Carlisle Pubs Thread

Paid £3.60 for a half in Harrogate today. Was warned before she poured it but was well worth it. Being in brewdog in Leeds and Sheffield again beers expensive but worth it

ParcelPete wrote: Not easy to turn around a pub thats been in decline for decades but it can be done,the reiver being a prime example,must be one of the best local's in Carlisle.

I agree, they’ve done really well and it was a great idea to tap into the thriving gay community in Yewdale.

I’d say the un/success of the new harraby inn will be watched by a few before deciding what the next steps are for out of town boozers

melbourneblues wrote:

ParcelPete wrote: Not easy to turn around a pub thats been in decline for decades but it can be done,the reiver being a prime example,must be one of the best local's in Carlisle.

I agree, they’ve done really well and it was a great idea to tap into the thriving gay community in Yewdale.

See you in there Saturday.

mattcufc wrote: If it’s that easy take it on. Been in pub management 16 years now and get asked all the time why I don’t take my own place on, and also being offered 3or4 pubs on good terms. Somewhere like th currock is [censored], no parking, reputation, uninviting, etc. All well and good people saying they would go if it was better which is why pub companies do them up but when The punters don’t return it’s a vicious circle

But put me right if i.m wrong Matt but hasn't all your experience been limited to pubs like Lloyds and Wetherspoons which is a completely different game to taking on and turning around a community pub like the Currock but in most cases, it comes down to the pub owners in most cases Breweries or Pubcos wanting to see them closed as pubs and sold off with a covenant in place to protect their other sites locally from someone buying it doing it up and being so successful and it having a detrimental effect on their other pubs.

Down here Thwaites have closed down literally hundreds of their former pubs and as soon as they do they immediately put them onto the market either by private sale or into auction but always with the covenant in place and they won't budge on it I and a partner offered them 20 grand above the asking price on a certain site and still they weren't interested.

Theres really very little gamble involved because at the end of the day if it doesn't work you can shut it and sell it off for housing usually at a much better price than the pubco were looking for if you do a bit of preparatory work on it after you shut it like getting the planning permission and change of use for example.

So if theres any builders or entrepreneurs up there thinking of taking it on get in touch I have some good people on my books looking for a low-cost route back into the game.

But the whole pub industry is [censored] bellow the sort of level in the market that you operate in Matt.

My advice to you would be to stay where you are until you have enough stashed to buy your own successfully trading freehold site.

mattcufc wrote: I’d say the un/success of the new harraby inn will be watched by a few before deciding what the next steps are for out of town boozers

Star have two or three more ex-punch pubs around the city about to come online for let very soon their refurbs are very good but unless you're in from the start and contribute to the refurb what they want from you in rent in return to pay for it makes it totally uneconomic. and you're doomed to failure.a big loss and a very expensive lesson.

www.starpubs.co.uk/pubs-to-let?keword_lo...arch=yes&submit;_sear

In terms of employment most of the pub work I’ve done has being for wetherspoons in a few different venues Including both Carlisle pubs, Fleetwood, the old Blackpool site, Workington, Lancaster, Morecambe, Keswick, Kendal, most of which were troubleshooting to get them stabilised because sales were in decline.
Even in Lloyd’s when I initially took it over it was a failing pub in terms of what it should of being doing now turned it round into one of the top 50performers in the company. Apart from this have worked in country pubs both hands on and more recently in an advisory capacity.
Agree Totally different from running your own venue and finances but the ethos is the same in terms of offering well kept beer and good customer service to get people to return and suppport you, spoons has the benefit of offering low prices alongside this.
Wouldn’t risk leaving what I have now in terms of stability and salary. Looking at the pubs in that link the Howard is already lined up with two parties after it and the St Nic was refurbed only a couple years ago and didn’t work.

NORTHERNSOUL wrote:

mattcufc wrote: If it’s that easy take it on. Been in pub management 16 years now and get asked all the time why I don’t take my own place on, and also being offered 3or4 pubs on good terms. Somewhere like th currock is [censored], no parking, reputation, uninviting, etc. All well and good people saying they would go if it was better which is why pub companies do them up but when The punters don’t return it’s a vicious circle

But put me right if i.m wrong Matt but hasn't all your experience been limited to pubs like Lloyds and Wetherspoons which is a completely different game to taking on and turning around a community pub like the Currock but in most cases, it comes down to the pub owners in most cases Breweries or Pubcos wanting to see them closed as pubs and sold off with a covenant in place to protect their other sites locally from someone buying it doing it up and being so successful and it having a detrimental effect on their other pubs.

Down here Thwaites have closed down literally hundreds of their former pubs and as soon as they do they immediately put them onto the market either by private sale or into auction but always with the covenant in place and they won't budge on it I and a partner offered them 20 grand above the asking price on a certain site and still they weren't interested.

Theres really very little gamble involved because at the end of the day if it doesn't work you can shut it and sell it off for housing usually at a much better price than the pubco were looking for if you do a bit of preparatory work on it after you shut it like getting the planning permission and change of use for example.

So if theres any builders or entrepreneurs up there thinking of taking it on get in touch I have some good people on my books looking for a low-cost route back into the game.

But the whole pub industry is [censored] bellow the sort of level in the market that you operate in Matt.

My advice to you would be to stay where you are until you have enough stashed to buy your own successfully trading freehold site.

Well there are two extra local punters who would use it for a start.

Those mothballed curtains need burning for a start.

Not even sure if the old locals were a bad lot as nobody I know drinks in there, the reputation it had was from the way it looked.

I believe in a local pub and would use it a few times a week, I was never out of The Cumberland Wrestlers before I moved away - probably why it closed due to my lack of custom

“and the St Nic was refurbed only a couple years ago and didn’t work”.

It didn’t work because the layout of the place was not designed for what he was attempting to do, it’s a wet pub and always will be, that refurb was the kiss of death.

Have to agree about the Currock, a lick of paint and spruce up - without being to 'art deco', a bit of good value local grub. dart teams, pool team, quiz night.

Coffee shop and Internet cafe through the day, a few local attractions like State Management, Railway Town etc.

A bit of memorabilia around the place, a few local piccies on the walls, bob's your uncle.

The key to the success of all these places is the Landlord.............

Currock already had two pool teams.

CCU wrote: Absolutely nothing wrong with the clientele of The Currock. Last time I was in was mainly old blokes watching the racing in the lounge, and a few regulars in main bar.

Exterior is fantastic whenever it’s given a paint job, its the inside that needs expenditure. How many pubs have full size snooker tables these days?! There’s also a lot more scope to upgrade the outside area IMO...

Well if there is no bother in there then a lick of paint and I would use it.

Would be a shame to lose the last surviving pub in the area, there is a demand for it but needed a re-launch of some sort to show folk it is not as dingy as it appears.

I often sit and moan at my pals that there is nowhere to drink round here, Hollywood Bowl came up and The Currock and both are not very good so we didn't bother.

Crying out for somewhere for a swift few beers, yes you can drink at home and save loads but I love going to the pub and chatting with locals and just whiling away a couple of hours and do not mind paying extra for that far nicer experience.

Met some of my best friends from nipping down the pub, I used this one down in Leicestershire more than I should have, lock ins with lights down low and about twelve to twenty regulars including local businessmen, lawyers and a total cross the board bunch who would quite happily give you free advice and saved me and other people shitloads of money and you would do them a turn whenever they wanted in your own field it was ace.

Don't smoke any more but at the time the smoking ban was in so we were all chuffing away at the bar, cigars and the likes.

The taps had to be turned off every Wednesday earlier than normal and I took in all his advice, we do this every Wednesday so get your beers in now around one in the morning because the pints are so good is because we clean them regular and I listened to him order the meat and he always went for South American steaks and joints spending an extra premium but he said they are the best.

The place was spotless and Monday was always the best time to go in for lunchtime lunch as it was three course for £6.25 and you could have a full Sunday roast from the day before.

Was not an alchy by the way as I worked 2-10 so the lock ins were just a few beers on the way home

And the last two landlords had no real interest in making a go of it.

Can't make Mondays.

CCU wrote: I reckon we get NS in to run it, he can have Mon Nights for the local Fet Scene in the Snooker Room...

That would be Monday night taken up for me for a while then - just to observe who comes into the pub and imagining what is going on behind the old curtains that have now been found a use for

You could see if they were potting the Pink or the Brown.

Don't forget midgets sucking off giants, fifty people sharing a small split in the curtains for twenty second viewings

Work now actually starting on Horse & Farrier site

www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/Work-on-15m-t...bd0e-0077d5de2a36-ds

Was ova the arrab in today. Nowt special! Took a F'in age to get severd! Old time staff isn't gonna cut it

nobbyblue wrote: Is Margaret Marys club still gan up that way!?

Yes.

Anyone heard owt about The Currock?

That Adult Mags place on London Road is easier to peer in than The Currock was, surely the previous managers must have realised that making the place look like a sex/opium den was not good for business, it was almost like they were trying their hardest to drive away any trade.

My sources tell me that the Horse and Farrier site was interviewed for the vacant managers position yesterday and is a “a strong contender”.

I'm hoping against all hope that the currock reopens as a pub! Was in the Harraby Inn last wk, the spinners the wk before! Both not bad, particularly liked the ale in the spinners. Carlisle brewing Co. But both a little far to be my local. Long live the currock & all that sail in her. I've always had this peverse idea of making the currock into a cufc supporters pub! Running away trips etc

BlueBanana wrote: I'm hoping against all hope that the currock reopens as a pub! Was in the Harraby Inn last wk, the spinners the wk before! Both not bad, particularly liked the ale in the spinners. Carlisle brewing Co. But both a little far to be my local. Long live the currock & all that sail in her. I've always had this peverse idea of making the currock into a cufc supporters pub! Running away trips etc

I would use it BB - smashing the windows and burning the curtains to let in some light would get plenty more people in there too.

The currock reopens 1st July, i believe. (strange that it's a Sunday). So munchy and all don't be put off by the exterior, get yourselves in and make it your local. I believe the inside has been brightened up. New management from out of town, so might be a bit firmer with the riff raff.

We should commit to a message board visit just to get over our fears. 7.00pm on the 1st, something like that.

Come in for a few Exiled, we're a friendly lot.

As long as the Beehive stays open I'll be happy

Was past the Currock only yesterday, all boarded up still, no signs of life

Yes I tried to post about it the other day but was unable to. Apparently they've been posting about it on Facebook. Hope those of you that said you found the old Currock uninviting might give it a try. Looking forward to getting a local back.

LOL, well a 'members pool bar' just makes it sound like something from a Danny Dyer film. I'm intimidated already.

Good news this as it will not be turned into flats or a house. Would have preferred a pub but if they have a bar then might give it a bash.

From what I've heard the old lounge will be a bar area, with the pool club occupying the old bar and snooker room.

BlueBanana wrote: From what I've heard the old lounge will be a bar area, with the pool club occupying the old bar and snooker room.

This is great news, I will definitely give it a bash then when it opens.

Well done to whoever is taking a chance on doing it up, don't mind the odd game of pool but appreciate somewhere to go for a beer and maybe the odd England game, down to the local people now to make it a success.

Maybe see some of you in there

I see it's Members Only.

ExiledJock wrote: I see it's Members Only.

With folk previously complaining about it being dingy and worried about the clientele then this, although not guaranteed, will reassure some people that it isn't a trouble spot as members would get banned for causing any grief so it is easier to control I would guess.

If they are doing it up then I for one am happy that I will finally have a local pub/bar that I can have a couple of pints in with my pals who live near or the missus.

Don't want to talk ill of the dead but there was not a single customer in that new-ish place on Warwick Road just down from Dempsey's at half-nine last night. By comparison, the place across the road looked pretty busy.

It's never busy tho, be shut by Christmas

Back on topic....the H and F seems to be having roofing problems...all was going well but seems to have come to a halt and now all the exposed timbers have got wet. There's blokes working but not very fast! Thought they'd have wanted it finished asap

ExiledJock wrote: I see it's Members Only.

Well theres definitely ramifications there licence wise if it goes tits up turning somewhere from a private members club back into a pub is not a simple procedure as I once found out.

If it is a club then isn't the beer normally cheaper or is this just wishful thinking on my part

I wonder also if you can go and have a try first before getting a membership.

CCU wrote:

munchymagic wrote: If it is a club then isn't the beer normally cheaper or is this just wishful thinking on my part

I wonder also if you can go and have a try first before getting a membership.

I’ll be joining, I’ll sign you in for a trial...

Cheers pal - I will have a nosey in the window as it progresses and if the beer is right I may make the plunge myself