Pie And Ale Shut?

[Wormella]

Pie & Ale's closing is already being discussed here - http://www.staffordforum.com/viewtopic.php?id=9140

There's a old thread here about possible function venues - http://www.staffordforum.com/viewtopic.php?id=8046 (Ironically the happy couple ended up at P&A)

Not mentioned on that thread, but a possible suggestion is the function room under Ashiana, or the function room upstairs in the Prince of wales.

I can vouch for The Amasal on Alban Rd, we had an ace party there...

 

[Gramaisc]

my main hope is it doesn't stay empty for too long...

I do hope you're right, but I don't expect to be thinking that a replacement, if there is one in the near future, is much of an improvement on the PandA House...

 

[Jade-clothing]

I thin we can take The Butlers bell out of the discussion, it's a a spoons, it will do well - they can buy in such bulk quantities, and make such a profit on food and drink it will survive. I'm pretty sure if we ever suffer a nuclear apocalypse there will still be spoons opening the next day for breakfasts of disappointing bacon and microwaved toast to feed the cockroaches...

See also Bella Italia (on indeed KFC) - by rights any Italian (or fast food chicken place) that runs out of pizza (or chicken - as happened to us last weekend) shouldn't still be going but they are parts of massive corporate companies so they will keep going unless the market shifts. Pizza Express is in this bracket too (my last experience there was less then express).

As it is, any independent going concern needs to keep an eye on every spinning plate - Pie and ale's prices had risen £2 pound in a year or so, from a branded, recognized pie to a non branded pie - they weren't bad, but what seemed like excellent value for £5.95 didn't quite seem to be for £7.95, top that with sometimes cold rooms, and a general feeling there wasn't the same care and attention lavished as previously - if you make a big thing about having the owners around, and then they arn't, people notice. If you start posting regularly on a forum, or on twitter, or on Facebook in order to engage customers, and then you stop, people will notice. As a rule people have short memories, and the new, shiny thing will take their attention- or a cut back in finances e.g. why go to Pie & Ale and spend £7.95 each, when we can get 2 x pie minister pie for a £5 from Sainsbury's and some local ale and we won't even break a tenner...

I'm not saying I wont miss it, I went a lot when it first opened, and as time went on, mainly just the functions, or live music nights etc - and it's a shame town has lost a decent function venue, but my main hope is it doesn't stay empty for too long...

I agree with everything you say wormella. Incidentally just been into town and it isnt a temporary thing as there is a sign on the door saying ceased trading
From my point of view I absolutely loved PandA when it first opened - the atmosphere was lovely but as wormella says I think it had a LOT to do with the owners being around.
The pies were lovely to start with - although I always found them too filling so only ever had two but I went onto platters after that and they were really tasty. Once they changed to the cheap pies though and also put the prices up it was really poor value and its been getting less busy since then.
I still liked popping in for a coffee occasionally but the last few times I've been the coffee was dreadful - and one occasion absolutely vile so I havent been in for a month or two. I agree if standards hadnt slipped I would have carried on going in. Such a shame.

 

[Gramaisc]

I always found them too filling so only ever had two

Your own fault - I never managed more than one at a time..

 

[loveatfirstbite]

haha G thats whats i thought!! il be honest - i hadnt had a pie in there since they changed the pies so who am i to comment on the standards. i used it a lot for drinks but rarely ate there as i can make pretty nice pies myself at home. i still think its a shame but its interesting seeing why you stopped going there, makes me want to up my game. my prices will be going up soon, as it turns out i've not been paying enough for my brothers sponge and they doubled it in price as of last week. the prices havnt gone up in 2 years tho so i hope it doesnt affect my trade too much at the end of feb when the prices are higher. i cant go on selling them at the price they currently are with the new prices I'm paying tho my nightmares r coming true!!!

 

[Jade-clothing]

I always found them too filling so only ever had two

Your own fault - I never managed more than one at a time..

I could have worded it better - especially knowing you would pick up on any mistakes G - sorry not with it today!

 

[Franklin_Delano_Roosevelt]

Love at First Bite:

I shouldn't be too concerned with having to raise your prices a bit, thats the way of the world, whetever you point to be it food, fuel, clothing etc generally the price has only gone in one inflation primed direction lately and thats up. Just concentrate on what you do well and never loose your passion for it!
Thats where the P & A, Apres, Chambers and others went wrong. Putting prices up and still expecting the same level of custom whilst standards and quality wane is a receipe for a note on the door saying "ceased trading"
Increase in price people can cope with to a certain extend so long as quality, service etc is maintained - I don't mind paying for something so long as I feel as though I'm getting a fair deal for what I'm being charged

 

[Jade-clothing]

haha G thats whats i thought!! il be honest - i hadnt had a pie in there since they changed the pies so who am i to comment on the standards. i used it a lot for drinks but rarely ate there as i can make pretty nice pies myself at home. i still think its a shame but its interesting seeing why you stopped going there, makes me want to up my game. my prices will be going up soon, as it turns out i've not been paying enough for my brothers sponge and they doubled it in price as of last week. the prices havnt gone up in 2 years tho so i hope it doesnt affect my trade too much at the end of feb when the prices are higher. i cant go on selling them at the price they currently are with the new prices I'm paying tho my nightmares r coming true!!!

I'm sure you will be fine you are established now and your cakes look and taste great. As you say you can't NOT put the prices up because of the increase in sponge price so there isn't an alternative. It's not a bad thing to want to up your game though - not that I think you need to, but I think being in business is all about constantly evolving and re-assessing how you do things.

 

[Andreas Rex]

This is very bad news indeed. I too was a big fan of the place and used it very regularly in the first year or so...since then I have neglected it somewhat. The last 3 times I went they didn't have what I wanted to drink so we stayed for one and moved on.

 

[toooldtorock]

I had a booking there on 3rd March, just received this e-mail:
Dear Mr H,
We have been given your details by the Pie & Ale House, Stafford who advise that you have a function/party booked with them on 3rd March 2012. Unfortunately, the business has ceased to trade and closed down. Accordingly, you will not be able to have your event there. We recognise that this will be an inconvenience for you, and you will now have to make alternative arrangements.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards
Lisa Horsley
Sale Smith & Co. Ltd
Carmella House,
3 & 4 Grove Terrace,
Walsall,
West Midlands
WS1 2NE

 

[Jade-clothing]

I had a booking there on 3rd March, just received this e-mail:
Dear Mr H,
We have been given your details by the Pie & Ale House, Stafford who advise that you have a function/party booked with them on 3rd March 2012. Unfortunately, the business has ceased to trade and closed down. Accordingly, you will not be able to have your event there. We recognise that this will be an inconvenience for you, and you will now have to make alternative arrangements.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards
Lisa Horsley
Sale Smith & Co. Ltd
Carmella House,
3 & 4 Grove Terrace,
Walsall,
West Midlands
WS1 2NE

Oh dear an insolvency practitioner

 

[toooldtorock]

Just thought, I had a booking at Chambers then that closed. Is it me?

 

[Zylo]

Ah this is a shame, was planning to go here sometime afer reading reviews a bit ago about it on here! never went..

I'm trying to watch what i'm eating mind, but still would of been ok for a 1 off..

 

[aalan]

Hi friends. Sorry we had to shut down, but as with all businesses, when you start to have not enough custom, you start to spend from your pocket. This is not sustainable and we also were unfortunate in that after we opened, several new pubs and like have propped up after the first year of trading. Nobody can be as upset as I am right now about The Pie & Ale. I want to nevertheless say a massive thank you to all you friends who have supported us whilst trading. I will not forget the good times we had.

 

[Gramaisc]

Good to hear from you - good times were, indeed, had.

İyi şanslar.

 

[Kingy]

Sad news. There had been a decline in numbers the last few times we had been in. Enjoyed a friend's Christmas party there recently but had noticed a change in the quality of the food and attention to detail had slipped e.g. The Christmas tree and lights were set up but hadn't been switched on because the lead didn't reach the socket. Any successful real ale pubs have to compete with the The Sun now. I will miss the Pie and Ale as an alternative place to eat and drink.

 

[Jade-clothing]

Hi friends. Sorry we had to shut down, but as with all businesses, when you start to have not enough custom, you start to spend from your pocket. This is not sustainable and we also were unfortunate in that after we opened, several new pubs and like have propped up after the first year of trading. Nobody can be as upset as I am right now about The Pie & Ale. I want to nevertheless say a massive thank you to all you friends who have supported us whilst trading. I will not forget the good times we had.

Many a good time was had - and I have you to thank for my forum nick name
Good luck for the future x

 

[Stafford Dunc]

Thank you for all the good nights,I shall miss those tremendous pies and your friendly staff. You dont strike me as the type of person to sit back and take it easy , I wish you luck with whatever business venture you decide upon next . If its in Stafford please keep the Forum updated .

 

[RowanDraper]

For your information:

From the Pie and Ale House facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10151238499145161&id=363482930160

"The managers at the Pie and Ale House unfortunately found out yesterday that the owners have taken the decision to close the business, I know some of you are dissapointed but we had very little time to take as many contact details as we could for upcoming parties events and general bookings but i have been assured that where possible people will be contacted. We have tried to remain open but January is always a difficult month for everyone following the Christmas bills and this year has been even more difficult as many people have not had much money to play with and are waiting for bills to come in. We would like to thank you all for your support over the last 2 years and hope to see you all very soon."



Admin edit: Threads merged.

 

[ChrisLewis]

Tragic news to hear about The Pie and Ale no longer being in business, they worked hard and supported many initiatives within the Town Centre Partnership in an attempt to try and drive business forward. Unfortunately life on the high street doesn't appear to be getting any easier under the current economic climate.
For the pub industry life will soon get that bit harder with the BEER DUTY ESCALATOR which will raise beer duty automatically by 2% above the rate of inflation at the time of the next budget. That's on top of last years increase of 7.2%.

aalan, I wish you all the best for the future, no longer are you collecting 20% VAT and Beer tax that is eight times higher than France and twelve times higher than Germany or Spain on behalf of HMRC.

Rant Over, sorry!