Amber Closed

bigneacy

I heard that Amber is closed down for good.

Its been in decline for years. Any thoughts on it?



On a side note, I also heard (along the grapevine) that this will possibly be soon followed by the Dixon's (who are the owners of amber) shops - Dixons Earl St & the big Londis in Quay St- and the funeral home on bridge street, as well as the limo business. Anybody know about this?

KeithM89_old

It went in to Administration on Tuesday apparently. The college Halloween ball was meant to be there but got moved to Ridleys.

No loss tbh - it was too small, the bouncers were dicks and the promotions in other clubs were far better

TopBombing

bigneacy wrote: »

I heard that Amber is closed down for good.

Its been in decline for years. Any thoughts on it?



On a side note, I also heard (along the grapevine) that this will possibly be soon followed by the Dixon's (who are the owners of amber) shops - Dixons Earl St & the big Londis in Quay St- and the funeral home on bridge street, as well as the limo business. Anybody know about this?

Basically, Mr. Kehoe has had all his assets taken off him by the banks 'cos he owe's them a fortune??

How the mighty have fallen...

Ann22

I'm sorry to hear that, more people out of work. Hope someone takes over the businesses. I'm always in that Londis, It's very handy for me.

event

TopBombing wrote: »

Basically, Mr. Kehoe has had all his assets taken off him by the banks 'cos he owe's them a fortune??

How the mighty have fallen...

why would they close all thier business then?

not going make money sitting idle, are they?

bigneacy

event wrote: »

why would they close all thier business then?

not going make money sitting idle, are they?

That'd be my logic on it too...

not1but4

It must be a case that each night they are making a loss.

Its really sad though that its closing as the less completive the night life is the easier it becomes for a club (ie Ridleys) to become dominate. Which they use to have a massive cover charge in, rip off drink prices and play the shíttest music.

What 4 years ago we had the choice of Vicars, Sky, Amber, Laceys, Ridleys and Silence now we have two. :mad:

Remember the nights of drink promotions :rolleyes:

Can still remember going into Amber for the first time and feeling really young had some good nights there but havent been near the place in nearly two years. I personally dont like going out in Dundalk any more (far cry form a few years ago) mainly because of the music and the price. Dublin FTW!

bigneacy

Yeah its shocking to think that Dundalk has only two nightclubs now... A friend was telling me recently that letterkenny (about half the size of Dundalk) has 5 or 6 nightclubs...! :eek:

Fo Real

A nightclub is going to be one of the first victims in a recession. People just don't have the money to go out drinking every weekend.

That said, Amber must have had really bad management for it to go bust. Most nightclubs are rolling in money - admission charges, cloak room charges, ludricrously high drink prices (€1 for a dash of blackcurrant in my whiskey!) and no shortage of idiots willing to pay them. Overheads include what? Electricity, rent, wages of bouncers, DJs and bar staff. Not that much really.

I haven't been in Amber in literally years since I moved out of the town, but was there a noticeable drop in numbers attending every weekend recently? It used to be packed with the same crowd of regulars when I used to occasionally go (so much so that you'd be waiting at the bar for 10mins to get served).

No great loss to the town imho. Amber was always the last resort when you couldn't get into Silence or Ridelys.

CarrickMcJoe

Fo Real wrote: »

A nightclub is going to be one of the first victims in a recession. People just don't have the money to go out drinking every weekend.

That said, Amber must have had really bad management for it to go bust. Most nightclubs are rolling in money - admission charges, cloak room charges, ludricrously high drink prices (€1 for a dash of blackcurrant in my whiskey!) and no shortage of idiots willing to pay them. Overheads include what? Electricity, rent, wages of bouncers, DJs and bar staff. Not that much really.

I haven't been in Amber in literally years since I moved out of the town, but was there a noticeable drop in numbers attending every weekend recently? It used to be packed with the same crowd of regulars when I used to occasionally go (so much so that you'd be waiting at the bar for 10mins to get served).

No great loss to the town imho. Amber was always the last resort when you couldn't get into Silence or Ridelys.

Think you should coount Council rates , building insurance , public liability insurance and employee insurance.

indiewindy

Brukakers must have also played a role in ambers downfall, it gets big crowds at the weekend, and none of that crazy €13 admission and €2 for your coat, its sad that the rip off place in Park Street does so well:mad:

BettePorter

indiewindy wrote: »

Brukakers must have also played a role in ambers downfall, it gets big crowds at the weekend, and none of that crazy €13 admission and €2 for your coat, its sad that the rip off place in Park Street does so well:mad:

You can say what you want re ridleys, they sometimes infuriate me at times but at the end of the day they run a tight ship, and in the 20 odd years i've been going there (granted in the last few years the realisation on the sporadic occasions i've been that the crowd has been getting younger only to realise that it's me who's geting older has lead me to stay in brubakers rather than venture up ) but in all my time there i never once saw a row or any scummy behaviour you sometimes see in other venues in the area. For some unknown reason (drink) i ended up in carrick a few weeks back and i honestly thought i wouldn't get home alive !

jesus_thats_gre

BettePorter wrote: »

but in all my time there i never once saw a row or any scummy behaviour you sometimes see in other venues

+1 on this. Probably the best run bar/night club I have been in in this country.

peewee_44

Im absolutly deighted. That was one rubbish nightclub with even worse doorman. I was thrown out of there one night for NO reason. Im not a big drinker had one in there and the bouncers told me I had to leave no reason given no refund I was in there for 15 mins I never stepped foot in there again.

Atomic Pineapple

BettePorter wrote: »

You can say what you want re ridleys, they sometimes infuriate me at times but at the end of the day they run a tight ship, and in the 20 odd years i've been going there (granted in the last few years the realisation on the sporadic occasions i've been that the crowd has been getting younger only to realise that it's me who's geting older has lead me to stay in brubakers rather than venture up ) but in all my time there i never once saw a row or any scummy behaviour you sometimes see in other venues in the area. For some unknown reason (drink) i ended up in carrick a few weeks back and i honestly thought i wouldn't get home alive !

I still dont understand why people actually go to Carrick for a night out, it has no redeeming features of any kind, I haven't been there in years and I'm 100% sure I haven't missed out.

bigneacy

draffodx wrote: »

I still dont understand why people actually go to Carrick for a night out, it has no redeeming features of any kind, I haven't been there in years and I'm 100% sure I haven't missed out.

The town that civilisation forgot.... Animals out there... I remember seeing a band playing in carrick. Just an ordinary pub band, not famous - they had an moderately attractive female singer.

They had five... FIVE bouncers surrounding the band cos the lads in the pub were going ape****.

Atomic Pineapple

bigneacy wrote: »

The town that civilisation forgot.... Animals out there... I remember seeing a band playing in carrick. Just an ordinary pub band, not famous - they had an moderately attractive female singer.

They had five... FIVE bouncers surrounding the band cos the lads in the pub were going ape****.

Unreal, a town filled with knuckle dragger's is the best way to describe it on a Saturday night.

On Amber, its been 3 years since I was there and even back then you could see it going downhill, which is a pity 'cos I used to really enjoy the spot when I was in college.

Is Ridleys and Silence the only 2 nightclubs in dundalk now!? :eek:

petes

I think that the Londis on Quay street is supposed to be staying open. Something about there being a Post Office in it or something. So I heard anyway.

skipz

draffodx wrote: »

Unreal, a town filled with knuckle dragger's is the best way to describe it on a Saturday night.

:DDeadly!

Remember the oasis nightclub back in the day, them carrick lads loved kicking a few heads in that place.

skipz

skipz wrote: »

:DDeadly!

Remember the oasis nightclub back in the day, them carrick lads loved kicking a few heads in that place.

Carrick v Kingscourt on a Saturday night , it was some spot though, many a good night I had there and when it was Enigma too.

10green bottles

Carrick sure is a sight to behold on a Saturday night,reminds me of Dundalk 20+ years ago.If Dundalk can be compared to El-Paso then Carrick is certaintly Ciudad Juárez:D
(albeit Carrick and Dundalk are on the same side of the border)

skipz

hellboy99 wrote: »

Carrick v Kingscourt on a Saturday night , it was some spot though, many a good night I had there and when it was Enigma too.

More like Carrick Vs the North east:D. Yeah some great nights, some spot alright!

amn88

Anyone know who the reciever on the nightclub Peter dixon ltd is? how long before that can be relaesed on the market or what are the next steps here? or can we expect amber to be closed for a while?

bigneacy

amn88 wrote: »

Anyone know who the reciever on the nightclub Peter dixon ltd is? how long before that can be relaesed on the market or what are the next steps here? or can we expect amber to be closed for a while?

Can't see it re-opening until someone new takes the reigns. Amber in its current incarnation is, supposedly, a money pit.

Needs someone with fresh thinking to take over.

jonnycakes

mad news about amber.havent been out in the town in a few years since relocating to dublin.whats the story with that "d-venue" gaff above the old earl inn?saw pretty cheap looking artwork and dance classics - bound to end in tears!

EPjnr

Hard to believe a nightclub which is apparently one of three in a town of 35000 people and has a 3rd level collage and is open 5nights a week,On top of this it apparently has some agreement with dkit and gets all the collage balls etc. Now can anybody expalin how this place could possibly be a 'money pit' ? What were management doing in this place?or was there any management at all in this place?
So can anyone give me an accurate description of this club, its size, location etc and what potential it may have under the right management?
I see KPMG's Kieran Wallace is reciever and manager on peter dixon ltd.. Does anyone know what else was included in this company other than a nightclub that may have dragged it into insolvency?

KeithM89_old

EPjnr wrote: »

it apparently has some agreement with dkit and gets all the collage balls etc.

That ended - the student union switched to Ridleys

EPjnr wrote: »

Now can anybody expalin how this place could possibly be a 'money pit' ? What were management doing in this place?or was there any management at all in this place?
So can anyone give me an accurate description of this club, its size, location etc and what potential it may have under the right management?

The place was tiny - at least in comparison to the other 2 clubs in town - the club is only about 100ft away from Silence, which its self is only 100ft away from Ridleys - all right in the town center.
The bouncers were VERY strict - to the point that people wouldnt even bother trying.

EPjnr

KeithM89 wrote: »

That ended - the student union switched to Ridleys




The place was tiny - at least in comparison to the other 2 clubs in town - the club is only about 100ft away from Silence, which its self is only 100ft away from Ridleys - all right in the town center.
The bouncers were VERY strict - to the point that people wouldnt even bother trying.

Capacity? aprx?

when did dkit change to ridleys? was the halloween ball not planned for amber and then changed to ridleys once the news of amber came to surface?

I'd love to think that the bouncers are partly to blame for the downfall to amber

KeithM89_old

EPjnr wrote: »

Capacity? aprx?

when did dkit change to ridleys? was the halloween ball not planned for amber and then changed to ridleys once the news of amber came to surface?

I'd love to think that the bouncers are partly to blame for the downfall to amber

I hazard a guess at around 2000 - probably wayyyy off.

The Halloween ball was intended for Amber but Ridleys is the 'Official' Club of the SU - all other big events are being held there.

EPjnr

KeithM89 wrote: »

I hazard a guess at around 2000 - probably wayyyy off.

The Halloween ball was intended for Amber but Ridleys is the 'Official' Club of the SU - all other big events are being held there.

I'd like to think ur right about the capacity but that is a very big nightclub in this country, Mantra in Maynooth has a capacity of 2000 but who am i to say i've never being in Dundalk in my life

not1but4

EPjnr wrote: »

Does anyone know what else was included in this company other than a nightclub that may have dragged it into insolvency?

From the original post

bigneacy wrote: »

On a side note, I also heard (along the grapevine) that this will possibly be soon followed by the Dixon's (who are the owners of amber) shops - Dixons Earl St & the big Londis in Quay St- and the funeral home on bridge street, as well as the limo business. Anybody know about this?

FTW Dixons of Earl Street is the shop just below Amber.

EPjnr wrote: »

I'd like to think ur right about the capacity but that is a very big nightclub in this country, Mantra in Maynooth has a capacity of 2000 but who am i to say i've never being in Dundalk in my life

I myself have been in both, Mantra is bigger then any of the clubs in Dundalk. When you consider the size of the smoking room up stairs and down stairs. Mantra also has them small rooms just off the dance floor upstairs and the bar down stairs which none of the clubs have in Dundalk. Then in the upstairs in Amber they have a viewing gallery where you can see everyone the floor below on the dance floor which is really just wasted space.

I guesstimate the capacity at 1,200 considering Mantra can hold 2,000.

When Amber first opened there was a pub on the ground floor which is now a shop.

This MAP shows the relation in distance between each club.

A - Amber
B - Silence
C - Ridley's


Streetview of Amber, its the Black door and the white shop is Dixons.


On another note much like Mantra gets crowds on the weekends from Leixlip, Celbridge and Clane, Dundalk night life gets crowds from North Louth which has a much bigger population then 35k.

You have to remember that Mantra lost a lot of its crowds after a few months as everyone got bored of it. Like places like The Roost and Bradys where packed while Mantra only had a hand full of people.

bigneacy

In addition to what the above poster has let you know:

EPjnr wrote: »

Capacity? aprx?

when did dkit change to ridleys? was the halloween ball not planned for amber and then changed to ridleys once the news of amber came to surface?

I'd love to think that the bouncers are partly to blame for the downfall to amber

*****Sorry for the long post******

EPjnr - I am trying to give you as much info as possible because I know from the biz forum why you are asking.

First things first - not a hope is it 2000. That poster obviously has no spatial awareness :pac:

I haven't got an exact capacity figure, but its closer to 1000.

The other businesses in Peter Dixon Ltd were a large 'Londis' mini-market with post office. Very busy place. A small shop below amber that opened late - again a very busy place. A busy limo company and afaik - a well to do funeral home.

I am not aware of any other businesses in the company, and to be honest if you had have asked me two weeks ago would the business fold I would have said "not a chance".

I was aware amber was struggling and I think it only kept open for as long as it did because it was being propped up by cash injections from the other aspects of the company. I meant 'money-pit' in that sense.

In terms of why amber failed:

• The bouncers were very strict.
• The party bar "Good Time Charlies" which is across the street from amber and would have supplied a lot of customers to amber has declined in recent years in both quality and crowd size. (got rid of live music in favour of DJ's)
• No longer seen as new and exciting in comparison to the recently refurbed ridleys
• Failed to find/maintain a proper niche for itself - silence had the "hardcore" crowd, ridleys had the "older" crowd and now its taken ambers student crowd as well.

Reasons why it shouldn't have failed:

• The club itself is in a prime location - in the centre of town, on a pedestrianised street, across the road from two 'party pubs'
• Its within walking distance of almost 50 popular pubs, the other nightclubs, the casino, the strip club (not sure what the strip club is now, or if it is still a strip club), loads of takeaways and loads of taxi companies and the main taxi rank.
• The owners tried to organise comedy clubs, theme nights, drink promotions and plenty of others but it just started to seem desperate
• Its a nice enough place - was always my favourite club when I was inclined to go out.

The only reason I can see for the company going down the tube is mis-management or possibly someone not doing their job right. Either way there was a kink in the chain somewhere.

To answer your other question - Dundalk is 35,000 people. Dundalk serves (in conjunction with Newry and Drogheda) as a nightlife destination for North and Mid Louth, South Down, South Armagh and East Monaghan - a total population of close to 100,000 i'd say. There are two main nightclubs in the town- there is no need for me to tell you what potential it has under the right management, you wouldn't be in here posting if you didn't already know.

BettePorter

bigneacy wrote: »

the strip club (not sure what the strip club is now, or if it is still a strip club),.

LOL ...good save bigneacy.....we believe ye !!!!:p:p

bigneacy

BettePorter wrote: »

LOL ...good save bigneacy.....we believe ye !!!!:p:p

:o:o:o:o:o

Just another note - Club Radius was a club that opened not long ago in an old restaurant beside silence. Strictly over 23's. Haven't heard a thing about it since it opened so I am not sure if it is still even open.

Just heard strip club is now a live venue of some sort called 'D venue' is this correct?

KeithM89_old

bigneacy wrote: »

Just heard strip club is now a live venue of some sort called 'D venue' is this correct?

Yup - D Venue is where Whispers was - i wouldnt set foot in that place without a gun. Iv heard stories of horrific goings on

EPjnr

Thanks for your help bigneacy . Sounds like there is good potential in dundalk if the right person gets their hands on this club and the rest of their businesses.

jonnycakes

KeithM89 wrote: »

Yup - D Venue is where Whispers was - i wouldnt set foot in that place without a gun. Iv heard stories of horrific goings on

yeah i saw this venue open when i was home a month or so ago.whats the story with it?cheap looking posters and some classic dance anthems theme?can only imagine the place.anyone been in there?

KeithM89_old

jonnycakes wrote: »

yeah i saw this venue open when i was home a month or so ago.whats the story with it?cheap looking posters and some classic dance anthems theme?can only imagine the place.anyone been in there?

Its tiny - iv you have ever been in Amber its about half the size - theres hardly any bouncers inside the place - it attracts a very dodgy crowd and there was definitely people doing drugs in it - i left after an hour.

10green bottles

KPMG'S Kieran Wallace insists it's "very much business as usual" at companies owned by local businessmen Peter Dixon and Niall Kehoe.

Peter Dixon Ltd went into receivership last week with an immediate doubt being cast over the company's six businesses, which employ "between 40 to 45 people", including part-timers.

Amber Nite Club in Earl Street closed last week with the DkIT Students' Union's Hallowe'en Ball having to be moved at the last minute to Ridley's while the company's chaffeur and wedding car business has also closed.

However, the other ventures are still operating and receiver Wallace says he is "confident it will continue that way."

Wallace confirmed that the Dixon and Kehoe families would continue to run their funeral business in Bridge Street while KPMG will oversee things in O'Connells Pub in Quay Street, the Londis shop in Quay Street as well as their shop in Earl Street.

Among the company's other assets are the site of the old Cosy Bar, which was demolished in recent years and is now up for sale.

When contacted by The Dundalk Democrat next week, Peter Dixon, a former Chief Scout of Ireland said that he was "trying to cope with the situation".

A subsequent press release from the company said: "Kieran Wallace of KPMG has been appointed receiver and manager of the company by ACC Bank. Amber nightclub has been closed but all other businesses are open and operating as normal."

Peter Dixon Ltd has a long and proud history in Dundalk with their funeral business in operation over 30 years. Many of their other businesses have been acquired in the last decade with their Quay Street shop, which opened in May 2006, winning an award two years ago when manager Andrew Brodigan was runner-up in the Manager of the Year section of the Grocery Retail Awards.

bigneacy

10green bottles wrote: »

KPMG'S Kieran Wallace insists it's "very much business as usual" at companies owned by local businessmen Peter Dixon and Niall Kehoe.

Peter Dixon Ltd went into receivership last week with an immediate doubt being cast over the company's six businesses, which employ "between 40 to 45 people", including part-timers.

Amber Nite Club in Earl Street closed last week with the DkIT Students' Union's Hallowe'en Ball having to be moved at the last minute to Ridley's while the company's chaffeur and wedding car business has also closed.

However, the other ventures are still operating and receiver Wallace says he is "confident it will continue that way."

Wallace confirmed that the Dixon and Kehoe families would continue to run their funeral business in Bridge Street while KPMG will oversee things in O'Connells Pub in Quay Street, the Londis shop in Quay Street as well as their shop in Earl Street.

Among the company's other assets are the site of the old Cosy Bar, which was demolished in recent years and is now up for sale.

When contacted by The Dundalk Democrat next week, Peter Dixon, a former Chief Scout of Ireland said that he was "trying to cope with the situation".

A subsequent press release from the company said: "Kieran Wallace of KPMG has been appointed receiver and manager of the company by ACC Bank. Amber nightclub has been closed but all other businesses are open and operating as normal."

Peter Dixon Ltd has a long and proud history in Dundalk with their funeral business in operation over 30 years. Many of their other businesses have been acquired in the last decade with their Quay Street shop, which opened in May 2006, winning an award two years ago when manager Andrew Brodigan was runner-up in the Manager of the Year section of the Grocery Retail Awards.

I read the identikit story in the Argus. I didn't know they owned O'Connells and the Cosy Site.

shindig-jp

I hope nobody minds me butting in on this conversation !

That big black stretch Humvee we often see around town (Dundalk) is that part of the Dixon and Kehoe outfit ?

bigneacy

shindig-jp wrote: »

I hope nobody minds me butting in on this conversation !

That big black stretch Humvee we often see around town (Dundalk) is that part of the Dixon and Kehoe outfit ?

'Tis