Obviously, at this time of year, I have spent some time in our local shopping centre. This is pretty much the only time I endure the experience that is Meadowhell, so I grin and bear it. But frankly, I would rather stick hotpins in my eyes.

Have also be reading the thread on regeneration, and started thinking. What are people's opinions of Meadowhall?

Obviously it brings shoppers by the bucket load from far and wide, and there are people who spend entire weekends searching out bargains, but I can't help but feel that Meadowhall has considerably contributed to the state of the shopping facilities in the city centre. In that, our city centre shops compares more to a large town than to a city of our size.

Even the more specialist shopping areas of West St and Eccy Rd seem to be opting for bars, cafe bars and restaurants.

In short, I hate Meadowhell.

I hate it with a passion, I refuse to go even if I just have to park up and wait for my parents/sister... The place fills me with rage :rant:

But I have no idea why :huh:

Most people on here hate the place.. but it all depends on what time you go. It's nowhere near as bad as people make out though!

Obviously if you go on a weekend it's going to be very busy.

If you go weekdays (day or night), it's fine! Has everything you need, nice atmosphere and of course it's warm and indoors!

I wouldn't say heaven or hell.. but I like it!

GazB

Would make an interesting poll this ...

Personally I hate it ... over crowded ... parking problems ... all the hustle and bustle for the privalage of spending your cash ... no thanks.

Originally posted by Jamie

Personally I hate it ... over crowded ... parking problems ... all the hustle and bustle for the privalage of spending your cash ... no thanks.

Again.. It all depends on what time you go!

If anyone expects a place that's great for shopping (indoors, free parking, loads of sales, plenty of choice etc) is going to be permanently quiet.. They obviously don't get out much!

GazB

At this time of year Meadowhall is given an extremely wide birth by me, as from past experience you queue fro up to an hour to drive into the car park....

I remember a few years ago, when the police were out with megaphones telling people to go home as it wasn't open on Christmas day. And thet turned away hundreds of cars of saddos who wanted to spend the day browsing.

I would say however, that Meadowhall is ok if I want to get some clothes in the evening at midweek, for most of the year though. It opens into the evening, and there's no other opportunity to try on clothes when you work full time. And while there are a few people about it's not that busy on a tuesday night in march say.
You have to be careful though, as you can see the crap label t-shirts (and other clothes) that lots of clone bandwagon trendies will be wearing in the next month. And I for one don't want to be seen in a bar with ten other people with the same here - today - gone - tommorrow logo in full view.

At this very moment in time, a Monday evening a few days before xmas.. I bet Meadowhall isn't busy. Yes, there's people.. but you probably have to queue up 2 minutes at the most to buy something (and that's in the VERY popular shops).

The only time you're going to have to queue up for a parking spot is on a weekend.. I do admit it's a bit of a nightmare at xmas on a weekend, but that's only because it appeals to so many people.

Overall, I'm VERY glad Meadowhall is there. Beats the pants off of shopping in town (grotty, decent shops are few and far between, cold, etc).

GazB

I like Meadowhall. *gasp!* Yes, it's hellish around Christmas, but any other time of the year it's OK. I like the variety of shops - you have your proper chic places up top towards Debenhams, then you have your affordable places too... and you can even find speciality goods in The Lanes.

On the other hand, GazB, I wouldn't decribe town as exactly "grotty" - though, yes, it does depend where you go... ;) And you're definitely right about the cold. x_x

Originally posted by GazB
At this very moment in time, a Monday evening a few days before xmas.. I bet Meadowhall isn't busy. Yes, there's people.. but you probably have to queue up 2 minutes at the most to buy something (and that's in the VERY popular shops).

The only time you're going to have to queue up for a parking spot is on a weekend.. I do admit it's a bit of a nightmare at xmas on a weekend, but that's only because it appeals to so many people.

Overall, I'm VERY glad Meadowhall is there. Beats the pants off of shopping in town (grotty, decent shops are few and far between, cold, etc).

GazB

Wrong!!! I work there and I finished work at 7pm. It was rammed - absolutely rammed.

Just got back......it was packed.

I can't believe people go there for 'pleasure'!

Is there a more forceful word than HATE? If so apply it here. I ...........THE PLACE.


PS.....

Am I the only bugger who is capable of changing direction in a crowd?

how about 'detest' and/or 'deplore' instead of 'hate'?

Can't stand the place. It makes me physically ill!! If I do go (which is extremely rare) I go on public transport. You get wrapped up against the elements as its is cold out, only to die a slow and lingering death at the lack of fresh air and complete overheating in Meadowhell.

And don't get me started on the lighting!!

I end up feeling faint and often end up with a blinding migraine beacause of the heat and the over powering lights. I can't stand it so I don't go!!

There is something odd about 'Meadowhell' as i call it, I have been in shopping centres in plenty of other cities and find gateshead to be about the best. I can't quite put my finger on what it is about Meadowhell but do agree with a lot of comments on the poor air quality in the place.

I must admit that I quite like the place too, although at this time of year my plan is to get in, get what I want, and get out again as fast as possible. I have been so many times over the last two weeks that they'll be offering me my own parking space before long (downstairs, near to M&S please!)! I wouldn't go as far as to call it heaven though, it's true about the lack of air, and what is it with the floor in there? Why is it all sloping?? You'd have thought they would have made it level, to increase the amount of time (and therefore money!) that people spend in there - my legs give in after a couple of hours!

Would be interesting to see what proportion of people in Meadowhall actually want to be there, and how many are forced (by family or circumstance!).

I have lived in many other parts of the country and let's just say we are very lucky to have something like meadowhall.

You can always get parking whenever you go on weekdays after 6 (only time I get working full time) - I'm always forgetting to get stuff so I end up going to Sainsbury's - I have a browse and come back - I only live 5 mins away.

To have a shopping centre at your doorstep - you don't know how lucky you are !! Try living in a town where you could tour the town centre in 10 mins and never finding a shop that sells or does something you actually want.

It is one of those things that people love to hate! and still use it!

I think GazB needs supporting here, but I don`t like the amount of people 1 bit at weekends and `Doweknowwhywecelebratemas`.

I was pleasently surprised to see that you can still smoke in the bar there, wonder how long that is gonna last?

Yes people really do for pleasure, I overheard 2 lads arguing about why they went "we came yesterday also, why are we here?" etc...

Personally I love Meadowhall - but then I'm just :loopy:

Originally posted by Miss

Obviously it brings shoppers by the bucket load from far and wide, and there are people who spend entire weekends searching out bargains, but I can't help but feel that Meadowhall has considerably contributed to the state of the shopping facilities in the city centre. In that, our city centre shops compares more to a large town than to a city of our size.



Don't agree with this tho. Two examples I can think of...

Newcastle City Centre - having to compete with Metro Centre (largest out of town shopping centre in Europe) but still having a large city centre shoping area AND the largest indoor city centre shopping arcade in Europe in the Eldon Square/Eldon Gardens/Monument complex.

Manchester has the Trafford Centre to contend with, and does so with a busy city centre that also has Arndale Centre right next to it.

It's not a case of out of town centres being solely responsible for taking shops away from city centres (why hasn't it happened in Manchester and Newcastle?). The key thing is investment. Both these cities (and others) have had the foresight to invest properly in their centres in order to keep attract the big names to the High Street as well as other users (offices, entertainment).

Lets hope that the Sheffield One Masterplan is going to remedy the years of neglect that Sheffield has faced as a result of hair brained schemes from the council draining much needed funds away from what should be a city centre to rival anywhere in the country.

But then of course when the investment does come they will moan about all the building works going on in Sheffield. Hey ho.

I am male, so i am in the minority when i say i like Meadowhall.

At this time of year Meadowhall is given an extremely wide birth by me, as from past experience you queue fro up to an hour to drive into the car park....

For the last 6 Years i have gone on Xmas eve :loopy: ?

Not at all, everyone has their shopping done by then, get there for 10am and you will be surprised by how few people are there.

I work near Meadowhall and it is is fine providing

1 It is not the weekend (104 days per year)
2 It is not any school holiday (a further 70 days)
3 It is not in the 6 weeks prior to xmas (a further approx 25 days)

So that means 199 days when it is too busy, and 166 days when it is okay!

I truly dont understand people's complaints about MH - it's busy on a weekend? So was the town centre before they built that place! So, where did you go shopping before late opening was invented?

Even going in there at lunchtime/early afternoon on a Saturday I've always managed to get parked and if there are queues to get out again (as you MUST know if you go there at that time) why dont you plan ahead and eat dinner there or have a coffee while the traffic dies down? Much more relaxing than sitting in a jam.

People seem to want all the conveneince of places like MH (free parking, lots of shops, dry and warm etc) but expect it to be semi-deserted whenever they want to use it.

Even at it's most busy, the "worst" inconvenience you will face is having to walk a little slower around the malls and queue up for a bit if you're buying anything. Big deal!

My gf reacts at the suggestion of going there on a Saturday as if I've suggested taking up satanic abuse. Foolish woman.

Originally posted by limpetboy

It's not a case of out of town centres being solely responsible for taking shops away from city centres (why hasn't it happened in Manchester and Newcastle?). The key thing is investment. Both these cities (and others) have had the foresight to invest properly in their centres in order to keep attract the big names to the High Street as well as other users (offices, entertainment).


I wasn't suggesting that Meadowhell is solely responsible for our lack of decent shoppage in town, I was merely commenting that it has, perhaps, made a considerable contribution to it.

I fully agree that a key issue is investment, and as you rightly pointed out the Sheffield One initiative may change all that.

One of my main gripes about Meadowhell is that there seems to be a particularly high chav count. And the ones who don't seem to be able to read the signs about not smoking really p's me off. It's pretty stifling in there at the best of times without them addeing to it. Ggrrr...

Originally posted by Miss
IOne of my main gripes about Meadowhell is that there seems to be a particularly high chav count. And the ones who don't seem to be able to read the signs about not smoking really p's me off. It's pretty stifling in there at the best of times without them addeing to it. Ggrrr...
hear hear! i love meadowhall but do perfer my little shops on division st etc... not when its raining though

Originally posted by Miss

One of my main gripes about Meadowhell is that there seems to be a particularly high chav count. And the ones who don't seem to be able to read the signs about not smoking really p's me off. It's pretty stifling in there at the best of times without them addeing to it. Ggrrr...

LOL, very true, I'm a smoker and it annoys me.

Originally posted by NatalieSheff
hear hear! i love meadowhall but do perfer my little shops on division st etc... not when its raining though

Can't stand some of those shops, feel well out of place going in.

Meadowhall rules.

Nuff said.

Originally posted by limpetboy
Can't stand some of those shops, feel well out of place going in.
i have to admit i feel more comfortable going in with my mum than my friends ar alone, they can be intimidating

Originally posted by NatalieSheff
i have to admit i feel more comfortable going in with my mum than my friends ar alone, they can be intimidating

Exactly, you wouldn't get that in Primark :heyhey: (sorry only kidding, just been reading the League thread)

Originally posted by NatalieSheff
hear hear! i love meadowhall but do perfer my little shops on division st etc... not when its raining though

Keep dry in the pubs :) Then continue shopping, tis what I would do :D

the pubs on div st? i think not baby puppy bit scruffy and forum bit buggered! i end up spending all dinero on drink!

Meadowhall was just opening when I visited my cousin back in 89 or so. As a veteran of American malls, I was surprised that at time they closed at 6:30 PM and all day Sunday. Very unamerican! The downtowns of many medium sized American towns and cities have become shopping deserts, where drunks and derelicts roam the streets, while the suburban malls have grown and grown turning the roads into parking lots. Massive single store plazas like Walmart and Target are now wiping out small suburban businesses as well.

i work in one of the restaurants there, and the past weekend was one of the quietest i've known - i don't know about the shops, but the restaurants were dead :) we took less than we did on the monday before.

Yup, just as I thought - I always do my Christmas shopping in the last week before the big day and have never had a problem parking or walking round MH.

Thank god for everyone else's paranoia and over-preparation for Christmas! :D

Well I had the 'pleasure' of going round town on Monday lunchtime to get Mrs Rinty's Xmas pressie. It was snowing. It was packed with cars belching fumes out. I had to walk from The Moor to Fargate before I found what i was after.

It was not a pleasant experience - shopping never is. The whole time I was there, I wished I was in Meadowhall because I wouldn't have got cold and wet.

Give me a roof and one temperature anytime.

Meadowhell: prams + grannies + slow walkers = HELL

gees dont get started on ankle bashers youll have the forum in uproar again!!:hihi:

Originally posted by Captain_Scarlet
Meadowhell: prams + grannies + slow walkers = HELL

Grans and Prams should be banned at peak times! Or at least they should have lanes in these places for Prams and Grans. :rant:

Originally posted by GazB
At this very moment in time, a Monday evening a few days before xmas.. I bet Meadowhall isn't busy. Yes, there's people.. but you probably have to queue up 2 minutes at the most to buy something (and that's in the VERY popular shops).

The only time you're going to have to queue up for a parking spot is on a weekend.. I do admit it's a bit of a nightmare at xmas on a weekend, but that's only because it appeals to so many people.

Overall, I'm VERY glad Meadowhall is there. Beats the pants off of shopping in town (grotty, decent shops are few and far between, cold, etc).

GazB

I went on Tuesday night got there at 7pm and it was packed. Thankfully as we have a blue disabled badge parking wasn't a problem. I q'd in Argos for 40 mins waiting to be served at the Elizabeth Duke counter. The only place not that busy was Santa's Grotto.

From your comments you haven't been, there are so many leaving it to the last minute to do there christmas shopping, I was only there this week becuase some theifing toerag had pinched my wifes purse with the money in for my mums pressie, so I had to wait till my next pay day to get it her, had to go at night becuse of work.

Took 20 mins to get out the car park at 10 pm as well.

Jubby

Originally posted by limpetboy
Grans and Prams should be banned at peak times! Or at least they should have lanes in these places for Prams and Grans. :rant:

So what you're saying is at peak times becuase I have children I shouldn't be allowed to shop??

What annoys me is the isiots that don't look where their going and fall over the pram or when your child wants to walk (which is rare in meadowhall for the following reason) is they either walk straight into then or whack their head with their bags. When this happens it is your fault for bringing children into the mall. Having kids shouldn't mean you should be a prisoner in your own home, we are living in the 21st century now.

Had one guy trying to push through a q for a till and asked if he could get passed I asked my son to move out the way, but before he had chance the guy barged past him, I challenged the guy and his comment back was you just should have yanked out the way. Nice.

Originally posted by jubby
So what you're saying is at peak times becuase I have children I shouldn't be allowed to shop??

What annoys me is the isiots...

People with push chairs may be walking into other shoppers because they are obviously drunk...

Sorry. Couldn't resist. Am only joking.

Originally posted by Miss
People with push chairs may be walking into other shoppers because they are obviously drunk...

Sorry. Couldn't resist. Am only joking.

Well these other shopper shouldn't be drunk!

:D

Jubby