Chymes Hairdressing, Looks Superb!
Chymes, the hairdressing salon has opened and looks superb. It has that big town and classy feel, something that wouldn't look out of place in somewhere like Richmond.
It looks relatively big on split levels and to say it adds some class to the 'east end' of Dorking is an understatement. I really hope this one does well as it is a much needed addition to the town.
posted by The Cockerel @ 12:56 AM
7 Comments:
Happy New Year everybody!!! Well 2008, is going to be a very interesting year for Dorking. With petrol prices reaching a new high, utilities prices predicted to go even higher and council tax increases around the corner, it will be a very tough year for our local retailers. There will be a slowdown, as everyone will feel the pinch and the retailers will have to do everything possible to entice into their stores.
Recently, it was announced that the new chief exective of DSG International, could close 200 of the group's 700 Currys and PC World stores in Britain. Mark and Spencer have also just announced that they had flat sales in the weeks approaching Christmas. So, will Currys close their premises in Dorking in 2008?? To be quite honest, it never seems to be that busy in Dorking. In my opinion, it sells inferior goods and exhorbant prices. The customer service is poor and Currys have a much larger, profitable shop in nearby Leatherhead.
So, who are the winners and losers in Dorking in the runup to Christmas. The winners in my opinion are:- Mark and Spencer - good old M&S's new store is well laid out, reasonably priced and their food is top notch. Their staff are friendly and have always a smile on their faces! Waitrose - again well laid out, great staff and the managers are always on the floor. It is also well stocked with food and drink. Robert Dyas - great bargains, staff knowledgeable, well laid out. Steamer Trading - incredibly busy prior to Christmas, a little on the expensive side but, very classy. Fothergills - I know, it is a coffee shop! But, it has done very well in competing against the big boys' of Costa and Starbucks. Lovely staff, very relaxing and there are no obnoxious kids running around. Very clean and the food especially, the bagel with cream cheese and salmon, is to die for!! Julian Graves - located in St. Martins Walk, always busy, great prices and a huge variety of goods.
Losers - Woolworths - need I say anymore?? Poor service. Just seems to serve up junk. Limited assortment of DVD's and CD's. Currys - see Woolworths. Zaffron - Indian restaurant next to post office. Always empty, dodgy.... Sainsburys - this supermarket always stresses me out. Poorly stocked, staff surly and this supermarket is soooo dated!!!
So, this leads me onto the two new openings: Chymes - very, very classy. This new salon will put Dorking on the map hopefully. Very easy on the eye, a lot of money has been spent on the former tanning salon. Wish it the very best of luck and I hope, it will bring some more trendy shops into Dorking. Chateau Furniture - next to Starbucks. Used to be a painting studio. Looks remarkably similar to The Rusty Angel on West Street and The Cornerstore(?) on Pump Corner. How will they all survive???
Anyway, must go. Just to let you know that Chimes, the sandwich shop, has not disappeared from SMW - it undergoing a refurbishment at present. x~AP~x
Excellent post AP. Thought I might add a few 'winners and losers' in the retail sector of Dorking, if I may?
Winners - Undoubtedly, Sussex Stationers on the High Street (is it still called that?) and Waterstones on South Street, had a very good Christmas. I know that their books were heavily discounted but, they certainly brought the crowds out in their droves.
Viva on West Street. Was very busy most evenings. Excellent Italian food and very good value for money. Staff are very attentive and accomodating.
Pizza Express on the High Street. Still popular with families and young people after all these years.
Subway / KFC on the High Street. Often crammed with spotty faced youngsters' looking for cheap deals on sandwiches and buckets of chicken!!
Losers - Two to Four on West Street. This upmarket restaurant had a major fire in the roof prior to Christmas and unfortunately, they lost all their Christmas bookings, as a result. Will be opening up once again, in late February 2008.
The Gossip Lounge on South Street. This wine bar / tapas restaurant seems to have shut its doors on a permanent basis. Was closed last weekend and yesterday evening. It seemed to have never taken off in dreary old Dorking.
Bikehut on the High Street. This huge 'chain' bicycle shop appears that it will be a huge white elephant. A huge mistake by Halfords to ignore the public, town centre management etc. and open up this huge shop entirely for cyclists and not re-open Halfords. They will regret this for years to come!
Boots on the High Street. Dreadfully laid out and very old fashioned. Reminds me of Sainsburys. Hard to find what you are looking for. Very expensive compared to Superdrug.
All the estate agents dotted around the town centre. How many will survive in 2008?? With increased stealth taxes, mortgage rates, indirect taxation, the property market will fall quite dramatically this year.
Pretty much everything in St. Martin's Walk. This dire, badly laid out so-called shopping centre brings most retailers to their knees' eventually. Most of the retailers down are struggling like Cook, The Body Shop, Saffron etc. And, it never ceases to amaze me that the manager of St. Martin's Walk still keeps his job, year after year!
Hello there. First time on the Dorking blog for me. Hope that everyone on the blog has a great 2008. Was in Dorking this morning and noticed that there was a lot of activity taking place in the former Gallery 238 unit. I assume that this is the eastern end of town, where there are a lot of empty units. Cobham Lock & Safe, also seems to be up and running as well. There was also a lot of workmen venturing in and out of the former Cornish Pastie eaterie on the High Street as well. Finally, there also seems to be a buzz of activity in the former Swale Insurance unit down in South Street. Apparently, it is soon to become a 'wine bar' of some sort.
Unfortunately, Origin (the independent clothing retailer) on the High Street, seems to be closing its doors for good very shortly.
Well, I have not much more to add. Although, I must say, I took a stroll through Reigate last weekend and it was really buzzing. Trendy clothes shops are in abundance and there is loads of good eateries popping up as well. Even though Reigate is only three or four miles away from Dorking, it seems to have reinvented itself as a trendy, young, safe place to live. It is in a totally different league to Dorking at present. The new hair salon, Chymes is a real step in the right direction for Dorking. I am also hoping that more shops of this caliber will open up in Dorking and move it into the 21st Century.
Greg Alford
I would like to wish everyone all the very best for the New Year that has descended upon us. Great observations everybody. I really cannot wait till the arrival of Fat Face - which will sit very nicely next to Bikehut. I am also very interested in what will be in the former Age of Elegance unit. Another good quality clothing retailer would be great and would be a real bonus for the town centre.
Noticed that Dorking Tyres has gone after 20+ years in business. The landlord, Mr. Maltby should be ashamed of himself. He kicked out a reliable retailer because, he wanted to develop their workshop behind into flats. This unit is back on the market with Martin Brown.
Here is to another great year on the blog. Keep the news, views and gossip coming. Great closing comment from Greg about the clueless manager of St. Martin's Walk. Maybe he could get a job with Gordon Brown and his cronies in his Cabinet. They are also paid a lot to do absolutely nothing!!!
DORKING Dan
I'm amazed you think we need another hair dressers in Dorking...how many is that now? 4? What with the opticians and charity shops - surely we can find something a little more exciting to brighten the highstreet?
Also surprised at comments re Zaffron. The food is fabulous. Not your usual fare. Very tasty. I can't understand why it is always empty.
And...the new Chinese in Dorking, Chifan is really really the best restaurant in Dorking. The manager, Wayne is so attentive. He remembers every customer's name. The menu is sensationatal. At last!
I was reading this blog and would like to write a comment from myself.
I am pleased to see some new shops in dorking, it seems we need some other shops apart hairdressers, bike shops, charity shops (at least they are for good cause), opticians (how many pair of glasses do we really need).
I have been in Starbucks and was very nicely surprised, it is very welcoming atmosphere, also happy for Rusty angel which sells lovely little things in other hand Corner House hasn't got that many things, but it is quit pricey, i loved Chateau Furniture. It is lovely shop, has lots of furniture, accessories for a home. I was surprised by very good prices. Hope it will do well. However would like to wish all the shops to do well. And hope to see more new, interesting shops to brighten our little, old Dorking.
I love Viva, in West Street.
The food is always brilliant, service is just as good and it has a nice relaxed atmosphere.
Theres one waiter in there, tall young lad with spikey hair, who has served us one or two times and he has been brilliant, very attentive but not over the top and always smiles. gave me a great recommendation, to have the Burger Inglese, and it was one of the best I've had!
They've got quite an impressive Xmas Menu too apparently, but more expensive than Pizza Express's.
What does every one else think?
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