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Eastenders: The Laundrette


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Old 26-03-2014, 10:55
Ben_Hunt
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Okay so DTC established that the show needs to update and get with the times, we have an upmarket bar and a new market on the way. Scarlett's provides a more luxurious place to dine and the gyms reopening is appropriate with the fitness savvy culture we have today. My one nagging thought is whether the laundrette still needs to be there? Once Dot retires which surely must be soon, there won't be anyone as iconic enough to take over and Cora is rarely seen there. Following Dot's break from the show, rarely anyone has been seen in there for the standard confession/shoulder to cry on session.

Plus with the Arches, Arthur's Bench and the park, do we need anymore places for characters to sit and cry/reveal their crimes? I just feel it's so outdated and doesn't really even feel part of the show anymore. I'd rather Mr Opodopolous sell it on and allow for something new or extend/revamp the Minute Mart and that god awful wood panelling.
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Old 26-03-2014, 11:35
Scarlet Fever
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Okay so DTC established that the show needs to update and get with the times, we have an upmarket bar and a new market on the way. Scarlett's provides a more luxurious place to dine and the gyms reopening is appropriate with the fitness savvy culture we have today. My one nagging thought is whether the laundrette still needs to be there? Once Dot retires which surely must be soon, there won't be anyone as iconic enough to take over and Cora is rarely seen there. Following Dot's break from the show, rarely anyone has been seen in there for the standard confession/shoulder to cry on session.

Plus with the Arches, Arthur's Bench and the park, do we need anymore places for characters to sit and cry/reveal their crimes? I just feel it's so outdated and doesn't really even feel part of the show anymore. I'd rather Mr Opodopolous sell it on and allow for something new or extend/revamp the Minute Mart and that god awful wood panelling.

Yeah - I guess laundrettes are out dated etc, what could replace it? what are we missing in the square?

maybe a
clothes shop but we have market stalls
bar - Sharon/the vic
café - have
restaurant - have
small shop - have
fish 'n' chips

we had a charity shop....

maybe a proper stationery/newsagents shop? hairdressers/beauty (what happened to booty is now becoming a bar)
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Old 26-03-2014, 11:39
DODS11
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I think in the new set they should extend the newsagents into the laundrette and turn it into something like a small supermarket.
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Old 26-03-2014, 12:21
BubblysInFridge
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if they are clever enough they will remember they sent Bianca away on a fashion course last year, how about Kat & Bianca turn the laundrette into a clothes shop it also gives both characters development
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Old 26-03-2014, 13:25
The_abbott
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lots of people still use laudrette's - especially in the city with all the flats.

Although you'd think someone like Ian could affford and has space for a washing machine!
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Old 26-03-2014, 13:26
Keller
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The Launderette is kind of an EastEnders icon and getting rid of it would be easy but creating something equally iconic in its place would be in impossible. It's true that it was probably more realistic in the 80s and 90s and was heavily used during those eras but in terms of realism they are making a comeback, a new one opened up down the road from me last year in west London and seems very busy in the evenings, full of those young 'hipster' types who could probably afford their own machine but can't be bothered or just see the launderette as some kind of cool throwback. Putting a few quid into the machine could be cheaper in the long run than the ever increasing electricity bills!

Despite the jokes about how nobody in Albery Square has a washing machine or how outdated it is, I think there's a place for it in 21st century Walford. Otherwise the modernisation becomes too "try hard" by hastily replacing an old favourite with a cliched shop/cafe.
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Old 26-03-2014, 13:37
Mattehhhftw
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lots of people still use laudrette's - especially in the city with all the flats.

Although you'd think someone like Ian could affford and has space for a washing machine!
This. They should keep it until Dot leaves atleast!
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Old 26-03-2014, 13:42
GeekInfected
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Laundrettes are very still much in use. I don't get where people get this idea from that people don't use Launderettes. Just come around to Hackney and see how much they are still in use.
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Old 26-03-2014, 13:51
radcliffe95
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Mobile phone shop or cash converters type of store.
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Old 26-03-2014, 13:53
Beckstargirl
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Apart really from Dr. Legg, why has their never been a long standing doctor in the square??
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Old 26-03-2014, 14:37
KieranDS
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Launderettes are still very much in demand.
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Old 26-03-2014, 14:40
0...0
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A purple interior designer needs to come in and turn it into a little red launderette...
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Old 26-03-2014, 14:47
elliecat
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People still use laundrettes, my town has about 5 of them (all very much in use). Not everyone has a washing machine or can afford to buy one a £2 wash once every two weeks or every week is a lot cheaper than buying a machine from somewhere like Brighthouse. We've used them when our washing machine stopped working/needed a new part/wasn't plumbed in. Their machine's are also bigger so you can put larger items like duvets or coats in them.

It's actually very realistic that somewhere like Albert Square has a laundrette (which also does dry cleaning).
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Old 26-03-2014, 16:25
Ozboz3
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The Launderette is kind of an EastEnders icon and getting rid of it would be easy but creating something equally iconic in its place would be in impossible. It's true that it was probably more realistic in the 80s and 90s and was heavily used during those eras but in terms of realism they are making a comeback, a new one opened up down the road from me last year in west London and seems very busy in the evenings, full of those young 'hipster' types who could probably afford their own machine but can't be bothered or just see the launderette as some kind of cool throwback. Putting a few quid into the machine could be cheaper in the long run than the ever increasing electricity bills!

Despite the jokes about how nobody in Albery Square has a washing machine or how outdated it is, I think there's a place for it in 21st century Walford. Otherwise the modernisation becomes too "try hard" by hastily replacing an old favourite with a cliched shop/cafe.
This pretty much. I'd be very upset if they ever got rid of the laundrette
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Old 26-03-2014, 16:46
vaslav37
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The gym set needs updating - it looks like a boxing club still...
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Old 26-03-2014, 17:37
Sergio_Dublin
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The problem with beauty salons/Hairdresser sets is that in reality people don't go to them every day/week. The launderette was perfect because hardly nobody had washing machines in the 80's and you could base scenes there. However keeping it would probably be okay but given the middle class postcode E20 has become it doesn't make sense.

Knocking it through with the shop next door would be ideal as it means they would hire more staff which of course adds screen time for actors and would be very realistic.

You could have a small corner of the shop devoted to a post office and possibly a dry cleaning booth perhaps?
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Old 26-03-2014, 18:44
lewisktfc
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The laundrette is too iconic to get rid of, but I think there is some places that have potential, like Mcklunkies, the bookies & the community centre, all could be used more or turned into something new..
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Old 26-03-2014, 18:55
benbenalen
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The laundrette is too iconic to get rid of, but I think there is some places that have potential, like Mcklunkies, the bookies & the community centre, all could be used more or turned into something new..
I think they should modernise it a bit, something like this perhaps?

http://www.ipso.com/Upload/IPSO%20La...20Showcase.jpg
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Old 26-03-2014, 18:57
GeekInfected
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The problem with beauty salons/Hairdresser sets is that in reality people don't go to them every day/week. The launderette was perfect because hardly nobody had washing machines in the 80's and you could base scenes there. However keeping it would probably be okay but given the middle class postcode E20 has become it doesn't make sense.

Knocking it through with the shop next door would be ideal as it means they would hire more staff which of course adds screen time for actors and would be very realistic.

You could have a small corner of the shop devoted to a post office and possibly a dry cleaning booth perhaps?
Which part of E20 denotes middle class? Certaintly not the E part
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Old 26-03-2014, 21:03
Matthew_Howarth
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Hope Mr Opidopolous comes back to the laundromat again.

Great character - his voice was really smooth and oily.
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Old 26-03-2014, 21:09
Joe_Zel
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I think it's fine, because they are still in use.

It would probably be fitting to have it close down once Dot has left.
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Old 26-03-2014, 21:10
Keyser_Soze1
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Walford should open a gay massage parlour set up by Philth after he comes out of the closet to Sharon, and then he bullies poor Ian into having the first 'happy ending' at his ahem...hands.
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Old 26-03-2014, 21:18
benbenalen
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I think Phil should open a Shisha cafe in there once Dot leaves!
It would be good business, go to the Vic to get pissed, go next door to get knocked out!

And its not like Phil to walk you home, you'd wake up on the curb
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Old 28-03-2014, 23:02
Ben_Hunt
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I don't think it is though (iconic) if The Queen Vic shut down that would be one thing or even the cafe but that's gone through it's fair share of names and the worlds kept turning. Dot is hardly ever there and surely she must be retiring soon? People think everything on EE is iconic which is part of the problem that we've had until now. It's stick in the past.
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Old 28-03-2014, 23:21
Joe_Zel
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I don't think it is though (iconic) if The Queen Vic shut down that would be one thing or even the cafe but that's gone through it's fair share of names and the worlds kept turning. Dot is hardly ever there and surely she must be retiring soon? People think everything on EE is iconic which is part of the problem that we've had until now. It's stick in the past.
It is iconic to the show. Doesn't mean it shouldn't be closed and we move on. But much like the Cafe and Vic it's been a common place since the 80s for characters to meet or where Pauline and Dot give out their advice.
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