The Cumberland news recently ran an article on the success of Carlisle as a shopping centre. Victoria was asked to add her comments and this is what they published:
Victoria Farley agrees passionately with that sentiment. Victoria moved to Cumbria from Harrogate five years ago as the namager of new department store Hoopers which opened where Bullough’s had served generations of Cumbrians for years. She now runs Lanercost Tea Room with her husband Michael.
“I liked Carlisle straight away. It was the ambience of the place and the way that people treated you.
“When I go shopping at Marks and Spencer, everybody speaks to me as if they know me. It’s a natural Cumbrian thing. They can’t do anything other than that.
“It means so much to be greeted and welcomed. Cumbrians don’t realise that other people just don’t do it.
“For me, Carlisle has always been a really good compact city centre for shopping. It’s that fabulous square in the centre – a lot of places would bite your hand off for that space and the architecture that surrounds it.
“The only thing we’re a bit short of is independent, niche retailers, selling nicknacks or objets d’art. It would be nice to see places like Carlyle’s Court or the Market Hall used more.
“How many places now have an indoor market? People who live here are used to it and don’t necessarily appreciate it.”
This principle applies to much of the city, thinks Victoria. How many locals have become numb to the jewels which dazzle outsiders?
“There are lots of places with history, but few which have the cross-section that Carlisle has. That mixture gives the city centre a really nice character.
“I just wish more people were aware of it. It’s a hidden gem because I think people in Cumbria are quite modest and unassuming. They won’t beat the drum. It’s not their way. We rely on people finding it, and being pleasantly surprised.”
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