Interview with Kane - The Forum - 8th December 2014 - 12 midday
Can you briefly describe your role here at the Forum and a bit about the Forum area itself please?
Ok...so erm my name's Kane Yeardley and I'm like the owner and the manager of the Forum and we've got two bars here and about twelve shops. Erm, my role is to oversee the bars, make sure they're run well and the design and the offer, and then with the shops to try to get an interesting mix of tenants to make the place a destination.
Can you tell us a bit about your opinion on the Devonshire Quarter area?
I really like the Devonshire Quarter, 'cause it's where a lot of interesting small businesses start and er, it's just got a feel to itself . It's not like the high street ...people are more friendly here than the high street. Yeah, that's why I like it!
How's it different to the city centre?
Well like all city centres, because of the high rents, they tend to have the same chains and the same brands, so all city centres look very similar, whereas what you get here is you get different people doing different sorts of things and services. You know, you've got from small tailors that will repair things, you've got cobblers, you've got people that make one off pieces of clothing for you to specialist skateboard shops to great coffee shops which you don't get on the high street.
Whydo you think Sheffield benefits from an area like this?
Erm well, it benefits because...well I read an article this morning that says 60p the pound that is generated by independent stores goes back into the same city. It helps little businesses to start because the rents are not as expensive, and it's attractive to other people to come and live here, - if there's a good independent area then people will choose it because it's kinda more interesting.
and can you give us your opinion on the demolition plans being proposed?
Erm it's a bit sad really, it's a lovely building. It's got three great , quite different, unique traders in - Rare 'n' Racy has been here a long time, the book and record store. The Royal (Natural) Bed company, which has grown from being a little store to like exporting all around the world, and Syd and Mallory, which again - small, two girls that set up and now export quite a few bits and pieces around the world. I think the development and the proposing - knocking it down and making two large units, would be solely for the purpose to rent them out as bars or restaurants - to chains - and to get more flats above. So...I can't see there's any benefit of that really to the area.
What do you think the effects would be if it did happen?
Er..(pauses) well as I say those three are great little retails, and they help with the character of the area, which if they go..it kills of a bit of the character in the area, erm...I can't see any benefit really.
And if you could give a message to the people behind the plans, would you have anything to say to them?
I think if they decided to say the building couldn't be demolished, it would then leave itself for smaller businesses to ...oh and it wouldn't mean that higher rents could be charged from new buildings so it would help other small businesses come into the area.
..and is there anything else you would like to say on the subject?
Erm, no (laughs) I think that's it. Is that alright?
Yeah, thank you very much!
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