Forum Topic

The Oaks is actually...ok!

I know it looks a little bare in there at the moment, but I was really pleased with Wilko, Superdrug and my first time ever in Iceland. Clean, spacious and with some really good things on sale at a very good price. Wilko's range is pretty amazing really.I have friends outside London who would kill to be able to walk to a town centre that had shops, nice places to eat, supermarkets and pubs, but they have to drive to all these places. We have it on our doorstep and the only way to get even better shops and restaurants is to use, regularly, what we now have...then more will come. If we don't use it....even what we have will disappear.Looking forward to Lidl's arrival, where my wife will be able to get her favourite coconut natural yoghurt.

Mark Jarvis ● 2425d28 Comments

17th October for Lidl - if all goes well with shop fitting

Urs Esser ● 2387d

It will inevitably fill out - seating, plants, bins, kiosks, kid's rides, etc, just needs a bit of time to settle in.

Rosco White ● 2387d

I still think The Oaks could actually do a bit more to attract shoppers by providing some seating, and cheer the place up a bit.Of course The Oaks can't compete with Westfield but I for one am very happy it has re-opened in Acton.

Jean F Fernandez ● 2387d

Just thinking if marks were to open have they applied for a drink license yet can't see it yet

Jon morris ● 2387d

It was suggested that Lidl might open in October.The sooner the better!

Jean F Fernandez ● 2387d

I remember how grim those toilets were so perhaps it is a good thing the new Oaks doesn’t have them!

Gill Hothersall ● 2389d

I am sure everyone will remember that we did have public toilets in The Oaks so it is surprising that the new Oaks does not have this facility.We also had a small café there previously. I wonder whether they will have a coffee shop or something to fill one of the vacant spaces?It would be useful if a post Office had one of the empty units.Perhaps things will improve soon, lets hope so, because right now the place is still rather bleak with no seating in place. Whilst I am pleased we now have this small shopping mall a lot could be done to make The Oaks more welcoming.

Jean F Fernandez ● 2389d

I used to go to BGS with Mark Jarvis!!  Coincidence?

David Archer ● 2400d

Perhaps Acton residents should enquire why no seats have been allocated in The Oaks. From what I hear they may not be in favour of encouraging visitors to The Oaks to spend time just sitting in their vast grey unwelcoming shopping mall.

Jean F Fernandez ● 2405d

I've often been to Wilko in West Ealing. It's a useful shop, bit like Woolworths used to be.

Susan Kelly ● 2411d

Check your receipt if you have shopped in here or are planning to. I was  overcharged for several items-all of which were half price or less on the shelf sticker! Luckily I noticed before leaving the store.

Apple Leiper ● 2412d

Think they said October.

Helen New ● 2418d

any ideas when lidl might open?

Dominyka Vinickaite ● 2419d

I'm not sure what people were expecting. 1st time in there yesterday, its already better than what we had before.looking forward to see what else we get

Maria Ashe ● 2423d

And the New one next to the coffee house is also good.

Donna Fraser ● 2423d

I agree with Ursula, Lidl will bring the footfall with people making weekly visits. I went into Wilko, my first time in a Wilko, to see what was there but will only use it occasionally. I will visit Lidl weekly though for my main weekly shop.

Kim Rugg ● 2423d

Yes too many people complaining about what we don't have. I went yesterday as I was bored and it was very clean and fresh looking. Never been in a Wilko but I bought quite a bit for my upcoming camping trip. Well done council, I thought it was madness building more shops but I was wrong.

Tony Mansell ● 2423d

Once Lidl opens, the new shopping centre will be heaving. Look at what happened at Shepperd's Bush - they initially took over 2/3 of the old Morrison's site and now have expanded because the shop was too small to cope with demand.

Urs Esser ● 2424d

Hasu is a favourite of mine, and North China too.

Gill Hothersall ● 2424d

Nandos!

Lee Harding ● 2424d

I would love Sports Direct to come back. They were so handy for sports gear etc.

Tony Crumpton ● 2424d

Ok.  So we've got a new shopping centre which we hope will get better as all units are occupied.  But where exactly are the restaurants worthy of serious support?

Sarah Vickers ● 2424d

There are plenty of excellent coffee shops very near which are local businesses we all want to see flourish I use Fragola because it is just opposite Everyone Active and Fields is just opposite the Oaks Churchfield Rd entrance. Why not visit them.

Maire Lowe ● 2424d

Agree re post office but there is Coffee House just opposite, and for a more extensive cafe Fragola is excellent. Would hate to see those suffer.But some planters, benches and lighting wouldn’t go amiss.

Gill Hothersall ● 2424d

True peter Post office would be greatA decent coffee shop

Jon morris ● 2424d

It's odd that Boots hasn't opened up a side/back entrance into the shopping mall itself or at least some side windows so you can see into the shop instead of a blank wall. They're listed as being in the shopping centre but actually they just have their old front door onto the High Street with scruffy window frames that need a lick of paint.

Peter Evans ● 2425d

The Superdrug is bigger and nicer (lovely staff!) than the previous one, Wilko is great for bits it saves you going elsewhere for, and not really an Iceland shopper (didn't shop in the previous branch), but...I really feel whatever our feelings are about the balls-up made with the building of the Oaks, and the shops they sold to people as coming that never were, we really should support the shops we have so far, as unless we're in there spending, they won't stay, and we'll have a shopping centre full of empty shops, or shops selling cheap tat that pay the rent for the space.  Really hope - bar opening up during the summer holidays with many away - people support the centre so far.

Helen New ● 2425d

I couldn’t agree more. I was very disappointed by all the negativity on the other thread, when only two stores had opened – give it a chance! Westfield it ain’t, but personally I can live without marble floors and palm trees.It’s plain, clean (so far) and the other day had sun streaming in through the glass roof. The stores are full of busy young people (hopefully, locally employed) filling shelves as fast as they are emptied (which is more than they do in Morrisons). Wilco is an Aladdin’s cave of a store – I was able to get several items which Morrisons hadn’t had in stock for weeks, and visits to B&Q will be a thing of the past. The Superdrug store is at least twice the size of the one that used to front on the High Street. Fingers crossed that they will be able to fill the other units.

Lorna Dodd ● 2425d