So.. you know that Mary Portas..

[WorriedBetty]

I quite like her plain speaking and arrogance confidence.

Anyway, its obvious (Margate!) that a TV person who does shows on shopping giving out money to a shopping centre is going to want to film it, but so many bidders in this 'Portas scheme' thingy seem to be surprised!

There is one of those bids near me and people are getting excited that she might be coming - how did Margate think she wouldn't film them??!?

Anyway I just wanted to say that I think she is cool - lined up with the tories.. which is a bit sad, but I still think she is cool.

It's either been bad or strangely silent. Make of that what you will ...

Just adding my tuppence having met her - in person she is a very unappealing character, arrogant and dismissive. I think when people admire her arrogance they are perceiving it as confidence and forthrightness, but really, it is just simple arrogance. She was rude and self absorbed, then suddenly turned on the mega-watt charm when the 'important' people arrived. I very much judge people on how they treat the staff at the lower end of the importance scale, and she did not do well...
Plenty of celebs out there manage to keep their manners and treat people decently, I don't see why she in her recent fame is excused.

Mary Portas, I love her so much I could eat her. :)

In some ways I sort of like her and I was interested in the show she did where she took an redundant sewing factory and made knickers, as its similar to the field I worked in.

Though I can see the 'arrogant and dismissive' element as she used to stand there hands on hips lamenting that people dont want to be sewing machinists anymore. The fact they were all being paid minimum wage was lost on her

handy I have been in meetings with her and she is VILE to her staff.

Slightly off topic, but what would you do to improve Margate... This is my two penneth... be interesting to hear what you all think.

I found it interesting that the programme yesterday mentioned Padstow as a foodie town. Margate has amazing local produce and lots of fish, it's a shame a foodie scene can't be introduced there. The old market place is doing well, a high street full of vintage shops would be great too. I heard that Wayne Hemingway was taking control of Dreamland and making it a haven for vintage fairground rides. If they reopened the cinema at the top of the high street, they could screen art-house films. The beaches are gorgeous - we go just for those. Chuck in a few nice places to eat and I would go there on holiday rather that Whitstable.

Really sorry to hear about all this. I quite liked her but then went off her when she remarked snidely that "lots of women are only interested in looking as mediocre as Kirsty Alsop in a wrap around dress"!! How horrible both towards Kirsty and other women. I agree with your comments on the charity shop thing too though....so patronising and so "London"!

Portas made(and still makes) a lot of money from investing in "retail parks" which shows how committed she is to the high street.