To wonder what makes an area “posh”?

[NotCure172]

Just came back from a friend’s house in a very leafy suburb of West Midlands city. She loves talking about how posh it is where lives but I asked her what does it mean to live in a posh area? How do you know it’s posh? She couldn’t really answer my question and the area was very average.

How do you define a “posh” area?

I live in a posh bit of East Midlands and we have a Greg's ... and an Iceland !! ... we also have a M&S food hall, Oliver Bonas and Mama Bebe jojo (or whatever order it goes in 🤩)

Where you can have front decor- without it being half inched?

Starbucks rather than Costa

Posh Cotswolds. A relative used to wind up his workmates by telling them he'd be spending the weekend on his estate in Gloucestershire. In fact he was in an ex council semi he'd bought on an unappetising estate in a rundown area of Gloucester. Not posh.

My local High St has one of those independent book/coffee shops. It makes me feel a bit posh living nearby.

@HintofVintagePink

If someone says posh I just immediately think of Hyacinth Bucket. All shiny doorknobs and symmetrical marigolds. It’s ironic the word ‘posh’ just indicates the exact opposite!

Yeah but towns/villages aren’t people.

I think cities are just a mix of streets. London isn’t posh or grotty despite its crime and wealthy. It’s just a first world city.

Chiddingfold is a posh village. Clanfield isn’t. No one would say otherwise.

Where the properties start at £3 million and you can’t really see them as the drives are long with the houses well set back from the road with high hedges. If you can see them they have triple garages built over as a gym or office space.

Decent gardens with large pool and perhaps a tennis court. You definitely need a sit on mower for the gardener.

The local train station will also have the highest number of first class season ticket holders (or did pre covid).

Is her locality like this?

lightisnot
That made me laugh about Chiddingfold and Clanfield. Know them both and spot on.

I'm in London, No McDonalds or Nando's walking distance of me. Nearest supermarket is M and S.

It's defo posh

Gravel drives
Bins out of sight
Absence of white cars
Absence of Audi A1/A3 Merc A classes
Mature trees
Non chain shops

Houses look generally well maintained, have plants out the front, recently painted etc.
Independent shops, a deli, a cafe and a wine bar/ nice gastro pub.

I love the definition that the cheapest chicken shop is a Nando's, very true round here.

@ReadyforEaster

Sutton Coldfield does have a 'posh' reputation.

I've no idea what a posh area is. I was brought up to think somewhere where most of the houses are private was posh.

Sutton coldfield isnt posh Some nice bits/ nice roads but generally no. And boarders some horrible places. I should know as loved locally all my life

Where it doesn't matter if you fail the 11+.

Where you think it's a park, but you took a wrong turn into a driveway.

Where there are more trees than houses.

Where there's not much else to do other than am dram/ play sports or admire trees/ big houses.

Where the playgrounds are few, far between and a bit paltry.
Crap areas get the best playgrounds

@custardbear

I live in a posh bit of East Midlands and we have a Greg's ... and an Iceland !! ... we also have a M&S food hall, Oliver Bonas and Mama Bebe jojo (or whatever order it goes in 🤩)

As a close neighbour I don't think this place is as posh as it thinks. It has an Aldi and a Lidl and no Waitrose for miles.

Gastro pubs
Vegan restaurants
Lots of 4 bed houses, beautiful gardens all occupied by 65s and over
Waitrose
Big issue sellers

@TheRealistBub

Gravel drives Bins out of sight Absence of white cars Absence of Audi A1/A3 Merc A classes Mature trees Non chain shops

Absence of white cars

@Hoppinggreen

Starbucks rather than Costa

Why? Is there much difference?

I know where I live is posh because if you go to the park and shout ‘Milo’ or ‘Bella’, you get a 50:50 chance of a dog or child coming to you…

(We have a Nandos. It’s only the same street as a Jojo Mama Bebe, Aesop, Gails and several baby shops where the baby grows start at £30… and independent wine shops with clever pun names)

@BogRollBOGOF

Where it doesn't matter if you fail the 11+.

Where you think it's a park, but you took a wrong turn into a driveway.

Where there are more trees than houses.

Where there's not much else to do other than am dram/ play sports or admire trees/ big houses.

Where the playgrounds are few, far between and a bit paltry.
Crap areas get the best playgrounds

Isn’t that just rural areas?

Nah, there are houses every 100 yards. Big ones. Possibly with mock tudor.
No sheep/ cows. Possibly horses though.

I was gutted when the "horsey-house" was bought, demolished and turnef into a mini-housing estate of 5 prestigious executive homes. Not that prestigious executive homes mean much.

@Fridafever

I understood the definition of posh is not having a McDonald's within walking distance

I’d imagine that rules out the whole of central London. The queen will be sad.

I live near the queen Not a lot of MacDonald’s. Whitehall if she pops down the mall

There are not that many McDonald’s in central London- think ax it’s a franchise (not all) it’s more of a cheap out of town patch of land in midlands and north brand these days

When people leave nice stuff in their front gardens like a tree in a pot AND no one nicks it!

When the sandwich shops are full of sourdough bread and panini but can’t make a proper toastie.

Clean streets, graffiti removed quickly.

Quiet neighbours.

The council spends money on flower baskets.

The house windows and cars are shiny and clean.

Etc

We have a Gails

We have a candle shop

We have a gin and chocolate shop (can you get anymore Surrey)

We have no M&S

We have no Mc Donalds

We have no cinema.

We do have a Waitrose

I am in council tax band E.

Experian Mosaic had us down as empty nesters, the profile was quite accurate except for the fact the child knows he is on to a good thing and aint moving out anytime soon.

A very low proportion of free school meals at the local school.