Weatherspoons in discussions for Carlow Site

pinkfloyd34

I wonder where they are thinking of opening up?

http://www.independent.ie/business/commercial-property/pubs-look-to-weatherspoons-but-many-problems-remain-31218928.html

tommycahir

There was a post in the Random Waffle Thread a few days/weeks ago saying that they were looking at Traders (the old Buzz's) and I heard over the weekend that they had bought it already.

brianblaze

They've been working in there for two weeks now. Done deal about a month ago

tonyheaney

The carlow court hotel managment walked away from its bar and hotel owing millions and making many redundant and they have yet to pay its staf at least 3 weeks back pay and in some cases 10 years redundancy money. Perhaps this may be the place they will take????

brianblaze

tonyheaney wrote: »

The carlow court hotel managment walked away from its bar and hotel owing millions and making many redundant and they have yet to pay its staf at least 3 weeks back pay and in some cases 10 years redundancy money. Perhaps this may be the place they will take????

They've already bought the place on Tullow St. Although what happened to the Courthouse Hotel staff is a disgrace

tonyheaney

i know, were still waiting p45s and exit letters and not a word from them

foggy_lad

tonyheaney wrote: »

i know, were still waiting p45s and exit letters and not a word from them

the same company who owned the Courthouse hotel owned by a chinese family owe hundreds of thousands in rates to the county council and also have some other hotels which are also in arrears for rates according to the Carlow advertiser today.

So much for "the Chinese are coming!" They sound more like the maurading Vikings

tonyheaney

chan holdings limited they own a lot .... well they did. BTW what is the Carlow advertiser

byhookorbycrook

The Carlow Advertiser is a free newspaper. Can we keep this thread on the topic of Weatherspoons please?

tonyheaney

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

The Carlow Advertiser is a free newspaper. Can we keep this thread on the topic of Weatherspoons please?

sorry but i know the Carlow nationalist and the Carlow people but never heard of Carlow Advertiser

Agent Coulson

tonyheaney wrote: »

sorry but i know the Carlow nationalist and the Carlow people but never heard of Carlow Advertiser

It's the old name for the Carlow People.

Weatherspoons have €3m to invest(The Nationalist) in the premises hopefully Carlow contractors will get the refurb job and the money stays in Carlow

brianblaze

They use the same companies for everything across the country. Pretty sure they're Northern Irish based.

Scheduled opening in 6-8 weeks so I'm told

Agent Coulson

Hopefully it will bring a good footfall to that end of the town if nothing else some of the other shops etc might get something from it.

I think they are another zero hour employer so pay wise they mightn't be the best.

maccored

Agent Coulson wrote: »

It's the old name for the Carlow People.

not really, the carlow advertiser was a freebie out years ago by barry duggan in carlow printing company. there was also the carlow post, up staplestown road. carlow people went free a few years back so maybe thats where the confusion lies.

tommycahir

no word of Wetherspoons having a date for the Carlow pub in todays IT article, so not looking like 6-8 weeks..

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/agribusiness-and-food/jd-wetherspoon-to-open-three-new-bars-in-ireland-1.2219295#.VVxVhR-JrB4.twitter

brianblaze

That's the timescale they told me, but they're not making it official clearly!

brianblaze

And by they, I mean someone involved in the build, not Wetherspoons officials or anything, but a reliable source.

Honestly, looking forward to it bringing business to the street. A lot have been asking if I'm worried about them taking custom from me, but they're cheapo Lavazza coffee tastes terrible so I'm not overly concerned. The more eyes and feet on the street, the better long term.

tonyheaney

they mentioned 3 places and not carlow

brianblaze

Same way they said they were looking at sites when I said they'd bought Buzz's. They won't publicly say anything until they're 100% certain it's gonna happen, that's how any multinational PR dept works

tonyheaney

i worked for them many years ago they are pretty muck mcdonalds of the beer trade

brianblaze

Ah we're all well aware of that, but sure I'll just start thinking of Weatherspoons based jokes for the cafe blackboard now....

oxygen

Hey

Anyone heard anything about the Carlow location, are they opening up anytime soon?

Seem to be ready for opening this long time...

maccored

While Mr Martin said the group remains committed to expanding further in Ireland he admitted it did not expect to be opening new bars anytime soon.

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/agribusiness-and-food/wetherspoon-irish-expansion-on-hold-due-to-property-prices-1.2720091

Agent Coulson

They already own the building in Carlow I thought.

They are being held up by constant planning objections rumour town gossip is it's from a rival business.

Grain of salt needs to be taken of course as it's just a rumor.

Owryan

Bar man from across the road told me his boss n the owner or Dinn Ri had objected due to "cheap alcohol" and it would be of negative impact to the street. Dunno how true it is tho.

oxygen

Owryan wrote: »

Bar man from across the road told me his boss n the owner or Dinn Ri had objected due to "cheap alcohol" and it would be of negative impact to the street. Dunno how true it is tho.

That has to be true doesn't it, are objections a matter of public knowledge? There should be somewhere it can be found out. I think it's disgraceful, if true, that one business can hold the town of Carlow at ransom with crappy €5 pints of Heineken and crappy food.

There's only 2 weatherspoons in the south of Ireland, imaging what a coop it would have been for Carlow to have the 3rd one :mad:

EmoCourt

Planning application is here:

eplanning.ie/CarlowCC/AppFileRefDetails/15197/0

No objections are listed.

iwillhtfu

oxygen_temp wrote: »

There's only 2 weatherspoons in the south of Ireland, imaging what a coop it would have been for Carlow to have the 3rd one :mad:

I'm not sure if you have much experience of wetherspoons but I can promise if you're expecting fine dining and quality surroundings you're in for a shock.

Think of them as the euro shop of pubs. They're cheap and the food is available presumably for licensing reasons it would be a long shout from good quality pub grub.

Lord Derpington

Looks as thought the works were contested to An Board Pleanála but approved in February.
The appellant wasn't the local business owner as rumored in this thread but a director of a company called "CTP BARS LIMITED" (Company Number:518594) which is appears is now in liquidation since 15th September 2016 according to both the CRO and solocheck.
The directors name and address match that of person whom lodged the appeal.

You have to feel for business such as those appealing, struggling to survive in the market, CTP bars for example has only been around since 2012.
These companies that are trying to establish themselves really can't complete with the superchains of pubs like Wetherspoons, its akin to a corner shop and a supermarket.

Thundercats Ho

Lord Derpington wrote: »

These companies that are trying to establish themselves really can't complete with the superchains of pubs like Wetherspoons, its akin to a corner shop and a supermarket.

There's a cheap alternative in most pubs in the town.
Tullys were doing Tuborg @ €2.70 for a long time.

For years, the busiest pub in Carlow has been the most expensive (Med).
Dinn Rí / Teach aren't cheap places but are always busy.

I think pints of the more recognizable beers are €3.95 in JDW, which while cheap, isn't as cheap as we originally thought they'd be.

Hopefully they go ahead with this development, as it's badly needed in the town, for both competitiveness of pricing and range of beers.

I'd certainly use it as a starting point on a night out.

Agent Coulson

JD Wetherspoons staff recruitment day will take place on Friday, January 4, between 10am and 4pm in Carlow Town.


I didn't see where they are holding so keep an eye out around town.

Stopitwillya

What is the carlow advertiser?

Agent Coulson

Stopitwillya wrote: »

What is the carlow advertiser?

Local news site.

I think it used also be the free paper thrown through letter boxes.

https://www.advertiser.ie/carlowfirst

Nokia6230i

Agent Coulson wrote: »

JD Wetherspoons staff recruitment day will take place on Friday, January 4, between 10am and 4pm in Carlow Town.


I didn't see where they are holding so keep an eye out around town.

Did this go ahead do you know and where?

Couldn't've been on site anyway; mad looking in at it from Bridewell Lane to think it'll be ready for Tuesday the 23rd of April.

As an aside the newest pub in town'll be open sometime in March; possibly Friday the 15th of March on the corner of Brown St./College St.

Remember when it was a casino (Brown St. & Riverboat)......there'd be a GA meeting across road in Parish Centre from 7 or 8 O'Clock; by time they finished up at 9 or 10 the casino'd be open!

Agent Coulson

They have a sign up now on the scaffolding that it will open Tuesday April 23th.

ScallionAyter

It'll be interesting to see what 'Spoons is like for the competition. I've no experience of their pubs, but having lived in the town over a year now, i find the quality of the existing pubs to be really poor. I hope Spoons take a lot of business from the competition and shake up some really stale establishments.

What a shame there aren't really any quaint, traditional pubs in the town.

The Castle Tavern, Nancy Whiskeys, Corcorans, Morrissey's, The Irishmans, The Stonehaven... there are better pubs in towns half the size.

Mr. teddywinkles

ScallionAyter wrote: »

It'll be interesting to see what 'Spoons is like for the competition. I've no experience of their pubs, but having lived in the town over a year now, i find the quality of the existing pubs to be really poor. I hope Spoons take a lot of business from the competition and shake up some really stale establishments.

What a shame there aren't really any quaint, traditional pubs in the town.

The Castle Tavern, Nancy Whiskeys, Corcorans, Morrissey's, The Irishmans, The Stonehaven... there are better pubs in towns half the size.

The one in cork ain't all that. Staff seem to be students not full time staff. Long serving times for food but cheap pints is a plus. No music also which is kinda crap. More restaurant that pub. Also carpets are wet n squishy

iwillhtfu

ScallionAyter wrote: »

It'll be interesting to see what 'Spoons is like for the competition. I've no experience of their pubs, but having lived in the town over a year now, i find the quality of the existing pubs to be really poor. I hope Spoons take a lot of business from the competition and shake up some really stale establishments.

What a shame there aren't really any quaint, traditional pubs in the town.

The Castle Tavern, Nancy Whiskeys, Corcorans, Morrissey's, The Irishmans, The Stonehaven... there are better pubs in towns half the size.

You're in for a shock if you think a weatherspoons is going to up the clientele and bring bag the local pub feeling - They're basically cheap pints with equally cheap food, inexperienced staff that couldn't be bothered and typically become run down and dirty before long. At least that's my experience of the few I've visited but they do have catchy names

ongarboy

Agent Coulson wrote: »

They have a sign up now on the scaffolding that it will open Tuesday April 23th.

Website says May 2019. Maybe they'll have a soft opening on Apr 23rd to iron out teething issues and an official grand opening for May then.

https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/opening-soon

votecounts

Banner says May 1st Now

cocaliquid

cheap microwaved food no thanks :rolleyes:

Nokia6230i

Turas Nua appear to be involved in recruitment; you've to be a customer to apply through them though but there's a Weatherspoonsjob.ie website too.

That ******** involved in IAAC is a customer and said he was called for interview; if he gets in you'll be filmed without your consent.

theteal

cocaliquid wrote: »

cheap microwaved food no thanks :rolleyes:

The food isn't winning any awards but it's not that bad for a quick lunch, a much better feed than traditional fast food places and for similar money.

The staff can be a mixed bunch, I've encountered both really good and bad. Over here it's just a minimum wage job, I've seen very few actual experienced bar staff, that extends to the majority of pubs I've been in over here.

Anyway, Wetherspoons has it's place, not a regular but OK on occasion. We're actually supposed to be getting one in our little town over here, I'm actually hoping it pulls some of the "clientele" from one of my preferred pubs which would make it just that little bit more preferred.

Nokia6230i

theteal wrote: »

The food isn't winning any awards but it's not that bad for a quick lunch, a much better feed than traditional fast food places and for similar money.

The staff can be a mixed bunch, I've encountered both really good and bad. Over here it's just a minimum wage job, I've seen very few actual experienced bar staff, that extends to the majority of pubs I've been in over here.

Anyway, Wetherspoons has it's place, not a regular but OK on occasion. We're actually supposed to be getting one in our little town over here, I'm actually hoping it pulls some of the "clientele" from one of my preferred pubs which would make it just that little bit more preferred.

Am actually looking forward to it as an alternative to the big hitters in the town; they're little cattle marts at times so hoping, once the shine wears off and the hipsters have gone back across the road or up the street that a more refined clientele who doesn't want their ears polluted/damaged by the noise that counts for music and who wants a reasonably cheap cider will be facilitated.

theteal

Nokia6230i wrote: »

Am actually looking forward to it as an alternative to the big hitters in the town; they're little cattle marts at times so hoping, once the shine wears off and the hipsters have gone back across the road or up the street that a more refined clientele who doesn't want their ears polluted/damaged by the noise that counts for music and who wants a reasonably cheap cider will be facilitated.

Actually that's a slightly weird thing about quite a lot of Wetherspoons (of the small sample I've attended), the sheer array of really good beers should have the hipsters flocking in droves I would have thought but from what I've seen in a lot of towns that's just not the case. It's image probably does it no favours. Maybe it's different in Ireland

Thundercats Ho

Image from the JDW website.
Really looking forward to this opening.
I don't get out terribly often but it'll be nice to get a range of 'craft' beers for a decent price.

OptimusTractor

Thundercats Ho wrote: »

Image from the JDW website.
Really looking forward to this opening.
I don't get out terribly often but it'll be nice to get a range of 'craft' beers for a decent price.

Mup Tullow.

Nokia6230i

Speaking to Manager few days ago; he's from Derry I think and was managing up to recently their premises in Blackrock, the Three Tun Tavern.

TTTT has 755 Google Reviews; 4.1 Stars out of 5 which is fairly impressive; will be interesting to see how many Tullow Gate gets.

Been a few articles on it in Carlow Live but other than that it's mainly been It's All About Carlow copying and pasting other sources (Drinks Industry Ireland PRs for example) and passing it off as his own work unsurprisingly and asking do people like OUR new sign (Carlow crest on Tullow St.) as if he suddenly owns it just because he got a job there via Turas Nua.

IAAC permitted scurrilous rumours to be spread in his group of 8,065 members about another local pub; stacks up now as he sees them as competition clearly.

Will it last? Yes absolutely; while the hipsters among us will get along for the initial thrill and to try their different ciders, I think the regulars of across the road, up the street and round corner will ultimately remain loyal and it'll build its own clientele.

For me the no, or at best low level music, is a win; I want to be able hear myself think, do the crossword and read a book when having a pint.

TV wise what's the story? Will there be Footie (and GAA) on?

50% off food when on rota & 20% off food AND drink when off roster isn't too bad for an employee I guess.

Agent Coulson

Any breakfast I have had in the English ones have been mighty.

So i'll be checking them out for the breakfasts alone however I won't be drinking in it as I don't like there choice of beers.

Thundercats Ho

The Dublin spoons definitely show some sports as they have specials on for the 6 nations. It was €1.25 for cask beer, and some others at €1.95 (i think) last year.

iwillhtfu

RE: The manager, I recall someone saying they send in an experienced group manager to get the new establishments up and running then recruit/promote locally. They seem to cater to different tastes and clientele across the UK so if sports seem popular that's the road they'll go down.

I had a quick look through the window yesterday and it looks nice inside and the facade definitely brightens up an otherwise dreary street. As for the competition across the road sure they'll feel a bit of a hit with passing trade but regulars keep the lights on and a busy weekend in Carlow pretty much all pubs will be busy.

I see it as a welcome addition albeit I'm not a huge fan of wetherspoons this one looks the part and hopefully does well. If they end up pulling out in less than 12 months it will be the one of, if not the final nail in the coffin for any reasonable investment in Carlow as it will be splashed across all the headlines with so few WS open over here.

As for Anthony working there that would be off putting right away, I certainly hope he hasn't been given a senior role he'll be treating the place like his own members club.