Is Chandler’s Ford international?
At the Central Precinct of Chandler’s Ford, we have: Bengal Spice Take-away, Leela Thai Massage, Special Thai Restaurant, China Wok Chinese Take-away, and French Baguette Connection Ltd.
Don’t forget we also have the HSBC Bank, which put Chandler’s Ford in the national news, more than once.
Look carefully at this business directory of the Central Precinct. It shows we have a wide range of interesting shops and services in the Central Precinct. *
However the information on this board has not been updated. Everything Flowers (Love Flowers) closed the business in August 2013, but its name still remained.
The premises of Bella Bride and Ball for wedding dresses & dress hire in the Central Precinct has also just closed 2 week ago. I’ve heard that a carpet shop may take over the space.
Ahmad Tea
If you drive into the car park of the Central Precinct, you’ll also find the Ahmad Tea building in front of you.
Ahmad Tea is located on the Ahmad Tea Estate. Its Chandler’s Ford Head Office employs about 60 employees and a third of them are born overseas. Their countries of origin include Latvia, Poland, Iran, Malaysia, France, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Hong Kong, and Russia.
Alex Keown-Boyd, Quality Assurance Manager & Assistant General Manager (UK) of Ahmad Tea told me that at Ahmad Tea, the different nationalities of the employees pass unnoticed at work and everyone simply contributes to the best of their ability.
Alex further demonstrated the internationalism of Ahmad Tea.
“Fibres for teabag paper are grown in the Philippines and processed in Chile. Tea caddies made in China with second hand machinery from the north of England, are made partly from Australian ore. Paper cartons come from Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the UAE, made with paper from trees in Brazil and Indonesia. String and aluminium wire comes from Germany. Our flavours are processed in the UK, France and the USA. The teas themselves comes from Kenya, Malawi, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and China, and are packed on machines made in Italy, Germany, the UK and Japan.”
By Alex Keown-Boyd, Quality Assurance Manager & Assistant General Manager (UK) of Ahmad Tea
The Central Precinct: Has it been forgotten?
To many residents, the Central Precinct used to be considered as the centre of Chandler’s Ford, however in recent years, new development at the Fryern Arcade and other parts of Chandler’s Ford seem to have made more impression.
I love the Central Precinct.
When we first moved to Chandler’s Ford 14 years ago, I considered the Central Precinct as the centre of Chandler’s Ford, where we bought a wine cabinet (not for me) from Daniel Mulcahy from his From Old To New furniture upholstery and restoration shop.
I remember there was also a lovely gift shop called The Precinct Gift Centre, run by Suzette and Brian Matthews. The gift shop contained a very small coffee area, and I used to visit the gift shop regularly with my little boy to have coffee there in the afternoon.
Mens World & Myositis Support
Now I still enjoy browsing second-hand books outside Mens World Hairdressing for Myositis UK.
Mens World is a well established hairdresser for over 25 years, founded by hairdresser Les Oakley MBE, QDH.
Myositis Support UK is the only registered charity (UK) charity specific for the inflammatory myopathies, Dermatomyositis, Polymyositis, Inclusion Body Myositis, and Juvenile Dermatomyositis.
There also used to be a post office on Bournemouth Road, just next to the Central Precinct. This post office later moved to the Fryern Arcade.
I spoke to Daniel Mulcahy at his furniture upholstery shop yesterday. Dan has been running his business at the Central Precinct for 14 years. I asked him what he loves most about the Central Precinct.
The Central Precinct: The hidden gem
“The Central Precinct is a quirky little place with quirky independent shops. It’s a hidden gem.”
By Daniel Mulcahy, from From Old To New furniture upholstery and restoration
The Central Precinct has its own strong community. The ground is kept clean by Keith Medley, who has been maintaining the grounds of the Central Precinct for 50 years, and is a friend of everyone there.
The Snooker Club
Nick Coleman, who now runs Adams & Co on Hursley Road, reminds me that the Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club in the Central Precinct has a fascinating history.
The family run club is run by Ken Everett and his son Jim.
There will be more stories from the Central Precinct on this website soon.
Here are a few images of the Central Precinct of Chandler’s Ford:
Discussion:
What is your impression of the Central Precinct? What are your memories about this place? How do you like the shops there?
What do you think can be done to improve the image of the Central Precinct? Does it need a make-over? What is your view?
If I say the Central Precinct is the most international part of Chandler’s Ford, do you agree?
List of businesses in the Central Precinct of Chandler’s Ford:
(Data: Details of occupancy Aug 2014.pdf, Eastleigh Borough Council) ^
- H.S.B.C. Bank
- Alexander Keen & Nationwide Estate Agent/ Building Society
- K’Sue’Raa Coffee Bar
- Swinton, Motor& Home Insurance
- Online PC Support Office
- Langford & Charles, Independent sales and lettings
- Goodies Fish and Chips Take-away
- Physio2Fit Personal Training
- Upfront & Personnel Recruitment Specialists
- Ashton House Office
- China Wok Take-away
- Mens World Hairdressers
- Bengal Spice Take-away
- The Racecentre Drivers Challenge
- Formula One Racing Centre
- Rees Leisure
- D & G Hairdressers
- Bella Bride and Ball
- From Old to New Furniture
- Special Thai Restaurant
- Richard Small & Co Chartered Accountants
- The French Baguette Connection Sandwich Shop
- Chandler’s Ford Chiropody Clinic
- Scarlet Ribbons Hairdressers
- Up and Running Sports shoes & clothes
- Leela Thai Massage
- Thai Massage
- The Print Room
Related Posts:
- Meet Mr Chen From China Wok At Central Precinct
- New Sign: Central Precinct Of Chandler’s Ford
- Everything Flowers (Love Flowers) From The Central Precinct
- Where Is The Centre Of Chandler’s Ford?
- From Old To New: Furniture Upholstery And Restoration In Chandler’s Ford
- The Best Kept Secret In Chandler’s Ford – The Tea Museum
- Coffee Shops In Chandler’s Ford
- The Art Of Tea Tasting At Ahmad Tea
- Congratulations To Alex And Mae
As far as improving the image of the Central Precinct, to my way of thinking, the main responsibility for that should fall on the shopkeepers in the precinct. This includes the snooker club, and also the social club. They could do things like
1. Set up their own web site
2. Adverts, maybe a quarterly newsletter
3. Generate articles for the Echo
4. Organise community events at schools and nursing homes etc.
5. Sponsor local school sports, activities, charities etc.
6. Have a joint presence at local fairs, extravaganzas etc.
7. Make unrented buildings available for local activities (one shop has been unrented for over 8 years)
There also used to be branches of Barclays and Nat West Banks in the parade of shops the other side of the railway. If I recall correctly Barclays was on the right (as you go up the hill) and Nat West opposite. The Barclays branch was in addition (it may have been a sub branch of) the one at Fryern.
There needs to be a bookshop and/or a shop like Forbidden Planet. These will attract younger people to read and visit shops. There doesn’t seem to be enough shops to appeal to the youth of Chandler’s Ford.
(Forbidden Planet is a shop in Southampton which sells everything geeky, from comics to Doctor Who to Star War. In short, my kind of shop).
That very British pastime, snooker, has its origins in India. The bored British Army officers in Jabalpur devised the game. I used to enjoy it when at university. A friend who became a very good player won the tournament but failed his exams.
At one time I had regular business dealings with 3 of the companies there and found them all very efficient and friendly.
There are parts of the precinct where a coat of paint is needed.
Mischievously I like the thought that there might a Jewish restaurant on one side and a Palestinian on the other. One day, perhaps.
I think the Precinct needs more than just a new coat of paint. I’ll try to explain it in a new post.
I do like the idea of multi-national cuisines, and promoting world peace at the same time.