The joy of running Chandler’s Ford Today is that I get to know more people in the community.
We all want to find out about our community. We contribute to the discussions, and help each other research local history.
Chandler’s Ford resident Teresa Buckley recently contacted me as she needs to find out your views on the Fryern Arcade.
Teresa has lived in Chandler’s Ford for about 17 years, with her husband and 3 daughters. Teresa is currently studying Sociology with The Open University, and she would like you to help her with her research about Fryern Arcade.
Teresa said, “During the time that I have lived here, I have seen quite a few changes at Fryern Arcade, but what was it like before, and how do you think the site could be further improved?”
These are excellent questions that I’m sure you all want to find out too.
Teresa would be grateful if you could spare a few minutes to answer her questions, or share your thoughts with her.
Questions about the Fryern Arcade, Chandler’s Ford:
- How do you feel about the range of shops at Fryern?
- What other shops would they like to see?
- How was Fryern different in years gone-by?
- Do you think Fryern is better now, if not, how could it be improved?
- Do people feel safe whilst visiting Fryern, especially at night?
- Does Fryern have a community feel?
- Is car parking adequate?
- Do people find Fryern aesthetically pleasing?
- Is Fryern Arcade a friendly place to visit?
- How do businesses feel about the management of the site?
Please leave your thoughts in the comments in this blog post.
History of the Fryern Arcade
On Chandler’s Ford Today, we have published tens of posts about the Fryern Arcade.
The Fryern Arcade of Chandler’s Ford was opened by Councillor A.J.Griffen, His Worship the Mayor of Eastleigh, and Monsieur Marius Faisse, Mayor of Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, on the 4th of July 1967.
This plaque about Fryern Arcade also shows the strong link between Eastleigh and one of its twinning town, Villeneuve-Saint-Georges in France.
Eastleigh has had a twinning agreement with Villeneuve St. Georges, a suburb of Paris, since 1963.
Architect for the Fryern Arcade was Julian Keable and Partners. Contractor was Brazier and Son Ltd.
To help with Teresa’s research, I’m showing some images of the Fryern Arcade in a slideshow to help inspire you to contribute to this discussions.
Many thanks for your help.
Related posts:
The Good and the Bad of Fryern Arcade
Fryern Arcade: Butchers And Post Office
Fryern Arcade WH Smith Local & Post Office Open
1 hour? 3 hours? Parking Rules at Co-operative Food and Fryern Arcade in Chandler’s Ford
Steve Brine MP on the Fryern Hill Post Office: “unlikely to be resolved this side of Christmas”
My comments are as follows:-
How do you feel about the range of shops at Fryern?
This is quite good given there is a florist, hardware shop, Boots, Smiths, the bakers amongst other stores. It is like a condensed version of the old style High Street.
What other shops would they like to see?
It was such a shame The Arcade Bookshop closed down but I am very pleased to see Smiths are now in the Arcade. I would always welcome booksellers (and wish Smiths well in that area). A shoe shop would be useful and/or a small department store. (It is not always convenient to have to go into Eastleigh or Southampton).
How was Fryern different in years gone-by?
There was the dedicated book shop. I was particularly sorry to see Asante, the coffee shop that raised money for charity, close down. I’m not against Costa but I think Asante’s closure was directly down to their opening at Fryern.
Do you think Fryern is better now, if not, how could it be improved?
Fryern is not a bad place. The lack of public toilets is not good though. Improved car parking would benefit Fryern. There is always a struggle to find a parking space, which in turn can’t help the shops there. If you can’t park or think it’ll be a problem, you will shop elsewhere.
Do people feel safe whilst visiting Fryern, especially at night?
Generally yes but lighting levels could be improved.
Does Fryern have a community feel?
It does at Christmas. Not so sure the rest of the time.
Is car parking adequate?
No!
Do people find Fryern aesthetically pleasing?
No! It is very much a product of its time. (Having said that I have seen much worse elsewhere).
Is Fryern Arcade a friendly place to visit?
Generally yes.
How do businesses feel about the management of the site?
Can’t really comment as I don’t know but suspect they would welcome improved parking as that would attract more customers.
Hope these comments help.
I remember when my children were young and I could take them to Rex Pragnells shoe shop, I enjoyed not having to go farther afield to buy good quality shoes. It was also good to have the ladies clothes shop, I think it was called No.16. It seems rather odd not to have either shoes or clothing available in a large community like Chandler’s Ford.
I would also love to see a proper shoe shop in Chandler’s Ford. I have to go to Southampton or Winchester to buy my son his school shoes and it has been a hassle. People who can’t travel far due to travel cost, mobility difficulties, or age would benefit from a good practical shoe shop. We have two secondary schools and a few primary schools here, so the need and market for school shoes are huge.
I’m not sure I would link Asante’s closure to Costa. Some people think Waitrose’s free coffee and Costa were the causes of Asante’s closure.
However I think that as a business for charity (Asante raises fund for charity and supports important work for children in Africa), Asante was responsible for its own future and management.
Asante attracted business people in the area, and also many like-minded people who supported their good causes. They have the loyal fans (charity supporters) that both Costa and Waitrose may not have.
I often feel that the main role of a coffee shop is to offer customers good decent cups of coffee or tea (quality cakes and sandwich if you do sell them), and good customer service. Customers would still go to you despite competitions from other coffee shops, though competition makes it more challenging.
The Coffee Room in the Dovetail Centre at the Methodist Church (just opposite Costa) is still thriving. The Coffee Room serves good coffee; it keeps the price low; it is run by volunteers. Its ambiance is attractive.
Though I don’t visit Costa very often, I do feel that it has improved the general business feel and has helped promote Fryern Arcade as the ‘centre’ in our community.
I have always liked Fryern Arcade. It must be to do with the free parking and an elevated walkway. The loss of the bookshop has been blow against culture but having a large hardware store is great. I can shuffle around there and enjoy it just as my wife enjoys going around Debenhams or John Lewis.
What we need for the blokes is a shop selling guns, knives, fishing tackle, hunting kit and camping gear. We males like to fantasise just as the girls do about ball gowns and shoes you can’t walk in.
Another plus is that it is within walking distance of my house. A pleasant walk too, down through the lakes.
Now Fryern is coming up to 50 years old. It is very untidy around the back with litter and rodent boxes. There is discoloured paintwork and walls. The population has grown and is beginning to overwhelm it.
I wish there was a policy of encouraging local, small shops rather than getting in the national stores like Boots and Costa. You will never see anything original in them, just a boring sameness.
Oh no! I smell gender stereotypes in your comment. 🙂
Apart from guns, I think D & G Hardware Store does sell knives, fishing tackle and some camping gear. I bought fishing lines from them last time (for crafts).
The back of Fryern Arcade is unpleasant. The cluttered recycling bins do not add to the aesthetics to the area.
Parking in Fryern Arcade has got worse. Sometimes people who shop at Co-Op have to park at the Waitrose carpark, and walk back to Fryern. (I did it once myself.) On a positive note, parking difficulty implies that business has improved in the area.
I think it is important we have a public toilet at the Fryern Arcade.
At Christmas, it’ll be nice to have a Christmas tree at the Fryern Arcade, to boost Christmas atmosphere.
Central Precinct traders organised a warm and welcoming Christmas light switching on ceremony last year, and it felt very special for the community and presented Central Precinct as a friendlier place.
I also bought shoes in Rex Pragnell’s shoe shop shoes occasionally and often bought clothes in NO.16.
It would be good to have a decent shoe shop/ and or dress shop in the arcade. My understanding is that the rents are very high and therefore prohibitive. (This may be hearsay.)
It is good to have a butcher’s shop again, and the return of a greengrocer would be nice.
I like the fact that parking is free.
On the whole I enjoy shopping in and around the arcade.
Nice to reminisce. I knew someone who had one of the shops, although she had a good busy shop the rent was very high and just put her out of business in the end.
A lady ran a craft shop at the Fryern Arcade about 8 years ago. She sold card stock and cardmaking embellishments, and also ran scrapbooking classes and promoting scrapbooking and paper crafting. Her little shop was where part of D&G is now. This craft shop was my favourite. A crafting shop for local crafters in Chandler’s Ford (possibly not at Fryern Arcade due to rent) would be wonderful news to me.
I’ve lived in Chandlers Ford for 53 years and I remember the shoe shop in the Fryern Arcade. I always went there for my new school shoes!
There was a newsagents (Martins) where Costa is, and next door was a laundrette and then a hardware store. In the corner, where the lighting shop is, became a toy shop, and in the corner where WH Smith is was a dry cleaners.
I seem to remember local events where the car park is: A Christmas tree and Carol concert at Christmas, markets etc.
I have to say though, I do have a real issue with way the arcade looks. It is so ugly! The problem is, that it’s owned privately by a family who live abroad, so have no real interest in the upkeep of the arcade. I take umbridge to the fact that it is the epicentre of our town and it’s such a massive eyesore! There’s a sign at the front which is all black and burnt that nobody has bothered to replaced and the brickwork of the whole place is in dire need of cleaning. I think it really needs updating.. Maybe rendering and painting it something other than grey might cheer it up a little.
I think the council should step in and get the owners to take responsibility for it’s upkeep. It is after all, Chandlers Ford’s Town Centre.
3. How was Fryern different in years gone-by?
In my day (1937 – 1966), Fryern was not of course the ‘centre’ of Chandler’s Ford, and as we know, 1966 was the year before Fryern Arcade was built …
The ‘Parade’ was the centre, with 3 banks, the main post office with mail sorting office and Miss Travers as Post Mistress, Gordon Baker grocer, Harry Perrott fishmonger and greengrocer, S.B. Lowman bakers, Rex Pragnell shoe repairs, Frank Wainwright chemist, Michael Horn butcher, Eastleigh Co-op grocer and butcher, plus a small private library, haberdashery, Peters Wines & Spirits, and 2 sweet shops …
At Fryern, there was P.G. Ward (Phil) self service grocery and sub post office, J.A. Wendler (John) grocer, King’s Court Fisheries (Fish and Chips), Soothills bakers, Godfrey Olson’s Greengrocer (yes, Councillor Godfrey Olson), Olson’s butcher (Godfrey’s dad) with pork sausages to kill for, haberdashery, hardware, sweet shop, H.K Monkton general store, Hardwicke’s Dairy, and 2 garages, and, where Fryern Arcade now basically is, The Wide-awake 24 hour Transport Cafe (with ample parking for trucks) … this is where you got your cup of coffee if you were game (Camp coffee essence originally, and later Nescafe or Maxwell House powder), popular in the evenings with the youth of the day, but you always went home with the smell of ‘frying’ on your clothes …
At Hiltingbury (Kingsway), there was a sub post office and general store, Phil Pratt butcher, and a couple of other stores …
Parking of course was not a problem, as there were few cars compared with now, so you walked, cycled, or, on the odd occasion, maybe caught a bus.
But, hey, guess what, we survived !!!
Doug Clews