 |
|
|
Welcome
to visitors from the newly launched
website
|
 |
if you wish to return to that website or visit it then click here |
|
|
||
| Return to Website | ||
 First |
 Prev |
 Reply |
 Home |
Next  |
Last  |
| Viewing Page 1 of 1 (Total Posts: 35) |
| Author | Comment |
Hypercelt
 Dec 12, 07 - 7:58 PM |
Howells
I noticed today how the frontage of Howells on to Trinity Street has been spoiled by the horizontal band with the Howells sign on it which runs the length from Wharton Street to the Market. Howells there consists of a number of different buildings each with a different architectural style and taken together giving a pleasing sense of variety on that stretch. The effect of the signage has been to mask it. Hope that comes off with the proposed refurb! |
|
Wizard
Dec 12th, 2007 - 10:24 PM |
Re: Howells
The corner of Howells by Waterstones is pretty drab. they could make much more of a display out of this frontage. It's odd that they haven't done so because their window displays are the best in Cardiff by far. |
Karl
Dec 13th, 2007 - 10:21 AM |
Re: Howells
Hyper celt I've noticed the same. That street has the potential to be one of the best in Cardiff with the old library, the ,arket, the churchyard etc. Other culprits are Next on Queen St. It stretches the length of an art deco-ish building but then takes over an older building next door of a completely different style. The worst culprit is McDonalds on St Mary St. Their frontage takes half of one building and then the frontage of another building creating an awful mess should you seek to glance up beyond ground level. On a brighter note however I have noticed a trend for buildings redeveloped in an attempt to try and restore it to the original. The building where Fat Cats is on Greyfriars Rd was returned to how it would have probably been when built, Greggs have done a great job on their store on the corner of St Mary St and Church St, Costa coffee did a good job on the building on the corner of Quay St and St Mary St, the new restaurant at Elgin House seems to be doing the same, M&S are trying to recreate the original art deco feel of the building on Queen St and of course David Morgans has been stripped of 80 years of inappropriate additions to be restored to something like the original. I think it looks classier than an inappropriate shop front tacked on. |
|
Spence
Dec 13th, 2007 - 10:54 AM |
Re: Howells
Totally. I think David Morgans Buildings should be the benchmark in the city for refurbishment and restoration of old buildings. |
|
Me
May 20th, 2008 - 1:14 PM |
Re: Howells
from ICWales about Howells: "WALES’ biggest department store is closing its deli counter and bakery. The counters selling meats, pastries, cheese and cakes in Howells’ well-known food hall will give way to a coffee shop. A Cafe Nero concession will open, it is expected, before the end of July, with an outdoor seating area." outside seating sounds nice, in the most charming bot if the city centre. But arent they about to refit the whole outside of the building? |
|
Me
Jun 14th, 2008 - 10:36 PM |
Re: Re: Howells
Work has started on the Cafe Nero:   I guess they have no massive incentive to finish it before the paving works are completed outside and the door is unblocked. |
|
Kyle
May 20th, 2008 - 1:25 PM |
Re: Howells
I've never seen that Deli being that busy so I'm not suprised, but I am disappointed. I've not bothered going into any other House of Fraser stores in the UK so I don't know if there are any others and that removing this is just Howells becoming more and more integrated into the HoF group. A cafe with outdoor seating is nice, just a shame to lose the deli though. |
|
Wizard
May 20th, 2008 - 2:30 PM |
Re: Howells
After John Lewis announced that they were opening a massive food hall, the Howells' regional rep probably put forward a case for closing the existing food hall. Now that Lewis's have pulled out of their plans and Howells have decided to close theirs in anticipation, we will end up with neither. Marvellous. |
|
Cardiff Ian
May 20th, 2008 - 2:38 PM |
Re: Howells
That's a shame - one of my childhood memories is wandering through there with my parents. Guess it's just a sign of progress... |
|
Kyle
May 20th, 2008 - 2:41 PM |
Re: Howells
I know. Hardly a positive thing for such a developing city is it ? The only positives are that the independant deli or two we do have in the city centre may benefit. |
|
Me
May 20th, 2008 - 2:47 PM |
Re: Howells
It never really seemed like a deli to me anyway. Just a few pastys and some cheese. And the pastys were not as good as the cornish bakehouse on the corner. I think its just the 'fresh' food thats going. All the booze and chocolates will still be available. Wallys is what a deli should look like! |
|
Wizard
May 20th, 2008 - 2:50 PM |
Re: Howells
That'll probably be next on the disappearing list then. |
|
James
May 20th, 2008 - 3:15 PM |
Re: Howells
Do you guys know about the planning application to replace the Howells signs with House of Fraser signs? Bad move in my mind..should be called Howells at House of Fraser or somethings..why change a decades old trading name? |
|
Spence
May 20th, 2008 - 5:01 PM |
Re: Howells
It's a nationwide company policy to drop all individual names and trade under one unified brand, that being House of Fraser. To be honest I don't have any problem with it. I don't think it's ever been as iconic as David Morgans, mainly because there's been very little to distinguish it from every other HoF store across the UK for as long as I can remember. |
|
Hypercelt
May 20th, 2008 - 6:51 PM |
Re: Howells
Don't forget - Howells is engraved in stone at the top of the building facing St John's Churchyard - they can't get rid of that! by the way - don't mourn the loss of the deli counter too much - we need to use Cardiff indoor market more - I just had the most magnificent leg of lamb ever from there last weekend, boned and packed in front of me, and selected by the butcher after a discussion on how many people were coming to eat etc. The advice was perfect, it tasted fantastic, and there wasn't a morsel of lamb left. The market does all kinds of meats, cheeses, bread, vegetables and fruit - and of course brilliant fresh fish - why go elsewhere!!! Not to mention the breakfasts upstairs. |
|
Spence
May 20th, 2008 - 6:56 PM |
Re: Howells
Looks like they've snapped you up as their new marketing chief 
|
|
URBANO
May 20th, 2008 - 9:09 PM |
Re: Howells
And what a naff name anyway- House of Fraser- got the 70s all over it. It just seems a crap act of corporate vandalism to drop the Howells's name- even the policy seems 1970s. I know there has been some scepticism over the Park/ Parc, but at least it shows on the part of Thistle some realisation that some individuality is, in fact, a selling point. Compare that to the bludgeonng dated coporatist outlook of( and I can hardly bring myself to even type it )"House of Fraser". Sad in every possible sense. |
|
London-David
May 20th, 2008 - 9:30 PM |
Re: Howells
Urbano: these firms aren't stupid and are probably cottoning on to the trend that, despite what people say about "individuality" they go for chains and well known brands. John Lewis is busy converting its stores from regional names (e.g. Robert Sayle in Cambridge) to John Lewis, and sees a better performance. Certain corporate brands have an enviable reputation: John Lewis certainly does, and perhaps House of Fraser does too. Calling it corporate vandalism is just emotive pugwash. I will admit, however, that House of Fraser has an archaic sound. The name makes me think of those awful "Scottish" cashmere and tartan shops you get in London. |
|
URBANO
May 21st, 2008 - 9:36 AM |
Re: Howells
Clearly, Cambo, these people are not stupid. But (i) sometimes they can be ( Marks and Spencerand IBM , to name two of many many over the years, got it very wrong indeed) and (2) the fact that HOF want to do it ( for good or bad reasons) hardly precludes personal views on its desirabilty or otherwise, and (3)not expressing views is so boring - it's like not voting- " they're going to do it anyway". Clearly everything we discuss on this forum is entirely outside of our control. On your argument,we should just shut the forum down. And What's Captain Pugwash got to do with it, anyway? |
|
Karl
May 21st, 2008 - 11:05 AM |
Re: Howells
House of Fraser.....Edinburgh Woolen Mill, Army and Navy Stores, Angus Steak House, boiled cabbage, early closing on Wednesdays, Berni Inn, Blue Stratus aftershave, y-fronts......to me it conjures up everything about Britain I thought I'd seen the back of. I doubt it will make a blind bit of negative difference to their profits but life's rich tapestry is just a tiny, tiny bit greyer (and yes I know thats emotional hogwash/pugwash/eyewash etc but I'm in an indulgent mood). As for the deli counter I have mixed feelings. I'd like to see a genuine food store in the city centre giving service to the burgeoning population (rather than the extensive Hobnob and booze selection at the various Spars dotted around the place). I don't think Howells deli counter really served that purpose though - whenever I went there it seemed to be entirely populated by West Walians on their annual shopping pilgrimage to Cardiff getting soundly ripped off for expensive preserves/chutneys which by the look of them these ladies could probably make themselves...) I do agree with Hypercelt re the market. For fruit, veg, meat and fish it's unbeatable on value and quality. Should it be marketed more? Whenever I pick up guide books to Italy/France/Greece etc on my wistful lunch hour sojourns to Borders there is invariably a picture of rows of fish/veg/meats in front of a crumpled faced stall holder as a depiction of what I'm missing and how wonderful Italy/France/Greece etc is compared to dreary old blighty. Problem is the picture looks exactly like Cardiff market and in fact I'm not missing anything at all. A much underated jewel in Cardiff's crown I think. |
|
Me
Jun 14th, 2008 - 10:37 PM |
Re: Howells
Once again its stuck my new post right in the middle of the thread. I just dont get on with the search facility... |
|
Alec-radyr
Jun 15th, 2008 - 6:40 PM |
Re: Howells
lol, how ironic to replace an area of the shop devoted to qwerky, different and independant foods, with one of a large mainstream corporation.. an item of Britains carbon copy shopping streets.. sad. oh well, at least its not a starbucks! 
|
|
Hypercelt
Jun 15th, 2008 - 6:58 PM |
Re: Howells
To be honest its only the food and drink I ever went into Howells for. I find too many of the staff generally inexperienced, unknowledgeable of their products, and unprofessional (ie gossiping with each other while they serve you), and just waiting either to draw their pension or go clubbing. HoF will fold within a year of John Lewis opening unless it changes its ways dramatically. |
|
Me
Jul 24th, 2008 - 12:16 PM |
Re: Howells
Howells refub to start september and last a year: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/2008/07/24/john-lewis-challenge-prompts-a-rebranding-for-howells-91466-21395342/ ----------------- The store will remain open throughout its refurbishment. Work is due to start in September in the menswear section and continue in womenswear after Christmas. The revamp will include new lighting, floors, doors, fixtures, air conditioning and a “deep clean” of external brass. Miss Stephens said: “The refurbishment will be really exciting. “The whole store will be done bit by bit and it will be completed to coincide with the opening of St David’s 2. “To have a flagship House of Fraser and a new John Lewis will be good for the capital.” -------------------------- Im interested in what the external reshaping will result in, but no info here. |
|
Kyle
Jul 24th, 2008 - 12:21 PM |
Re: Howells
About time they had some healthy competition. I love the store but it will be nice to have alternative options with some of the new stores coming and John Lewis. Now all we want is a Harevey Nics or a Selfridges...I wish ! |
|
Maartin
Jul 25th, 2008 - 12:11 PM |
Re: Howells
So all in all the only food store to remain in Cardiff will be the Sainsburys?! Honestly in other cities we would have a few larger delis, a foodhall proper a la John Lewis foodhall but all we got is Spar in that end of town now! |
|
Me
Jul 25th, 2008 - 12:12 PM |
Re: Howells
and the market, loads of quality fresh food. |
|
DaiB
Jul 25th, 2008 - 12:29 PM |
Re: Howells
And M&S. And Wally's. And don't forget that it's only the deli counter that's gone from Howells. The food and drink hall is still there. |
|
Bungle
Jul 25th, 2008 - 12:33 PM |
Re: Howells
And Madam Fromage |
|
Me
Jul 25th, 2008 - 12:48 PM |
Re: Howells
there will be an outdoor market in time as well as a further scattering of standalone market stalls. I really like those, add a lot to the area. having said that, I'd still like it is JL had gone for the food hall. Maybe in time we will get a new tesco metro will open up here: 
|
|
Kyle
Jul 25th, 2008 - 12:57 PM |
Re: Howells
I hope something better goes in that building than a Tesco...although a Tesco express in town somewhere would probably be quite handy. |
|
Cardiff Ian
Jul 25th, 2008 - 1:51 PM |
Re: Howells
I'm still hoping SD2 will have some kind of supermarket - even if is Tesco! |
|
Wizard
Jul 25th, 2008 - 1:54 PM |
Re: Howells
Me too. I think the city centre is WAY under-provided on this front. |
|
Kyle
Jul 25th, 2008 - 2:37 PM |
Re: Howells
Which makes the John Lewis decision over the foodhall even more bizzare don't you think ? |
|
London-David
Jul 25th, 2008 - 11:34 PM |
Re: Howells
Or rather prescient given the dowturn in trading at M&S recently, led by food as opposed to clothing for once. Interestingly they are trying to turn it around by promoting their premium brands as an alternative to eating out. Theres a really good deal at the moment in their preprepared foods: main meal, sides and desert for two, plus a bottle of wine. |
| First |
Prev |
Reply |
Home |
Next |
Last |
CARDIFFWALESMAP
- FORUM |
bravenet.com