People living in a 'dead' city suburb have been speaking about what they would like to replace a now vacant building of a former supermarket that operated in the area for more than 30 years. Frozen food giant Iceland on High Road in Beeston closed for good earlier this year and shoppers said they will miss the affordable prices at the store.
However, the community now said that they want something completely different to replace it. Milly Cooke, who works at a store on High Road, said she hopes an entertainment venue could be put in its place.
"I think we really need a bar here," she said. "This area does not have a bar or that kind of vibe, it has pubs but it is not the same." The 23-year-old, who also lives in the area, went on and said: "If you want a nice bar, cosy bar there is nowhere to go. You have to go to the city centre and it is a shame."
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Taylor Gilkinson, who works at the same store, agreed and added: "We need a cheap, student-like bar. There are a lot of charity shops, but no bars. This area is dead, it has no nightlife." The 28-year-old added: "There are people making jokes about how dead it is."
James Alok however, a business owner in the area, had a different view on the future of the empty shop.
The 29-year-old said: "I would prefer a retail store. I feel like we have been over-saturated with food and drink places, and charity shops. Something like that would bring more customers to the area." He added: "The cinema helped us tremendously and I think we need more entertainment places."
While business owners on the town's high-street call for something completely different to replace the former supermarket, Iceland's acting manager said the closure came as a "definite shock". Seventeen staff working at the Beeston branch were given the devastating news in November last year.
Acting manager Chris Green said at the time: "We've had so many people ringing up to say they've been coming for years and they're really saddened by it. We are trying to carry on as usual but morale does seem low." The high street chain celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020.
It has more than 900 stores across the UK and is famed for using celebrities Peter Andre and Kerry Katona in its TV adverts. In 2009 the company flew almost 800 store, regional and area managers to a five-day conference at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
