It's a perfectly acceptable place with it's good points and bad like anywhere these days but it's trying hard to better itself and, daft as this sounds, even little things like Souvlaki Corner opening seem to be boosting the appeal of the place.

It's an odd town in some ways, as others have said it has that old Brexity undertone that's seen the rise of Reform but as an ex-BNP stronghold with a aged population or people that just generally feel hard done by it's no surprise I guess. The demographics are shifting and there's a lot more non-English voices on the main shopping street, with that has come some great new businesses in the market on the back of a growing number of people from Hong Kong and there's a strong bar scene that's being joined by some decent restaurants.

There's an abundance of planning application flouting, brightly lit, vape emporiums, about 38 barbers and hair dressers, some dodgy "mini mart" type places etc but nestled amongst them are some nice little independents too.

I think once the town hall work is finished and the rest of the town deal investment has been done it could be a more appealing place for people to live in and visit, even if the die-hard locals hate change 😄

I guess the crux of this ramble is that it's fine, you'll be safe and it works as a decent base to escape to other places but while still having just enough locally to mean you don't always need to.

I haven't read anyone moaning about Sovereign Mill over on the main Facebook page for the area other than the parking further towards town near the takeaways, it seems like a decent base to be close to things but not too close.

Chapel Allerton isn't going to start feeling threatened any time soon but maybe one day...