Leamington Changelog

On this page, we attempt to record significant changes in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England

If you observe a change in Leamington which you think needs announcing, send it to me: john@hartnup.net

Friday, September 23, 2005

Evolve: the verdict

Your Leamington Changelog team visited Evolve (nee Breeze, nee Mirage, nee Monroe's) last night.

The "Breeze Bar" section is largely unchanged, although there is a big blobby ornamental thing that's new...

The main room has been decorated quite classily. Much of the lighting has moved to the edge of the room, and the ceiling is dominated by a single large static light fitting. Thursday night music policy is pretty much unchanged. Half of the balcony area remains overlooking the main dancefloor, while what's left is separated with glass walls to form a new VIP bar.

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

The Leamington Times

Leamington has a new free newspaper - The Royal Leamington Spa Times. I was delivered one today -- which is nice because The Leamington Observer never gets delivered to my house for some reason.

It's strong on local ads, and in general the stories are of a high quality -- with the glaring exception of its front page article, an alarmist piece about Ketamine, with a mention of Leamington tagged on at the front with no further justification given.

There is also a new Warwick Times joining the stable of the Coventry Citizen, the Nuneaton Tribune, the Kenilworth Times (formerly the Kenilworth Citizen) and The Hinckley Times.

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Regent Court update

Leamington's brand new street -- Livery street, leading East from the Parade, between the Town Hall and the Regent Hotel -- is meant to open by the end of September.

Businesses we expect to see as part of the development include:
  • Starbucks (coffee -- nicer coffees are available in Leamington)
  • Extreme (sportswear, I think)
  • Jaeger (fancy clothes)
  • Austin Reed (more fancy clothes)
  • Wagamama (yummy noodles)
  • Hallmark (cards and gifts)
  • Expression (cards and gifts) -- may be one and the same as Hallmark
  • Prezzo (chain Italian restaurant)
  • "a tex-mex restaurant" -- at Leamington Changelog we're hoping for a Santa Fe because they do good cocktails
  • The Professional Cookware Company
  • Shoon (clothes and shoes)
  • Saks (hair and beauty)
  • Blooming Marvellous (maternity wear -- go on, admit it, you thought it would be a florist)
  • Venture (portrait photography)
  • Metro (don't know -- many possibilities)
In addition, the people behind Ask will be running The Leamington Grill, "an upmarket bar and grill", in the former ballroom of the Regent Hotel.

Partial catchup

Due to my holiday, and your failure to mail me with your own observations, the changelog is behind. This post is an attempt to catch up, at least in part.

  • Barney Rocco (a clothes shop) and Games Workshop (roleplaying games, board games and fantasy war games) replace Percy Whale furnishers on Regent Street.
  • Lilac Rose has appeared on Warwick Street, West of the Parade. I'm not sure what other things they sell, but there is a pair of silky knickers on prominent display in the window.
  • Fu Garden is a new Chinese takeaway on Spencer Street, opposite The Avenue. Their chicken with green pepper in black bean sauce is excellent.
  • Oxfam has opened a dedicated bookshop on Regent Street, West of the Parade.
  • Planet is a somewhat fuddy-duddy looking clothes shop replacing Virgin Ware in the Royal Priors
  • Revolve, the clothes shop in the Regency Arcade, has moved to Warwick Street, East of the Parade.
That's all I can think of for now.