Viewpoint: Night-life and culture should be essential in Maidenhead's regeneration

Nightlife and culture should be essential

I’ve lived in Maidenhead for six years.

I moved here for the easy commute to London, but I stayed because I saw potential. And there’s no doubt Maidenhead is improving.

We’ve seen more independent coffee shops, diverse food options, and exciting businesses like Bakedd, El Cerdo, ToMoTankova, and Presto showing what’s possible.

With new gyms, beautiful parks, and a growing list of amenities, Maidenhead now offers something for most demographics.

But walk through town at night, and it still feels empty.

Outside a few standout pubs such as The Maiden’s Head, The Lord Grenfell, Off the Tap and excellent restaurants like Seasonality and The Greek House, there are few reasons to stay after dark.

There is no cocktail bar, no live music venue, no games café, and no regular comedy night.

While we’re lucky to have Norden Farm for arts and culture, there’s nowhere you can spend time without needing to drink alcohol.

Maidenhead is packed at lunchtime and deserted by 8pm.

We’re losing footfall and spending to Reading, Windsor, and London. That’s a missed opportunity not just for local businesses, but for Maidenhead’s identity.

Amid concerns about a near bankrupt council, scepticism over the Borough Plan, and worries about infrastructure, we must recognise that culture and entertainment are not optional. They are essential. Without them, people go elsewhere. Flats won’t sell. Rents will stall. The buzz will fade.

Nationally, the night-time economy contributes over £112billion to the UK and supports 1.9million jobs.

And it’s not just nightclubs.

It includes evening gyms, street food venues, spoken word events, game cafés, live music, and inclusive social spaces.

People are crying out for things to do in the evening that aren’t focused on alcohol or heading home early.

Some may say Maidenhead isn’t a big town but that’s exactly why this matters. We can’t keep relying on London for all our evening culture.

Regeneration should mean building community not just buildings.

There’s promise in the new regeneration areas, but the focus has been too heavily tilted toward housing and big retail chains like the incoming Nando’s and Pret.

Without support for local entrepreneurs in hospitality and culture, these developments risk becoming hollow.

The council should explore measures like time limited business rate relief for new evening venues especially those offering inclusive, alcohol-free or creative experiences.

Grants, relaxed planning rules, and the temporary use of empty units could help entrepreneurs get started.

A local Evening Economy Taskforce could unite businesses, residents, and cultural groups around a shared vision.

Whether it’s live music, a games café, or a rotating street food market, the council should act as an enabler.

Other councils have shown what’s possible.

Manchester has a Night Time Economy Adviser and a clear evening strategy. Bristol supports grassroots cultural hubs through grants and rate relief. Brighton has late-night food markets, open mic nights, game cafés, and LGBTQ+ inclusive spaces.

These towns built the foundations early and are thriving because of it.

Let’s back our entrepreneurs, diversify our local offer, and treat culture and entertainment as essential parts of regeneration. If we want a town that thrives both day and night, we need to give people a reason to stay, connect, and enjoy their evenings locally.

ALEXANDER COBB

Maidenhead

Are town regeneration plans taking the ‘P’?

I was shocked to read the letter from Martin McNamee (Viewpoint, June 6) that parking provision for visitors in the proposed new Nicholson Centre plan will drop to less than 100 spaces.

It makes one think that there won’t be much to attract people into town.

I am now advised that there will also be no public toilets in the new development.

Am I right in thinking that there are NO other public toilets in the centre (possibly the one in the library, if that’s working).

This suggests that anyone over 60 will probably be more comfortable visiting a different town.

I am increasingly thinking that this scheme is a retrograde step for Maidenhead. These details matter for people visiting the centre.

ANDREW INGRAM

Boyndon Road

Maidenhead

No one held responsible for poor pothole work

I refer to Barry Giggins’ comments (Viewpoint, June 6).

It is disgraceful that RBWM waste our money on what they call repairing potholes.

There is no supervision and logically no specification.

They are simply putting tarmac in the hole and not even bothering to level it.

I have reported this to Cllr Hill who always promises to investigate, but nothing is ever done. Our rates have increased yet spending our money recklessly continues and no one is held responsible.

A suitably qualified person should be in charge and potholes repaired permanently which will save money in the long term.

GERALD MURRAY

Castle Hill

Maidenhead

The Piano shows our country is full of talent

The Advertiser article ‘Discover the joy of music at SoundLab’ (May 16) was very interesting and was appropriately followed on Sunday, May 25 by ‘The Piano’ and its seven finalists on Channel 4.

The seven finalists – amateur pianists – thoroughly entertained everyone, proving once again, given the opportunity, this great country of ours is full of talent.

Long may it continue!

T D SMITH

Village Road

Dorney

A problem we cannot kick into the long grass

I would like to comment on Jay Flynn’s letter (Viewpoint, May 30).

What has squaring the circle got to do with assisted dying?

People die by suicide for various reasons.

I am a retired social housing worker who spent nearly 40 years in the business.

Business included dealing with death.

Unfortunately, a lot of people experience a distressing death.

I have heard people say ‘you would not put a dog or cat through what my mother/father is going through’ as he/she nears death.

I have also heard people of no religion say ‘Please God, take him/her tonight’.

We are a mammal the same as a dog or cat. For some reason, we don’t want our pet to suffer, and it gets carted off to the vet to be dispatched.

Why the difference when one’s dog or cat has been part of one’s family for many years?

The problem that Jay Flynn does not want to face is that, over the last, say, 60 years, medical science has become extremely clever at prolonging life.

This is very nice, but we have not faced up to the social problems that flow from being able to keep people alive.

Kicking the problem into the long grass is not really an option.

E SHEPHERD

Longmead

Windsor

Tuneful take on United States’ resolution veto

On June 4, I happened to be looking at Rudyard Kipling’s famous poem, ‘If’. This contains the lines,

“Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies;

Or being hated, don’t give way to hating …”.

The very same day, we heard that the United States of America had vetoed a United Nations Security Council draft resolution, approved by the other 14 members of the security council, on the situation in Gaza.

I offer the following, to the tune, ‘Donald, Where’s Yer Trousers?’

‘Donald, Where’s Yer Veto?’

Walk for miles in your crowded ranks;

Get some food – but beware of tanks!

Then give Mister Vance your thanks!

Donald, where’s yer veto?

As the guns got fired and the hunger grew,

Let the Red Cross moan and the UN, too –

But the IDF say, ‘It’s just not true’:

Donald, where’s yer veto?

JAY FLYNN

Moneyrow Green

Holyport