you can only see in person. I think it is incredibly short sited, the staff in the stores are incredibly knowledgeable, and approachable. I guess it hopefully gives a chance to smaller independent chandlers who will certainly now be getting 100% of my business moving forwards

[Tony Brooks]

The holding company did the same with the majority of local motor factors around South Reading, take over after take over and now just their outlet and one other, both with minimal stock holding from what I can see. Unfortunately, the small independents do not seem to have survived, and even the local Halfords have gone. It is the inevitable result of pursuit of profit above all else.

[MtB]

28 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

The holding company did the same with the majority of local motor factors around South Reading, take over after take over and now just their outlet and one other, both with minimal stock holding from what I can see. Unfortunately, the small independents do not seem to have survived, and even the local Halfords have gone. It is the inevitable result of pursuit of profit above all else.

 

I suspect if one looks at the acounts of these companies, it's more a case of needing to avoid slipping into big losses. I very much doubt in this dog-eat-dog world, motor factors make a fortune compared to the overheads and capital invested in stock. 

 

Same happened in the world of boiler spares. Once on-line ordering and delivery to my door became viable, driving to a boiler spares merchant to hang around for 30 mins in a queue to get served seemed very unattractive, and all the bricks-and-mortar spares merchants closed down. 

[eye on the water]

Luckily for us up on the t+m theres are cracking little chandlers in burton on trent that stocks most of the day to day products we'll need. Sad that people are losing their jobs but unfortunately that's what happens when the bigger companies get involved 

[IanD]

58 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

The holding company did the same with the majority of local motor factors around South Reading, take over after take over and now just their outlet and one other, both with minimal stock holding from what I can see. Unfortunately, the small independents do not seem to have survived, and even the local Halfords have gone. It is the inevitable result of pursuit of profit above all else.

Isn't making profit the fundamental purpose of businesses?

 

Small unprofitable businesses run by somebody who does it for love are great, but usually charge more -- and most people want the best price, not nostalgia.

 

Same thing as other local shops and pubs closing down -- the blame lies with the public who don't use them... 😞

[ditchcrawler]

12 hours ago, LadyG said:

I suggest you look through the windows, they are not like a traditional gents hairdressers.

The shops are usually  " Turkish Barbers ", the staff and the customers tend to have dark skins.

 They also seem to be shaving their customers, not a service Joe Public would use.

The youth of today dont use these establishments, they go to places which are more traditional.

 

 

Well I go to a Turkish Barber for my 4 monthly haircut, and my son goes to one for the shave and blowlamp treatment 

35 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

 

Same happened in the world of boiler spares. Once on-line ordering and delivery to my door became viable, driving to a boiler spares merchant to hang around for 30 mins in a queue to get served seemed very unattractive, and all the bricks-and-mortar spares merchants closed down. 

The old apprentice joke, go to the wholesalers for a long wait 

[Rob-M]

When Midland Chandlers closed Penkridge and Park Gate opened up we try to use them.  It is very handy stopping in the lock and being able to put stuff straight in the boat 

[Steve9007]

Will they be cheaper if solely online 🫣

[IanD]

14 minutes ago, Steve9007 said:

Will they be cheaper if solely online 🫣

That's what they said -- "much cheaper" were their exact words... 😉 

[BoatingLifeUpNorth2]

8 hours ago, eye on the water said:

Luckily for us up on the t+m theres are cracking little chandlers in burton on trent that stocks most of the day to day products we'll need. Sad that people are losing their jobs but unfortunately that's what happens when the bigger companies get involved 

Shobnall Marina on the T&M Is a great place for diesel and has everything you need, I always stop there if I need anything or not.

Edited February 14 by BoatingLifeUpNorth2

[Rob-M]

2 minutes ago, BoatingLifeUpNorth2 said:

Shobnall Marina on the T&M Is a great place for diesel and has everything you need, I always stop there if I need anything or not.

As long as they are open, last time I stopped there I reversed in to the pump only to find they were closed and it was about 3pm on a weekday.

[MrsM]

8 minutes ago, BoatingLifeUpNorth2 said:

Shobnall Marina on the T&M Is a great place for diesel and has everything you need, I always stop there if I need anything or not.

Agreed. A lovely family run business.

[nealeST]

On 13/02/2026 at 15:57, matty40s said:

Evri/Hermes are by far the worst

Evri are just dreadful. They ‘fake’ photos to prove they have delivered I found to my horror when on the boat.  Lately I found a 25kg package the size of a flat screen tv dumped on my fathers driveway for a block of flats 800 meters away.👹

[Alan de Enfield]

3 minutes ago, nealeST said:

Evri are just dreadful. They ‘fake’ photos to prove they have delivered I found to my horror when on the boat.  Lately I found a 25kg package the size of a flat screen tv dumped on my fathers driveway for a block of flats 800 meters away.👹

 

According to EVRI the maximum weight they will accept is 15kg.

Is it different in Sweden ?

I recently received a package which was 16kgs - the EVRI driver said he had the right to refuse it, but he brought it anyway - he's a good 'lad'

 

From their website ..........

 

Evri parcel weight limits

The Evri parcel weight limit is 15kg.

We base our prices on your parcel’s weight, so whether the parcel is small or large, please make sure you choose the right weight for your parcel:

• Postable parcels (letterbox-friendly & under 1kg)
• Under 1kg
• 1-2kg
• 2-5kg
• 5-10kg
• 10-15kg

[BoatingLifeUpNorth2]

31 minutes ago, Rob-M said:

As long as they are open, last time I stopped there I reversed in to the pump only to find they were closed and it was about 3pm on a weekday.

I’ll recommend the visitor moorings outside too, easy walk into town and a good charity shop nearby. I’ve always enjoyed my stays there.

[MrsM]

2 minutes ago, BoatingLifeUpNorth2 said:

I’ll recommend the visitor moorings outside too, easy walk into town and a good charity shop nearby. I’ve always enjoyed my stays there.

Hope the Last Heretic real ale pub is still open in Burton - a great place to visit - and the Devonshire for their legendary pie nights. 

Edited February 14 by MrsM

[nealeST]

No Liverpool, don’t shoot the messenger! I looked at the weight on the package when I tried to establish who it was for and to let the person in question know why I wasn’t going to lug it round to their address. Perhaps the weight had something to do with it being dumped at the wrong address? When I saw it was Evri I wasn’t at all surprised after my own experiences. Interesting though because the fact it was ‘overweight’ should mean that it wasn’t accepted by Evri in the first place? But they did? The weight aside, it’s ok to put presumably expensive items outside the wrong address in full view of anyone strolling past? The man who came to collect was aware that his parcel could easily have been stolen…

[Alan de Enfield]

41 minutes ago, MrsM said:

Agreed. A lovely family run business.

 

Indeed they are.

We bought our Reeves NB from them.

 

We had set out for a few days boat hunting and planned a circular route - found nothing that matched our needs and wants but called in Shobnall on the off chance - again nothing that interested us advertised on the 'wall' but the very nice lady said "I know its not a 57 footer, but we have an excellent 45 footer thats is immaculate.- we were there so decided to have a look.

 

The condition was very good and the layout actually gave more space than some of the 57 footers we had looked at.

 

Long story short, said "we'll have it" she said it'll take a week or so for the owner to get all his stuff out and get it properly valeted - NO, NO, NO - we are here to take it today and out came the "Aldi carrier bag"

Its is amazing how the sight of that much in cash affects people - they phoned the owner who said he'd be down shortly (fortunately he lived fairly close by) so they sat us down with cups of tea and cream cakes until he had emptied the boat.

 

Paid up, got the keys, fuelled it up and set off, SWMBO took the car and headed for home.

 

Got as far as Sawley and the lock gates were closed - ended up stuck there for 2 weeks as the Trent was in flood.

No spare clothes, no food nothing - I had only planned to be away a couple of days.

 

Say what you will about the legality of large amounts of cash - I've found it doesn't really matter, if something is for sale, cash can buy it.

All of our boats (except the £250k Cat and that is probably because it was in the EU and the owner wanted Euros.) have been bought with cash.

 

 

 

 

3 minutes ago, nealeST said:

No Liverpool, -  The man who came to collect was aware that his parcel could easily have been stolen…

 

Well he would be wouldn't he !

Edited February 14 by Alan de Enfield

[MrsM]

Talking of disappointing delivery experiences - my Valentines Day flowers still haven't arrived 😢. (AKA were never bought in the first place)

[Tonka]

Dead centre of town have loads of flowers

[MtB]

22 minutes ago, MrsM said:

Talking of disappointing delivery experiences - my Valentines Day flowers still haven't arrived 😢. (AKA were never bought in the first place)

 

 

Really? Maybe I shouldn't have just guessed your address!! 

 

 

 

 

[system 4-50]

Ordered Valentine flowers for OH from MandS.  Beautiful packaging, nice user manual, but flowers severely underwhelming.  Won't use them again.

A thought: I supply flowers once per year on Feb 14.  The OH supplies flowers 365 days per year.  She looks after the garden and indoor plants.

[MrsM]

26 minutes ago, system 4-50 said:

Ordered Valentine flowers for OH from MandS.  Beautiful packaging, nice user manual, but flowers severely underwhelming.  Won't use them again.

A thought: I supply flowers once per year on Feb 14.  The OH supplies flowers 365 days per year.  She looks after the garden and indoor plants.

They will probably look better in a few days. I use Bloom & Wild quite a lot and their flowers are supplied before they are at their best so the recipient gets the full benefit of them. I bet Marks do the same nowadays. I'm sure your OH was very appreciative.