Photo-a-Day  (Friday, 20th December, 2024)

That looks so lovely just one colour, I am not a fan of flashing coloured lights. I suppose the traders in the arcade got together. The shop on the left blends in with the old arcade...the one on the right looks out of place.
Nice photo Colin.

A perfunctory touch of make believe to highlight a closed off arcade and a bomb site behind. I dread to think what it’s like at night because there’s precious little in the daylight. I don’t think Carol singers will be milling around on Christmas Eve. Sorry to prick any bubbles. The fairy lights are quite elegant. I can just imagine the squabbling in the Council Chambers as to what can be done over Christmas to relieve the monotony. Poor Wigan.

Its a dam shame its not like it used to be in the 60s 70s 80s blusttering with people and especially the shops what used to be in there i will never ever forget the good times.

It’s not often I see this view in the dark. The stained glass fanlight really stands out in all its glory with eliminated with light behind it.

A bit of glitz at the end of the tunnel

Magical. Unfortunately the reality behind the magic is very different. Hopefully 2025 will bring hope of progress with this development.

I came out of Wetherspoons the other night and started to walk down the empty arcade and just as I got in a man closed and locked the gate at the marketplace entrance so quickly walked down it because I didn't fancy being in limbo all night

Good photo Colin.
Nothing worth seeing in there, by any stretch of the imagination. It's locked shut and there's no Wonka queuing to get in.

That's lovely and really draws attention to the windows above the arcade entrance, especially the semi-circular one. We tend not to look above door level when out shopping but we have some lovely buildings in Wigan. I used to hate the late-night shopping nights leading up to Christmas, (usually Thursday evenings from November to Christmas), but I know many people enjoyed them and this is when the Christmas lights would have stood out. I don't even know if they still do the late-night shopping in Wigan these days but I imagine it would be a bit of a damp squib.

....and a Happy New Year......

Veronica, I doubt there is much squabbling in the council chambers if all the councillors are mainly of one political persuasion !

Steady on there lanp , you don’t want to be upsetting Irene .

There is hardly any shops to do late shopping who wants to do late shopping anyway at 7 or 8 o clock in the evenings before this daft late shopping started everybody managed before and had jobs in the 60s 70s 80s i wouldnt like to be messing around in any town at that time of an evening going into daft shops hasnt anybody got better things to do!

Don't get you, Ozy. Is Irene the one who locks the gates? I thought it was a man who was doing it, but it was dark.

Agreed ex Wiganer. I had to do two late nights when I was working, as I worked in a store, but I could never understand the attraction of being in Wigan after 5.30. in the dark and cold, but many people loved it.
Ozy, if the comment to "lanp" about "upsetting me" is to do with him mentioning the word "limbo", I have good reason to detest that word, but it is personal to me and obviously "lanp" wouldn't be aware of it, but thanks for your concern.

No ale . No ale ,
The shops have no ale ,
Gone are the bottles
Of brown and pale ,

No sale , no sale
Of wine by the case ,
No Cabernet Sauvignan
Or Chardonnay ,

Noel , Noel
Chadwick's tender lamb crowns ,
Are no longer available
For the shutters are down ,

No trade , no trade ,
For the town has been closed ,
The market long faded ,
Old Wigan bulldozed .

Poet

I might be wrong but in the past Makinson’s Arcade was open 24/7 except for Easter Sunday when it was closed off to protect it from becoming a ‘Right Of Way’.
Times have changed for the worse and if left open it would be a ‘No Go Area’ populated with drunks, druggies, sleeping bags and mattresses.

Some People are so sensitive, come on lighten up it's Chhhrrriiissstttmmmaaassss..........

ianp,
It's call limpmoad when the car has no power. Onboard Computer shuts the engine down. Mine has done it twice now. My old car never malfunction at all.

We're all different and are entitled to be so. When I am asked, (as I was only this morning), "What are YOU doing for Christmas. Irene?", I LOVE saying "NOTHING!"

Very appropriate photo for this time of the year. Thank you Colin.

Colin is this for real? Or have you added the lights to the original image? Last time I went to town to see I think Sean Edwards switch on the lights ( so you can work out how long ago it was) I couldn't see any difference when he supposedly switched on the lights I total embarrassment to the town.. Back in the GOOD OLD DAYS EVERY shop in the town centre would decorate their own premises And with the Christmas tree in the Market Place... To see Wigan decorated like that, was magnificent. These days.... enough said.

Irene, I empathise with you over late night shopping especially for the shop workers. Who wants to deal with stroppy, rowdy, intoxicated morons at night. Not Me!

Ron, yes is real, hard to believe I know. I don’t know who paid for it but it’s the only bright spot on an otherwise miserable town centre.

I think the owners of the arcade have done a great job in putting up these lights, which they have been doing for quite a few years now
It's a shame the other property owners don't do the same.

Gareth Cheetham,
... and good health in the new year too.

Big Harold, you are probably right.
It doesn’t take much cost the whole scheme of things to brighten up your properties for the traders.
Makinson’s Arcade has always attracted the attention of WW over the years, long may it continue. I wish them well.

Presume there were not many non Christian shopkeepers working in Wigan, 'back in the good old days when every shop in the town centre would decorate their own premises' Who knows?

T.D. I take your point but apart from the young revellers I think most people these days prefer to shop online or in Aldi etc. Good quality inexpensive food and drink in (if you can afford it) the warmth, comfort and safety of your own home. Or if you have a few quid to spare, a local restaurant, Italian being my favourite.
Who in their right minds wants to trudge the streets at night in this weather.
Greeting to you all.

We used to love going out to do our Christmas shopping at night. It was the only chance we had with our whole family to be out shopping together.
And when it comes to anything expensive, we used to say go and ask your grandma can you have it for Christmas

Oh well, sign of the times, shuttered entrance.

We used to enjoy Christmas shopping at night with our children,it just felt different and enjoyable to see the lights in town centres.

Sounds as if ‘ Primmy’s’. having fun. What a barrel of laughs ..mooching round Wigan with the kids and the owd granny.