Sunday September 13th was a pivotal day for Rhuthun/Ruthin's remaining town centre newsagent, Castle Bell, Clwyd Street. It was the last day that it opened on a Sunday. From today, you had to buy your Sunday newspapers elsewhere. Castle Bell will still deliver on Sundays but opportunist buyers will need to head to one of the Co-ops, Tesco, Duke's, Bridge Services, Dyffryn Services or upstart Nature's Treasure.
Earlier this afternoon, the apologetic man behind the counter at Bridge Services couldn't understand why today they'd sold out of newspapers so quickly. At that point, all that was left at Bridge Services was one Sunday Telegraph, one red-top, one Independent on Sunday, one Mail of Sunday... and three (higher-priced) Observers. He hadn't realised that Castle Bell was closed.
In 2013, Castle Bell itself tried a fairly unsuccessful metamorphosis into a grocery convenience store and it extended its weekday opening hours till 9 p.m. As newspaper and tobacco sales continue to slump and as buying habits continue to migrate towards supermarkets, Castle Bell's was a brave stance to try to win back some market share. But the outlet was just too small to stock anything other than a minute range of convenience goods. It was—and is—something and nothing. Opening late was a failure, too, because both Tesco and the larger Co-op stay open till 10 p.m.—and the smaller Co-op and Bridge Services till 11. All the competition stock more. And it wasn't as if there was a large walking catchment around Castle Well. Normal hours soon resumed.
In closing on a Sunday, has Castle Bell slit its own throat? Parking's already easier at all the other news outlets—supermarkets, service stations, Mwrog Street for Duke's, even by the Anchor for Nature's Treasure—and its decision is likely to result in some transferring their weekday business, too.
Castle Bell's strength, however, is that it will deliver newspapers (and magazines) to your home. Even that is now being undermined. Nature's Treasure, recently stocking newspapers, will deliver free of charge. For weekday newspaper deliveries, Castle Bell charges £6 per week, doubling the cost of your daily read (depending upon how much it costs in the first place—red tops are at 40p or 60p and quality dailies range from £1.20 (Times) to £1.80 (Grauniad—sic).
It's actually questionable as to whether Castle Bell is still a pure newsagent. Obviously, news is its stock in trade. But its change to a convenience means that it has reduced further its already somewhat poor stock of magazine titles. It seemed incredulous that a newsagent would actually have fewer titles than a service station—Bridge Services. But Bridge Services has always carried a superior range. Till this summer, when it, too, cut its magazine shelf space by half. The range still exceeds Castle Bell.
Oh, for the days of the late 1980s and early 1990s, when you could still find any number of obscure titles at Bridge Services. And, of course, then we had newsagents in town at Coombes (Aldrich's), Cronin, Newyddion Rhuthun News and at the Market Hall.
What does all this say? People are no longer buying newspapers or magazines to quite the same extent. When they do, they find it easier at other outlets than traditional newsagents. Yet, even Tesco has recently halved it paltry offering: it's now all on one side of a small gondola, not both.
As for what's replacing newsprint, look no further than today's Sunday newspapers, which are full of advertisements urging us to pre-order the new iPhone 6S portable telephone. S'pose it makes a change from broadband ads...
It's been a while since Castle Bell actually published its opening times. Currently, though, there's a notice advising customers of the Sunday closure
Earlier this afternoon, the apologetic man behind the counter at Bridge Services couldn't understand why today they'd sold out of newspapers so quickly. At that point, all that was left at Bridge Services was one Sunday Telegraph, one red-top, one Independent on Sunday, one Mail of Sunday... and three (higher-priced) Observers. He hadn't realised that Castle Bell was closed.
Castle Bell has tried to diversify
In 2013, Castle Bell itself tried a fairly unsuccessful metamorphosis into a grocery convenience store and it extended its weekday opening hours till 9 p.m. As newspaper and tobacco sales continue to slump and as buying habits continue to migrate towards supermarkets, Castle Bell's was a brave stance to try to win back some market share. But the outlet was just too small to stock anything other than a minute range of convenience goods. It was—and is—something and nothing. Opening late was a failure, too, because both Tesco and the larger Co-op stay open till 10 p.m.—and the smaller Co-op and Bridge Services till 11. All the competition stock more. And it wasn't as if there was a large walking catchment around Castle Well. Normal hours soon resumed.
Bridge Services has halved its space devoted to magazines (above); and seen in transition (below). It used to occupy the entire wall on the Mwrog Street side
The former display area
Oh, for the days of the late 1980s and early 1990s, when you could still find any number of obscure titles at Bridge Services. And, of course, then we had newsagents in town at Coombes (Aldrich's), Cronin, Newyddion Rhuthun News and at the Market Hall.
What does all this say? People are no longer buying newspapers or magazines to quite the same extent. When they do, they find it easier at other outlets than traditional newsagents. Yet, even Tesco has recently halved it paltry offering: it's now all on one side of a small gondola, not both.
As for what's replacing newsprint, look no further than today's Sunday newspapers, which are full of advertisements urging us to pre-order the new iPhone 6S portable telephone. S'pose it makes a change from broadband ads...
Tags:
Shops