St Giles Shopping Centre — Local services in Great Britain

Most shops are shut at the moment, I recommend WH Smith and Argos as they have the consistency of remaining open whilst other shops come and go. Waterstones does the same but their books whilst identical, are more in price. There is a back to school sale on although school is well underway, so is college and university... The buses are running on fumes. Barely. You miss a bus you may have to wait 2 hours for the next, or you arrive at your stop in the morning, oh its 15-25 minutes late. The giles center kicks you out when it shuts at roughly half 5 so when your bus doesn't show and you're waiting on the next one, you're now waiting outside where no one abides by the old no smoking signs and lights one up right beside you on the bench. The seagulls are roaming wild feasting on the bins that are being evidently repaired each week and attacking civilians, the buses are either in good condition or the worst and are either fast and take you to you your destination early...

Last time we were in the St Giles several years ago it was a bustling hub of activity. This time the centre seemed half empty of retailers, probably a result of the virus and the change in the way people are buying these days. The future looks like centres of this type will need to woo small businesses and start ups to succeed and, of course, eateries. They may well be there but not working due to virus restrictions. However, the centre is well positioned on the main shopping street so parking and using it as a kind of base for shopping trips makes sense. There is a shop mobility handy and the premises within the centre are all accessible. I think once the vaccine takes effect and everything gets to reopen it is well placed to become the central hub of activity...

It is useful having several stores under one roof and it does have access directly onto the precinct which is fine. But at a time when so many shops are suffering due to the failed market economy policies forcing prices up to keep profits high for shareholders, having large retail spaces is no longer viable. Places like this would be far better if they concentrated on small spaces allowing startups and independent traders the chance to get established, and it would probably increase the overall footfall due to the wide variety of innovative businesses and ideas. That is as long as rental is kept to a realistic level. I think that would make this the centre of Engins business...