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Betting shop plan for Sunderland station retail unit

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Royston Vasey

Royston Vasey

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I must say this is something I've never seen before. Filling the units is a must as the empty concourse attracts all sorts of characters, but is this really the best they can do?

There is a lot of criticism locally, including the local MP, and word that the units are empty because tenants have been put off by punitive rental terms set by either Northern/Network Rail.

www.bbc.co.uk

Betting shop plan for long-vacant Sunderland rail station unit

The site in Sunderland has been empty since the redeveloped station opened in 2023.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
A long-vacant retail unit in a city's multimillion-pound railway station could become a betting shop.

Gambling company BoyleSports wants to open a branch in Sunderland train station's main business unit, which faces Market Square.

The site has been empty since the redeveloped southern concourse opened in December 2023.

BoyleSports said the shop could help boost footfall and spending.

If the betting office gets the go-ahead, it will employ three full-time and three part-time staff...
Click to expand...

I can't think of any other station, anywhere, ever, big or small, that has filled a retail unit with a betting shop, at least in modern times. Has any station ever housed one?
 
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JJmoogle

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London Victoria, Liverpool St and Paddington all have them, There's one out the front of Euston too.

Probably more but I don't really look for then
 
Dr Hoo

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Paisley Gilmour Street’s main frontage always used to be dominated by a betting shop making the station entrance almost invisible. Admittedly not actually inside the fairly tiny ‘concourse’.
 
185143

185143

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As much as I'm not keen on the idea, surely a betting shop looking for a site in Sunderland would just take up another no doubt vacant premises if refused?

Let them have it, it'll create new jobs in a town that needs employment.
 
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6Gman

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Vinnym said:
Think Chester has one.
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Certainly has had one; not sure if it's still there. If I remember correctly you had to walk past it to get to the booking office which seemed a rather strange arrangement.

Mind you, the whole layout of Chester station is a strange arrangement.
 
Royston Vasey

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JJmoogle said:
London Victoria, Liverpool St and Paddington all have them, There's one out the front of Euston too.

Probably more but I don't really look for then
Click to expand...
As one of the concessions in the station itself? I've used all three recently and can't say I've ever seen one, and a Google Maps search also suggests there are bookies outside or opposite, but not nestled among the Upper Crust, M&S Food and WHSmith!
 
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oscarthecat92

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Quite a few stations has a bookies, Leeds for example has a William Hill next to the Wetherspoons!
 
Royston Vasey

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Vinnym said:
Think Chester has one.
Click to expand...
chester-north-west-england-railway-station-concourse-PYTYCY.jpg


You are quite right, I didn't notice it on my recent visit. In the well heeled Roman city of Deva no less! Perhaps sited for passing trade from racegoers.


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oscarthecat92 said:
Quite a few stations has a bookies, Leeds for example has a William Hill next to the Wetherspoons!
Click to expand...
Fair enough - it would be the only station where the only station outlet was a bookies though, I am quite sure :lol:
 
185143

185143

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Royston Vasey said:
chester-north-west-england-railway-station-concourse-PYTYCY.jpg


You are quite right, I didn't notice it on my recent visit. In the well heeled Roman city of Deva no less! Perhaps sited for passing trade from racegoers.


== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==


Fair enough - it would be the only station where the only station outlet was a bookies though, I am quite sure :lol:
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What are the odds of that eh?
 
AlterEgo

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Will they take bets on train delays?
 
J-2739

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Minnietheminx said:
It's not in the railway station, but as the interchange it attached, does William Hill in Barnsley interchange count?
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I was just about to say that. Although didn't it used to be some kind of travel centre?
 
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johntea

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Leeds station used to have a gambling venue in the space where Boots is situated now (and of course still has the William Hill next to the Wetherspoons)

Similarly Manchester Piccadilly had a gambling venue in one of the retail units inside the station but it is now a clothing retailer or similar from memory
 
Starmill

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johntea said:
Leeds station used to have a gambling venue in the space where Boots is situated now (and of course still has the William Hill next to the Wetherspoons)

Similarly Manchester Piccadilly had a gambling venue in one of the retail units inside the station but it is now a clothing retailer or similar from memory
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There used to be one downstairs on London Road.

You can actually still see it if you open Streetview here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nnEDSdUxiB59C5iZ8

185143 said:
As much as I'm not keen on the idea, surely a betting shop looking for a site in Sunderland would just take up another no doubt vacant premises if refused?

Let them have it, it'll create new jobs in a town that needs employment.
Click to expand...
The station has been open since 8 December 2023. The units have all sat unoccupied for several years, albeit a coffee stall did open in one area. It seems clear that nobody else wants to rent them if they are still not on lease after two and a half years unfortunately. A number of units at other Northern stations have been refurbished and re-let in that time. Leyland has a new café and that is relatively a quiet station. Manchester Victoria has had a couple of new openings.
 
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Royston Vasey said:
chester-north-west-england-railway-station-concourse-PYTYCY.jpg


You are quite right, I didn't notice it on my recent visit. In the well heeled Roman city of Deva no less! Perhaps sited for passing trade from racegoers.


== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==


Fair enough - it would be the only station where the only station outlet was a bookies though, I am quite sure :lol:
Click to expand...

The one at Chester closed a few years ago, possibly it just didn’t re-open after Covid? Or it might have carried on a bit longer, but it’s definitely been gone for a few years.

That part of the station has been remodelled and the ticket office moved nearer the barriers, as of a few weeks ago.
 
dk1

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Thought it was quite common. I’ve used several bookies on railway stations over the years. I still don’t allow myself to gamble online so it’s all ok with me and if it fills a vacant unit then that’s good.
 
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camflyer

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dk1 said:
Thought it was quite common. I’ve used several bookies on railway stations over the years. I still don’t allow myself to gamble online so it’s all ok with me and if it fills a vacant unit then that’s good.
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I only ever (very rarely) gamble online and never in a betting shop. Don't think I've ever been inside one so it's not something I ever look for, or notice, at a railway station.

Not the best use of a retail space but I suppose it's better than it being empty.
 
Starmill

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Elecman said:
That’s not the old bookies at Piccadilly, that used to be located at the corner of Store Street and LondonRoad. It’s all shuttered up now. And has been for years
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No, it's just an old bookies that's also at Piccadilly. In fact, if you zoom in, you can see that it still says so.
 
Steddenm

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Isn't the unit they're talking about OUTSIDE of the main concourse on the street, like Sainsbury's is at Euston?

I'm sure it was a Burger King at one point pre-rebuild.
 
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