Farewell to Chris’s Café: The Ashton Review of Shops Extra

Chris and Costa leave Ashton-under-Lyne after nearly 40 years

After 39 years of trading, Chris’s Café closed its door on the 04 August 2018. Situated on Bow Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, the café was a popular haunt with many shoppers. Its position opposite the open market was good for passing trade.

Retail Comings and Goings in Tameside, August 2018: The Ashton Review of Shops

August’s window on the shop windows

• Bridge Beers’ Summertime Success;
• Poundworld’s demise confirmed;
• All the usual comings and goings in the Tameside area.

Changing Hands: The Commercial Hotel, Manchester Road, Mossley. Image by Mikey, 2012 (Creative Commons License: Attribution-Some Rights Reserved).

What will the previous month be remembered for in future years? England reaching the Semi Finals of the World Cup? The moorland fires which affected half of Tameside’s residents? The warm weather? The first and third points may have brought riches to our publicans but a fair number of pubs are changing hands or disappearing.

Oldham and Saddleworth Bus Service Changes, Summer 2018

More summertime tweaks

• Exactly what it says on the tin;
• MCT Travel gains 418 from M Travel;
• CityZap zapped.

The 409: one of a few First Greater Manchester services falling under the summertime timetables. This oldie, seen at Royton, was previously owned by First Bradford.

Once again the summertime changes are a quiet one for Oldham and Saddleworth bus passengers. Apart from the usual adjusted summer times, there has only been four notable service changes.

Tameside and Glossop Bus Service Changes, Summer 2018

All the usual summertime tweaks

• Waterton Lane link severed to improve reliability of 353 and 354 service;
• Summertime bus times in operation on First Greater Manchester and Stagecoach Manchester routes;
• Slight tweaks to some tendered services.

Retimed? the 340, alongside other Stagecoach journeys operated from Middleton depot, is down as retimed on the Stagecoach Manchester website. In fact, there are no differences to the timetable seen in TfGM’s Bus Guide on the 340 and 343 routes.

The summertime changes are usually quieter than the spring and autumn service changes. This summer’s no exception with the bulk of changes being the adoption of School Holiday Timetables.

2018 World Cup of GM Bus Routes: The Final Tie

The World Cup of Greater Manchester Bus Routes Final: V1 v. 184

Now, the end is near… yes, after several group stages and knockout rounds, we have now reached the final tie. The game of all games, the clash of all clashes… Forget France versus Croatia, this is the one.

2018 World Cup of GM Bus Routes: Pendle Hills or Pennine Foothills

Third Place Play-off: 343 v. X43

Almost a month has gone since the 2018 World Cup of Greater Manchester Bus Routes began. There has been some surprises in the group and knockout stages. Especially the X43’s defeat in semi-finals to the V1 route. Equally surprising was the 343’s defeat of the 192 service.

Poundworld Store Closures: The Ashton Review of Shops Extra

Details of Poundworld store closures in and around Tameside

Staying put: Rochdale’s branch of Poundworld, not one of the 25 stores which are closing on Sunday 15 July.

In our last edition of The Ashton Review of Shops there was reference to Poundworld’s troubles and as to which branches are closing.

2018 World Cup of GM Bus Routes: Two Ways Along the Pennines

Match 2, Semi Finals: 343 v. 184  

Forget England versus West Germany in Italia ’90. The second semi-final clash ought to be a cracker, following the Mossley route’s shock victory over the 192 service. Both routes follow each other from Oldham to Grotton.

2018 World Cup of GM Bus Routes: Which One’s Going to Take Advantage?

Game 1, Semi Finals: X43 v. V1  

For our first semi final, two bus routes noted for their luxurious nature will clash for a place in The 2018 World Cup of Greater Manchester Bus Routes Final.