What types of business would you like to see start at Bitterne Park Triangle? That was what we asked in our recent survey. And you kindly told us. So here are the five most popular – and plenty more ideas besides...

We asked a barrage of questions in our recent reader survey, and lots of you kindly responded. Nestled in amongst them we asked what new business you'd ideally like to see start trading at the Triangle

We didn't ask for a business plan, nor signed proof you'd actually use what you asked for – and we deftly ignored the fact that, by our count, there's only one empty shop at the moment anyway!

So, with the emphasis very much on 'ideally', and with some poetic licence applied to our data collation methods, here, in reverse order, are your top five choices – plus plenty more suggestions for would-be Triangle entrepreneurs to boot.

5. Fishmonger / delicatessen

No, not necessarily a combined operation, but in joint fifth place, you asked for a fishmonger and delicatessen – and one person specified a “high quality delicatessen” too.

The last, ahem, plaice for fresh fish at the Triangle was a joint effort between Manor Farm fruit and veg, which stopped trading as such in March 2014 and Garson's butchers, which ceased trading at the Triangle a little before then. Il Picchio ran a small deli counter in its early days, but latterly the display has been more about cakes.

4. Chemist / pharmacist

In fourth place you said you'd like to see the return of a chemist. We have an Old Chemist, – and a lovely shop front it is too – but it's actually run by a church, and while it's big on community activities it isn't the place to go when you run out of Lemsip Max All In One Capsules. In fact prescriptions were last dispensed there in 2007. Nowadays your local pharmacy is either on Thorold Road at the health centre, or Boots at Witts Hill.

3. Post office

In third place was a call for the return of a post office to the Triangle – even though one person added they thought their suggestion was in fact “impossible”. The Triangle post office closed in 2005, reducing footfall to other businesses as it went. If you want to weigh a parcel these days it's off to Witts Hill, Bitterne, Portswood or town with you, meaning more time, and often more car journeys.

2. Fruit and veg / greengrocer / return of the Veg Shed

Pic: Sarah Brightwell

Almost making it to the top spot, at number two you wanted to see a greengrocer, or the return of the Veg Shed. And the good news is that, since our survey in October, the Veg Shed is indeed back at the Triangle most Saturday mornings 9am-2pm, now run by Robin Bluemel and team. 

1. Butcher

But in first place was a wish to see a butcher return to the Triangle. Garson's opened sporadically towards the latter part of 2014 and has been closed altogether since around last Christmas. So far no one's stepped in to take up the, er, cleaver, and the shop's future is unknown.

Other ideas

Those were, perhaps predictably, the most popular ideas for Triangle businesses, but you put forward many other suggestions for potential ventures, including: a desire to see a “branded” coffee shop; a “citizen's shop” to sell or barter local produce and creative work; a bigger pub, bistro or wine bar; another micro pub; a bookshop; a music (record/CD) shop; a computer repair shop; a card, stationery and printers; a Thai restaurant; a curtain shop; another charity shop; a summer café with river view; an indoor playground; an arts centre and various others.

Thanks for giving us these and other suggestions, if you did.

Who knows, maybe someone with a magic wand will make some of them happen.

It is, after all, nearly Christmas.

Previously
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