to tell anyone starting a Harry Potter business in York that

[chomalungma]

The Shambles was not the inspiration for Diagon Alley.

I mean it's great. The Shambles looks the part. But seriously.

1 Harry Potter shop was good. Then there were 3. Then another one joined in. And now there's a potion shop.

Still, it brings in the tourists. And it's a change from Vikings.

There was me thinking it was Victoria Street in Edinburgh.

@Choccyp1g

Shoe Lane isn't named for shoes:

mapoflondon.uvic.ca/SHOE1.htm

('The origins of the street name are obscure, but all the historians agree that the name does not refer to the manufacture of shoes. Some have suggested that the street was named after the well called Showelle or Sho well (Smith 190; Weinreb and Hibbert 784). However, it is more likely that both the well and the street derived their names from a tract of land named Shoeland Farm.')

and Baker Street isn't named for bakers:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker_Street

and Pudding Lane never had a single pudding shop:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pudding_Lane

@EndoplasmicReticulum

The Shambles is not good for the social distancing. Can't be 2 metres apart if the street isn't 2 metres wide

Especially upstairs.

So Eckhart is it a myth that that all the same sort of shops were grouped together?
Or did I just pick extremely bad examples?

The cluster theory certainly works for Harrogate and estate agents all in one small area

I can see clustering being really useful for some things.
e.g. Antiques.
If you wanted a browse would you go to Hungerford & visit 7 antique shops, or Marlborough and visit 1? (numbers made up before anyone local corrects me).

And certainly in an area if there was a cluster, you wouldn't want to be the outlier. If I want shoes am I going to head north up the high street where there are 5 shoe shops, or south where there is only 1?

Gandy Street? Really?! There's nothing remotely comparable between Gandy Street and the Shambles!

Butchers row in Barnstaple has 3 butchers on it

@Choccyp1g

I don't think most towns and villages used to have several of each. It's a product of overpopulation, I think. Different story for pubs and breweries, of course.

@MiddleClassProblem

And apparently used to have more.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-52885683

That must have been quite unusual. People must have come from bleedin' miles away for them to all stay in business!

When I lived in York (12 odd years ago) there weren't any potter shops. Then when we visited, there they all were! I'm a huge fan so went in them all, although I do think that the only ' proper' HP shop is the one at Kings Cross.

I find it funny that these shops weren't such a thing when the books were still being released. Is potter even bigger now?

I do love the shambles. Is the Earl Grey tea room still there?

@RegularHumanBartender

Gandy Street? Really?! There's nothing remotely comparable between Gandy Street and the Shambles

Apart from the fact that they're both Medieval shopping streets, and are both narrow and are both still cobbled.

Gandy Street has better posture, admittedly...

[quote Eckhart]@MiddleClassProblem

And apparently used to have more.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-52885683

That must have been quite unusual. People must have come from bleedin' miles away for them to all stay in business![/quote]
That’s weirdly reported. In DD’s life time there has definitely been a couple there plus the SA shop. So that’s at least within the last 5 years. They have a fishmongers, a cheese shop and one or two bakers too.

There are few "natural" streets like The Shambles and it really does look like Diagon Alley.

York is a very touristy destination, I'm any Harry Potter shops in The Shambles would do well. Theres enough passing trade and the location fits the Diagon Alley bill

Always assumed it was Victoria Street in Edinburgh too. The Shambles is funny though.

@RegularHumanBartender

Gandy Street? Really?! There's nothing remotely comparable between Gandy Street and the Shambles!

Having lived just outside Exeter and in York (still in York, in fact), I agree. They are very different. I'm more excited about having lived in Ottery St Mary (name inspiration for Catchpole St Mary) and very close to Budleigh Salteron/Budleigh Babberton!!!

It’s based on Cecil Ct, and all the shops there hate the Harry Potter tours

@Choccyp1g

So Eckhart is it a myth that that all the same sort of shops were grouped together? Or did I just pick extremely bad examples?

They are in Hanoi. 🤷‍♀️

I know what you mean, last time we went to York I asked DH when the heck there were so many HP themed shops on The Shambles
And DS asked me why a lady had a willy on her head (Hen Do)

I live in York and have done most of my life but hate the shambles. There is something very off about the street. I’m not catholic either I just can’t stand place. I’ve mentioned it to a few people and they’ve felt the same.

Ottery St Mary

Inspired by Otters?

I live in York and have done most of my life but hate the shambles. There is something very off about the street. I’m not catholic either I just can’t stand place. I’ve mentioned it to a few people and they’ve felt the same.

@user1471462428

I live in York and have done most of my life but hate the shambles. There is something very off about the street. I’m not catholic either I just can’t stand place. I’ve mentioned it to a few people and they’ve felt the same.

I wandered around it early in the morning during the lockdown peak and it was so so so quiet