Another takeaway!

[Jamesie]

Looks like Pizza Hut are going ahead with their plans for what I presume is the old Clydesdale Bank? I remember a few years back they were after the shop just next door to these premises when it was an indian restaurant.

Constraints Portobello Conservation Area
Listed Category: CS
Application Number 03/04055/FUL
Proposed Development and Address Alterations to form hot food take-away (pizza) sui generis
at
195 Portobello High Street
Edinburgh
EH15 1EU
Applicant’s Name and Address Pizza Hut (uk) Ltd.
1 Imperial Place,
Elstree Way
Borehamwood
Hearts
WD6 1JN
Agent’s name and Address Mr McReath
Chartered Architect
4-6 Coltbridge Avenue
Edinburgh
EH12 6AH
Expected Method of Decision Delegated
Date Registered 4th November 2003
Case Officer and Phone No.
Email Address Michael Paton - 0131 529 3902 (FAX 529 3706)
michael.paton@edinburgh.gov.uk

[Guest]

I believe this application has already been turned down once on ventilation grounds but I'm sure John will be able to confirm this. According to PAS we already have 26 hot food outlets. Over-provision is not grounds for refusal but it certainly SHOULD be a major consideration.

I'm totally against this application. Chain store purveyors of junk food will not add value to the High Street and will in all likelihood put similar, already established traders out of business. And of course we could all look forward to another garish plastic fascia sign that PAS will ritually object to and Planning Enforcement will be powerless to prevent.

[Andrew Erskine]

Food, we all love it, we all need it but why was takeaways being the main subject?

ANY local Portobello resident, whether have stayed for 1 week or over a few years, would undoubtedly see that Portobello is absolutely FULL of food outlets, whether its the local Scotmid(Co-op) or the local bakers/Gregs and most of all, "fast hot food" outlets such as the BBQ, restaurants and take-aways. Even if BLIND, walking from Seafield all the way to Joppa, you can smell that Portobello is overcome by such "excessive" food outlets.

The main problem is WHEN will the local government know when to stop giving out licenses to new chains/entrepreneurs?

I was told, over 10 years ago, there were no more than 5 night-time license holders, and now, more than five times the amount.

ANY common person can see that the more license holders = the more competition between each and every other competitor. Portobello is not exactly a large town nor a highly upper class area yet we are bombarded with such food choices.

I would not be surprised f a takeaway is suddenly closed in the next 6 months due to poor business and stiff competition. I personally feel that the granting of the license of the restaurant in Bath Street is a change, and to some, a "delight", from the only chinese restaurant in Portobello (Chi Wai was the only one before Dragon Way) yet why could it not be Italian? Or someting "new" and "refreshing". I have tasted BOTH restaurants and feel that they are both of very high quality yet was it a good idea to open up in Portobello?

The more licenses the local government grants, the more chance that the takeaways will have to struggle and more pollution as a whole to the small community of Portobello.

For example, if I went to Chi Wai, and have always done so as they food is great, and find out they close down due to so much competition, I feel the local government is partly to blame, thus making me try other places.

Yes, we are given the choice of eating wherever we are, but to what length of time? Will my local takeaway still be there 2 years later? Was I given any choice in the end afterall?

All I can say is, Portobello has MORE than enough hot food outlets and if any more are opened, then I feel the local government is caring MORE about the money they make from letting new comers open a business, than the actual local residents themselves, which saddens us all.

108 has always been my favorite, and will continue to be so for a long time to come.

If you really want to go out for food, go up the town to Princess St. or Lothian Road since you are expecting to have a nice night out, why not go ALL out

Andy.

[scossie5]

Anything further on this - or tips on how to find out? I just can't believe that anyone would think Pizza Hut would be a complementary addition to what's available in Porty. What a waste of a building!

BTW - thanks for the draft letter re the superstore - it helps even 'willing but indolent' types like me to get the point across.

[Guest]

Well spotted, definitely a bit of food snobbery going on here. Guilty as charged. I think REAL pizza is a fine food, but I regard supermarket and Pizza Hut-style versions as a pale imitation. As you might expect, I don't have anything good to say about McDonalds, Burger King etc either. Moreover, I hate the way that children are patronised in restaurants with 'kiddy menus'. Turkey dinosaurs anyone? Food in this country is generally appalling unless you are prepared to pay huge sums of money in a pretentious establishment. I know there are exceptions but they are few and far between.

There is a school of thought that your community has 'made it' when Starbucks moves in. In that case, I hope we never make it. I resent the americanisation of our culture and anyone who is prepared to spend that amount of money on a very ordinary coffee has more money than sense.

I don't want chain stores on our High Street. I want individuality and imagination.

[Guest]

OK Marya, you got me there. But you have to draw the line somewhere. I'm not about to firebomb Pizza Hut (my wife wouldn't let me) but when you take a look at the levels of obesity in our children I think most people accept it is closely linked to the junk food diet we feed them. And yes, I know they probably have a salad bar, but does anyone use it?

As much as you can stuff in your gob without being sick for £4:99. Great, just what we need!

[Guest]

This application is for a takeaway service only, rather than a sit-in restaurant. It appears from the sub-committee report that the applicant has now satisfied Planning that the ventilation problem has been overcome and it looks likely that the application will now be granted, a great pity since Pizza Hut will add nothing to Portobello High Street, other than litter.

http://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov.uk/ ... /04055/FUL

It's not too late to email Maureen and Lawrence re your concerns, if you're quick.

[Epykat]

How much pizza can one community eat? I suppose we have the dubious honour of being able to eat from our never ending takeaways whilst getting our hair done at the never ending supply of hairdressers. We seem to be running out of places to top up our tan though (damn!).

[scossie5]

So it is going to be a takeaway. I have to say that where I work - Newington - and where I used to live - Leith - the only Pizza Huts were takeaways so my impression was that this was more common. And poor old Porty cops the takeaway option.

[bouncie_kiwi]

it is all part of the masterplan to make the nation obese. even your starbucks are at it - the looks from the staff in that place when i ordered a black coffee the other day ( "you mean NO cream?? and NO milk?? or NO sugar??" (erm, no thank you) "JUST BLACK???" (yes please) *insert bewildered disgused look from staff member here*- you would have thought i had asked for raw jellied veal!!!!!

[Black Mamba]

My son works in Starbucks and it obviously wasn't him who served you. He would have givenyou a medal. He hates all the fancy stupid drinks and is a filter coffee person himself (he drinks his coffee black too).

[Pal of Porty]

I have ordered black coffee no sugar every single time I have been in Starbucks and the staff always appear like it's no big issue.

Now as for strange looks everywhere else I go....................