Doncaster - Come Into My World

Sheffield, Yorkshire, England Yorkshire

Recommendation added: 26/08/2006 03:32
By: erika26 (YSUK rating +44)

erika26 has been thanked 2 times for this contribution

"Just over 26 years ago I was born in a town called Doncaster. For all of you that don't know, Doncaster is in South Yorkshire about 20 miles away from Sheffield. It is the birth place of Kevin Keegan, Lesley Garratt, John Parr (st elmos fire) and Jeremy Clarkson amongst others.

Growing up I always assumed that Doncaster was a well known town in our country, but apparently not so. Whilst working in Benidorm a few years back people would look at me blankly when I told them where I came from. It was usually those southerners, you know the ones that think nothing exists past Manchester. So I thought I would let people out there know a little more about my home sweet home.

Growing up I disliked Doncaster, I wanted to move as far away as I could. I don't know why I disliked it, I suppose everyone dislikes where they live at one point or another. But after moving to various places I realised my heart belonged back here where I grew up.

During the past few years Doncaster has started to undergo many changes and is now pushing it's way forward from a depressed smog filled town into the new up and coming Jewel Of The North. People are flocking here in their thousands both to live and to visit. Employment opportunities are at an all time high, businesses are re-locating here, an airport is soon to be opened and Doncaster Rovers (our footy club) have been promoted for the second year running. Doncaster takes its name from the river Don and the castle which can be found a few miles away at Conisbrough.

So what else does Doncaster have? What does the future hold? I will try to answer as many questions as I can and I hope you enjoy reading.


Town Centre Shops
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Doncaster town centre is huge but the shops are close together instead of spread out which usually happens. The Frenchgate Centre is our one and only shopping centre. The Trafford Centre it isn't but it still provides all the sta ple shops such as Woolworths, WH Smiths, Boots, BHS etc. Unfortunately the Frenchgate Centre could really do with some modernising as it hasn't been touched in over 20 years. I'm sure the planners will get round to this once they have finished building the new interchange over the road.

Not only is there the Frenchgate Centre but a vast array of shops can be found spanning the whole way up to the market area and back again. If you can't find what you want in Donny, then you can't find it at all.


Food and Drink
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As always with any town there are many different places you can choose from if you feel a bit peckish. There's the usual Burger King, McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut to keep the kiddies of you happy. For a nice cheap 'adult' meal have a look at Wok Mania where they do various different meal deals. Don't forget the snack places such as Greggs Bakers and Cooplands where you can buy any sandwich of your liking.


Bars and Clubs
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In my years of absence from the clubbing scene i'm not really qualified to comment on the quality of the pubs and clubs. But I can tell you that they are rammed in your face wherever you go. Doncaster Town Centre is rapidly becoming the place to be for a night out I am reliably informed. If there is building work happening in the centre of town you can guarantee it's going to be a pub not a shop. Now if only I could take a few years of myself i'm sure I would love this new party lifestyle that Doncaster teenagers are becoming accustomed to.


Market
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Doncaster boasts a huge market which people come to visit from all over the country. There are smaller markets mid-week, but the main one is held on a Saturday. The market is in three sections, two indoor markets and one massive outdoor. You can get yourself lost looking around.


Yorkshire Outlet
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T he Yorkshire Outlet is based about a mile and a half outside Doncaster town centre. This is a retail outlet which sells 2nds, last seasons clothes and anything else the companies want to get rid of. The building work to this has only just been completed as they decided to expand it a couple of years back. The shops which you can now find here include Next, Pilot, Clarks, Toys R Us, Marks and Spencers, Cadburys etc etc. Definitely take a trip to the Outlet if you want a few bargains.


Lakeside Development
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Long long ago when I was a teeny weeny ickle girl there was a new leisure development which they had started to build. After five years the first of the buildings was complete, the Dome Leisure Centre.

The Dome is (or was) a cutting edge leisure world that had one of the first duel level ice rinks. It also boasts a huge water park with wave machines and water chutes etc, plus all the regular leisure facilities you would expect to find. Unfortunately as the rest of the development hasn't even been finished to this day, the Dome is starting to look a bit worse for wear.

The Lake itself has been man-made and has had problem after problem. It was supposed to be turned into a outdoor water ski/country park but at one point it had to be completely drained again after it was found to be highly contaminated. Maybe one day we will get our futuristic leisure village like promised, but for now it's a distant dream. Its the people who paid thousands to live in the executive homes surrounding it who I feel sorry for.


Doncaster Racecourse
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Doncaster boasts its own racecourse which is the home of the Grand St Leger. I don't go to the races but the racecourse doesn't just cater for those that do. The racecourse also is the home of my Sunday favourite, a good old car boot sale. Every Sunday, as long as there's no racing, hundreds of cars converge to make for one gigantic boot sale which is far bigger than any I have been to before. Many a bargain i've discovered here.

If car booting or racing isn't for you then what about antique fairs? Antique fairs are held about once a month and take place both inside the exhibition halls and outside next to the race track. Great for a day out and it only costs a couple of quid for the entrance fee.


Places To Stay
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Whatever your price range there will be a hotel or B&B which will cater for your need. For the upper price range there is The Danum Hotel or The Earl Of Doncaster, which are probably the most expensive as they are located directly in the centre of Doncaster. For the cheaper family trip there are B&Bs scattered all over the place.


Conisbrough Castle
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As I mentioned earlier Doncaster takes part of its name from this particular castle. I believe that caster is the roman name for castle, but if anyone knows better then please feel free to correct me.

Conisbrough Castle is situated at Conisbrough which is roughly 5 miles away from the main part of Doncaster. Unfortunately as I didn't listen when I was on the school trips here I can't really tell you much about the castle itself, apart from the fact that most of it is in ruins and it's at the top of a hill. Worth a visit if you like exploring, but not one for the kids if i'm anything to go by.


Employment
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At one point the unemployment figures were fairly high in Doncaster but all that has changed with the recent developments. One call centre after another has been built which are great if you want an INSTANT job. They take anyone on with barely any questions answered. It's a well known fact here that if you need a bit of cash in a hurry then go to a call centre, do your training, then leave. That is why I don't trust these people who work in call cen tres, because i've been there done that and seen how it works.

With all the bars, clubs, shops opening, businesses relocating here and an airport on the way it's a wonder there is any unemployed at all. But I suppose you always get the ones who claim 'I can't find a job, there aren't any, no-one wants me'.


House Prices
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To put things into perspective of how Doncaster is becoming more popular you just need to look at the housing prices. We bought our house three years ago for a pitiful 16,5000 and now it is worth in excess of 70,000. The house prices are continuing to rise at a rate that puts the rest of the country to shame. As more and more people from down south realise they can get more for their money up north they are flocking here in their hundreds. Doncaster is on the main rail line and as it is to have its own airport soon it is perfect for commuting long distances. What I say is keep it coming. The more people who come to live here the more our house is worth. You never know, I might be able to retire abroad in a few years at this rate.


Airport
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After literally years of going round in circles about the proposed plan of building an airport on the old Finningley Airport base they have finally said 'yes' we are to have one. It could take a year it could take 10 years, who knows. You know what councilors and such are like.


Doncaster Rovers
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Watch out Man U here we come, we've won you once and we'll do it again. Doncaster Rovers is our fantastic home football club. They famously turned down Kevin Keegan as they said he was too small to play football. In the last two years Donny Rovers have clawed their way from the Vauxhall Conference League into the second division. Not bad for a club that nearly went bust not so long back. People of Doncaster are now proud of the club they once laughed at. Football feve r has hit Donny.

My Thoughts
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Doncaster is well worth a day out to explore, I would even go as far to say you should come for a few days. There is plenty to see and do whatever age, even small kids should find something they enjoy. So all you southerners and people who think the world ends at Manchester, IT DOES NOT. Get yourself to Doncaster and see for yourself that the North does exist."