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Pie And Ale Shut?
- Thread starter loveatfirstbite
- Start date
gazzapster
A few posts under my belt
If this is true its a real shame. It was a good concept and the times we visited it was very good.
Businesses fail for all sorts of reasons and we will never know the financial picture and the businessmodel they were using. Great shame.
Businesses fail for all sorts of reasons and we will never know the financial picture and the businessmodel they were using. Great shame.
Jade-clothing
Well-Known Forumite
You and I had many a good drink and gossip in there though didn't we Zeb?zebidee said:So sadI hadn't been in often because my other half found the place uncomfortable - he didn't enjoy sitting on the hard wood chairs/bench. Such a shame because I reckon our usage would have been twice what it was if he'd found it more comfy.
xx
ChrisLewis
Well-Known Forumite
Stack them High Sell Them Cheap - The Supermarket Model or even the Poundland Model Doesnt work in Pubs....
A Staffordshire licensee who had been attempting to keep his pub afloat by selling meals for one pound has had to call time on the business amid falling profits and upwardly spiralling costs.
End of the road: The Four Crosses had been selling meals for £1
Tony Rabbitts, of the Four Crosses in Cannock, introduced a £1 menu in October 2009 to help fight the pressures of the economic downturn and smoking ban, and the pub offered a traditional Christmas meal for £1.99 .
He had not been paying extra for labour as he works with his wife and two children at the pub.
Rabbitts had told the PMA that he made about 50% GP on every meal and took more than 100 covers daily.
But while drinks sales made money, trade overall dropped after Christmas and it became too difficult to make a profit, especially given the pub’s rural location.
Rabbitts the licensee is handing it back to Marston’s to seek a fresh start, away from the trade.
“It was just a financial decision in the end. We were spending more than £800 per week just to keep the doors open — the rent was ridiculous, and utility rates are going up and up.
“The cheap meals were just a way of getting the people in. With the credit crunch and smoking ban, trade was just dropping and dropping [in 2009] and we had to do something to pull people back into the pub.
“People’s lifestyles are changing — they are spending all their time on the internet, ordering take-away food and buying cheap beer from the supermarkets.
“We have four weeks left and I am quite looking forward to it. I have done my 10 years and will be leaving the trade totally. It is time to move on.”
Not quite a Stafford story, but endemic of our industries woes
A Staffordshire licensee who had been attempting to keep his pub afloat by selling meals for one pound has had to call time on the business amid falling profits and upwardly spiralling costs.
End of the road: The Four Crosses had been selling meals for £1
Tony Rabbitts, of the Four Crosses in Cannock, introduced a £1 menu in October 2009 to help fight the pressures of the economic downturn and smoking ban, and the pub offered a traditional Christmas meal for £1.99 .
He had not been paying extra for labour as he works with his wife and two children at the pub.
Rabbitts had told the PMA that he made about 50% GP on every meal and took more than 100 covers daily.
But while drinks sales made money, trade overall dropped after Christmas and it became too difficult to make a profit, especially given the pub’s rural location.
Rabbitts the licensee is handing it back to Marston’s to seek a fresh start, away from the trade.
“It was just a financial decision in the end. We were spending more than £800 per week just to keep the doors open — the rent was ridiculous, and utility rates are going up and up.
“The cheap meals were just a way of getting the people in. With the credit crunch and smoking ban, trade was just dropping and dropping [in 2009] and we had to do something to pull people back into the pub.
“People’s lifestyles are changing — they are spending all their time on the internet, ordering take-away food and buying cheap beer from the supermarkets.
“We have four weeks left and I am quite looking forward to it. I have done my 10 years and will be leaving the trade totally. It is time to move on.”
Not quite a Stafford story, but endemic of our industries woes
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
Sad but true. We all know spoons are cheap because of their buying power (even so, paying £2.40 for a decent bottled cider is damn cheap in a pub), but the smaller firms can't compete on that level. The markup on food is good, but good food costs a fair bit more to make than mediocre and many just want to eat OK and cheap. Case in point, I am going to the frankly awful Golden Orient this weekend as it is a family birthday. Certainly not my choice, but then its hardly fair to expect all the family to pay double for food because I like better stuff! These places will always survive because of situations like this. Hell, if McDonalds can stay open, and even Kentucky Fried We Have No Chicken, it just shows most people don't want quality
One thing I was suprised at was Narvana allowing you to take your own drinks in, I thought that was their main line of profit.
One thing I was suprised at was Narvana allowing you to take your own drinks in, I thought that was their main line of profit.
modalconfusion
A few posts under my belt
Another one bites the dust. sad times indeed.
grumpystaffordguy
Well-Known Forumite
Yeah its a shame. I only ate there once and the food was nice (all be it very slow service on that particular day).
I was in the bankhouse Friday night and there were only two tables of people in there. I know its January, but thats still poor considering its the weekend. Worse still they had just done a groupon deal which it said over 100 people had purchased when we bought our "deal".
We need to start using the local places more!
I was in the bankhouse Friday night and there were only two tables of people in there. I know its January, but thats still poor considering its the weekend. Worse still they had just done a groupon deal which it said over 100 people had purchased when we bought our "deal".
We need to start using the local places more!
modalconfusion
A few posts under my belt
Absolutely It is a case of "Use Them or Lose Them", applicable to all things town centre, The big out of town stores are very handy, but there's nothing quite like the "buzz" of a busy town centre, with a wide variety of shops.grumpystaffordguy said:
Jade-clothing
Well-Known Forumite
What's your best guess for the next to close down?Gramaisc said:
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
There are a few places that never look busy, I'd say the bank house and the place next to St Chads.
Alan B'Stard
Well-Known Forumite
I'm surprised that other Stafford traders have not recognised the value of the forum as Randles has.
If some posted a special offer here on occasion, I'm sure it would help them.
If some posted a special offer here on occasion, I'm sure it would help them.
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
Agreed, the retail sector especially has changed dramatically over the last 10 years. But if you've ran your business successfully for 30 years one way it's hard to change.
I still blame gramaisc though, him and his not spending money he doesn't have
I still blame gramaisc though, him and his not spending money he doesn't have
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
Yes, bad consumer!
Alan B'Stard
Well-Known Forumite
I reckon it's the money he does have that he does not spend and keep afloat the stafford economy.tek-monkey said:Agreed, the retail sector especially has changed dramatically over the last 10 years. But if you've ran your business successfully for 30 years one way it's hard to change.
I still blame gramaisc though, him and his not spending money he doesn't have
Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
In fact, I do often buy two of something - if I find the 'right thing' and I feel that I run the risk of it not outlasting me....tek-monkey said:Yes, bad consumer!Gramaisc said:I actually possess almost everything that I've ever wanted. What am I supposed to do? Buy it all again?tek-monkey said:I still blame gramaisc though, him and his not spending money he doesn't have