old-ted Posted 9 November , 2013 Share Posted 9 November , 2013 We have all missed Poppies Restaurant in Ypres since it closed. Latest news is the property has been bought by T'Hemelryke chocolate shop and they will move in next year. However, this weekend it will be open as a promotion for Passchendael beer. I had a free sample today & it opens proper tomorrow (Saturday 10th) sorry about the poor photo, it was taken on my phone. All the best. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 9 November , 2013 Share Posted 9 November , 2013 Brilliant news. I was chatting to them a couple of weeks ago. Hopefully it now means their rent rise problems are now over (unless they are having to open a second shop!) Lovely couple and deserve all our patronage . Have loads of their choc's from last visit! Steve M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyne Posted 27 November , 2013 Share Posted 27 November , 2013 Already had the Passchendaele beer at the Yzer, Camp Poperinge ... and have a glass!!! M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Mackenzie Posted 27 November , 2013 Share Posted 27 November , 2013 John Good to see you are still making it to Ypres on a regular basis. Best wishes Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 28 November , 2013 Share Posted 28 November , 2013 I would be interested to hear from any of our Belgian friends who live in Ieper. What do they think of their town centre being turned increasingly to tourism? For example, when I first began visiting Ieper many years ago, Menenstraat was pretty much an ordinary, normal shopping street ... grocers, clothing, hardware, tobbaconist, etc. There were only one or two shops that sold anything of a WW1 tourist nature. That's changed now, with WW1 bookshops, battlefield tours, chocolate etc all coming in. The street is by no means all tourism yet but the trend has been that way and looks set to continue. Are Ieperlingen happy with it? Concerned about it? Not interested? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 28 November , 2013 Share Posted 28 November , 2013 Chris, I don't have problems with that, but then I don't live in Ypres town. But of course we think : all these chocolate shops ?! Well, law of supply and demand ? More sellers, lower prices ? That things are getting pretty commercial ? Well, that's life ... And Ypres was victimized in 1914-18, maybe we can see this as a sort of "compensation" ? As long as remembrance isn't forgotten ... But we can't blame the sellers for that. Provided things are not disrespectful. (Is Passchendaele beer disrespectful ? Are chocolate helmets ? It's a grey area ...) Also : if there are more chocolate sellers, it's because more buyers will be expected. One can aim one's arrows at the sellers, but let's not forget they can only sell if there are buyers. And many of these buyers are and will be ... British. Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 28 November , 2013 Share Posted 28 November , 2013 It's an issue not just confined to Belgium or WW1. Round here there are many smallish market towns, a few have gone the heritage route (having half timbered houses, charm and some local historical associations like a castle etc) and touristy shops have mushroomed. In the current increase in "staycations" they seem to be doing well. The other towns seem to be filling up with charity shops. I think on the whole I prefer the touristy shops Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrislock Posted 28 November , 2013 Share Posted 28 November , 2013 Aurel hit the nail on the head. Supply and demand is the word on the ground here in Wipers. Even more chocolate shops are being opened weekly and when I speak with those who I trust and know well, the answer is always the same. Coach loads of school children led by their guides flock to the shops spending incredible amounts of money in the process! Free enterprise is how our collective society works and if the school groups drive the type of shop required to the fore then so be it. If you wish to see evidence of this, simply stand in the Great Square any evening and just witness the huge rows (ha thankyou Centurian) of school children from wherever clutching their massive cool bags of chocolates. Tis truly amazing the spending power of teenagers today!! By the way, the issue of sky high rents has not gone away. Speak to Patrick and those others forced to give over their original normal shops for replacement by high earning, high rent paying chocolate/gift shops who as I type are all gearing up for the 100 year commemorations chocolate/gift shopping bonanza! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Tulloch-Marshall Posted 28 November , 2013 Share Posted 28 November , 2013 Aurel is absolutely correct about it being "the British" who are largely responsible for driving the commercialisation in the centre of Wipers. - Ditto much of the tackiness which is overwhelming the Last Post Ceremony. I suppose it (the LP situation) is maybe just an extension of the awful mawkishness which fell upon us when Princess Diana of heaven died - the sudden need by an element of the masses to be seen to be laying a wreath, etc ? Chocolate shops are slightly different of course; almost a necessity in order to sustain the various "isms" and "syndromes" with which a huge proportion of today's schoolkids seem to be blessed (in my day they were "thick" or unruly, or both). Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 29 November , 2013 Share Posted 29 November , 2013 It seems to me that to be a successful business in Belgium all you need to do is brew a beer, put a WW1 themed label on it and it is a best seller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 29 November , 2013 Share Posted 29 November , 2013 It seems to me that to be a successful business in Belgium all you need to do is brew a beer, put a WW1 themed label on it and it is a best seller. The Trappists seem to have missed a trick then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted 30 November , 2013 Share Posted 30 November , 2013 but if you walk away from the groot market and walk to the more "commercial" part of Leper you very quickly see lots of empty shop units. Not unlike every town in the UK. At least they are opening proper shops albeit chocolate shops and not like here in the UK where its town centres and high streets full of charity shops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisC Posted 30 November , 2013 Share Posted 30 November , 2013 Tom, you have captured the zeitgeist perfectly!! Chris C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hone Posted 1 December , 2013 Share Posted 1 December , 2013 TheTrappists haven't completely missed out: St Sixtus is beginning to trade on its cult status with real ale/microbrewery buffs and Mont Des Cats has recently started to sell its own-label beer, albeit brewed by Chimay. Haven't noticed them exploiting the Great War angle, though. Iain-are you suggesting that our favourite Belgian city is becoming an outcast? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 1 December , 2013 Share Posted 1 December , 2013 TheTrappists haven't completely missed out: St Sixtus is beginning to trade on its cult status with real ale/microbrewery buffs and Mont Des Cats has recently started to sell its own-label beer, albeit brewed by Chimay. Haven't noticed them exploiting the Great War angle, though. Iain-are you suggesting that our favourite Belgian city is becoming an outcast? It was the GW angle that I meant - (I was being ironic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyne Posted 2 December , 2013 Share Posted 2 December , 2013 I would be interested to hear from any of our Belgian friends who live in Ieper. What do they think of their town centre being turned increasingly to tourism? For example, when I first began visiting Ieper many years ago, Menenstraat was pretty much an ordinary, normal shopping street ... grocers, clothing, hardware, tobbaconist, etc. There were only one or two shops that sold anything of a WW1 tourist nature. That's changed now, with WW1 bookshops, battlefield tours, chocolate etc all coming in. The street is by no means all tourism yet but the trend has been that way and looks set to continue. Are Ieperlingen happy with it? Concerned about it? Not interested? chris, I don't know about tourism, but there have been complaints by people from Ieper to the fact that the road is closed every evening for the Last Post at Menin Gate... I'm not kidding !! MM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 2 December , 2013 Share Posted 2 December , 2013 chris, I don't know about tourism, but there have been complaints by people from Ieper to the fact that the road is closed every evening for the Last Post at Menin Gate... I'm not kidding !! MM. However much we might deplore this attitude its their town and their right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 3 December , 2013 Share Posted 3 December , 2013 (edited) Except they didn't run - they fought and many died - I think your comment is foul minded Edited 3 December , 2013 by Kate Wills T T-M's comment removed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 3 December , 2013 Share Posted 3 December , 2013 Tom, I must say I didn't enjoy reading your posting. Even though I am not one of those whinging (whining ?) Belgians. Besides, I don't know if forebears mean our soldiers or the evacuated civilians who were ordered to leave the town. And let's not forget that those 'whinging Belgians' are only 0.1 % (or even less, 0.01 % ?) of the population. Anyway, thank you for building the Menin Gate Memorial. Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 3 December , 2013 Share Posted 3 December , 2013 No doubt in 2019 the townsfolk will have the 'city' to themselves again - cue moaning about lack of tourists Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMarsdin Posted 3 December , 2013 Share Posted 3 December , 2013 (edited) Why do you post this offensive claptrap Tom ? As someone who has studied the war you know it's not true, to hide it under the "devil's advocate" excuse makes it no better. Edited 3 December , 2013 by Kate Wills T T-M's comment removed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Tulloch-Marshall Posted 3 December , 2013 Share Posted 3 December , 2013 I replied to post #17, and that reply was censored (by being removed). I stand by that reply. I replied again following post #21. That reply has been removed. Is this a forum for adults ? Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Wills Posted 3 December , 2013 Share Posted 3 December , 2013 Yes Tom, and it encourages scholarly replies, which is is why your provocative posts have been removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Tulloch-Marshall Posted 4 December , 2013 Share Posted 4 December , 2013 Yes Tom, and it encourages scholarly replies, which is is why your provocative posts have been removed. So #18 and # 21 are "scholarly replies" but my views about the Belgians who are complaining about the Last Post Ceremony are not allowed to be aired ? Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Wills Posted 4 December , 2013 Share Posted 4 December , 2013 If they amount to an insult and / or fallacy - NO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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