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What happened to the Pub??
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I see the point yea. Defo wouldn't want people drinking out of the cans in the bar. But if you have them poured into a glass sure it's all the same as any other pint once it's in the glass.
Are you afraid it might attract a few messers from the fields? That could be a deeper reason for pricey drinks in bars.
Maybe, I dunno - Poll is up so we will see!!
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Very hard to find a pub I like tbh. Once 6 o'clock rolls around the music goes up and so does the central heating I tend to find. Again I don't like sitting in a beer garden because I'll just chain smoke. :pac: Unfortunately loud sweaty pubs are where most people I know tend to go.O.k. but why would you go into a pub that you dont like?? (Loud Music, too hot) Go to one that suits you, (this is open for questioning as people go out to meet people and most people are in these places but I cant try and explain everything). You say you can get wasted in your own house - Thats fine because you wont be getting "wasted" in any of my pubs anyway! I believe people getting "wasted" in pubs is a reason so many dont go there anymore!
On the rates issue my current rates in Wexford are €11,589.00 for a premises with a bar/restaurant, capacity about 100patrons. And a very small off licence.
I was also wondering about the cans issue - I personally dont have an issue with it, but some older people see it as a sign of a poor establishment (rough etc) I might do a poll on this tho to get the general view. Would anyone here frown upon a few 18/19 yr olds drinking cans at the bar. I do think it would be kind of intimidating. And no it is not illegal.
I'm a quiet drunk, I've lost whole nights and spoken to people the next day who I apparently met and was fine and had the craic with. Only times I've been in a fight when drunk was getting jumped for no reason and I only had a few drinks on me. I'm very fat so I can handle my drink pretty well. :pac: I'd be surprised if you wouldn't welcome me getting wasted in your pub, it'd be 100 quid in your til each time and no aggro from me. :pac:
At those rates (I don't know your exact prices) the price difference still doesn't tally for me. I don't think that selling cans would put off the older clientele as long as you keep an eye on things, i.e. if it's the same people coming in regularly. If you don't like the look of someone you can always get rid of them.
As someone else said, most people if given a can in a glass would be happy enough. I don't know the cost per pint of draught tbh, should make that clear to begin with. :P 0 -
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Can I jump in from the perspective of a foreigner who has lived part-time in Dublin (which colors my view of the Irish pub experience) and been in and out of Ireland and other European countries as a tourist?
Ireland is now way overpriced as a tourist destination, and many of the pubs suck - for locals and tourists alike.
As many other posters noticed, the beer selection in a lot of pubs isn't great if you don't want Guinness, cider, or watered down American beer. The wine selection in most bars is atrocious; paying 5 euro for a miserable mini bottle when you can get a nice, full-sized bottle for 8 euro makes no financial sense at all. And the cost of liquor/mixed drinks is astronomical (7-8 euro) and I have never seen such a stingy pour anywhere in my life as I have in Dublin pubs. When pubs are selling mojitos (most of which are badly made anyway) for 10 euro, something has gone horribly, horribly wrong. Not to mention that most pubs don't serve food, or serve bad or expensive food (which isn't available after 9pm anyway).
Therefore, if you live in a place like Dublin, instead of having a drink or two after work, it's much cheaper just to go home. And having a get-together at a friend's house where everyone brings a bottle or case of something - and snacks to boot - can be a much more enjoyable and cheap way to spend the evening.
If you don't live in Ireland, and you and your friends are thinking about somewhere to go for the weekend, why go to Ireland (and Dublin in particular) where the hotels, pubs, and food are expensive, and you need to hire taxis to get around, when you can go to Spain where the drinks, food, and hotels are cheap, and you can walk or take the Metro wherever you want to go? In Spain, the bar service is generally slow and indifferent, but you pay 1.90 for a glass of wine, and they give you a nice plate of olives or ham to go with it. And it's not just Spain; to be honest, for craic, good food and a fun weekend on the town, Belfast is increasingly a far more attractive option than Dublin or Galway (or most places in the Republic), despite the miserable weather. Not only is it much cheaper in the north, but the people working in the service industry (in my experience anyway) are extremely friendly and helpful - kind of like how things used to be in the south.
Finally, just to point out that it isn't all about the cost difference, when I lived in Dublin, the one business in my area that always had people in and out, and a good lunch and afternoon crowd wasn't one of the local pubs, it was the local coffee shop. They had basic, tasty food - soup, sandwiches and pastries - most of which was available for under 5 euro. The staff remembered regulars, and were generally quite friendly. There was free wi-fi, and the place was bright and cheerful, so if you wanted to read the newspaper, you didn't feel as if you were going blind. There was always music on, but it was at a level where you could hear yourself think. And there was a nice, hidden garden in the back where you could smoke, or just read the paper and drink your coffee in the sunshine. It was the kind of place where people went for informal business meetings, or to meet up with friends for lunch or after work. The only thing that could have made this place better would have been if they offered 3 euro bottles/glasses of wine.
It isn't rocket science: offer good value and a welcoming environment that encourages both newbies and regulars to stop in and linger, and you can do business, even in a difficult economic environment.0 -
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Some criticisms and ideas:
- No price increases after a certain time.
- Bottles of coke/7-up whatever used as mixers sold at or near cost price. Include any pub costs in the price of the spirit (I'm guessing they are anyways )
- Give driver reduced price soft drinks depending on how many he is driving. Might be a problem in a bigger pub but in a pub relying on customers who need a car it shouldn't be too hard.
- Serve bottled beers like you find in the off-licences at a published mark-up (offie price + pub costs) and in a glass in the pub.0 -
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Beer snobs don't drink HeinekenIs it a beer snob concept ?
The beer snob answer is that you can't claim that Heineken is different in canned and draught (and bottled) form without testing it blind.0 -
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I am not trying to be rude or argumentative with this next question guys so please don't take it the wrong way ok.
I am just wondering, do any of the posters in this thread manage a business of their own? If so, what kind of profit margins do you aim for on the goods or services you supply.0 -
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I am not trying to be rude or argumentative with this next question guys so please don't take it the wrong way ok.
I am just wondering, do any of the posters in this thread manage a business of their own? If so, what kind of profit margins do you aim for on the goods or services you supply.
Both my uncle and brother are in the pub business in the US; my uncle owns his bar, and my brother is a bar manager. I've worked in my uncle's bar and also helped him with some of his expansion schemes, none of which he's lost money on. I can't give you exact figures on profit margins, but I can tell you what has been his key money makers: 1) improving and expanding his food options, 2) taking advantage of opportunities to expand and reuse space, in particular by adding a party room and a pizza operation and 3) hoarding cash during the boom, which let him expand during the recession at far below cost.
Having a good menu helped him keep his customers, even though he is at the edge of a high-tax county (meaning people could drive an extra 10 minutes for cheaper drinks). It also brings in people who are happy to just eat, which matters given strict drunk driving laws in the US (he is in the suburbs with no public transport). The party room, which has a HUGE flat screen and multiple sports feeds, makes money not just for major sports events, but also for birthday parties etc (again, because people like the food). He bought the pizza oven at fire sale prices, and is now looking into investing in the development of his own microbrewery; last summer we went around Wisconsin checking out stills and sampling different brews.
I think if people want to survive in a changing and competitive industry, they need to take some risks. Too many Irish bars have limited options, not only for beer on tap, but bottles and even for liquor. Obviously the "old" system of doing business isn't working out too well for a lot of pubs; why not take a risk and try something new? Stocking Goose Island or Hendrick's doesn't require putting in new taps (although there are plenty of Irish pubs who could stand to move away from the Guinness/Carlsberg/cider trifecta of evil). Hell, take some initiative and start developing craft beers; I would think there would be both domestic and perhaps even international opportunities (long term) since Ireland is a "brand" for alcohol production.0 -
I fully agree with you Heroditas. Pubs are far too obsessed now with having the tv on and having music blaring to replace a lack of atmosphere and character. In my pub we have the tv turned off at night unless there is a major sporting event on. The music is turned off during the day and most nights unless someone asks for it on and even then we have it a level where you can only just hear it and still talk at a normal level.
Of course we show the horse racing during the day because there is a bookies across the road and a lot of our regulars love having small bets and enjoyment with their drinks but we find that it helps improve the atmosphere as people are talking about their fancies for each race and getting excited and buying everyone drink when they have a big winner.
We rely on our pool table, card games such as poker or knockout 45 and a good regular base for our atmosphere along with bar staff that will join in the craic and know everyones names and favourite drinks even if that person only comes in a handful of times a year. We also offer beamish which has become our biggest seller ahead of Guiness as we sell it for €3.10 (strangely only a handful of other pubs in town have caught on to the fact people prefer it)
But here is the kicker, with the exception of the varied selection of foreign beers my pub (in my own obviously biased opinion of course!) seems to be the criteria of most people in this thread and what they think a pub should be like however on the busiest street in town with 6 pubs within 50 metres of each other we do the worst business of them all. The others all have their blaring music, more expensive drinks and some have staff that look at you like you are dirt. So i am at a loss here. There is a vocal minority here but the majority seem to like being overcharged and going to cattle mart pubs where they just want you in, get your money, get you out. Places to be seen going i suppose.
The sickening thing is we are now after drawing up plans to remodel the pub and try to modernise more to be like the other pubs to get more business. It breaks my heart the thoughts that my beloved pub with a fine friendly atmosphere has to be replaced by a soulless money grabbing business but it just seems to be the type of place that people want.
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