If I had wanted to order my food at the bar, I would have gone to McDonalds.

Brunning and Price, owner of about thirty pubs across the UK, has two of our most popular local haunts: The Hare in Langton Green, and The Nevill Crest and Gun, in Eridge. When my wife and I took her parents out to the Nevill for Sunday lunch on her Mother’s birthday, we spent £200 on what was an excellent meal. The food was well cooked and 

Morrisons Tunbridge Wells – see you in the spring

This morning, I awoke bright and early, just after five thirty. Not because I was waiting to find out about what Dalton Philips, Morrisons CEO, had decided to do with our grot spot, or even because he had assured me I would be one of the first to find out, but because I needed to ‘spend a penny’, as my Grandfather used to say. And that’s me being honest.

When Dalton Philips last wrote to me, he assured me he would let me know what was going on today. And I believed him. Six o’clock came and went, this morning.Twitter began to heat up with various discussions, speculation and anticipation of what the news would be. I had work to do and so, by nine o’clock, I closed my inbox and got on with my day job. (Really? You thought that all I do is sit here and rant at, and write about Morrisons? Well, no, I don’t.)

By lunchtime, I had received nothing from him. Not a sausage. Not even an organic cucumber. Nothing whatsoever, to inform me of what would turn out to be plans for a ‘flagship store’, to be opened in Tunbridge Wells in the spring. I am disappointed, but perhaps not altogether surprised. He’s busy, I get that. But when people give assurances, they ought to try to match them. Even just in part.

That said, and rant out of the way, the Morrisons press office did what he told me they would do today, and that was to announce their plans for the presently hideous looking building, next to the central station. And after a preview tweet at a little after eleven, at 3:35 this afternoon, @MorrisonsNews posted only the tenth tweet of its twexistence (a silly word, bit you get my drift). The headline was: Morrisons to open flagship “store of the future” in Royal Tunbridge Wells.

If I’m honest, and I usually am, I must say I was skeptical about this ever so Northern firm, with its history deeply rooted in Yorkshire, being able to fit in so far down South. And before the politically correct among you tell me not to be so rude about our Northern friends, I can tell you that I should know: I shopped almost exclusively at the Leeds branch of Morrisons, when I was a student in Leeds for four years. I even lost my wallet once, and they caught the little oik trying to use my debit card in the same store.

But that’s a different story. For now, I want to say that the idea of a new Morrisons store in Tunbridge Wells, if it lives up to their Press Release, published today and introducing what they call their ‘store of the future’, strikes me as one that could just fit the bill as well as any Waitrose.

So, knowing their plans as of today, we will have to wait and see what the spring brings. Local, eagled eyed residents will be scrutinising their every move, of that I have no doubt. And if they do not manage to deliver on their promises, I am sure it will be made clear to them by those that helped put pressure on them this time.

And without that pressure, initially started by our MP and Minister of the Department for Communities and Local Government , Greg Clark, and carried on by other local residents, this would never have happened as quickly as it has.

Morrisons update, and a lesson in dealing with CEOs

During the past month, I have become involved in something of a local battle to sort out one of Tunbridge Wells’ less attractive sites: the old Morrisons supermarket. The subject of the building by the central station, disused for five years and branded an eyesore, has been heavily debated.

And whils

Parents with teenagers and the internet: why you need unlimited data..

Last night, Mrs Z and I went to the ever reliable Bottle House in Penshurst, with two couples we know. We are all close neighbours and between the six of us, our children cover the entire range of schooling, right from the start of primary, to the end of secondary. It’s always fascinating to hear about the current exploits of their occasionally nightmarish teenagers, knowing that my kids – being the youngest in the group – will one day start to challenge us too, as they grow and start to push their pre-adulthood boundaries.

Morrisons Tunbridge Wells: We knew it would be late September, but now we know the day.

Last night, I blogged about my latest exchange with Dalton Philips, Morrisons CEO. Over the past few weeks, I have been somewhat bombarding him with regular emails expressing disgust, concern, disappointment and expectation in equal measures, all on the subject of wanting to know when something will be done about the old, empty Tunbridge Wells store. Well, this morning I received an important mail.

Morrisons in Tunbridge Wells: We will tell you what we’re planning, but you’ll have to wait, whether you like it or not.

Ten days ago, the CEO of Morrisons told me that my idea for his company to send out regular communications was a good one. I had asked for updates to be given on what progress was being made, with regards to a decision on the plight of the old Tunbridge Wells store. Then, on August 19th, somewhat unexpectedly, my name appeared in the Courier newspaper, mirrored on the ‘This is Kent’ website, along with other, local twitter users making their voices heard. It seemed like we were finally gaining some traction.

Morrisons Tunbridge Wells: New beginnings.

As part of my email conversation (it has now become a genuine exchange, I believe) with Dalton Philips, Morrisons CEO, I asked for a regular update on what is being done with the empty Vale Road store.

Well, I am pleased to say that I received a reply this morning, suggesting that Mr Philips will look to set up some kind of regular update on his firm’s progress. It is early days, but I am hopeful that this is a step in the right direction. My reply below.