The Post House, Stafford

[flossietoo]

It must be really hard, when you make a big investment and are intensively involved with the conception of a project, to hand over your baby to the experts.

Imagine how stonkingly wonderful it could have been, had the final stage of the investment been to recruit a team who really understood how to market and manage a really wonderful venue. Imagine if that team had been brought in at the beginning, to find out what the market wanted and then to deliver something that was shaped by the demand.

Then, perhaps, Dennis Foster's investment wouldnt have disappeared down a black hole and Stafford would have a restaurant/bar/venue that we could love. Or failing that, somewhere we properly understood.

 

[Feed The Goat]

It must be really hard, when you make a big investment and are intensively involved with the conception of a project, to hand over your baby to the experts.

Imagine how stonkingly wonderful it could have been, had the final stage of the investment been to recruit a team who really understood how to market and manage a really wonderful venue. Imagine if that team had been brought in at the beginning, to find out what the market wanted and then to deliver something that was shaped by the demand.

Then, perhaps, Dennis Foster's investment wouldnt have disappeared down a black hole and Stafford would have a restaurant/bar/venue that we could love. Or failing that, somewhere we properly understood.

I think Stafford is a very difficult place to run a restaurant /coffee shop. The town is completely void of clientele on any evening with the exception of Friday, Saturday and Tuesday (Student Night). Day time trade has been severely impacted by the closure of so many shops and the migration to Queensville. All these ventures have suffered in the last 12 months :

Bank House (Closed Sat 2.11.13)
Pie and Ale House
Cupcake Queen
Café Roma
No 15 Greengate Street (Currently For Sale)

It is too easy to blame the management of The Post House, maybe they were expecting a better response from the people of Stafford. All the above businesses were well run, independent businesses, trying to give something a bit different to the non tax paying Starbucks. They have all suffered from a lack of support too. When people roll out the usual " we want more independent shops and eateries ", I can only say it ain't going to happen folks - it seems to be too darn difficult to earn a living in Stafford town centre.

 

[70-plus]

I think Stafford is a very difficult place to run a restaurant /coffee shop. The town is completely void of clientele on any evening with the exception of Friday, Saturday and Tuesday (Student Night). Day time trade has been severely impacted by the closure of so many shops and the migration to Queensville. All these ventures have suffered in the last 12 months :

Bank House (Closed Sat 2.11.13)
Pie and Ale House
Cupcake Queen
Café Roma
No 15 Greengate Street (Currently For Sale)

It is too easy to blame the management of The Post House, maybe they were expecting a better response from the people of Stafford. All the above businesses were well run, independent businesses, trying to give something a bit different to the non tax paying Starbucks. They have all suffered from a lack of support too. When people roll out the usual " we want more independent shops and eateries ", I can only say it ain't going to happen folks - it seems to be too darn difficult to earn a living in Stafford town centre.

 

[70-plus]

I don't think the Post House thought through the issues. If you want an up-market eating place then it needs to be in a place with good car-parking and not in a place where drunken youths congregate. It's image was up-market but no-one wanted to afford the prices they would have to pay when there was no car-parking and where you had to go through a group of drunken young people out for a good time. I don't object to that at all, but I think an up-market restaurant needs to be in an upmarket environment. The Swan is better placed for that. Not enough thought went into the Post house unfortunately.

 

[basil]

I think Stafford is a very difficult place to run a restaurant /coffee shop. The town is completely void of clientele on any evening with the exception of Friday, Saturday and Tuesday (Student Night). Day time trade has been severely impacted by the closure of so many shops and the migration to Queensville. All these ventures have suffered in the last 12 months :

Bank House (Closed Sat 2.11.13)
Pie and Ale House
Cupcake Queen
Café Roma
No 15 Greengate Street (Currently For Sale)

It is too easy to blame the management of The Post House, maybe they were expecting a better response from the people of Stafford. All the above businesses were well run, independent businesses, trying to give something a bit different to the non tax paying Starbucks. They have all suffered from a lack of support too. When people roll out the usual " we want more independent shops and eateries ", I can only say it ain't going to happen folks - it seems to be too darn difficult to earn a living in Stafford town centre.

Spot on with the 'queensville effect'........

 

[ATJ]

I think it's ridiculous to blame the people of Stafford when things go wrong with a business. They obviously didn't do their market research. A good few of the places that have closed recently have actively gone out of their way to discourage the most populous local market, or have delivered mixed messages on what exactly they're trying to market, or have struggled with private finance from the get go.

The Post House has no parking and tried to attract the foodie crowd, but then hosted DJ nights and was full of kids who look like the cast of The Only Way of Essex. The Pie and Ale couldn't decide if it was trying to sell beer and a night out or coffee and a crèche, and at the time of day when the two markets mixed it was weird for everyone. Chambers went on record as saying they were priced to discourage student custom next to the college and The Bank House sold lovely cocktails then closed at about half past nine. These places deliver a mixed message which can make customers uncomfortable if they're the 'wrong' clientèle at the wrong time of day.

What I want, what would really make me happy and drag me into a town to spend hundreds of pounds, would be a nice quiet real ale pub with a selection of wines and spirits, live bands but not ear-splitting DJ's that was open until 4am. As it is, I find a lovely bar and then I'm kicked out at 11 or 12 to go home or grumble all the way to The Grapes. I can't understand why we make pubs that don't cause trouble close so early then force everyone into the kind of clubs that cause all the problems people keep moaning about.

 

[Gramaisc]

Excellent analysis - I'm now even more convinced that we are related.

 

[Feed The Goat]

I think it's ridiculous to blame the people of Stafford when things go wrong with a business. They obviously didn't do their market research. A good few of the places that have closed recently have actively gone out of their way to discourage the most populous local market, or have delivered mixed messages on what exactly they're trying to market, or have struggled with private finance from the get go.

The Post House has no parking and tried to attract the foodie crowd, but then hosted DJ nights and was full of kids who look like the cast of The Only Way of Essex. The Pie and Ale couldn't decide if it was trying to sell beer and a night out or coffee and a crèche, and at the time of day when the two markets mixed it was weird for everyone. Chambers went on record as saying they were priced to discourage student custom next to the college and The Bank House sold lovely cocktails then closed at about half past nine. These places deliver a mixed message which can make customers uncomfortable if they're the 'wrong' clientèle at the wrong time of day.

What I want, what would really make me happy and drag me into a town to spend hundreds of pounds, would be a nice quiet real ale pub with a selection of wines and spirits, live bands but not ear-splitting DJ's that was open until 4am. As it is, I find a lovely bar and then I'm kicked out at 11 or 12 to go home or grumble all the way to The Grapes. I can't understand why we make pubs that don't cause trouble close so early then force everyone into the kind of clubs that cause all the problems people keep moaning about.

Places such as The Bank House close at half nine because they were probably sick of watching tumbleweed blowing down Salter Street five nights a week.

 

[flossietoo]

The Post House has no parking and tried to attract the foodie crowd, but then hosted DJ nights and was full of kids who look like the cast of The Only Way of Essex. These places deliver a mixed message which can make customers uncomfortable if they're the 'wrong' clientèle at the wrong time of day.

Couldn't agree more. We've eaten in some wonderful places (as distinct from places that just keep telling you that they are wonderful) and apart from amazing food, they have offered fantastic service and an atmosphere in which I have felt comfortable.

It wouldn't occur to me to eat in the restaurant at the Post House because that's where my stepson goes for a night out. Nothing against my stepson, but I don't want to go somewhere full of young people trying to pick up other young people. Noise, short skirts, fake tan, people who can't hold their drink, shouting, migraine-inducing lighting. I'm going to feel uncomfortable, uneasy and out of place.

To persuade me to run the gauntlet of the party folk, it would have to be really special food and to be honest, I don't have confidence that this is somewhere with a real passion for ingredients, or a drive to create something distinctive.

I don't want 'valet parking'. Seriously, who wants valet parking? In Stafford? I want parking. Or failing that, someone who discretely and efficiently realises that we are nearly ready to leave and magics a taxi waiting outside before we've even thought to ask. I don't want fuss, flummery and illusion, I want people who are great at their jobs and love what they do.

 

[Rowley Reg]

My overwhelming reaction would be one of huge sympathy for the guy who apparently invested his heart, life, soul and finances in a dream to give Stafford something to be proud of. And who has probably now had to pay the horrible heavy price of bankruptcy, criticised mercilessly by people who haven't got a clue how difficult it is to launch and run a business, grapple with the 2,000 pieces of sometimes petty legislation, and pay the wages of a good number of local people in the current economic climate. If someone knows something different about this perception, please let us know...

This guy in my book is a hero - and OK, those of you who have no concept of local trading, safe in the anonymity of a forum may want to kick the guy for his overly-broad business plan of trying to cater for too many markets.

Well...shame on you.

Yes, tumbleweed does blow down the High Street, whilst I would guess the majority of forum commenters sit at home drinking their cheap supermarket alcohol, and contributing zero to the local hospitality trade.

If you're not careful, you will lose all the pubs and individual businesses that made England what it was, and we will all be eating plastic food & drink sat in a McDonalds, Greggs or Pizza Hut, or whatever chain store you can think of, whilst local businesses like this go to the wall for lack of local support.

Thank God for local enterprise, and people like the Swan (and they are to be applauded) and the Post House, who challenge this and think there is local life, spirit and a reason for local people to want to go out to their high street.

So, Post House critics: what's your excuse for not getting off your arses and going to support your local traders, instead of sitting in your pompous insulated email shells and venting your bile at anything you disagree with, safe in the knowledge that you won't be challenged face to face?

Perhaps you don't drink, or perhaps they don't serve the food, beer or cider that you want, or perhaps you cannot afford to go out - OK not everyone can afford to go out, but at least the Post House tried to give Stafford something different?

So what do you all want? - To see it closed-up with metal shutters?

Will that make you all happy?

I say Bloody good luck to the Post House - I hope it survives the doubters, and I for one will continue to walk through their door, (even though their management style is sometimes a bit daft and questionable)

On a positive note - what would be local reaction if the Post House turned itself into a really good self-service buffet with World cuisines - take a look at the Cosmos model http://www.cosmo-restaurants.co.uk/ - not a huge leap and these places are always rammed and turning over millions.

I'll sit here ready to be shot down - let's discuss.....

 

[gilbert grape]

Anybody else think that maybe a bit too much thought went into it from the start. This is Stafford and Mr Foster seemed to have a dream that they could change Stafford's habits rather than fittting in and adding something? I seem to remember statements like "If local people do not like the venue then we will attract people into the town who do" .
Having a town centre restaurant/bar charging admission and beer as expensive or more so, than anywhere else was taking quite a gamble. Maybe some promotion nights and a slightly lower ale price would have made a difference and the money would have flowed? A far number of my fiends have eaten there and not one have complained. I have drank in their on a number of occasions and have also used the cocktail bar a few times.
Hopefully the business can sort itself out and will eventually thrive.

 

[tek-monkey]

I want the post house to succeed simply because I'd rather a used building than a vacant one, but its not the sort of place I'd go myself. Posh nosh within earshot of a loud dj is not an appeal to me, but weekends are the only chance we'd get to go out and their target market at these times is as you say confused.

 

[Gramaisc]

I started the original Post House thread - http://www.staffordforum.com/xf/index.php?threads/the-post-house-in-stafford.7982/ - because I was particularly impressed by the standard of work in the reconstruction phase. I suspect that I'm not really in its target market and also that few people really want to see any venue struggle, for whatever reason. A start-up of this nature in the current economic climate is unlikely to go smoothly, I suspect, however well directed it might be.

 

[Withnail]

Remember when i did a compilation of positive reviews for Chambers when we had a few new folk sign up to say how this place was conducting a 'witch hunt' as if 'we' all wanted it to fail? Well i'm not doing it again. But i bet i could.

They're having a little local difficulty that either will, or will not, be sorted out - the bankruptee absorbing no doubt horrendous losses - with the 'change' in ownership.

I wish them well, you wish them well, we all scream for ice cream.

Admittedly a strange attitude for a corduroy trouser wearer.

 

[ATJ]

So, Post House critics: what's your excuse for not getting off your arses and going to support your local traders, instead of sitting in your pompous insulated email shells and venting your bile at anything you disagree with, safe in the knowledge that you won't be challenged face to face?

Perhaps you don't drink, or perhaps they don't serve the food, beer or cider that you want, or perhaps you cannot afford to go out - OK not everyone can afford to go out, but at least the Post House tried to give Stafford something different?

So what do you all want? - To see it closed-up with metal shutters?

I do get off my arse and go to support local traders. But only if they provide me with something I actually want. I'm not going to be guilted into spending money in a place that I don't like and doesn't like me just because it happens to be 'local'.

Good luck to The Post House. There are plenty of thriving local bars that I would never set foot in but that doesn't mean I want to see them closed. I said as much in The Yard thread.

As a consumer you can't do right for doing wrong. I will decide where I want to spend my money and if I have perfectly good reasons for not patronising the Post House and others like it then it's not up to you to decide that I'm wrong, pompous or full of bile.

The only person who appears to be getting angry in an insulated bubble of bile, safe in the knowledge that you'll never be confronted face to face, Sir, is you.

Because I don't think a differing opinion is something to be ashamed of.

 

[My Name is URL]

Remember when i did a compilation of positive reviews for Chambers when we had a few new folk sign up to say how this place was conducting a 'witch hunt' as if 'we' all wanted it to fail? Well i'm not doing it again. But i bet i could.

Definitely agree with this....

Always amazes me that we can't have a discussion on here with people stating preferences and opinions without someone jumping on the discussion to say we all hate local businesses and want them to fail.

Oh and yes I do sit at home drinking my cheap supermarket alcohol, only on weekends though as i'm watching my weight. Money is tight in my household as I am sure it is in millions of others around the country - should I apologise or feel guilty for being responsible and paying my mortgage and feeding my kids rather than supporting a local business?

On the two occasions I have been to TPH I have really enjoyed it - those who say they haven't and wouldn't go because they have a nightclub / bar in the same building I would say you are missing out and really should give it a try. I didn't even realise the nightclub bit was open when we had our meal until we went back downstairs to the bar and saw it. It really isn't as bad as you think.

Incidentally the two trips I have made to TPH for meals were with the Travelzoo (or was it Living Social) vouchers as that made the cost reasonable, otherwise I would never normally afford £25 for a steak that doesn't come with any sides even... there, see, I just expressed an opinion on TPH... doesn't mean I want the place to close tomorrow, in fact the polar opposite.

 

[proactive]

Yes, tumbleweed does blow down the High Street, whilst I would guess the majority of forum commenters sit at home drinking their cheap supermarket alcohol, and contributing zero to the local hospitality trade.

Ordinarily I would rise to the bait and answer your points but I have a bottle of White Lightening I need to finish first...

 

[flossietoo]

It's only the cheap supermarket alcohol that's keeping me going, now I'm not allowed to enjoy my Buckfast in the park.

 

[Gramaisc]

It's only the cheap supermarket alcohol that's keeping me going, now I'm not allowed to enjoy my Buckfast in the park.

Steady on - wean yourself back down to a Barrettine shandy - http://www.staffordforum.com/xf/index.php?threads/amusing-amazon-reviews.9292/#post-173908 ...

 

[Noah]

On a positive note - what would be local reaction if the Post House turned itself into a really good self-service buffet with World cuisines - take a look at the Cosmos model http://www.cosmo-restaurants.co.uk/ - not a huge leap and these places are always rammed and turning over millions.
.

Personally I would avoid the place like the plague