If you were looking to set up a retail business in Hillsborough what would attract you and what would dissuade you from investing in the area?

the attraction would be the large customer base what would dissuade me would be the lack off local conveniences as someone that takes a disabled gent there shopping we find it silly the lack of public conveniences

This is not just a question for business people. If you were in a business person's shoes what would attract you to or put you off from mortgaging yourself up to the hilt and possibly putting your house on the line to take out a retail unit in Hillsborough?

No, I wouldnt. I believe the area is dying a slow death. The reason is too many estate agents and Mortgage advisors.

And the Tram works killed a huge part of it all the way on Infirmary Road. It's like a ghost town now on there.

Nothing should dissuade from investment in Hillsborough it all depends on what you are planning to do, Art Gallery NO WAY working class people haven't got time to wander around they are usually at work but Wetherspoons well after a hard shift a nice relaxing drink (and they have invested loads into it)

Shaun

www.sheffieldcleaning.com
www.honestcarpetcare.co.uk

The reason I ask the question is just to try and put firmly in peoples minds the huge amount of research, knowledge, commitment, bottle and hard work that's required before somebody puts their hard earned money into an area that appears to be economically and environmentally rather stagnant, other than a few spectacular flower displays.
Would you have the bottle if you had a business idea or would you locate elsewhere?

The reason I ask the question is just to try and put firmly in peoples minds the huge amount of research, knowledge, commitment, bottle and hard work that's required before somebody puts their hard earned money into an area that appears to be economically and environmentally rather stagnant, other than a few spectacular flower displays.
Would you have the bottle if you had a business idea or would you locate elsewhere?

Locate elsewhere. Ecclesall Road, preferably. Hillsborough has never been the same since Supertram .

If your idea and marketing is for Hillsborough people than it will work if it's more like an Ecclesall thing than it will only work there, if I had the idea of setting up a Wetherspoons I would put it in Hillsborough it just would not work as well in Ecclesall.
IMO horses for courses and every investment is taken in its own merit.

Shaun

www.sheffieldcleaning.com
www.honestcarpetcare.co.uk

Nothing should dissuade from investment in Hillsborough it all depends on what you are planning to do, Art Gallery NO WAY working class people haven't got time to wander around they are usually at work but Wetherspoons well after a hard shift a nice relaxing drink (and they have invested loads into it)

Shaun

www.sheffieldcleaning.com
www.honestcarpetcare.co.uk

I never thought of Hillsborough as being a working class area, more a very socially mixed area, with little rented housing, lots of privately owned terraced and semi detached homes, hence the art galleries opposite and beyond the park.
Your description of Hillsborough is not one that I recognise. Yes I do see people coming in from outside to shop and socialise, using the area as their town centre which seems to encourage a lot of locals to shop and socialise elsewhere. Maybe this is one of the problems, I don't know.

I do alot of work around Hillsborough for landlords there are quite a few properties let and for rent, quite a few students which amazed me but they get slightly cheaper housing than Crookes and a better house also it's straight on the tram!

Shaun

www.sheffieldcleaning.com
www.honestcarpetcare.co.uk

the tram has killed hillsboro, the rents on shops are way to high , and as i understand it the bloke/owner of harios has bought most of the shops up in hillsboro and could turn alot of the floors above the shops into flats!! there IS a high demand for this! from students etc
and lets think about it a perfect place for a student and good choice of pubs in the area!!!

I just don't feel safe in Hillsbro' - the pavements are too narrow in the shopping area and there's far too much traffic for comfort.

I would not invest in Hillsborough mainly due to the fact that there is not sufficiant parking, the roads are a mess and far too busy. It has no cctv surveillance.
I was waiting in traffic the other day (that's all I seem to do when I go to Hillsborough) and noticed a newish Pizza place that had already had it's door kicked in. There would need to be better parking, more police on the streets and a cinema wouldn't go a miss either ..they could put it in that run down football ground near herries road :P

One of the biggest problems with hillsborough is that these days it's too diverse, there isn't enough of one specific category of people to open up a specialist shop.

Unlike Ecclesall Road, which has a mix of affluent and students, and cators for them both.

The reason is too many estate agents and Mortgage advisors.

That suggests the opposite of 'dying a death'. :)

What would attract me is that it must be due for some regeneration money by now! There are adjacent areas, like Middlewood and Rivelin, that have gone up massively in terms of property prices over the past couple of years with lots of new development (Middlewood Hall, Wadsley Park Village, Lodge Moor and King Edwards hospitals, etc.), and this has had some slight effect in Hillsborough it seems in terms of the art gallery, the odd coffee shop, beauticians etc. springing up here and there.

What would put me off is the flood risk (especially premises on the A61 and/or Middlewood Road which may be tought to raise a mortgage against or insure), the fact that it has a high crime rate (I read in the Telegraph recently that practically every shop on Middlewood Road has had a break in), and the congestion and parking situation which isn't great.

What type of business are you thinking of? Retail covers quite a lot, and I'd say whether it'll work depends on what you plan to retail and most importantly to whom.

I never thought of Hillsborough as being a working class area, more a very socially mixed area, with little rented housing, lots of privately owned terraced and semi detached homes, hence the art galleries opposite and beyond the park.
Your description of Hillsborough is not one that I recognise. Yes I do see people coming in from outside to shop and socialise, using the area as their town centre which seems to encourage a lot of locals to shop and socialise elsewhere. Maybe this is one of the problems, I don't know.

I would agree to an extent with you say. I've mentioned before that its an area where people are spending money on their homes (spot the skips). I also believe that whilst the tram did have an effect on the shopping centre, its one of the reasons why people buy houses here. Its a big plus for lots of us who work along its route - evidenced by the numbers using it at peak periods. Of course people use it to shop in town, at Tescos and Meadowhall - reducing their spend locally.

But you are right, the shops do serve people from outside Hillsborough. The bus stop outside the Jewellers speaks for itself!

I can't say if I would invest, haven't got enough entrepreneurial skills. :roll:

Nothing should dissuade from investment in Hillsborough it all depends on what you are planning to do, Art Gallery NO WAY working class people haven't got time to wander around they are usually at work but Wetherspoons well after a hard shift a nice relaxing drink (and they have invested loads into it)

Shaun



Working Class people? Hmmm. Well I spoke to a lot of people in the walled garden at Christmas time and most of them were young professionals from outside of the area who had chosen to live in Hillsborough. Plus we have a growing student population as previously mentioned.

Anyway, working class people (however you measure that these days) can still find the time to visit a gallery :)

To be honest no i wouldn't invest. If i looked at the infrastructure and the potential for passing and transient business i'd probably try for London Rd. It has far more potential.

I live in an area that should be served by Hillsborough shops but i can honestly say i rarely go there. There are 2 reasons for this. Firstly it doesn't cater for much outside of cheap and nasty (there are exceptions). If you want to attract the young proffesional that fox talks about then you need to offer quality. Simple things like food. If i want anything other than pork i'm stuffed. Herbs, cheeses, wine, gifts anything like that is a simple no no. You may get lucky but are you going to go somehwere with the hope or are you going to go somewhere you know you can get what you want.

The second thing and possibly the most important is that the road system is almost unusable. The strict tram gate and one way layout has rendered the area an investment black spot. Who wants to invest in an area that people struggle to get to. I'm sure fox will claim that the tram is a huge asset but the reality is that except for the work commute people don't use it. If i want to nip out and grab some bits i need to know i can get there, park and get back. I'm sure people will say that we should all be greener but if i was an investor i wouldn't want to invest on the basis that we may all change our habits in the future. I'd want to see what was happening now.

For these reasons i think the Hillsborough shops are dead. That and the fact that the youth in the area have gone feral which pushes insurance costs up (A point fox seems to deny on a regular basis).

But its not difficult to use the shops if you live in Hillsborough. I either walk down (from near the park) or take my car - 2 hours in Bradfield Rd - free. On street sometimes too, free. Proctor Place NCP - not very expensive. Co-op free if you spend £5, and that includes in the Post Office. Ecclesall Rd is nearly all pay and display now, with a max 2 hours but its nearly always busy. I can appreciate people from outside the area finding the road layout confusing though. :roll:

The pork shops are a mystery to me too. :o Also, we have a strange mix of shops - lovely fish shop and butchers, but no deli? There are independent bakers and greengrocers, several good florists, and the material shop is one of a kind. The Co-op isn't inviting, really scruffy exterior - all fag ends, litter and if you're really lucky someone's been sick just outside! :gag: However, it does stock some good lines in food, and is open til 8pm most days - so it will be missed when it closes - as will the Post Office. (The rumour is they will look for smaller premises for the grocery bits) And yes, there are cheap shops, but most shopping centres have some of those - I suppose its all in the balance.

I think that after more than 10 years to keep blaming the tram is rather daft.

I have actually used Hillsborough more since the tram came in than before it was there, and I've lived in Walkley for 20 years. Access to Hillsborough by car is not easy, and a littlemore thought on bus routes - particular circulars - might make it a better proposition. As for cars - if Morrisons were to be encouraged to make more of their parking available for longer, then that might help. People could come in at the 'town' end of Hillsborough by the barracks, and park up there. Maybe a basic 'Park and Ride' service from the neighbouring Interchange to run the length of Hillsborough main shopping area, then out past the park, then maybe turn right and return via Bradfield Road(?? not sure of the street names) could make it easier for people to park up. Also, encourage ALL shops with large goods to do deliveries!

I went to Hillsborough to buy a TV the other day, found one I liked and was told they didn't deliver. :rolleyes: So I popped home, went online and bought off the Internet.

Customer Service, people, customer service!! :)

Class distinction - oh boy, here we go again. I don't know what the demographics are but there are a lot of professional people who've bought in to the area. It's not all flat caps, whippets and Wednesday fans, you know?

I'm in Hillsborough most Saturdys - things that put me off....Hillsborough Corner is still a mess and a half. It seems to be DESIGNED to attrract people to drink beer, eat fast food and hang around. Breaking it up with other retail outlets might help, but to be honest it needs soem serious thought. That's the first ting of Hillsborough most people will see and it sucks.

There are too many 'pure service' shops, like Estate Agencies, financial services, etc. They do keep retail units occupied - which is a plus and a minus if there are more general retail businesses wishing to come in to Hillsborough and can't.

There is a general 'cheap and cheerful' outlook to Hillsborough - which again is a plus and a minus. There's a nice mixture of 'family owned' businesses and chain stores, which is excellent. There does seem to be a lack of public conveniences, nice 'sit down' eateries (maybe space for a Starbucks or other coffee shop).

There are a few places where there are 'choke points' on the pavements where bus stops have resulted in narrowed pavements and gormless individuals park their fat backsides in the middle of what remains whilst they ruminate. Apart from shooting people, not sure what teh answer is, but it doesn't facillitate 'flow'.

More of a visible police presence in teh day and early evening (not just on match days) might help, along with City Ambassadors, that sort of 'presence'. Also, there's a general view that vegetation encourages people - trees, planters, etc. The lack of navigable causeways in soem parts, and the presence of a few examples of moronic youth would make such a project difficult, but it would be nice.

Oh...and flooding. From a business point of view I have to say that I'd be a little concerned about that side of things after last year. :)

If I had the money and was a gambling man, I'd go for a delicatessen with a GOOD quality coffee bar attached, and see if I could make it work a profit 8-30am until 6-30pm initially.

What type of business are you thinking of? Retail covers quite a lot, and I'd say whether it'll work depends on what you plan to retail and most importantly to whom.

I was mainly thinking about retail but it could include any business and not necessarily in the main shopping area. For example will bringing in thousands more jobs to the Penistone Road area help or will this just cause extra traffic problems and drive even more people away to the supermarkets/Meadowhall?

I was mainly thinking about retail but it could include any business and not necessarily in the main shopping area. For example will bringing in thousands more jobs to the Penistone Road area help or will this just cause extra traffic problems and drive even more people away to the supermarkets/Meadowhall?

What might be thought about is encouraging the creation of jobs in the area for local people - encourage local entrepreneurism, local social businesses, stuff like that.

Parachuting jobs in that will require large numbers of people from all over Sheffield to do them might not be all that useful, in terms of impact on infrastructure.

and lets think about it a perfect place for a student and good choice of pubs in the area!!!

A good choice of pubs maybe but no choice of good pubs!

Perfect for students?? The average Hillsborough resident hates students and all they stand for with a passion. Good for students with a death wish

If I had the money and was a gambling man, I'd go for a delicatessen with a GOOD quality coffee bar attached, and see if I could make it work a profit 8-30am until 6-30pm initially.
JoeP, this is precisely what many people have been asking for on the other borough threads running at the moment! It'd be nice if whoever bought Jalucy could get a unit next door and make this happen.

JoeP, this is precisely what many people have been asking for on the other borough threads running at the moment! It'd be nice if whoever bought Jalucy could get a unit next door and make this happen.

Why do you think this is not happening in Hillsborough at the moment when there seems to be a plethora of coffee shops elsewhere in the region?

Why do you think this is not happening in Hillsborough at the moment when there seems to be a plethora of coffee shops elsewhere in the region?

I think that part of the reason is perception - no interest, the perceived reputation that Hillsborough has in terms of crime and 'chavvy behaviour', etc. (I say perceived because I ahve no idae what the actual crime rates, etc. in Hillsborough are like)

The first challenge is going to be changing attitudes and perceptions - and that will be a toughie.

I think that part of the reason is perception - no interest, the perceived reputation that Hillsborough has in terms of crime and 'chavvy behaviour', etc. (I say perceived because I ahve no idae what the actual crime rates, etc. in Hillsborough are like)

The first challenge is going to be changing attitudes and perceptions - and that will be a toughie.

Any ideas on how we can do that Joe?

Possibly getting people who comdemn the area to actually spend a bit of time there, instead of saying they don't shop there 'cos they can't park/no big name shops/fear the tram/can't have a pee, etc. :roll:

Some people seem to think that Hillsborough is always going to be like the car park of the Blue Ball at chucking out time on Saturday night. It's not - sometimes it's actually very nice!!

Yes, it needs a better variety of shops. Yes, it could do with one of the smaller units in the precint (old curtain shop maybe?) turning into a couple of decent loos and baby change. Employ an area warden/ambassador who can keep an eye on the place generally - disuade big groups of kids, make sure everything is safe and clean and welcoming, help people find their way around, etc.

Get all the shops to open on Sundays or until 6.00 pm one night a week on a trial basis, and see if there's demand. There are a lot of young professionals in the area, but a lot of the money that could be spent here isn't, simply because nothing's open when it's needed.

(rant over!)

A good choice of pubs maybe but no choice of good pubs!

Perfect for students?? The average Hillsborough resident hates students and all they stand for with a passion. Good for students with a death wish


Speak for yourself Rip. I'm an average Hillsborough person and don't hate students, and certainly not with a passion.

What do students stand for? Aspiration and creativity maybe.

I think the tone of your message indicates why Hillsborough isn't attracting investment...

Any ideas on how we can do that Joe?

Not off the top of my head - hey, I'm a strategy sort of guy. :D

Seriously - it has to start with getting statistics about crime and disorder, licensing issues, etc. and then getting some 'perception' surveys done.

Thn before you go further, compare one with teh other - and if the public perception does match, then you need to do some work to reduce the level of problms. And if the public perception is worse than the facts suggest - then publicise the fact.

I think the main thing is not to push the area REALLY hard until it's as good as it can possibly be - because you will get ONE chance for the next couple of years to launch Hillsborough. If that chance is blown, then it's another couple of years before people will give it a further chance. But 'small trials' - go for it.

I'm not an expert in these things - this is what PR people do. :)

There's some good thoughts just above from feargal - start with small experiments to see what is possible, and get a Warden / Police presence aroudn at the times and places where anti-social activity is taking place. Even the expedient of having later opening may put some ne'er do wells off of the idea of lurking around.

If you were looking to set up a retail business in Hillsborough what would attract you and what would dissuade you from investing in the area?

The one thing Hillsborough could do with is a well placed decent toilet area, i would happily pay a sensible amount for a tiddle when the moment takes one. My firend who is registered disabled had to add pregnant to get the flamin CO/OP to let her use the loo the other week. It's crazy!

Hillsboro has had its day i feel, so in my opinion i would not invest in the place! there are many reasons WHY its the way it is!!! but its gone to a ghost town like anouther thread has stated, more shops will close i feel

Hillsboro has had its day i feel, so in my opinion i would not invest in the place! there are many reasons WHY its the way it is!!! but its gone to a ghost town like anouther thread has stated, more shops will close i feel

Don't confuse Hillsborough shopping centre with Wisewood school!
Sorry. Bad taste I know but I couldn't resist.:gag:

I am a parent living in Hillsborough although not from here, and have a large circle friends who live around the Hillsborough are most of whom have moved from the south i would say the majority of these are proffesionals. I also have many friends who are graduates who live here, but their is nothing in Hillsborough for these people to spend their money on.
The only shop i use regularly is boots for nappies as their is nowhere else. On the weekend we meet friends on Ecclesall rd or in town and spend money in the independent shops around there. IT is a shame because there is the clientele in Hillsborough but you don't see them as they don't hang around due to the very naff shops.
I am very pro local business and i do my best not to shop in the big chain stores as much as possible but their is nothing in Hillsborough worth parting with my hard earned cash for. Severe lack of nice coffee shops and i know its bad because the people who run jalucy are lovely but i think its saying something when it is the nicest coffee shop the town has to offer.
We bought in Hillsborough a few years ago when we heard it was on the up and although it does have a lovely community, lots of small children etc now i feel i have done my bit.Nothing has changed the same shops are still empty as 4 years ago and its so dirty. The final straw is the fact that the end of our road is used as a public convienience every weekend courtesy of the local pubs.
We are now looking to move and the deciding factor had to be the fact that for the same money you can now buy houses in the more desirable post codes as the property market in Hillsborough has Risen.
So to answer your question, Yes i think i would invest here but only if i had some promises from the council to smarten the place up a bit and have more community police about, not just on match day> Apologies for the rant!!

^^^ Thanks for your constructive comments. The down at heel appearence does seem to be a continuing problem, the weir, graffitti, drunken excrement etc. There doesn't seem to be any co-ordinated plan to solve these problems.

The one thing Hillsborough could do with is a well placed decent toilet area, i would happily pay a sensible amount for a tiddle when the moment takes one. My firend who is registered disabled had to add pregnant to get the flamin CO/OP to let her use the loo the other week. It's crazy!

Okay, I am quite ready for my flaming. But having chatted with the OH about this I would like to pose a question. When you go shopping in town where do you go for a 'comfort break' ?

Because I can bet 9 times out of 10 it isn't in a public convenience. It is either in a shop (such as McDonalds etc) or in a Pub. I picked The Moor, Fargate and the Markets as three prime city centre shopping areas.

The moor has 1 public toilet at the very end of it. Fargate has none unless you count the town hall loos which have no disabled access and you have to pay to use, and the Markets? Well I shall say no more.

So based on the fact that we in Hillsborough have public facilities in Morrisons, full access loos in the interchange including a babychange facility. Wetherspoons which you can use (plus other pubs if you really want to), plus the Pavilion loos we fare pretty well in the facilities dept for such a small space.

^^^ Thanks for your constructive comments. The down at heel appearence does seem to be a continuing problem, the weir, graffitti, drunken excrement etc. There doesn't seem to be any co-ordinated plan to solve these problems.

We do have the Hillsborough Town Centre Strategy :)

So based on the fact that we in Hillsborough have public facilities in Morrisons, full access loos in the interchange including a babychange facility. Wetherspoons which you can use (plus other pubs if you really want to), plus the Pavilion loos we fare pretty well in the facilities dept for such a small space.

I guess the fact that so many people have raised it indicates that the facilities have a low profile in terms of publicity.

Also, are Morrisons and the pubs really welcoming to non-paying customers?

I guess the fact that so many people have raised it indicates that the facilities have a low profile in terms of publicity.

Also, are Morrisons and the pubs really welcoming to non-paying customers?

Morrisons never dissuade customers from facilities and I beleive there is some ancient bylaw, wherein a Public House is open to the public and they are allowed to enter and have a piddle ;)

Morrisons never dissuade customers from facilities and I beleive there is some ancient bylaw, wherein a Public House is open to the public and they are allow to enter and have a piddle ;)


That's good to know - I know that a few pubs actually have notices that say 'Toilets only available to customers' or words to that effect.

The fact that these facilities don't immediately spring to mind posisbly suggests a lack of publicity - that would be something easily resolved.

That's good to know - I know that a few pubs actually have notices that say 'Toilets only available to customers' or words to that effect.

The fact that these facilities don't immediately spring to mind posisbly suggests a lack of publicity - that would be something easily resolved.

Stand by for the Hillsborough Has Public Loos Scandal in your local press - coming soon :D

( I mean it, I'm going to get it published!)

Stand by for the Hillsborough Has Public Loos Scandal in your local press - coming soon :D

( I mean it, I'm going to get it published!)

The local wags will comment that they knew already - that's what the shop doorways are for, after all. ;)

Don't hide those urinals under a bushel!

Don't confuse Hillsborough shopping centre with Wisewood school!
Sorry. Bad taste I know but I couldn't resist.:gag:

lol :hihi::hihi:

i do know at one point McDONALDS was thinking of opening a small burger place in hillsboro, but that was a few years! i would invest in a market this i feel would do very well in hillsboro and get folks to shop in the area

I don't really know what all the fuss about loos is, i potty trained my 2 year old and frequently had to use the public loos, jalucy, wetherspoons, subway all have toilets that you can use now i know they are all relatively new but they do let you use them.

I don't really know what all the fuss about loos is, i potty trained my 2 year old and frequently had to use the public loos, jalucy, wetherspoons, subway all have toilets that you can use now i know they are all relatively new but they do let you use them.

It's awareness - look at the numbers of posters who DIDN'T know these places had available loos.

So now then, ideas factory? How do I get the public to know where the loos are?

What about a plate / sign that can be mounted on the outside of buildings where people have publically accessible toilets?

A couple of information boards in the area with a little map/what's where?

A couple of information boards in the area with a little map/what's where?

I was wondering about that....and then I wondered about graffiti. :(

I guess I have those bad perceptions running through my noggin.

Good idea though - one at each end of the main road.

It's quite interesting to know that there is a good varied demographic of people living in Hillsborough, but the local shopping areas doesn't cater for them!

I used to live in Middlewood, and frequent Hillsborough with my mom. The area was like what Woodseats is like now. Didn't Hillsborough Bath's Pub attracted a lot of people at one point with its cool live bands? I think it went downhill when the Wetherspoons opened, and I heard that a lot of troubles happened there after, and it affected the rest of the area.

During the day time, the area look completely different than when it is night. I always did wonder about Jalucy. Why a good looking coffee shop is at the end of the shopping area, and why in that derelict looking place. I did wonder if it will make any money.

The few businesses that are there now in Hillsborough are probably bought years ago by the owners. Cos I still remember the gallery near the Proud Potatoe. I am still impressed that the Proud Potatoe was still there after 20 odd years! I just didn't like how all the shops near the Middlewood Road area have turned either into a kebab shop, or a eatery. As that is all it can offer. There used to be a very vibrant little atmosphere with your local veggie stall, or your local butcher, little DIY stores etc.

What kind of business you can invest in Hillsborough? I would say, if you do invest in Hillsborough, don't start a business which will just purely cater for the local market, but expand that little bit further until business picks up. I'm sure that the likes of the Cupola Gallery did just that. Or the number of specialist shops near Hillsborough. Even if you start a Deli, think about mail order side of the business too. I think to survive anywhere, you have to be a little bit diverse these days.

NO I am leaving Hillsborough because it takes too long to travell around the area

We did invest in Hillsborough and have done quite well out of it. We're just moving to a new purpose built facility over the other side of the valley.

Our premises is for sale BTW, freehold Offers around £115k (399 Langsett Road)

We did invest in Hillsborough and have done quite well out of it. We're just moving to a new purpose built facility over the other side of the valley.

Our premises is for sale BTW, freehold Offers around £115k (399 Langsett Road)

What did you do or sell from your premises.

We did invest in Hillsborough and have done quite well out of it. We're just moving to a new purpose built facility over the other side of the valley.

Our premises is for sale BTW, freehold Offers around £115k (399 Langsett Road)

Pete - Off topic, but will you go and help your 'friend' Josie in the 'Free IT support for Sheffield small businesses' thread. I fear if she plugs your company any more she may actually dissapear up your backside, and she wont listen to anyone else's advice anyway.

Good luck!

Pete - Off topic, but will you go and help your 'friend' Josie in the 'Free IT support for Sheffield small businesses' thread. I fear if she plugs your company any more she may actually dissapear up your backside, and she wont listen to anyone else's advice anyway.

Good luck!

I think on webmaster forums like digitalpoint, selling your sig is quite common - but I have never heard of selling your posts...:D