Leamington Changelog

Long overdue update

2006-09-12T16:58:00.000+01:00

OK, the Leamington Changelog has gaps, and the latest gap is disappointingly large.

Sorry.

Anyhow, Thai Village on Augusta Place has been replaced by Thai Twig. We compensate for the lateness of this announcement by telling you that we've tried it and it's highly recommended.

Meanwhile, the Sun in Splendour on the corner of Kingsway and Tachbrook Road has been closed for a few months. There appears to be significant renovation work being done, and a sign on the fence indicates that it will reopen at the end of October as a "friendly local".

Solo closure

2006-05-16T10:38:00.000+01:00

Steve contacted us to say "Looks as if Ian Wallace has closed Solo Restaurant in Dormer Place. I think I heard he has taken over the Royal Leamington Hotel in Upper Holly walk."

Mann's Fruit and Veg

2006-05-07T18:06:00.000+01:00

Leamington Changelog reader Dan tells us that Jhutti's Foodstore on Russell Terrace has, at some point in the last few months, become Mann's Fruit and Veg.

Dan apologises for "not being able to verify the apostrophe, or lack thereof, in either name".

Kasa becomes Bar Code

2006-05-06T16:52:00.000+01:00

Kasa on Augusta Place has been replaced by Bar Code, with a nifty barcode logo.

Joules

2006-05-01T12:37:00.000+01:00

The Parade shop formerly occupied by Aunt May's Pasties is now occupied by Joules, a ladies' clothes shop.

Kandymoon with a "K"

2006-05-01T12:35:00.000+01:00

Kandymoon, a card and wrap shop, has opened on Clemens St.

Paul's Models: gone

2006-04-28T17:05:00.000+01:00

Paul's Models has left its location on Regent Street. The shop appears to be vacant.

Sun in Splendour: closed

2006-04-06T16:09:00.000+01:00

The Sun in Splendour pub, on the corner of Tachbrook Road and Kingsway, has closed. Its windows and doors are boarded up.

It didn't take long for someone to spray an enormous penis on one of the boarded windows.

Chinese Medicine Shop closed

2006-04-06T14:05:00.000+01:00

The Chinese Medicine shop on Bath St. has closed. Work appears to be in progress to make it something else (luxury apartments?)

Prezzo

2006-04-06T14:04:00.000+01:00

Prezzo -- a chain Italian restaurant -- has opened on Regent Grove.

New bar/hotel on Bath St.

2006-03-11T17:50:00.000Z

According to the planning site notice in the window of the former Bath St. Furniture (45-47 Bath St.), authorisation has been requested for alteration and extensions including a new shopfront, renewal of the stairs at the front, formation of a new opening, and new lettering "Thomas James Hotel". The proposal goes on to detail an 18 bedroom hotel on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors, with a restaurant/bar in the ground floor and basement.

Meanwhile, Bath St. Furniture appears to be moving to new premises on Clemens St. -- the former Osborne's newsagent -- without changing its name.

Leamington's starring TV role

2006-03-09T12:32:00.000Z

Leamington Changelog informant Darryl tells us that the new BBC crime drama Mayo, starting on Sunday, is filmed in and around Leamington.

Not a change, but potentially of interest to our readers.

Allsports: closed

2006-02-25T23:10:00.000Z

Allsports on the Parade has closed. The premises has a To Let sign up.

Temporary closure of the White Lion, Radford

2006-02-02T18:51:00.000Z

Leamington Changelog does not normally concern itself with events in the outlying hamlets.

However, a contributor sent us a photograph: the White Lion in Radford Semele will be closed temporarily.

Underground gone to ground?

2006-01-30T14:23:00.000Z

The rather funky Underground clothes and bags and Hello Kitty / Emily Dark things shop is advertising a closing down sale, which seems like a shame.

Leamington Changelog particularly admires their BOGOF rail, which is labelled "I say you buy one you get one free".

Old Town cashpoint

2006-01-30T14:13:00.000Z

Lloyds/TSB closed its Victoria Terrace branch a good long while ago, but continued to maintain a cashpoint (ATM, hole in the wall, magic brick, etc.) until quite recently. The subsequent absence of a proper cashpoint South of the river has been a nuisance ever since -- driving those in need of cash to the railway station or to the pricey ATMs in pubs and corner shops.

Your Leamington Changelog team is delighted to observe that a new cashpoint has appeared at the old Lloyds/TSB location. As of Sunday morning the machine was not turned on, and displayed no branding to reveal who owns it. We will keep you informed of any developments.

Update: It's up and running, and sports a Lloyds TSB decal.

John Atkins Cycles

2006-01-19T09:41:00.000Z

John Atkins Cycles is moving from its premises on High Street, to the larger premises on Clemens Street recently vacated by Exchange & Mart.

Think we're Stirling Moss do we sir?

2006-01-19T09:39:00.000Z

The speed limit on The Parade and Bath Street has been reduced to 20MPH. It is, to quote the signs, a "20 Zone".

MVC → Music Zone

2006-01-07T17:32:00.000Z

MVC has a closing down sale. It is to reopen as a Music Zone.

Update: the Music Zone signs are up.

BPS Architectural Ironmongery moves

2005-12-17T11:55:00.000Z

BPS's Architectural Ironmongery shop (doorknobs, handles and locks, I think) has moved from George Street (in the town centre, opposite The Townhouse) to a new location on Hermes Close, off Tachbrook Park Drive.

The George Street location is currently being refitted to be a new and second hand furniture shop, according to Leamington Changelog's informant, who was wielding a circular saw on the premises at the time.

Update: the second hand shop is now open.

Cartridge World

2005-12-16T20:52:00.000Z

Cartridge World, a printer cartridge refilling shop, has opened on Bath St.

Pound shop on High Street

2005-12-12T12:54:00.000Z

High Street has a Pound shop. It's called "Pound n" where n is a word.

Tip reorganisation

2005-12-12T12:51:00.000Z

Leamington's Princes Drive Domestic Waste Recycling Centre (the tip), has had a rehaul.

The tipping area has been segregated into a series of large skips, for different kinds of waste.

Most notably, the paper banks have been replaced by one of these skips. It is considerably easier to empty a crate containing two months' worth of daily paper into a skip, than it was to stuff papers through the slots in the old paper banks.

Aunt May's Pasties: gone

2005-12-02T14:27:00.000Z

"Aunt May's Pasties", on the Parade, is currently closed. The sign has been taken down, there are builders working on the interior. Either Aunt May has decided to redecorate, or some other business is moving in.

Cobbler closes

2005-12-01T12:29:00.000Z

The cobbler on Regent Street has closed.

If you have work to collect, F. Hazell Smith next door will have it.

If you need to get any cobbling done in Leamington, there's still "Cobblers and Keys" on Court Street: "Think Old Town first".

Klobba

2005-11-28T16:55:00.000Z

A long, long time ago we neglected to report a new shop on Clemens St., Klobba, which sells army surplus gear, and clothes in any colour you like as long as it's khaki.

Update: corrected. This site was never Buygones, which remains vacant. It was a housewares shop whos name we don't have on record.

Old Town Subway: confirmed

2005-11-28T13:28:00.000Z

We speculated that the site previously occupied by Sign Depot on Victoria Terrace may become a Subway sandwich shop.

On Sunday, the Subway sign was being erected over the shop front.

Legends to close

2005-11-28T13:21:00.000Z

"Legends" surf/skate/boarding clothes shop on the Parade, is closing down. "Ex" on Livery Street, which is already open, is its replacement.

Faith shoe shop: open

2005-11-28T13:09:00.001Z

The previously mentioned "Faith" shoe shop has opened, upstairs in the Royal Priors.

Frère Jacques

2005-11-28T13:09:00.000Z

"Frère Jacques", a cafe and patisserie, has opened at the Regent Street end of Livery Street, in the Regent Court development. It's right next door to Starbucks, which is now advertising acoustic music on Tuesdays -- I envisage something along the lines of Phoebe from Friends singing the Smelly Cat song.

Old Butcher's → The Copper Pot

2005-11-23T17:03:00.000Z

Leamington Changelog contributor Mike writes:

"The Old Butchers pub is now The Copper Pot pub, but you probably knew that already."

No, I didn't know that already. Thanks Mike. Contributions are always welcome and help us make the Leamington Changelog a faster, better service.

Here's hoping the Copper Pot name is as long-lived and successful as its predecessor (which replaced "The Hogshead" less than a year ago).

Baroque → The Fox

2005-11-11T10:43:00.000Z

Baroque on Clarendon Avenue has changed its name to The Fox.

Dr & Herbs

2005-11-11T10:30:00.000Z

In the olden days, people used to have to put little rolls of chemically treated celluloid into their cameras, then take the rolls to a shop, which would do some more chemical stuff, and produce photographs on paper, which you could only show people by actually transporting the pieces of paper to somewhere they could look at them.

One such shop was Supasnaps on Warwick Street.

Of course, there's no call for that kind of olde-worlde technology any more, so the shop has become an ultra-modern state of the art Chinese medicine shop, called Dr & Herbs

Manhattan Cafe

2005-10-25T13:27:00.000+01:00

"Manhattan Cafe", replacing the Debenhams cafe in the Royal Priors is now open.

Regent Court news

2005-10-25T13:22:00.000+01:00

Penny Plain, a Gap-like ladies clothes shop, has opened on Livery Street.

"Ex", Livery Street's "extreme sports" shop has also opened. Its logo looks strikingly similar to CEX's (Computer Exchange).

Austin Reed has opened for business, as has Starbucks coffee and Hallmark cards.

Prezzo, an Italian restaurant, is to open on Regent Grove, opposite the police station, but is still considered part of the Regent Court development.

Faith shoes

2005-10-25T13:21:00.000+01:00

Our sources tell us that a Faith shoe shop is to replace Bay Trading in the Royal Priors.

Leamington Bar and Grill

2005-10-25T13:07:00.000+01:00

The Leamington Bar and Grill has opened in the Regent Hotel.

Your Leamington Changelog staff have not tried it yet, but there is a glowing review by a "bored student" here. When I was a student, £65 was six weeks' food budget, not one meal for two...

Priors Catch-ups

2005-10-17T10:45:00.000+01:00

A few overdue mentions of changes in the Royal Priors arcade:

The Debenhams Cafe (the only one not affiliated with a Debenhams shop?) is being refitted to become "Manhattan Cafe"
Wax Lyrical, the candle shop, has become Fabulous, a contemporary jewellers
Party Animal, another jewellery shop, has opened at the lower Parade entrance to the Priors
Culpeper has been replaced by The Perfume Shop

Sign Depot moved

2005-10-17T10:39:00.000+01:00

Sign Depot has moved from its office on Victoria Terrace (opposite the parish church) to 6a Regent Place.

The Victoria Terrace shop window has been blocked out with that soapy whitewashy stuff they use, but a small patch has been left clear, to reveal a Subway menu stuck to the inside of the window. Could this be Leamington's second Subway (and Old Town's first)?

Regent Court shops open

2005-10-07T09:50:00.000+01:00

Livery Street businesses are open:

Jaegar
Shoon
Hallmark Cards
Venture Photography
Walnut and Weave
Broughton Shoes

... with more to come.

Evolve: the verdict

2005-09-23T12:45:00.000+01:00

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.

The Leamington Times

2005-09-21T18:31:00.000+01:00

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.

Regent Court update

2005-09-18T19:38:00.000+01:00

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

2005-09-18T18:56:00.000+01:00

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.

Breeze evolves

2005-08-16T13:18:00.000+01:00

We'd barely got used to Leamingon Old Town nightclub Mirage (on Spencer St.) changing its name to Breeze Bar and Club (or BBC), and now it's closed for refurbishment, to reopen as Evolve.

The refurbished club -- due to reopen this week -- will have three rooms. I don't know yet where the extra space will come from.

From www.skiddle.com:

Evolve Nightclub Info:
Refurbished club, now expanded to three rooms, each with their own individual style. Ranging from mainstream chart music, 60's 70's & 80's retro, through to upfront dance music and stand up comedy and live acts, throughout the week.
Location is close to bus stops, taxi ranks and train station for easy access from out of town.
Capacity is approximately 800

Bye bye Buygones

2005-08-10T12:13:00.000+01:00

Buygones on Clemens St has closed. There's no sign of reoccupation as yet.

Fishing tackle shop

2005-08-10T11:55:00.000+01:00

On Clemens St., the former location of Headmasters hairdo shop (which has moved to a posher location opposite), which subsequently became a nailbar, is to reopen soon as a fishing tackle shop.

Dreams

2005-06-24T14:43:00.000+01:00

The space between Blockbuster Video and Pets at Home (nee PowerHouse, nee Tempo) has become a "Dreams" bed shop.

This brings the number of bed shops in Leamington and Warwick to four million.

Elephant at The Moorings

2005-06-12T17:31:00.000+01:00

The Moorings, at the Leamington end of Myton Road, is actually in Warwick, but it's right on the border, so I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt.

A life size, reasonably realistic model elephant has appeared in The Moorings' car park.

N.B. Leamington has many associations with elephants:

In the mid 1800s there was a permanent circus on Victoria Colonnade, where the Loft Theatre is today. Circus elephants were housed at the North end of the parade and were regularly led through town to the Mill Bridge wier to bathe -- the slip is still called the Elephant Walk

One such circus elephant was buried under what is now the Warwickshire College car park, while another was reputedly buried in the grounds of Elephant House on Warwick New Road

Model elephants adorn the Thai Village restaurant

Chang beer is Leamington's municipal beer (Warwick gets all the real ale honours), imported as it is by Globe Trading of High Street, Leamington. Chang's trademark incorporates two elephants.

Did I miss any?

Powerhouse → Pets at Home

2005-06-12T17:27:00.000+01:00

The long-vacant former Tempo/Powerhouse shop next to Blockbuster Video, on the Myton Road / Princes Drive roundabout, has reopened as a Pets at Home pet shop.

Contribute, damn you!

2005-06-12T17:25:00.000+01:00

I'm sure many, many changes are being missed because I am only one man.

Your emails could help. Five accepted submissions gets you an editorial position, where I enable your Blogger ID to post to the Changelog...

Love's → Queans

2005-04-29T10:05:00.000+01:00

Old news -- apparently this change happened in January. "Love's" restaurant on Dormer Place has become "Queans", still a restaurant . That's right, there's no apostrophe on the sign.

Evans Hardy and Bromwich

2005-04-28T19:17:00.000+01:00

Peter Bromwich and Co. estate agents has become Evans Hardy and Bromwich, or "EBH". They have a swish new logo too.

Starbucks at Sainsbury's

2005-04-25T12:01:00.000+01:00

I mention this belatedly, because it's actually in Warwick, but many people erroneously believe Sainsbury's to be in Leamington.

The cafe at Sainsbury's at the Shires Retail Park has become a Starbucks. You can enter from the outside and pretend it's unrelated to Sainsbury's if that floats your boat.

Miala

2005-04-22T11:40:00.000+01:00

The aforementioned "goth shop" on Clemens St. is called "Miala" and opens this Saturday.

It appears to sell all kinds of curiosities, and has less of a goth look now.

Akito

2005-04-21T18:36:00.000+01:00

33 Bath Street, on the corner of Regent Place, is opening as "Akito". We don't know yet what manner of business it is.

Update: It's a flower shop.

Clemens St changes afoot

2005-04-20T13:15:00.000+01:00

Clemens Street has a few changes underway:

Computer Planet has moved one doorway South. Its previous doorway is marked "Gents Haircut Coming Soon".

To the North of that, the corner establishment has been painted black, and looks likely to become a goth oriented shop. You know, incense, chalices made from human skulls, and the like.

The former Diamond Balti / Tiffins location, next to The Railway, has a sign in the window "Chicken Cottage, coming soon".

Parade Roadworks

2005-04-11T13:04:00.000+01:00

Starting today, and until late October, there are roadworks on the Parade. Traffic is being diverted.

Temporary bus stops have been set up on Dormer Place (North edge of Pump Room Gardens, South end of Parade) , and on Beauchamp Road (West edge of the park at the top of the parade, next to the girl's school).

Bank open

2005-03-19T17:06:00.000Z

The previously mentioned Bank clothes shop on Warwick Street/Royal Priors has now opened.

High Street phone shop

2005-03-19T17:04:00.000Z

There is a new independent mobile phone shop on High Street. Name to be confirmed.

Regent Hotel Open

2005-03-19T16:48:00.000Z

The Regent Hotel is open for business for the first time since 1998. We've been in and had a look round: it's quite a bit grander than most Travelodges (as befits our illustrious town!).

Less muddy boots

2005-03-17T09:51:00.000Z

Based on a glimpse from the car this morning, it looks as if at least part of the woodland footpath between the top of Milverton Hill and the St. Patrick's club / Canoe club, has been resurfaced.

Adams Kids

2005-03-16T09:21:00.000Z

Adams Kids has reopened. It's exciting new concept appears to be "blue".

Robert Dyas

2005-03-16T09:19:00.000Z

A Robert Dyas kitchen/home/DIY/garden shop is opening opposite Tesco at the top of the parade.

Regent Court Progress

2005-03-13T08:56:00.000Z

It's tempting to flood this blog with frequent entries about minor changes on the Regent Court development: I'm trying to avoid doing so.

This one's worth a mention though: the coat of arms over the Regent Hotel main entrance has received a bright new paint job. The Travelodge opens on the 21st March.

"Sozzled" → ""

2005-03-13T08:48:00.000Z

As part of its "major refurbishment" The Sozzled Sausage on Regent St. has become simply "The Sausage"

The decor has changed dramatically, although the overall layout remains the same. The irritating step halfway across the room has been removed (we weren't able to decide whether one half of the room had been lowered, or the other half raised).

Some of the tabletops now sport risque illustrations featuring Queen Victoria.

The lunch menu has been simplified -- ironically there is now a far smaller choice of sausages. A range of pies from The Square Pie Company is now available.

The anticipated conservatory extension has not appeared. The outside are has a newly screeded floor.

A goldmine!

2005-03-07T20:03:00.000Z

Debbie found the Warwick District Council Planning Committee website. Their minutes include all sorts of interesting titbits.

Bridge over the Avon

2005-03-01T10:17:00.000Z

A new bridge has been built over the Avon, at the former Potterton's site at the junction of Emscote Road and Rugby Road.

Yet another way for the flood of economic migrants from Warwick to get into Leamington!

Elegant Nails

2005-02-26T16:46:00.000Z

High Street has a new nail bar: Elegant Nails.

Good thing too: Leamington has almost as bad a dearth of nail bars as it has a lack of pizza outlets.

Le Boulangerie

2005-02-26T16:45:00.000Z

"Le Boulangerie" cafe has the builders in. Whether to reopen with the same name or a new one, I don't know.

Legends → Bank

2005-02-26T16:42:00.000Z

The site formerly accommodating Legends for Ladies, at the top end of the Royal Priors, and on Warwick Street, is currently being turned into a "Bank" clothes shop.

Sozzled Sausage refit

2005-02-26T16:36:00.000Z

The Sozzled Sausage pub on Regent Street is undergoing "major refurbishment".

There is work being done on the interior, and it looks as if they are extending the existing glass-roofed area into their terrace.

Hargreaves closed

2005-02-22T10:59:00.000Z

Hargreaves, at the top of the Parade, has closed down.

Apparently it was a sports shop or something...

Adams

2005-02-22T10:31:00.000Z

The shop just south of McDonald's on the parade is to become an Adams Kids.

The first person to tell me what used to be on that site gets a Creme Egg.

Update: Debbie wins the Creme Egg for pointing out that it was previously ... Adams! So this must be just a redecoration exercise.

Paul misses out on the Creme Egg, but gets special mention for finding more information :

"Currently closed for refit - exciting new concept store opens 11th March 2005"

I hope you're as excited as I am.

New Look Homebase

2005-02-21T11:29:00.000Z

Old news: Homebase on Myton Road (which might be Warwick and hence off-topic) has been done up -- there's a whole new floor on the Eastern side.

I thought I'd post it today, however, because of a billboard on Old Warwick Road saying "New Look Homebase, Myton Road, opposite McDonalds".

It's nowhere near McDonalds.

Cafe society?

2005-02-16T18:51:00.000Z

Work has commenced on the paving in the outside area next to the new Costa coffee shop in the Royal Priors. This suggests that Costa will have an outdoor terrace area in the summer, to complement their fake outdoor terrace area in the atrium.

Regent Hotel Progress

2005-02-16T16:04:00.000Z

The Regent Hotel appears to be coming along nicely: the scaffolding is down on the Parade side. There is a Travelodge logo on on the side.

Urban Village: Gone

2005-02-16T11:42:00.000Z

Retro shop "Urban Village" has disappeared from Augusta Place.

They have consolidated their business back to the Birmingham shop.

Ruby

2005-01-21T21:44:00.000Z

Maybe there's a one-in-one-out policy for pizza resturants?

Pizza Piazza has gone from Park Street, to be replaced by a Chinese restaurant called "Ruby". The builders were in when we passed, but a sign said it would open in January 2005.

Escape Internet/Gaming Centre

2005-01-17T11:53:00.000Z

Someone dumped a leaflet on my desk, presumably so I could add it to this changelog?

"Escape Internet and Online Games Centre

Open Every Day! 11am - 9pm

111, Warwick Street, Leamington Spa"

Submitted Observations

2005-01-07T15:30:00.000Z

Mr John Vallins has submitted two observations:

Tarsus Kebab, High Street, is now open 7 days a week.

Opposite Tarsus, the former Lovejoys sex shop as become a hair dresser's. An anonymous commenter tells us the name of the hairdresser's is "Ibita".

(We previously reported that his was an Afro-Carribean hair dresser's: having peeked in myself, I can report that it does not appear to specialise in this way)

Goodbye Options, Hello Silx

2005-01-06T19:25:00.000Z

I don't know how long ago this happened. The premises formerly occupied by Options Nightclub, latterly closed for several months, is now Club Silx. I have no idea whether this is just a nightclub, a "teen bar" like Silx in Blyth, Northumberland, or something altogether more sinister.

Addendum: The following appeared on LeamingtonSpaToday

New night spot opens in Leamington

Leamington's legion of late-night licensed premises has another member.

Club Silx opened earlier this month at the site which used to trade as Options in High Street, Old Town.

But, any resemblance to the former nightclub is quickly refuted by club manager Alex Bradshaw who is keen to establish disparity between the past and present nightspots.

He said: "It's a totally different venue to what was Options and we have taken quite a brave step away from that. We are open to people interested in all sorts of music and who are out to get along and have a good time.

"There are a variety of different of things we are looking at doing in the future; live music and comedy are possibilities because there is a stage area in the club so we don't want to rule anything out."

The site has been extensively refurbished inside and will hold more than 200 people.

Warwickshire police released pre-Christmas crime figures which revealed areas outside the town's three major nightclubs at 2am, in particular Breeze Bar, caused significantly higher violent crime numbers than elsewhere.

But Mr Bradshaw, who has been bar manager at Ocean, Cuba and Alistair's - now called Mackie's - believes Leamington does have room for another nightclub.

He added: "When you look at the clubs in Leamington they are all full to capacity with many people getting turned away and still wanting to carry on so the numbers suggest there is definitely room for another one.

"Would you rather have people somewhere safe enjoying themselves or walking around the streets?"

The new club is part-owned by former owner of Options Roy Brown and Rios owner Chris Donnachie.

04 January 2005

Coventry Building Society

2005-01-06T11:09:00.000Z

Where Andy's Records used to be, near the top of the Parade, opposite Tesco Metro, has become a Coventry Building Society branch.

Gamestation

2004-12-29T14:00:00.000Z

Further to the previous post, next door to Zizzi, what was a furniture shop is to become a Gamestation videogame shop. Posters in the window suggest a grand opening on Jan 7th.

Cheap clothes → Pizza

2004-12-29T13:58:00.000Z

Presumably due to the renovation of the former Regent Hotel, there seems to be a small revitalisation of the area just North of it on the Parade, opposite Past Times.

What used to be Officer's Club -- selling incredibly cheap clothes which somehow still managed to be overpriced -- is now a Zizzi pizza/pasta restaurant. We went on Monday. It was rather nice.

Gallery → Costa Coffee

2004-12-29T13:57:00.000Z

The commercial gallery in the bottom SouthWest corner of the Royal Priors has become a Costa coffee shop. I've always preferred Costa to Starbucks.

Hogshead → Old Butcher's

2004-12-29T13:54:00.000Z

As the title implies, the Hogshead on Warwick St. has changed its name to "The Old Butcher's". I have not checked for any other changes: menu, interior decor, atmosphere etc.

Update: Interior/menu/atmosphere largely unchanged.

Announcement

2004-12-29T13:53:00.000Z

I had taken to recording any changes I noticed in Leaminton Spa, in the Orkut "Warwick and Leamington Spa" community forum. However, Orkut is a closed community, and I felt the potential audience was too low.

Also, I'm an RSS bore, and there was no way to get an RSS feed of an Orkut community forum.

Hence, the Leamington Changelog is now here.