Guide to United Kingdom Shops

[MJ Spooks]

xxxWhat is this?xxx

Not all shops are located either in Diagon or Knockturn Alley! This subforum houses all the shops that are located elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

- Shops in this subforum may cater to magical clientele, Muggle, or both. They may likewise be owned and operated by anyone.
- Shops will specify in the first post if they are owned by and cater to Muggles, wizards, or both.
-- If a business is set up to deal both in the magical and Muggle worlds, the first post should explain how the owner handles keeping the magical aspects of the shop secret from the Muggles, such as having a separate entrance only accessible by magic, or a codeword to indicate that a customer is magical.
- Shops in this subforum may be NPC owned, or owned by a character in the guild. In order to become the owner of a shop, see Shop Owner Basics and Information.
- If a shop is NPC-owned, a character may still apply to be employed there. For more information, see Shop Employees Basics and Information.  

[MJ Spooks]

xxxShop Owner Basics and Informationxxx

Requirements:

In order to own a shop, you must have done the following:

- Read and signed the guild rules
- Posted your character’s profile to a family thread and had it looked over and marked either ‘pending’ or ‘accepted’
- Read the Guidelines for UK Shops
- If you have any questions, contact the UK Shops Manager via PM

The Application Process:

Apply to the shop by filling out the Application for Ownership of a UK Shop. Remember to follow these guidelines:

- Fill out your application completely; incomplete applications will be denied
- There should not be more than one type of shop in each city; if London already has a dress shop, don’t apply for a dress shop in London. In addition, if you apply to own a certain type of shop in a city where there is an established NPC-owned shop of the same type, you will be directed to apply for that shop instead.
- All shop owner applications must be approved by a UK Shops Checker before you may post the thread. Please be patient with awaiting approval; do not contact anyone concerning your application for a minimum of three days.
- Once your application is approved, remember to update your character’s profile with their new job.

Setting Up Shop:

When posting your shop thread, please follow the guidelines below:

- The title of your thread should include the shop’s name, and whether or not it is hiring. It may also include if the shop is currently closed, under circumstances where staff cannot post, so that people know not to post in the thread.
- The first post of your thread should include the city the shop is located in, a short blurb about your shop’s purpose, hours of operation, and if it caters to the magical or Muggle world, or both.
-- If both, remember to include a note on how magical customers may establish themselves as such to the owner.
- The second post of your shop should list the products it sells, and their prices.
- The third post of your shop should list the employees of the shop. If preferred, it may include the usernames of the people playing the employees so that customers know who to quote for replies.

Employee Applications:

As a shop owner, it is your responsibility to accept applications to work for your shop. When someone applies to work for you, they should quote you so that you are notified of their application. Please respond in a timely manner if at all possible.

- When you receive an application, make sure that they have followed the guidelines in Shop Employee Basics and Information.
- To accept the application, quote it and, in size 16 green font, state ‘Accepted’
- To deny the application, quote it and, in size 16 red font, state ‘Denied’
-- If at all possible, please include a reason for the denial, such as the shop not being open for hiring or the application being incorrectly filled out.
- Users who have applied to work for a shop reserve the right to contact the UK Shops Manager if they have not received a response after a week.
-- The owner will be contacted by the UK Shops Manager via PM concerning the application.
-- Failure to respond to the PM in three days will result in the application being reviewed by a UK Shops Checker.

Employees Hired Under NPC Shop

Some previously NPC-owned shops may already have employees who have applied to work there prior to your applying to own the shop.

- All characters employed under the NPC-owned shop are considered employees of the shop once it has been taken over by a member unless the owner and employee discuss otherwise.
- Shops will be considered ‘under new management’; meaning, the employee will have been there longer than the new owner.
-- This can be ignored if it is discussed between the new owner and all previously-hired employees that the shop owner is being established as having owned it prior to official ownership.
-- Please keep in mind that if the shop has had a previous owner, your character cannot said to have owned it while it was owned by that character.

Firing Employees

Shop owners reserve the right to fire employees.

- To fire an employee, quote their initial application and, in size 16 red font, state ‘You’re Fired’.
- Reasons for character termination should be established in roleplay, or discussed out of character among the owner and employee.
- If you wish to fire an employee for sensitive personal reasons between yourself and their roleplayer, contact a crewmember concerning the issue. The process of firing them from your shop will be handled by the UK Shops Manager. Do not bring it up in the forums.

Transferring Ownership

Shop owners may give up ownership of their shop.

- Ownership may either be transferred to another character, or to an NPC.
- In the event that the current owner is transferring ownership to another character, they should fill out the Transfer of Ownership of UK Shops form below.
-- Reasons for transfer of ownership should be either established in roleplay or discussed out of character between members.
-- The new owner should quote the Transfer form and, in green size 16 font, state ‘I accept’.
-- The transfer will be approved by a UK Shops checker.
-- Please be patient with awaiting approval; do not contact anyone concerning your application for transfer for a minimum of three days.
-- Until the transfer is approved, a new shop thread should not be posted.
-- The new owner will be required to post a new thread and cannot use the old one.
- In the event that the shop will revert to an NPC-owned shop, the owner should quote the post where their application was accepted and, in size 16 red font, state ‘I’m Selling’.  

[MJ Spooks]

xxxUnited Kingdom Shopsxxx

There are plenty of shops in the United Kingdom for characters to wander through and enjoy. However, it's handy to have owners and employees for these shops, so that characters have someone to interact with while doing their shopping. If you're interested in owning a shop, here is a list of available shops and their descriptions.

Taken shops will be crossed out, and all shops will have their threads linked. There is also a list of Shop Suggestions that lists the types of shops we would be interested in having someone create, such as bakeries and dress shops.

Shops in England

Established Shops:

Ambassador's Hotel, London: Located in London, this hotel is near Oxford Street. Covent Garden and Soho are within easy reach and the hotel is just a five minutes stroll from Euston Station, King’s Cross St. Pancras Station (Eurostar Terminal) and Russell Square tube station. It is frequented by muggles, and offers rooms for weddings, meetings, and events.
xxxOwner: Name
xxxEmployees: Name (position), Name (position)

Club Aquarium, London: Club Aquarium has five rooms including a swimming pool and a jacuzzi (towels provided) - and there's no other club in the UK that can make that claim! There are also two dance floors and a chill out room, plus a VIP lounge.
xxxOwner: Name
xxxEmployees: Name (position), Name (position)

Crazy Wolf Music Hall and Bar, Manchester: Description
xxxOwner: Name
xxxEmployees: Name (position), Name (position)

Crooked House of Windsor, Berkshire The Crooked House of Windsor (also known as the Market Cross House) in Windsor, England, is a building constructed in 1592. The building now stands at a marked angle, having been rebuilt with green wood in 1718. There is a secret passage in the basement, supposedly used for illicit trysts between Nell Gwynn and Charles II and/or delivering produce from the market to the kitchens of Windsor Castle.
xxxOwner: Name
xxxEmployees: Name (position), Name (position)

Dispe Ding ChHoists, London Dispe Ding ChHoists is a coffeeshop and bakery in London.
xxxOwner: Name
xxxEmployees: Dominic Bellamy-Hallwyd (head baker), Pamela Gautreaux (pastry chef)

Gherry Tree Houses, London Gherry Tree Houses was a Muggle location in London, England at Shaftesbury Avenue. It is unknown what it is, but it is possibly a restaurant.
xxxOwner: Name
xxxEmployees: Name (position), Name (position)

Hemlock Grove Books & Obscurities, Manchester: A one-stop shop for all your occult needs, with items ranging from crystals and cards to books on any magical subject you can imagine. There is a small hallway in the back of the store which is hidden both by angles and an obscuring charm, with a door that requires a wand to open, through which customers can find the wizard-only inventory.
xxxOwner: Kiery Hemlock
xxxEmployees: Name (position), Name (position)

Luchino Cafe, London: Luchino Caffe was an all-night Italian café on Tottenham Court Road in Muggle London. It was briefly visited by Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger after they were forced to make a quick escape from Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour's wedding on the night of 1 August, 1997.
xxxOwner: Name
xxxEmployees: Name (position), Name (position)

Prince Charles Cinema, London: The Prince Charles Cinema is a repertory cinema located in Leicester Place, 40 metres north of Leicester Square in the West End of London. It shows a rotating programme of cult, arthouse, and classic films alongside recent Hollywood releases - typically more than ten different films a week on two screens (285 seats downstairs and 104 seats upstairs). It also hosts the sing-a-long version of The Sound of Music, which has been shown on a regular basis for over five years, as well as The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Joseph. The cinema has achieved a cult status amongst fans, sticking out as the only independent cinema in the West End.
xxxOwner: Name
xxxEmployees: Name (position), Name (position)

Restaurant and Lucky Bar, London: Restaurant and Lucky bar was a location in Shaftesbury Avenue, London, England that served food and snacks.
xxxOwner: Name
xxxEmployees: Name (position), Name (position)

Shaftsbury Theater, London: The Shaftesbury Theatre is a West End Theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, in the London Borough of Camden. In 1997, Hermione Granger mentioned that her parents often took her to this theatre in her youth.
xxxOwner: Name
xxxEmployees: Name (position), Name (position)

Stunning Stories and Fascinating Facts, Brighton: A place to buy books, mostly novels, with a great many titles from the Muggle world for interested witches and wizards. There are nonfiction titles, including the book-list for Hogwarts, for those who need a copy but don't need to travel to London. Trade-ins are welcome, and we sell a variety of used titles.
xxxOwner: Elisabeth Barrows
xxxEmployees: Name (position), Name (position)

Winstanley's Bookstore and Stationers, London: Winstanley's Bookstore & Stationers was the name of a newsagent's at Vauxhall Road, London. Tom Riddle bought his diary from this newsagent's.
xxxOwner: Name
xxxEmployees: Name (position), Name (position)

Wok and Roll: Chinese Restaurant, London: A family restaurant serving Chinese cuisine.
xxxOwner: Heng Quan
xxxEmployees: Name (position), Name (position)

Shop Suggestions:

Literally anything not located in London
Restaraunts
Clothing shops
Wedding-related shops
Bakeries
Specialty shops (candles, new age, etc)

Shops in Ireland

Established Shops:

Sticky Wicket Sweets, Kenmare A colorful open space dedicated to the sale and consumption of various sweets and candies.
xxxOwner: Ciaran Blake
xxxEmployees: Adam Donoghue (shop clerk)

Got an idea for a shop? Apply for it below, or petition for it to be added as an NPC-owned shop!

Shop Suggestions:

Restaurants
Clothing shops
Wedding-related shops
Bakeries
Specialty shops (candles, new age, etc)

Shops in Scotland

Established Shops:

Locanda De Gusti, Edinburgh Five star dining experience located in Edinburgh, Scotland. The restaurant boasts stylish, contemporary dining room with rustic accents, serving traditional Naples-inspired cuisine.
xxxOwner: Name
xxxEmployees: Name (position), Name (position)

Loch and Key Inn and Tavern, Loch Lomond A classic Scottish style inn with classic and modern comforts for both muggle and wizarding worlds. An old fashioned pub is situated right next door for any and all tastes.
xxxOwner: Gerald and Jarai Ellis
xxxEmployees: Name (position), Name (position)

Shop Suggestions:

Restaurants
Clothing shops
Wedding-related shops
Bakeries
Specialty shops (candles, new age, etc)

Shops in Wales

Established Shops:

The Hobgoblin Theater, Cardiff The Hobgoblin is a magically-run theater company and troupe organized by a pair of siblings with a passion for the dramatic arts. It specializes in performances for the magical community, but frequently performs for muggle audiences as well.
xxxOwners: Ceallachan O'Madaidhin and Agnes McDonald
xxxEmployees: Name (position), Name (position)

Shop Suggestions:

Restaurants
Clothing shops
Wedding-related shops
Bakeries
Specialty shops (candles, new age, etc)  

[MJ Spooks]

xxxApplication for Ownership of United Kingdom Shopsxxx

[b]Hello, my name is[/b] (Link your profile: [url=my profile]Character first and last name[/url])

[b]I would like to purchase[/b] (what shop do you want?)

[b]It is located in[/b] (where the shop is located in the UK. If it is not an original shop, you can delete this)

[b]If I were to describe my shop, I'd say:[/b] (a brief description of the shop, what it sells and the like, to be used for the shops list. Especially important if it is an original shop)

[b]How did I come to get this shop? Well...[/b] (how did you come across the shop? Did you simply buy it or was it passed down to you? Be creative!)

[b]The things I love about this shop are[/b] (At least five things your character likes about the shop you're signing up for.)

[b]The things I despise about this shop are[/b] (At least five things your character hates about the shop you're signing up for.)

[b]Oh yes, there's something else I need to tell you![/b] (Put anything here about the shop or what you do/say/etc. in the shop specifically that was not covered above. If there is nothing, then please remove this option)

[spoiler][quote="Essy ze Ninja"][/quote][/spoiler]

 

[MJ Spooks]

xxxApplication for Transfer of Ownership of United Kingdom Shopsxxx

[b]I,[/b] (Full Name) [b]current owner of[/b] (Shop name) [b]hereby transfer ownership of my shop to[/b] [url=Link to new owner’s profile](New owner)[/url].

[spoiler][quote="NEW SHOP OWNER USERNAME"][/quote][/spoiler]

 

[MJ Spooks]

xxxRequest a New NPC Shopxxx

Have an idea for a shop not already available in guild? You can request to have it added!
Just make sure that it meets the following requirements, then fill out the form below and post it to this thread.

Form must be filled out completely to be eligible for acceptance.
- Locations must be in the UK, and must be accessible to the public.
- Locations should be PG-13.
- Locations must serve a purpose, and this purpose must extend beyond a single-time use.
- If the location is an original shop or restaurant, an identical location in the same area should not already exist (For example, we already have one bar in London, we don’t need another).
- If your location is approved, do not post a thread for it. A crew member will do this.
- Information for real world locations should be from either Wikipedia or another similar source. If the location is mentioned in Harry Potter canon and has an entry on the HP wiki, this can be used, but it is not necessary.

[b]Shop Name:[/b] The name used for the Thread title

[b]Shop Type:[/b] What type of shop is this? Is it a book store, a restaurant, a clothing store, etc?

[b]Location of Shop:[/b] Country and City the shop is located in

[b]Reasons For Request:[/b] At least three solid reasons for why this location would be beneficial to the guild. Use in a single scene is not an applicable reason (IE: I need this location for *scene*).

[b]Image for Thread:[/b] Please provide an image if possible to make it easier for the crew to create the thread.

[b]Thread Information:[/b] Please provide a description of the location to make it easier for the crew to create the thread.

[spoiler][quote="Essy ze Ninja"][/quote][/spoiler]

 

[MJ Spooks]

xxxShop Employee Basics and Informationxxx

Requirements:

In order to work in a shop, you must have done the following:

- Read and signed the guild rules
- Posted your character’s profile to a family thread and had it looked over and marked either ‘pending’ or ‘accepted’
- Read the Guidelines for UK Shops
- If you have any questions, contact the UK Shops Manager via PM

The Application Process:

Apply to work for the shop by filling out the Application of Employment at a UK Shop. Remember to follow these guidelines:

- Fill out your application completely; incomplete applications will be denied
- If the shop is user-owned, it is preferable, but not required, that you contact them via PM prior to applying to discuss your intention.
- Fill out your application completely; incomplete applications will be denied.
- If the shop is user-owned, quote the owner so that they will see your application, as non-crewmember owners will not check the thread for applications unless they know one has been posted for them.
- Please be patient with awaiting approval; do not contact anyone concerning your application for a minimum of three days.
-- If you go longer than a week without a response, contact the UK Shops Manager. They will handle the situation.

Applying for Employement at NPC-owned Shops:

- NPC-owned shops will have a list of open positions in the first post.
- When applying to work for one, you should quote the UK Shops Manager.
- Please be patient with awaiting approval; do not contact anyone concerning your application for a minimum of three days.

Under New Management:

A shop that is NPC-owned may be applied to be owned by a character, even if it currently has PC employees.

- All characters employed by the NPC-owned shop automatically transfer to the now-member owned shop.
- In this case, the shop is said to be ‘under new management’. The employees will have canonically been employed by the shop longer than the owner has owned it.
- If a member does not wish for their character to work in the shop once it becomes user-owned for whatever reason, it should be discussed between the shop’s new owner and the employee.
- Under these circumstances, the employee should quote the post where their application was originally accepted by a UK Shops Checker to quit (see Quitting below).
- Likewise, shops that are member-owned may at times become NPC-owned, if the character who owns the shop either becomes unable to maintain ownership, or chooses to ‘sell’ it.
- All characters employed by the member-owned shop automatically transfer to the now-NPC-owned shop.

Quitting:

Sometimes, we quit our jobs. It happens. If you wish for your character to quit their current job, do as follows:

- To quit, quote the post where your application was accepted and, in size 16 red font, state ‘I quit’
- Reasons for quitting should be established in roleplay, or discussed out of character between owner and employee.
- If you wish to quit for sensitive personal reasons between yourself and the owner’s roleplayer, contact a crewmember concerning the issue.  

[MJ Spooks]

xxxApplication for Employment at United Kingdom Shopsxxx

[b]Hello, my name is:[/b] [url=PROFILE LINK]Full Name[/url]

[b]I would like to apply as a[/b] (Job Title) [b]at[/b] (Shop Name).

[b]The things I love about this shop are: [/b] (minimum of five)

[b]The things I hate about this shop are: [/b] (minimum of five)

[b]Oh, yes, there’s something else I need to tell you: [/b] (Any additional information necessary to this application)


[spoiler][quote="Essy ze Ninja"][/quote][/spoiler]

 

[Yukina101]

Hello, my name is Ciaran Blake

I would like to purchase Sticky Wicket Sweets

It is located in Kenmare, Ireland

If I were to describe my shop, I'd say: A colorful open space dedicated to the sale and consumption of various sweets and candies.

How did I come to get this shop? Well... When I was still in school wondering what I was going to do for the rest of my life, I would stress bake and then give away the product. Many friends and family would rave and beg for my sweets and I soon began experimenting with recipes and with creating my own candies as well. By the time I had graduated I had binders of ideas and recipes that I knew would sell and when I returned home, I looked around for any vacancies and soon found one I thought would be the perfect store front and after some negotiations with the bank, bought it and have been selling my wares ever since.

The things I love about this shop are The aroma, getting to experiment with various tastes, seeing happy customers, getting to sample my own product, I'm getting paid to do what I love.

The things I despise about this shop are The inevitable paperwork, the sticky hand left on various surfaces, the occasional screaming/tantrum child, when people take forever to chose what they want, when people blame me for their kid's cavities. I just make the stuff!

Oh yes, there's something else I need to tell you! It is both a muggle and magical location.

show spoilerhide spoiler

Cara MiaKitty

 

[MJ Spooks]

Yukina101

Hello, my name is Ciaran Blake

I would like to purchase Sticky Wicket Sweets

It is located in Kenmare, Ireland

If I were to describe my shop, I'd say: A colorful open space dedicated to the sale and consumption of various sweets and candies.

How did I come to get this shop? Well... When I was still in school wondering what I was going to do for the rest of my life, I would stress bake and then give away the product. Many friends and family would rave and beg for my sweets and I soon began experimenting with recipes and with creating my own candies as well. By the time I had graduated I had binders of ideas and recipes that I knew would sell and when I returned home, I looked around for any vacancies and soon found one I thought would be the perfect store front and after some negotiations with the bank, bought it and have been selling my wares ever since.

The things I love about this shop are The aroma, getting to experiment with various tastes, seeing happy customers, getting to sample my own product, I'm getting paid to do what I love.

The things I despise about this shop are The inevitable paperwork, the sticky hand left on various surfaces, the occasional screaming/tantrum child, when people take forever to chose what they want, when people blame me for their kid's cavities. I just make the stuff!

Oh yes, there's something else I need to tell you! It is both a muggle and magical location.

show spoilerhide spoiler

Cara MiaKitty

Accepted!

 

[MJ Spooks]

Hello, my name is: Pamela Gautreaux

I would like to apply as a assistant baker/pastry chef (in training) at Dispe Ding ChHoists.

The things I love about this shop are: the smell of baked goods, coffee, live music playing in the shop, 'quality control', and the employee discount.

The things I hate about this shop are: waking up early, choking on flour, rude customers (I don't deal with them much but I can still hear them), the smell of roasting coffee (gag me), cleaning up messes.

Oh, yes, there’s something else I need to tell you: I'll be working under Dominique Bellamy-Hallwyd!  

[Yukina101]

Cara MiaKitty

Hello, my name is: Pamela Gautreaux

I would like to apply as a assistant baker/pastry chef (in training) at Dispe Ding ChHoists.

The things I love about this shop are: the smell of baked goods, coffee, live music playing in the shop, 'quality control', and the employee discount.

The things I hate about this shop are: waking up early, choking on flour, rude customers (I don't deal with them much but I can still hear them), the smell of roasting coffee (gag me), cleaning up messes.

Oh, yes, there’s something else I need to tell you: I'll be working under Dominique Bellamy-Hallwyd!

Hired!  

[Caedmon68]

Hello, my name is Elisabeth Barrows

I would like to purchase Stunning Stories and Fascinating Facts

It is located in Brighton, East Sussex, England

If I were to describe my shop, I'd say: a place to buy books, mostly novels, with a great many titles from the Muggle world for interested witches and wizards. There are nonfiction titles, including the book-list for Hogwarts, for those who need a copy but don't need to travel to London. Trade-ins are welcome, and we sell a variety of used titles.

How did I come to get this shop? Well... I mostly used the money Freddie gave me when we divorced. He was overly generous (he claims that I would need to money to raise our daughter), and that covered most of my expenses. Then my parents invested in the shop, and they still get part of the profits. I used to money to buy an empty storefront, and here we are!

The things I love about this shop are
I get to read all the time!
I can bring Lia to work with me.
The entire shop feels like a safe place to relax.
I get to meet new people.
There is always something to do!


The things I despise about this shop are
Bookkeeping. So much bookkeeping.
Long hours – especially evening when Lia has something going on.
Angry or rude customers
Stocking shelves
Looking out the front window of the shop and seeing the ocean, which I can't visit.


Oh yes, there's something else I need to tell you! We get our used books by trade with customers. People can trade their books for credit in the shop, which they can use for new or used books. Also, Calliandra often practices her violin in the back, so music is sometimes an addition to the shop's atmosphere.

show spoilerhide spoiler

Cara MiaKitty

 

[MJ Spooks]

Caedmon68

Hello, my name is Elisabeth Barrows

I would like to purchase Stunning Stories and Fascinating Facts

It is located in Brighton, East Sussex, England

If I were to describe my shop, I'd say: a place to buy books, mostly novels, with a great many titles from the Muggle world for interested witches and wizards. There are nonfiction titles, including the book-list for Hogwarts, for those who need a copy but don't need to travel to London. Trade-ins are welcome, and we sell a variety of used titles.

How did I come to get this shop? Well... I mostly used the money Freddie gave me when we divorced. He was overly generous (he claims that I would need to money to raise our daughter), and that covered most of my expenses. Then my parents invested in the shop, and they still get part of the profits. I used to money to buy an empty storefront, and here we are!

The things I love about this shop are
I get to read all the time!
I can bring Lia to work with me.
The entire shop feels like a safe place to relax.
I get to meet new people.
There is always something to do!


The things I despise about this shop are
Bookkeeping. So much bookkeeping.
Long hours – especially evening when Lia has something going on.
Angry or rude customers
Stocking shelves
Looking out the front window of the shop and seeing the ocean, which I can't visit.


Oh yes, there's something else I need to tell you! We get our used books by trade with customers. People can trade their books for credit in the shop, which they can use for new or used books. Also, Calliandra often practices her violin in the back, so music is sometimes an addition to the shop's atmosphere.

show spoilerhide spoiler

Cara MiaKitty

Accepted!

 

[Yukina101]

Hello, my name is: Adam Donoghue

I would like to apply as a shop clerk at Sticky Wickets Sweets

The things I love about this shop are: I work in a candy store which is basically everyone's dream come true, my boss treats me like a fourth (or fifth I can't exactly keep track really) son, the customers are usually very nice, the hours are flexible, and the shop almost always smells super duper great.

The things I hate about this shop are: Packaging sweets for large orders (like wedding or school reunion large), how I almost always cut off a finger when slicing the taffy, when the shop smells super duper nice but I'm not allowed to eat any of the free samples, the occasional rude customer, stocking sweets that have no business being on the top shelves.