What makes Beeston buzz?
TOWN IS ‘ON THE UP’ AND RESIDENTS HAVE PLENTY TO LOOK FORWARD TO AFTER THE LOCKDOWN
WITH the extension of the tram network and a big increase in the number of students living in the town, Beeston has changed considerably over the years.
But with a good variety of pubs and restaurants and pubs and the town’s new £50m cinema set to open in the summer, people say it is “on the up” as they look forward to the future when the coronavirus restrictions ease.
Shoppers and residents spoke about some of the biggest changes they’ve seen in the area.
After leaving university Darren Walton, a 58-year-old IT worker, worked at the town’s large Plessey site, which subsequently became GPT and Siemens before manufacturing eventually finished there a few years ago.
“I joined there 30 years ago when they took 130 graduates on in one go. A lot of local people worked at that place locally and it’s all gone,” the Chilwell resident said. “Then you fast-forward and the place went a little bit downhill and it looked very run down.
“And I’m not sure I was the biggest fan of the tram when it was mooted. But actually it’s done quite a lot to regenerate the area, it looks a lot better, it’s brought a bit of investment in.
“Things like Puregym I’m guessing wouldn’t have been here if the tram wasn’t there.”
Concerns have been voiced recently about the town being “saturated” with student accommodation.
But Mr Walton believes Beeston’s rising student population has, in turn, benefited the high street.
“I live near (the old) college on High Road, that’s now going to be student digs. It can get swamped a bit I guess but I’ve never really had to live in a street where there are lots of them so I don’t get the impact in that respect.
“It does bring a lot more restaurants and stuff into Beeston. There’s more choice these days in the kind of food you can get because there’s a massive population that has to be fed and watered out of the university.”
With a “great social life” and “some really good pubs”, he said Beeston was “on the up”, adding: “I couldn’t really put my finger on anything that it’s lacking.”
Street art has also gone up depicting the town’s famous former residents, including fashion designer Sir Paul Smith, musician Edwin Starr and actor Richard Beckinsale.
The eight-screen cinema is expected to create 150 new jobs, with work on the Beeston Square redevelopment forming the second phase of a wider scheme of improvements.
Ted Hall, 68, a managerial consultant from Wollaton, said he is eagerly anticipating the cinema’s opening.
“Certainly what we will contemplate is walking in, watching a film and then just walking back - or staying in Beeston to have a drink and walking back,” he said.
His wife Janet Hall, 64, noted that “charity shops have taken over” but said good coffee shops have also opened, adding: “I quite like the buzz of having all the students.”
Daniel Edwards, 46, who worked in the pub industry, said: “I have lived in Beeston just over 10 years, public transport links have improved.
“I came from rural North Yorkshire so it’s noticeable how well Beeston is provided with public transport links in comparison to more rural areas.”