On 23 Jan 2007 at 8:14pm Uncle Sam wrote:
Doe anyone know if Lewes Videos is still open for business? I tried calling the shop number and it doesn't work anymore!
On 23 Jan 2007 at 8:16pm parking lord wrote:
no it's shut down
On 23 Jan 2007 at 8:18pm Uncle Sam wrote:
Really when did that happen?
On 23 Jan 2007 at 8:18pm Uncle Sam wrote:
Really, when did that happen?
On 23 Jan 2007 at 9:15pm The Reverend wrote:
Been closed for ages mate. No idea what it's gonna be. Hopefully won't be converted into private accommodation.
On 23 Jan 2007 at 9:26pm Uncle Sam wrote:
Ta. Thanks for the update.
On 24 Jan 2007 at 8:40am THe Tooth Fairy wrote:
I believe that's what it's going to be Rev. Stuarts landlord didn't renew his lease and sold the shop from under him. Another example of one more commercial property lost for ever.
On 24 Jan 2007 at 10:15am ExiledfromLewes wrote:
I was sad to see it go, when I came back to Lewes. There was a time when it was the towns only video rental before the video box opened. Stu was a really top bloke as well and new pretty much all his customers (so it was OK not to bring your card all the time, as he had an almost encyclopedic memory). Sad it closed for the reasons TF suggests.
On 24 Jan 2007 at 4:52pm The Reverend wrote:
Bloody sad. Stu is a top bloke. I really feel for the bloke and hope that he hasn't been too badly effected, though I expect he probably has.
I remember when there used to be a video shop nr the Pewter Pot as well (used to frequent it when I lived in Leicester Rd. Not for the top shelf stuff!). I believe that too is now private accommodation. What is that shop doing to Stu's old shop. Remember is used to be the sweet store. It's been looking like a wreck for ages now.
On 24 Jan 2007 at 7:01pm The Tooth Fairy wrote:
You must be as old as me Rev? Top Title was the Western Road video shop you're on about. Had a Betamax section I seem to remember.
On 24 Jan 2007 at 9:46pm ExiledfromLewes wrote:
Top Title was my first video rental place too in Lewes, service wasn't great if my memory serves me right. Thats why my family switched to Stu, where he has always been v friendly. Prices were good there too, with a free second rental with a new title. Much better than Blockbusters which drains my money, with its various offers. Sadly Video rental is not a profitable business as it once was. He used to say DVDs were a problem as they damaged easily (and now they have dropped in price to buy), I think the new library is also an issue cos they can cost cut their competitors. All we need is to find some rich person and maybe it can be reopened in the future as the Nuovo Video Rental Paradiso.
On 24 Jan 2007 at 10:12pm expat two wrote:
The Amazon service knocks spots off any video store. I can't see even Blockbusters competing against that for long, let alone Lewes Videos.
I rather think a rich person prepared to foot a loss making business would have higher priorities than a charity video library. Buying Lewes Arms and selling Harveys springs to mind.
On 25 Jan 2007 at 11:36am ExiledfromLewes wrote:
Lewes Arms selling Harveys again of course would go above re opening any video store. Blockbusters have an internet rental service now as does other companies that have moved in that area like Tescos. Blockbusters never made its money from rentals alone anyway (being the largest seller of popcorn in the country), more from the special offers and confectionary. Blockbusters is an extremly ruthless company who had a monopoly of the market by buying out competitors like Ritz and any other store there might be, if the current trend continues then they will diversify elsewhere.
On 25 Jan 2007 at 9:58pm The Reverend wrote:
Oi I'm not that old! I just have a good memory:-D Though I remember the Betamax section too. I was quite fond of Top Title (the bloke with the long blonde mullet and the guy with all the ear piercings, ahh fondness of youth), it was where I first sampled the delights of microwave popcorn!
The internet will kill the high street. Shame.
On 28 Jan 2007 at 10:34am Coops wrote:
Does anyone remember the video rental store at the South Street end of The Cliffe? Not sure of the name but was it called Village Video?
They opened right at the start of the video rental age but only seemed to have endless copies of On Golden Pond, Smokey And The Bandit and compilation tapes of cartoons for the kids that someone had taped off the tv!
On 28 Jan 2007 at 12:49pm ExiledfromLewes wrote:
Not sure must be at the start of the video rental age before the video censorship act was brought in. I remember in the 80's when most cornershops rented out videos without the BBFC ratings. Also of the back of my memory Leicester road stores rented videos briefly in the 90's.
On 3 Feb 2007 at 12:02am Radio Man wrote:
Coops I have a feeling that video rental shop was called county video services! Sorry not that old but remember passing that shop as a kid.
On 3 Feb 2007 at 8:51am coops wrote:
Thanks Radio Man! That rings a bell. I think youre right! I was just a kid then too and just about remember Liptons, Rice Bros and the old toy shop opposite Woolies down in the Cliffe.
My brother and I used to go to the mini mart above the pet shop to buy cheap and nasty watches and DuranDuran badges about that time too!