The local High Street
It's a few years since I captured this image, and a few changes have occurred, but it's still the main shopping area of the town. Shops open and close every few years, but the pubs, banks and late night take out venues remain. The high street is a one way system which has changed direction a few times overnight, much to the confusion of non residents of the town. If you can't buy it on this high street, then you probably can't buy it in the town. A mix of chain shops like Costa Coffee to more localized shops like The Tide, Ramsey. You won't find big department stores here, but you will find an eclectic mix of fishmongers, butchers, cafes, restaurants, toy shops, one off clothes shops. Even with the advent of internet shopping, the high street is still surviving in Ramsey.
Gone shopping
There are a few supermarkets in Ramsey, but Shoprite is the one that is probably most local, as it's Manx, from the Isle of Man. There are about 12 of these stores around the island, serving the needs of the island folk. Not just local Manx produce, imports too, are sold and Shoprite is the only local supplier for Iceland food store goods. Douglas Shoprite now have a Subway outlet too. Ramsey branch has a Lloyds Chemist outlet just set inside the entrance. Some branches even have clothing outlets too. The bread doesn't have to far to travel to the supermarket, as Ramsey Bakery is set opposite. The shopping bags logo carries the Manx three legs, as seen on the flag. Those bags often turn up in photos in the most unexpected places in the world, thanks to all those Isle of Man TT visitors.
The slogan for the Supermarket chain, is apparently "The Difference Every Day" and the shops are no relation to ones in the USA or South Africa. The bird on the roof is optional. Shopping local helps the local economy. Like the pub, I do my bit. Conveniently, the supermarket is situated almost next door to The Central pub!
