Topic ID 1146
Have heard that John of Claydons wet fish shop (corr spelling ???) has been told to quit in next few weeks as his lease has run out. The owners want to keep it the same but more "upmarket" - strewth !
Reply ID 13166
More upmarket? It's a fishmongers!
Reply ID 13167
the words i heard were "champagne and caviar" mmmmmm
Reply ID 13168
Yep, yummy, but will there be a queue out onto the street for it?? Aren't there enough unsuccessful businesses going bust without sacking an obviously successful one? It is a fantastic shop and I will be very sad to see it go.... (as will my cat!) [:p]
Reply ID 13173
Before we get too excited where did this information come from? John are you aware of anything? I'm sure it's not April Fools Day so is there anything in it. The whole point of the town is surely to keep people like John and his great staff, shop, etc. here. The loss to the town I think would be the loss to the owners even more. If it is true then a boycott by anyone that cares about the town I feel would be in order.
Reply ID 13180
I hope this rumour is not true !!! to loose such a classic shop would be a crime...
Reply ID 13185
It would be a good idea to ask John direct and find out whether or not this is true, and to take some action if it is for example starting a petition to send to the leaseholder. There will be a lot of angry people in Hertford and Ware if he is forced to close down, that is possibly one of the most popular shops in Hertford!!
Reply ID 13192
I've spoken to John on several occasssions this past few dsys and he hasn't mentioned anything about closing. However, will have a word wiht him tomorrow but must respect his wishes if he decides not to say anything.
Reply ID 13212
I agree, maybe he doesn't want to continue, but it would be nice to know.
Reply ID 13295
Forgive my ignorance, but is this the fishmongers in the market place? Opposite the eggman
Reply ID 13297
He's only opposite the eggman on Saturdays. The rest of the time he's opposite Cafe Nero.
Reply ID 13299
It would seem the forum knew about this possibility before John did! If i got it right the owners daughter wants to change it in to an upmarket shop selling lobsters etc, I think we will have to wait and see and hope it stays with John and as it is. My parents have been buying fish there every friday for over 50 years!
Reply ID 13302
Would be nothing short of a disaster if it closed. The only proper "old" shop in Hertford
Reply ID 13303
quote:Amy?
Originally posted by Marilyn
If i got it right the owners daughter wants to change it in to an upmarket shop selling lobsters etc
Reply ID 13304
It's a crying shame and I was rather stunned to hear the news, particularly as I had just bought some bits there a few hours earlier.[:(] If John doesn't want to carry on and the owner's daughter wants to take it over, she would have a ready made market with a superb customer base if she bought the company from John. Just because Hertford can support a superb fish shop doesn't mean that it can support a lobster / champagne & caviar / oyster bar etc. The connection between produce is logical, but is the reasoning sound and is the marketplace ready for this? [:)] It may as well be a sushi bar - which I would love - but as I seem to recall someone saying on a dim and distant thread which also applies to lobster (etc): Is Hertford ready for it? Hertford isn't London - and for that I am most grateful.[:)]
Reply ID 13305
Now that this appears to be out in the open now may I say how sad it is to see Claydon's go. I respected his wishes for it not to become common knowledge but the Mercury have also been ringing me for comment. I said the same as in my first sentence. Part of Hertford goes with him. I hope the name continues and the quality and service but as F&F say it doesn't automatically guarantee success.
Reply ID 13310
What is more is that it withstood the competition from the supermarkets. Is John happy to part with the business? And why not move to another location in the town?
Reply ID 13314
John's been suffering from a bad leg for some time and has obviously decided that enough's enough. He did say that he hoped to run a stall two or three days a week. So he might not be completely lost to Hertford. But the suggestion he was forced out is unfounded
Reply ID 13315
So what about the rest of the team that work with him? Is there no one who will take up the reins?
Reply ID 13318
quote:It really is a great shame. Hopefully someone will take the 'reins' Good Luck to John [:)]
Originally posted by Ewoowar
So what about the rest of the team that work with him? Is there no one who will take up the reins?
Reply ID 13321
I really can't see Hertford supporting a Lobster, Caviar & Oyster bar. There is the obvious seafood connection to the current business, but there is also a vast gap in pricing, which is probably why the wet fish shop is so successful. I'm sure if people wanted Oysters, Lobsters etc, they would have voiced that to John and he would have been selling them already.
Reply ID 13329
I can't see the business sense in converting one of the town centre's busiest shops into something else (especially as you can already buy lobster, caviar, oysters and champagne at Waitrose, ahould you so wish.)