Bray - A kip - And I'm from bray !

MarkHobBray1977

Bray is full of €2 shops , take aways , pubs and thats it...A total dive..Throw in the new Meth clinic , shops opening and closing in the space of a year...Feck me , where did it all go wrong...Such potential ...Wasted in the extreme !!!!!!

brayblue24

MarkHobBray1977 wrote: »

Bray is full of €2 shops , take aways , pubs and thats it...A total dive..Throw in the new Meth clinic , shops opening and closing in the space of a year...Feck me , where did it all go wrong...Such potential ...Wasted in the extreme !!!!!!

Jebus, when I saw that description I thought you were talking about Dun Laoghaire!!

MarkHobBray1977

..Ok 1st post may seem a bit general...But I really think Bray has taken a dive in the last few years...I love the place , its my home town....But , it is not a nice place as it stands

Lil' Smiler

I have to say, your first post was a bit general. I agree with you in a sense. Lived in Bray all my life, work in Donnybrook so am rarely here. Went down to see the chicks in Anvil last week and couldn't believe the difference! Lots of shops closed, didn't notice Cafe Bar Deli had gone!

It looks grubby, places down towards the end such as Ledwidges and where the supposed Florentine Centre is look awful. All the shop fronts need to be done up. I have to say Quinnsboro Road looks great, glad the cinema went, it was an eye sore!

Latchy

I still laugh when english people tell me they went to ireland and when i ask wereabouts they reply '' Bray ''

( which is very much like southport )

Alun

Lil' Smiler wrote: »

It looks grubby, places down towards the end such as Ledwidges and where the supposed Florentine Centre is look awful. All the shop fronts need to be done up. I have to say Quinnsboro Road looks great, glad the cinema went, it was an eye sore!

There was a great hoo-ha (sp?) recently when Bray traders association, or whatever they're called, announced they were going to do exactly this, with some money from Bray UDC, I believe. What this actually entailed was just plastering yet another layer of paint on top of the 50 layers that were already there, and putting a few hanging baskets out .. absolutely pathetic.

Ludo

I lived in Bray for 8 years up to last year and I agree with everything you say. The place has great potential but is just grotty as it is now. Look at Gorey for example...a place with not a lot going for it, but it looks well.

Bray main street needs a serious overhaul. The area round the train station is also in need of work as it creates a terrible first impression of the town.

Take even the Southern Cross...another access point to the town which looks terrible...cut the fecking grass on both sides of the road for the love of god...stop bickering over whose responsibility it is (maybe this situation has changed in the last year though).

Alun

Ludo wrote: »

Take even the Southern Cross...another access point to the town which looks terrible...cut the fecking grass on both sides of the road for the love of god...stop bickering over whose responsibility it is (maybe this situation has changed in the last year though).

No, as far as I know, that part of Bray still falls under Wicklow CC rather than Bray Town Council.

John Mason

i left bray 15 years ago because it was a kip and it still is a kip.

its nice go back there every now and again to see the family but you couldnt pay me enough money to live in the place full time

murpho999

I'm from Bray and still live there and I have to agree with the OP.

Main St is looking very run down.

Terrible selection of shops.

For example male clothing, only option is Allen's (ok but expensive) or what used to be Mr T's. Really terrible stuff there. Tansey's is another option if you are a pensioner.

There are too many €2 shops, hairdressers, beauticians.

No really nice food shops, clothing or home furnishings.

Lots of shops are run down and dirty.
Town also has a serious litter problem.

The town has not improved in the last 20 years like others have and its really a place I do grocery shopping and go to Dundrum or City Centre for anything else.

It really is a great shame as there is great potential there.

Main st needs to be tidied up, and council should insist on caps being put on numbers of types of business allowed.

Does Bray need another Bookmaker or Hairdresser?

No it needs, decent cafes/restaurants, clothing stores, home furnishings etc.

Only hope is the new town centre which will hopefully make Main St traders improve their act, but who knows when that will happen.

Also, seafront is not taken full advantage of. Should be full of nice cafes etc not pubs and amusements.....all very shabby.

All a great pity as I love Bray but the town is dying on its feet and nobody seems to be doing anything about it.

The Real B-man

murpho999 wrote: »

No it needs, decent cafes/restaurants, clothing stores, home furnishings etc.

Also, seafront is not taken full advantage of. Should be full of nice cafes etc not pubs and amusements.....all very shabby.
.

For the Love of God bray doesnt not need another Coffee Shop!

Lil' Smiler wrote: »

I have to say Quinnsboro Road looks great, glad the cinema went, it was an eye sore!

May had looked Shabby but its a Joke the Only Cinema in Co. Wicklow is all the way down in Arklow! i mean having to Trek to Dun Laoghaire or Dundrum is a Joke!

waves

What are your ideas for the town?

The reason why shops close is because they don't get local support.... I shop in Get Fresh for my veg and fruit, the little chinese fishmongers up the Arcade for my fish and Holland's Off licence for my beers.

I get my coffee from the Italian deli opposite Campo - and I drink my coffee there too. I shop local when I can.

The more you put into the town the more you get out of it. Get involved. Join some local community groups. Get on the Summerfest committee.... Help out rather than just give up.

I use the seafront every day for walking/jogging/kayaking/cycling (don't tell the council) and sometimes surfing..... it always amazes that more people don't. The rowing club have just started back....

I'm not saying that the town doesn't have its downsides. The litter is a big problem... as is the growing level of grafitti... The council should make the entrances (particularly the DART and Albert Walk) a priority.

That's where some new blood on the council will hopefully help come the next elections.... new ideas and less of the inertia and posturing that seems to inhabit the present council.

As for things to do, well there's always the cinema in the Mermaid on Monday nights, as well as all the other stuff they have on, The JAzz festival is coming up over the May Bank holiday and the comedy club is celebrating its 5th b'day this year....

MarkHobBray1977

Some great replies !! ... As with some of you , its my home town... And Im gutted to see it decline year on year...It really has gone downhill...If you look into Brays history , it used to be a thriving spot , with its own cable car on the bray head !!....Now bray head has lots of homeless people there ( not their fault ) , a site where an old pitch and putt was...and thats it.... BRAY UDC should be ashamed of itself... Bray traders Assoc too...A group of idiots....

MarkHobBray1977

as for my ideas

- total re-vamp of bray head hotel area

- albert walk clean up

- limit amount of fastfood , coffee shops and pubs

- Get rid of McDonalds from the TOWN HALL !!!

just a few for starters

foxy06

Lived here all my life (except for a year in greystones) and yeah it has a few bad points but I still wouldnt live anywhere else.

Good Points:

The people are friendly. I have worked in The Ardmore bar, Katies, Jim Doyles and the Martello at different stages so have met lots of locals from different walks of life and 99% are sound people.

The Summerfest is the best thing to happen to the town and I enjoy it every year. The kids love it and if I can get down for the music in the evenings thats great too. Mundy last year was great and there have been other great acts throughout the years.

The restaurant situation has improved a helluva lot! The pubs on the beach have great food and the Barracuda, Pallazo, campo da fioro and shelbys have stuck around and made it easier to stay in Bray for a meal out.

Your close to town and country (Dart to town and a few miles to glendalough)

We have one of the most beautiful beaches/Prom in Ireland.


Bad points:

Lack of sun on said beach/Prom!

Good few skangers around that could do with locking up. The tend to hang around the amusements, McDonalds and outside a few estates so I tend to avoid these areas. And on that point McDonalds should not be where it is.

The run down areas ie: Bray Head hotel, Dart station area and some of the shops (especially at the hoarding where the Florentine was supposed to go) really could do with a make over but as these are mostly privately owned there is not a lot that can be done.

Lack of shops. Can't see this improving for a long time but still disappointing.

MarkHobBray1977

Nice reply Foxy !! Think you served me in Katies all those years ago :P

But the reason for my 1st post was to highlight the wasted potential .... Bray still has "some" good points

Creamy Goodness

bray is my bed, until i get graduate and then i'm getting the fudge out, it's a dive.

it has some nice residential areas and the prom is nice when it has just been cleaned but it only stays clean for like 15 minutes.

MarkHobBray1977

GET THE FUDGE OUT , AND STAY OUT LOL!!!!

brayblue24

I'm a blow in living here since the mid '90s. Today I went to mass in the Holy Redeemer (I'm far from a holy joe I just like the church and their services) followed by a visit to the bank and a stroll on the prom before the rain started. Not a bad morning really. I stopped at the boathouse for coffee before I got back into the car. Some days after school I bring the kids to play pool in Star amusements and often after the dinner we walk the prom (lovely spot in deepest, darkest winter). The owners and staff in the chemist we use and the local newsagents can't be faulted and the primary schools that my kids go to are A1. That's simply to point out the good in Bray.

That said there is plenty of work to do when it comes to the general decor of the place and the tannoy that plays in the town on a saturday afternoon is just annoying. The football team is attracting big crowds this season only because the season ticket is €99. How, in a town of 30,000, can they not fill that place out on a Friday?

Oh yeah, and that McDonalds thing....

MarkHobBray1977

But even since the mid 90's , you have to agree , there has been a decline !?!?!

Lab_Mouse

its a ****hole....full of culchie knackers pretending they are from ballyfermot if their accents are anthing to go by..apart from the knackers who well... sound like knackers

its not called brayruit for nothing

MarkHobBray1977

LOL harsh...but I know where you are coming from

brayblue24

Lab_Mouse wrote: »

its a ****hole....full of culchie knackers pretending they are from ballyfermot if their accents are anthing to go by..apart from the knackers who well... sound like knackers

its not called brayruit for nothing

Funny, I thought it was called Brayjing. Yeah Mark I do see where you are coming from. It does need a makeover.

MarkHobBray1977

brayjing...brayruit , brayzil ...take your pick :P

Splendour

waves wrote: »

As for things to do, well there's always the cinema in the Mermaid on Monday nights, as well as all the other stuff they have on, The JAzz festival is coming up over the May Bank holiday and the comedy club is celebrating its 5th b'day this year....

Don't forget Signal Arts Centre on Albert Ave. (across from Albert Walk). Open Tues-Sun with a different exhibition every two weeks. Openings also held every fortnight which offer a chance to meet new people, see/buy some great artwork and a free glass of wine or two to boot

Check it out, signalartscentre.ie

Btw, if anyone has any ideas for community art work in Bray they can call in or phone.Signal is all about community work.

murpho999

The Real B-man wrote: »

For the Love of God bray doesnt not need another Coffee Shop!

I didn't say coffee shop, I said cafe and there is a big difference.

Bray doesn't need the likes of another Molloy's with fried food and sandwiches, but it needs more places like Betelnut with alternative menus and healthy options and also decent decor.

jclare56

has anyone else noticed the amoung of tatoo shops in bray? there cant be that much demand for tatoos.... random.

wasn't there some big shoping centre to go opposite winstons there on the town? think that woudl have made a difference in terms of attarcting peopel in to bray to shop but as far as i kno it got tied up with plannign permission.........

also didnt notice tht cafe bar deli was gone altho i cant say im surprised every time i was in tehre it was empty - shame tho!!

murpho999

jclare56 wrote: »

has anyone else noticed the amoung of tatoo shops in bray? there cant be that much demand for tatoos.... random.

wasn't there some big shoping centre to go opposite winstons there on the town? think that woudl have made a difference in terms of attarcting peopel in to bray to shop but as far as i kno it got tied up with plannign permission.........

also didnt notice tht cafe bar deli was gone altho i cant say im surprised every time i was in tehre it was empty - shame tho!!

Cud u rapeet dat in Inglish pleeze?

jclare56

murpho999 wrote: »

Cud u rapeet dat in Inglish pleeze?

**** off.

mikedragon32

jclare, murpho999: please don't derail the thread.

Tippex

The only ones to blame on this are the shower in Bray town council.

They have sat on their hands for far too long. Look at the shambles that they allowed go on with the florentine.

Mcdonalds should never have been allowed open in the Town Hall.

Without Bray town centre getting built the town will Die totally.

I've lived there all my life and I rarely spend more than an hour shopping on the main street.

From what I can tell the council / chamber of commerce do not make much of an effort in attracting any decent stores into the town and to be honest without the town centre development its not going to happen.

The comment about wanderers is one of the things that infuriates me about the town. I've been going since I was a kid and bring my youngest now (eldest has not interest in football anymore) last summer the ground was full against Leeds and there was hope that we would get more for subsequent games but it never happened. It's €15 in for adults for each game or €99 for a season ticket. When you consider there are so many football teams in the town and surrounding areas it kills me that we cannot get at least crowds of 2000 in for each game.

I think its just a general attitude about the town of not giving a F***.

live2thewire

bray has so much going for it, but sadly it just won't be same with dun laoghaire.

The Minstrel

MarkHobBray1977 wrote: »

But even since the mid 90's , you have to agree , there has been a decline !?!?!

I don't live in Bray, but am, of course, a Bray man born and bred. Hoban I agree with the sentiment of what you're saying in general, but if you think about it, back in the day Bray had some serious poverty and alot of the shops were boarded up. Back in the early 90s it was all Loppy's, Mud's, Jim's Discount Store, the Brewmaster... Take the Albert Walk for example. At least now it was one or 2 businesses. 15 years ago, it was all boarded up bar Pizzas 'n' Cream.

Step 1: the council need to sanction some sort of tax relief for the urgent redevelopment of the missing building beside the Olde Bray Inn (entrance for the failed Florentine Exchange). If not, surely Ballymore has an obligation to replace the facade (at the very least). I would suggest they do something along the lines of what they did in Dublin on the north side of the millenium bridge (entrance to the Italian Quarter). Here they kept the Georgian facade and built behind it. Even if we can't put anything behind it, the facade could be reinforced and it could act as a pedestrian gate into the carpark behind it.

I agree with your sentiment about McDonalds, but remember the House of James restaurant?

Proliferation of €2 shops reflects the demographic of the town, but the town council have the jurisdiction to limit the numbers of such shops, bookmakers etc. Kilkenny city council actively enforce rules on retailers specific to Kilkenny, preventing any vulgar shop fronts.

As for the Star etc... the amusements play a central role in the spirit of the seafront. One of Bray's great charms is the appeal of the seafront to all ages and backgrounds, and the arcade culture in Bray is a part of the town, the same as alot of touristy seaside towns in Ireland.

Personally, I think alot more could be done with the Mermaid. Look at the Greystones theatre, that has become a focal point for alot of people out that way? Could be alot better than kips like the back bar etc. It could be a focal point that might re-invigorate that end of town.

MarkHobBray1977

Nice post .. I agree 100% with you...Very well said and articulated...Was thinking of buying / moving back to bray , but judging on the way things are going Ill hold off...

Re : Tattoo places in Bray...BIGTIME>>>>> Whats that all about ??? Hardly Miami Ink :P

The Minstrel

As for the councillors, it's important to be mindful of the vested interests at work behind the scenes in Bray. Backslapping and gombeenism going on all over the place.

Look at the Bray Summer Festival for example. It used to have a gig-rig on the main street. Now, everything is focused around the epicentre of the Porterhouse and Martello. Why? Because they are the main sponsors. The Martello even sponsors Bray Emmets.

Answer me this, who's idea was it to put up lamp-posts on the promenade in the shape of the little mirrors that a dentist uses? We've got an Edwardian promenade with alot of charm and potential, only to be spoiled by councillors/publicans with no architectural insight. You wouldn't see that sort of craic in Howth or Greystones. A bunch of jumped-up thicks with no class.

MarkHobBray1977

dont get me started on the Duggans

waves

The Minstrel wrote: »

Look at the Bray Summer Festival for example. It used to have a gig-rig on the main street. Now, everything is focused around the epicentre of the Porterhouse and Martello. Why? Because they are the main sponsors. The Martello even sponsors Bray Emmets.

I don't quite get your point here - is it that you'd rather see the gig rig back on the Main Street or you have an issue with the two pubs being sponors?

Agree with you about the lamposts but Greystones will be unrecognisable when that Marina is there... I don;t think that the publicans have any say in what lights are put up on the beach.

MarkHobBray1977

THink the point being the whole summerfest is a PROMO for the pubs essentially....Now Im not saying is a good or bad thing....Just I think that is the point being made....

waves

The Minstrel wrote: »

As for the Star etc... the amusements play a central role in the spirit of the seafront. One of Bray's great charms is the appeal of the seafront to all ages and backgrounds, and the arcade culture in Bray is a part of the town, the same as alot of touristy seaside towns in Ireland.

Personally, I think alot more could be done with the Mermaid. Look at the Greystones theatre, that has become a focal point for alot of people out that way? Could be alot better than kips like the back bar etc. It could be a focal point that might re-invigorate that end of town.

You make some great points. It's a pity that the design of the Star and Dawson's (now idle) were not more in fitting with theirs surrounds.

The plaza outside the Mermaid is used during Summerfest and on various days throughout the summer for outdoor entertainment. They have the Europe day celebrations there with music and the also do the summer lights there too.

I think they had planned to have a market there but for some reason the organic market won't move up there which doesn't make sense.

The difference between the Greystones Theatre and the Mermaid is that the GT is a late drinking venue as there is no nightclub in Greystones. The theatre do a lot of dance and studio stuff that is probably catered for in Bray by the number of dance schools and Saturday morning classes.

Again, you have to ask why more people don't attend the Mermaid? I use the cinema and have been to a number of plays... maybe if they (and they may well do this) had specific days for schools to see stuff, the next generation would be more familiar with the venue.

The thing about Bray is that the younger folk will just go where everyone else goes as they want to be seen out... girls dress up to be seen and boys will follow.

It used to be Jim's and the Alternatives..... then it was Dusty's and the Tube.... now it's The Martello and The Porterhouse, two venues who have invested a lot in their properties over the last year.

foxy06

I think having the gig rig on the beach is a much better idea than in the main street. More people can view it for a start.

One other thing that has been pis5ing me off for a while now is that shop where Mitchell Quinn used to be selling drug paraphernalia! I mean who let that go ahead!!!

johnny_ultimate

The weird thing about Bray (my hometown for all of my 21 years) is that any attempts to change it have rarely been successful (although maybe not the Mermaid, which could be better but still does a solid job). But anytime a new restaurant opens, it seems to close straight away. Take the Soprano / Cafe Greko / Cafebardeli building, where the average up market restaurant lasts approximately four to five minutes, depending on quality. Chinese restaurants are the only ones that seem to survive (Jasmine House ftw though :pac:). Hell, even chippers can't make it anymore!

Maybe it is - as has been suggested - the people in Bray who are reluctant to change it. We couldn't even keep a cinema open, and yet we have many many thriving pubs around the place. I will always have a place for Bray - living somewhere for all your life does that, but then again there are the occasional "Want to get the **** out of here" moments - but I fully agree that looking at it from any objective perspective would probably show a pretty grim place.

foxy06

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Maybe it is - as has been suggested - the people in Bray who are reluctant to change it. We couldn't even keep a cinema open, and yet we have many many thriving pubs around the place.

There are very few pubs that are thriving at the moment. It's another struggling trade. The only ones doing any business are the Martello, Porterhouse and probably the vevay. And even these places are struggling mid week.

It was a shame about the cinema and I was annoyed when I heard they were shutting up shop. After thinking about it though....hardly ever went to the place.

Another place that has bitten the dust is Bens mini mart just after Superquinn beside the fishing shop. That place has been going for years.

Catari Jaguar

I'm from Bray, got out 3 years ago.. Would never live there.

I hate small town mentality and gossip. Everyone knows your business. Everyone I went to school with (early 20s) are STILL going to Bacbar/ Koo every Fri/Sat night like for the past 6 years. Although the new Bacbar looks cool.


The Good
Star Amusements/ Bowler is grand apart from when the knacks and Spanish students take it over
Sealife is good
Bray Head is nice in summer - The old fairy lights were lovely
The ice cream at Rainbows (?) on the prom is fab
Pizzas n Cream is gorgeous
Campo di Fiori is good for hot chocolate
Smyths Toystore
The Summer fest food market and events on the prom

The Bad
Too many skobes and dodgy estates.
Can't believe cinema is gone
The shops are bad - City2 for fashion...
Mc Donalds in Townhall
The place is a dirty kip where a lot of the youth look inbred and you can hardly walk around at night
The little miss Bray contest every summer
The fairground on the beach attracts every townie going
The beach is full of stones

In conclusion: Bray is a place where you have kids that go to the local school, they marry their childhood sweetheart from Bray and in turn have kids at a young age, and this goes on and on and on until everyone is related in some way. You can't blow into Bray, you have to put down roots and you can never escape. :eek:

brayblue24

Lil Kitten wrote: »

In conclusion: Bray is a place where you have kids that go to the local school, they marry their childhood sweetheart from Bray and in turn have kids at a young age, and this goes on and on and on until everyone is related in some way. You can't blow into Bray, you have to put down roots and you can never escape. :eek:

Uh oh:o

slavetothegrind

like most towns in our political system it's council is populated with the same group year after year elected by the few bothered to vote. Vested interests and cronieism abound.

Just look at the various planning decisions over the years in every town.

In bray's case Dawsons is the most obvious and pathetic failure. A fcuking barn at the end of the town next to what could be the feature property of the seafront in the old bray head.

What is the answer? I think there is no case for the continuation of local government as it stands and the planning process should be interactive and public ( internet published in detail, all submissions to be in pdf format also)

I am going to stop ranting now...m medication needs topping up....

MarkHobBray1977

good points foxy and lil kitten,,,,, that "NIRVANA" shop in the main st ... WTF is that about ?!?!?!? crazy

John Mason

foxy06 wrote: »

I have worked in The Ardmore bar

me too:)

20 years ago, i was involved with a group trying to improve the towm - the main complaints we got was the amount of 2e and knick knack shops

the loss of the cinema, IMO was the final nail in the coffin for the town

John Mason

MarkHobBray1977 wrote: »

THink the point being the whole summerfest is a PROMO for the pubs essentially....Now Im not saying is a good or bad thing....Just I think that is the point being made....

i remember many years ago - the summer festival included the bray pub crawl. you got your t-shirt with the names of the 40 pubs in town and you had to get it signed by every pub you went into - finally ending up in the alternative.

the summer fest was always just a promotion for the pubs

all these problems you are talking about at 20 plus years old - i personally, cant see change happening in my life time

The Minstrel

The problem in Bray is that the town area is in need of rejuvenation, rather than seafront. Nevermind the state of Dawson's etc., we need to plough cash into the main street to keep it alive.

The parking situation has to be sorted out. I'd say that's why the cinema is gone. Nobody is arsed walking to the cinema when they can park in Dundrum and take a lift.

Maybe that florence road carpark could be converted into a town square, with mixed use commerical developments around the sides with some sort of central feature (a park or something like that). Get a public forum going on the issue, and exhibit ideas up in the council chambers.

As for the gig-rig, I'm not saying I'm in favour of moving it back to the Main St, as I recall that there was a riot up there one year, so the garda won't allow it. All I'm saying is that the Bray festival needs to get funding elsewhere instead of lining the pockets of the porter and martello.

On that note, I'm off out on the gargle.

projectmayhem

I do like Bray, I really do. But only because I live in suburbia and it's nice to visit. Most of the area does need a major facelift just to stop it from being just "ballymun at the sea", and for the sake of driving a bit of tourism into the area.

As for the scumbags, there's not much that can be done there. The fanciest, or most Garda-patrolled area's of Dublin still manage to be riddled with scumbags. They're just a human eyesore that will always stand out. Even 1 in a crowd of 50 "normal people" will make a place look awful.

But yeah, Bray has some major potential, it just needs investment. Having said that, everywhere does at this stage...

Tippex

pink fluffy bunny wrote: »

me too:)

20 years ago, i was involved with a group trying to improve the towm - the main complaints we got was the amount of 2e and knick knack shops

the loss of the cinema, IMO was the final nail in the coffin for the town

I worked there 2 and it wouldve been about 20 years ago as well.

Christ thats scary.....