ThePrisoner
Well-known member
I wonder why the property developer mayor preston with this purchase?
The Crown/ABC Cinema
- Thread starter CarrickBall
- Start date
ThatFragranceGuy
Well-known member
It must be wild inside the crown. As said earlier in the thread, even when it was open a lot of the old building was untouched. It closed in 2015, so its been derelict for 9 years. I would absolutely expect structural issues, water ingress, chock full of pigeon crap and holes in the roof and it's that old its probably full of asbestos. Be great to get it back into use, but as what? Prime retail location but the town has enough retail. An odd shape for apartments and would cost a fortune. A food hall was suggested in other threads, but its not ridiculously sized inside so wouldn't have that many units.
You can see the state the old parts were in in this gallery, and this was before it closed.
www.gazettelive.co.uk
You can see the state the old parts were in in this gallery, and this was before it closed.
Inside abandoned 80s ABC cinema following decades of dereliction
The former cinema and bingo hall later became the Crown pub, which has finally been bought by the council, eight years after closing its doors for good
www.gazettelive.co.uk
'No plan, overpriced and unsafe'
A quote from the above Gazette article
Mr Preston said ..."It's critical that the public sector controls land and buildings. Otherwise private sector chancers will hold you to ransom and block new jobs and investment."
A quote from the above Gazette article
Mr Preston said ..."It's critical that the public sector controls land and buildings. Otherwise private sector chancers will hold you to ransom and block new jobs and investment."
Right footed Left winger
Active member
It could be a great location for a Newcastle stack/ York spark type of food Hall.
Not necessarily putting containers inside, but have vendors over various floors could work.
It's close to the uni students, close to town area and near for when the pip Market happens.
Not necessarily putting containers inside, but have vendors over various floors could work.
It's close to the uni students, close to town area and near for when the pip Market happens.
The_Lizards_Jumpers
Well-known member
Or a Leeds Corn Exchange type building with independent shops and places to eat and drink.
Sadly there's probably not the disposable income across Teesside to support something like that, not to mention the lack of cash from the council to do it up in the first place (especially after Preston's regime).
Juninhoburger
Well-known member
I know it's not economically viable, but I'd love to see it turned back into a cinema.It must be wild inside the crown. As said earlier in the thread, even when it was open a lot of the old building was untouched. It closed in 2015, so its been derelict for 9 years. I would absolutely expect structural issues, water ingress, chock full of pigeon crap and holes in the roof and it's that old its probably full of asbestos. Be great to get it back into use, but as what? Prime retail location but the town has enough retail. An odd shape for apartments and would cost a fortune. A food hall was suggested in other threads, but its not ridiculously sized inside so wouldn't have that many units.
You can see the state the old parts were in in this gallery, and this was before it closed.
Inside abandoned 80s ABC cinema following decades of dereliction
The former cinema and bingo hall later became the Crown pub, which has finally been bought by the council, eight years after closing its doors for good
Colgates_shaving_foam
Well-known member
I think the disposable income is there. It is just seems to be mostly spent at Teesside Park which is always packed when I go.
How do you attract those people to Boro? I am not sure but it will take some prime destination type place to pull people in and then can build from there.
JustTheGent
Well-known member
Preston's former business partner was/is based in Hong Kong, so it's quite interesting that a Hong Kong company has been involved in The Crown deal as well. The failed office block with the proposed helipad also had links to east Asia.
Not sure why the Crown actually closed. Back in the day it was a pub that was pretty much busy every single night. It was probably due a refurb and some maintenance and it was going to cost too much.
Moving forward, The Crown could be any number of things. City centres are having to be reimagined but people will turn up and spend money if the right things are in place. Teesside Park is one of the most successful retail parks in the country so you've obviously got that demographic in place with money to spend. The Globe has shown that as well, it's obviously bringing lots of people back into Stockton centre.
Not sure why the Crown actually closed. Back in the day it was a pub that was pretty much busy every single night. It was probably due a refurb and some maintenance and it was going to cost too much.
Moving forward, The Crown could be any number of things. City centres are having to be reimagined but people will turn up and spend money if the right things are in place. Teesside Park is one of the most successful retail parks in the country so you've obviously got that demographic in place with money to spend. The Globe has shown that as well, it's obviously bringing lots of people back into Stockton centre.
ThePrisoner
Well-known member
Top trolling form a sociopath!
ThatFragranceGuy
Well-known member
It was never busy every single night, it had a medium crowd on thursdays, it was often quiet on other nights. Monday was decent for a while under joel young. It was open day times and completely dead and most nights wasn't that busy, other then events like Boxing Day.
Which is why it closed
Juninhoburger
Well-known member
Living literally a stone's throw away from it at one point, I absolutely loved going in during the day for a quiet pint or three.
Thursday nights were ace, though. You could guarantee seeing the same groups of people the next night at Sumo, too
ThatFragranceGuy
Well-known member
Yeah I always liked it, but the rates must have been huge plus heating etc so can see why it closed. A building that size probably needs to be busy regularly to pay for itself.
Mad that boro used to have so many student pubs, I think at one point there was 3 scream pubs alone with camels hump, Southfield and the crown, not sure if there was a 4th at one point, but it was a decent scene. Now it's hard to find a pub with some people in it when it's not Friday or Saturday night
how many clubs have gone too? Hardly any choice now, when I was in my teens and early 20d it was hard to decide where to go, and you had decently busy nights out most week nightsMonday was the one for me, there was a time when it was rammed every week. Up to an hour long queue sometimes to get in if you got there too late
Thursday sumo / 69 at cornerhouse, Friday walkabout for the live band, Saturday empire.
Creeps downstairs at the old purple onion.
Good times
Thursday sumo / 69 at cornerhouse, Friday walkabout for the live band, Saturday empire.
Creeps downstairs at the old purple onion.
Good times
Johngannonsunderpants
Well-known member
Yeah I would, some sort of community hub, art cinema, food outlets. The Leeds city indoor market has done a good job with street food vendors and a stage in the middle / side with performers and school stuff on. It's not as polished as the corn exchange so would probably be cheaper to do. Some very good grub on offer.
Kirkgate market is awesome, no thrills or owt but the choice of food on offer is off the scale
SilentProf
Well-known member
For it to be successful as a food hall, you would need to give people a reason to be in the area. Otherwise it will just be competing for customers with all of the other food outlets.
It’s perfect for a sports bar and performance venue if it can be brought up to a decent standard. Sadly I think it will be demolished if government funding isn’t provided to make it safe.
It’s perfect for a sports bar and performance venue if it can be brought up to a decent standard. Sadly I think it will be demolished if government funding isn’t provided to make it safe.
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JustTheGent
Well-known member
A food hall or something else with a bit of creativity should be easily achievable. If you've got them in Leeds you'd think they'd be okay in Middlesbrough.
With regards to the Crown pub, still stand by it was a pretty busy place. You'd often get a lot of people in on a weekend and a weekday night. It was very popular with students and non-students. The reason it closed will be probably to do with a change in direction from the company that ran it and a change in market conditions - obviously both are linked.
With regards to the Crown pub, still stand by it was a pretty busy place. You'd often get a lot of people in on a weekend and a weekday night. It was very popular with students and non-students. The reason it closed will be probably to do with a change in direction from the company that ran it and a change in market conditions - obviously both are linked.
Corcaigh_the_Cat
Well-known member
Darlo are doing similar with their indoor market.
They still have a House of Fraser too, the best shopping centre in the area.