It might be a Nottingham city centre street you simply walk past and fail to notice during the day. But shop owners have spoken of how St James' Street comes alive at night and gets 'packed'
When the pubs shut, it's off to the chip shop that opens until late at the weekend. The street, off Beastmarket Hill, is home to two barber shops, The Malt Cross, the Catacomb Tattoo shop, a much-loved chippy and of course, the Wetherspoon pub: The Roebuck and more.
Among the shops is ST News Nottingham. Inside, there’s pretty much anything you may need when on the go.
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Sales assistant Somika Gurram shared what it’s like working there. She said: “We’ve been here for about 10 months and the shop is open till around 3am-4am in the morning.
“We’re quite busy at night, especially when the bars start closing. A lot of people come in for alcohol at night but we don’t serve them if they’re drunk, weekends are the busiest.”
As well as the Roebuck and Malt Cross, there is also the OZ Bar that people can go into for a drink. Another newer shop on 26-28 St James’s Street is Nottingham Haze, a vape shop.
The colourful shop has prices ranging from £10-£60. Owners Eric Wesolowski and Adrian Nawrocki shared how business has been.
Eric said: “We’ve been here for one month. So far, we can’t complain.”
The shop also sells the popular hydration drink Prime for £10. Adrian continued: “People are struggling with money at the moment but business hasn’t been bad.”
Walking up and down the high street, shoppers spoke about what they think of the narrow shopping area. Phil Wilkinson, 64 lives in Carlton.
Now retired, Phil shared where he goes on St James’s Street and said: “The chip shop is good, it gets busy and it's open until late on a Saturday. They do some good fish and chips, I’d say it’s one of the best.”
He added: “I’ve been to the shoe repair shop before and I prefer the Roebuck over the Joseph Else, less rowdy.”
The chip shop Phil speaks of is Cod and Chips. On Fridays and Saturdays, the chippy closes at 4am.
Jack Hall, 23 is a student. Originally from Birmingham, he said: “Out of all the Wetherspoons in the city centre, I do prefer the Roebuck, to get warmed up for a night out, I go there with mates.
“I’ve used it as a shortcut to Maid Marian Way sometimes before too and to get to the train station.” Jack continued: “I’ve seen this street busy before like when the Roebuck closes and everyone’s heading off to Angel Row for a taxi.”
Camilla Hooper, 21 is a student. Living in West Bridgford she said: “You wouldn’t think there are as many businesses as there are down here.
“I’ve been to the Roebuck and the chip shop, it stays open late on the weekends. When the Roebuck shuts people get a cone of chips and go home or find somewhere else to drink.
Camilla continued: "It's not somewhere that I come all the time but it does get busy at night.”
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