The Hacker-Pschorr lager in their was a beautiful pint. Really good selection of European bottles as well. Shame it's gone. As good as anywhere in town for beer. A niche place though.
El MayorWas inevitable sadly; Brexit killed its USP of all the foreign beers in bottles and Covid killed its passing trade.
Think we’ll see more go to the wall this summer too; it’s rough out there
Prices in my local jumped up last month as a result of the tax rises, not sure it will survive.
El MayorSheriffIt's staggering the number of people surprised when venues go and then say, "I actually haven't been there for ages". Why do you think places close?
The Anchor is in a shit location at the moment and was waiting for development, they gambled and lost. Their offering is something you can get in loads of other places.
POV is a dark place off the beaten track with no outdoor space (which people crave more and more since Covid), which has a niche offering and one that can be replicated easily these days and often better.
HSC - great lads and great offering but suburbs are where these types of place are better, who wants to travel to the arse end of Hockley when there's better on their doorstep?
Concepts and wants change, there are plenty of places thriving, it's a natural churn in some cases as demands and customers change.
One day these places will be back again (bar HSC which will find plenty of new homes over the years).
Obviously there are huge challenges to the industry but the main thing is if you haven't got the offering and location that people want then you're effed. There's a lot of operators about to go bust as they are poor operators.
I agree the POV was a dark place but it had an entrance on New Street, hardly off the beaten track.
It's wayfinding though isn't it? It's a back street essentially, oddly, if they held on for a few more weeks you've got a new police station going in and pushing people in different angles up Navigation St.
Was in the Colmore earlier pleased to see it ticking over quite nicely given how early I was in there but it is a Friday I'd be concerned had it not been tbh. Like I said the other week go in there on a random Tuesday mid afternoon and it stands a chance of being dead and that really IS concerning to me at least that place is still probably 4-5 years off paying for itself the $$$$ they sunk into that fit out.
In a way it is now over for the clique that Nigel brought in with Dave and Perks mid-2000's to run the handful of decent real ale focused boozers just like it was over a decade ago for Gerry at the Anchor, Tony at the Black Eagle and Eddie at the Lamp even as he soldiered on gamely.
Town will change and some cracking boozers in Manchester are facing similar challenges - think Briton's Protection - so it's not just Brum
madWas in the Colmore earlier pleased to see it ticking over quite nicely given how early I was in there but it is a Friday I'd be concerned had it not been tbh. Like I said the other week go in there on a random Tuesday mid afternoon and it stands a chance of being dead and that really IS concerning to me at least that place is still probably 4-5 years off paying for itself the $$$$ they sunk into that fit out.
In a way it is now over for the clique that Nigel brought in with Dave and Perks mid-2000's to run the handful of decent real ale focused boozers just like it was over a decade ago for Gerry at the Anchor, Tony at the Black Eagle and Eddie at the Lamp even as he soldiered on gamely.
Town will change and some cracking boozers in Manchester are facing similar challenges - think Briton's Protection - so it's not just Brum
And again without wishing to profess that I know more than you do about this (I do by the way), I'd bet a fair amount that The Colmore makes an absolute chunk of it's weekly on a Tuesday when the office bods are in. Purity Bar and Kitchen around the corner does, so does Theatrix.
Operators who have adapted to WFH etc are doing well, those who haven't will fail.
Edit -also "Real Ale" is dying a death at the moment and has been for a while, craft is also dying. The two saving graces for pubs at the moment are Stouts (basically just Guinness) and fizzy European premium lagers. It's always a churn in tastes and demands and you have to keep on top of the trends.
El MayorWas inevitable sadly; Brexit killed its USP of all the foreign beers in bottles and Covid killed its passing trade.
Think we’ll see more go to the wall this summer too; it’s rough out there
Don't forget Global Warming, Trump, War in Ukraine + Middle East 14 years of Tory government and The Far Right
Always the way with town. The suits come out after work. Never been in Theatrix and never seen more than about half a dozen in Purity bar.
Hope town doesn't revert to being an after work suited and booted place tbh
Wriggly Tin14? You forgot the bitch that started all this.Don't forget Global Warming, Trump, War in Ukraine + Middle East 14 years of Tory government and The Far Right
madAlways the way with town. The suits come out after work. Never been in Theatrix and never seen more than about half a dozen in Purity bar.
Hope town doesn't revert to being an after work suited and booted place tbh
Then who are you expecting to go in you mad fucker?
SheriffFortunately we won't have to 'drink' worselfs to death soonEdit -also "Real Ale" is dying a death at the moment and has been for a while, craft is also dying. The two saving graces for pubs at the moment are Stouts (basically just Guinness) and fizzy European premium lagers. It's always a churn in tastes and demands and you have to keep on top of the trends.
Other cities have the balance far better than Brum. Brum was just about getting there circa 2017. Long way back for that city now
madWriggly Tin14? You forgot the bitch that started all this.Don't forget Global Warming, Trump, War in Ukraine + Middle East 14 years of Tory government and The Far Right
My apologies
madOther cities have the balance far better than Brum. Brum was just about getting there circa 2017. Long way back for that city now
What balance?
People want what they want and will go where they want. Suburban pubs are smashing it, loads of concept bars are smashing it, people are still spending they are just more choosy as to how as there are so many options in terms of experience.
SheriffmadOther cities have the balance far better than Brum. Brum was just about getting there circa 2017. Long way back for that city now
What balance?
People want what they want and will go where they want. Suburban pubs are smashing it, loads of concept bars are smashing it, people are still spending they are just more choosy as to how as there are so many options in terms of experience.
Wouldn't bother arguing with Mad, he's the fount of all knowledge when it comes to pubs, especially ones that are community leaders.
El MayorSheriffmadOther cities have the balance far better than Brum. Brum was just about getting there circa 2017. Long way back for that city now
What balance?
People want what they want and will go where they want. Suburban pubs are smashing it, loads of concept bars are smashing it, people are still spending they are just more choosy as to how as there are so many options in terms of experience.
Wouldn't bother arguing with Mad, he's the fount of all knowledge when it comes to pubs, especially ones that are community leaders.
Yeah I have read a few things and it's fortunate that I am probably well placed to call him a bollocks but I very rarely check in these days.
I can show my knowledge however, the next *BIG* pub opening, will be an Irish Bar in a million pound location such is the demand.