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New Chinese. - Steve read (6th Sep 2008 - 21:24:03) Oh goody another chinese in Midhurst Rd, just what we needed another food outlet in the village. Excellent we were running out of choices were we not. Obviously having a competition with Bordon and Whitehill to see who can cram in the most. I think all we are missing now is a Mongolian to get a full house. Mind you with all the rumours about Country Stores maybe it will turn into a Macky D. Come on down into Liphook, the take away capital of Hampshire!

Re: New Chinese. - Sue W (7th Sep 2008 - 19:44:26) Just in case you have not heard .... the ex Carpetbaggers shop has requested change of use - to a Restaurant (Italian) - something different for the taste buds!

Re: New Chinese. - Eneida (7th Sep 2008 - 22:57:54) Oooooh Italian!!! ....now that's great news :) Eneida

Re: New Chinese. - Chris (8th Sep 2008 - 08:42:39) Great, so that's two Chinese food outlets within two doors of each other. So we have: 1. A retirement village at Bramshot Place that we didn't want 2. Planning permission for yet another old people's home at the OSU that we didn't want 3. ANOTHER Chinese restaurant/takeaway that probably nobody knew about until now (and most likely didn't want) situated two doors from another Chinese takeaway. So we now have THREE Chinese food outlets! Just who is approving all this; it can't be anybody who resides in Liphook? Was the Bramshot and Liphook PC questionaire that we received some months back just an exercise to stop us all watching television for half an hour?

Re: New Chinese. - Sue W (8th Sep 2008 - 09:50:07) I believe that the new Chinese is to be a resturant, this is something the others are not. I do agree with the fact that Liphook is too full of fast food outlets - but that probably reflects the area. At least in Bordon, they have an army camp who traditionally rush out for this kind of food after any foreign tours, and most are single and cooking is not in their remit!

Re: New Chinese. - katy (8th Sep 2008 - 16:29:41) Hi I for one am looking forward to a Chinese RESTAURANT not takeaway. I much prefer eating in a restaurant than a takeaway. Better than an empty shop too. Regards Katy

Re: New Chinese. - Mike Grimes (8th Sep 2008 - 18:10:14) Couldn't agree more Katy, bring it on. Chinese restaurants that survive often sell better quality food than many take-aways and it is much nicer than out of a container. Maybe one or other of the existing take-aways will decide the competition is to much, that's competition working. I'm looking forward to the new Italian though, that should breathe more life into Station Road. A little research suggests that this will be a sister restaurant to O Sole Mio in Cowplain. Has anyone any experience of this establishment and give a pointer as to what we might expect. A decent pizza, I hope. Just one more point, councils can only permit or refuse consent for change of use as a restaurant. Except in certain circumstances, they cannot dictate the nationality of the food subsequently served. So they did not specifically permit "another Chinese".

Re: New Chinese. - Stephen (8th Sep 2008 - 18:24:42) That's all a bit churlish. I LIKE chinese food. Hopefully the people of Liphook will support it. Empty Shops are the thing Liphook has too many of, not food outlets. And welcome to the new proprietors, whoever they are.

Re: New Chinese. - Rhys G (8th Sep 2008 - 18:58:25) Chris, It is hard to stop developments when there is no requirement to change the use class order of the premises. As, what was Bibi Annas, was already licensed for food and drink (A3) theres not much anyone can do to prevent it. Although having said that, from 2005 a use class order (A5) came around which seperates takeaways from standard food and drink outlets, so maybe they have applied for change of use!

Re: New Chinese. - Eneida (8th Sep 2008 - 19:12:24) According to my hairdresser the new Chinese restaurant in the Midhurst Road is owned by the same people who own the takeaway...and he should know since he's now surrounded :D Eneida

Re: New Chinese. - G Renouf (8th Sep 2008 - 21:16:20) ni hao I am looking forward to the steamed pork dumplings and the wonton soup......... Does anybody know when they will be open. If you dont like the shops in the village maybe you should open your own shop and see what it takes ? zaijian

Re: New Chinese. - Steve Read (10th Sep 2008 - 23:42:10) I think they are showing on the board outside that they will do take away as well. Correct me if I'am wrong but were the previous owners falling foul of the residents above about noise and smells etc. If so it will be interesting to see how this one gets on. I myself like chinese food, no problem with that, my point being do we need another outlet. Yes I will agree its better to have the shop filled than empty, but if that was the case you could have fitted in another estate agent, although thankfully they are getting a well deserved pounding at the moment. Is something better than nothing, not always. There was a thread on here last year about the wish list for new shops in the village, many suggestions were put forward and I just feel rather than another food hole the building could have been put to better use. As for the poster who advises those of us who don't like the shops, to open our own to see what its like, thankyou for that advice but some of us already run businesses of our own in these difficult times.

Re: New Chinese. - Karen Feeney (11th Sep 2008 - 13:55:16) Steve That was my first thought aswell, they closed down the lovely Bibi Anna's because of the alleged smell and noise. So how does a Chinese restaurant smell less than a lovely bistro/coffee shop? Confused. Karen

Re: New Chinese. - Katy (11th Sep 2008 - 16:09:16) HI I thought Bibi-Ana's went into liquidation but apologies if I am wrong. I think they had to install a new extractor fan and sound proofing to try and stop any nuisance to the tenant above. Whilst I have much sympathy for any noise nuisance I am afraid that if you live in a flat above a shop you have to expect some disturbance, as you do in all flats. I guess it's about reaching a happy compromise for all concerned. Katy

Re: New Chinese. - Vicki (11th Sep 2008 - 23:23:57) Personally I think we need to bring other types of retailer into the village. What about a decent book shop? That would have been a great site and less disturbance to tennants around!

Re: New Chinese. - Paul Robinson (12th Sep 2008 - 19:07:09) As one who has been in the book trade all my working life I believe that, however worthy the suggestion may be for a book shop in Liphook, there are several factors which mitigate against independant bookshops and would make it very difficult to make a living. The publishers give enormous discounts to the big three supermarkets who in turn discount the restricted range of bestsellers to such an extent that the independant bookseller would be better off buying his stock from the supermarket as it would represent a better discount than he could obtain from the publisher. The major book chains such as Borders and Waterstones try to compete with the supermarkets by discounting new and back list titles in a 'three for two' permanent offer. Would you believe me if I told you that the publishers actually pay the booksellers for space for their titles on these 'three for two' tables! Whilst I believe there is no substitute for a good browse in a well run and dedicated independant bookshop, there are many who would prefer to buy their specific choice from the comfort of their own home via the internet. Enter Amazon et al. The new Andy McNab and Dick Francis novels published just this week are currently available at 55% off. One other factor worth bearing in mind. 68% of the population never goes into a bookshop in their life! Sad but true. It has often been said that in order to make a small fortune in retail bookselling you need to start with a big one. Current statistics show that despite the growth of reading groups and the number of big chain book shops that have opened in the last five years, the actual growth in book sales is little more than 5.6% Paul Robinson

Re: New Chinese. - Allan (14th Sep 2008 - 00:56:56) Paul, I know that you must be a very interesting chap, but how on earth are you able to state that 68% of the population do not go in to book shops?

Re: New Chinese. - Sue W (14th Sep 2008 - 13:02:41) Paul Its good for the public to hear the facts about running small shops. Even though you mentioned books the same purchasing power and tactics applies to many other retail outlets too, that is why we see so many high streets changing and towns and village shops under stress to compete. I could have a wish list for shops in the Area as long as my arm - but most would be just that. Perhaps that is why at every opportunity empty shops are being turned into 'instant' food places - because 'to have a shop with something in is better than nothing'. People will always find money for eating out. Supermarkets do not do quality dining - yet!!

Re: New Chinese. - Paul Robinson (15th Sep 2008 - 21:49:20) Allan, This statistic was just one I found in a fascinating study of British book buying and reading habits commissioned by the publishers Mills and Boon. In the affluent South of England it may be hard to comprehend that so few people visit a bookshop, but there are vast tracts of the population in what used to be called the Industrial Heartland of Britain where bookshops of any sort are few and far between and customers as rare as rocking horse droppings. One other fact that I gleaned from this report is that there is a substantial guilt factor when a housewife/mother drops a paperback for herself into the weekly shopping trolley. Paul Robinson

Re: New Chinese. - Mike Grimes (16th Sep 2008 - 00:34:27) No wonder there is such a decline in book reading when there are reports as fascinating as this available.

Re: New Chinese. - Vicki (16th Sep 2008 - 18:39:08) I know we are getting off the topic here...but I feel no guilt about buying books! My children both love reading and I can't bear reaching the end of a good book! Does anyone else speed up toward the end against their will!!! Or am I a bit strange! Seriously, I find it so sad that anyone would feel guilty about buying a book. There are these new fangled hand held computer things now that hold lots of books in their memories. I'm not a total technophobe, but they can't really replace proper books surely! We would all end up with eye strain! I remember being shown one in the street by a researcher about four years ago and you could hardly read the screen. There is nothing like the smell of a new book! [editor - the book related thread continues here]

Re: New Chinese. - Marco Lee (14th Oct 2008 - 23:31:37) Hi this is the owner of Lee's Garden, there has been rumors that we are related to the new chinese restaurant / takeaway, we are however NOT related to them, so im leaving this message to make things clear. Thank You.

Re: New Chinese. - Dawn Hoskins (15th Oct 2008 - 09:02:09) thank you for taking the time to clear that up. Also, thank you for your fantastic food! Dawn

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