Great start to the New Year

unclepat · 13th January 2010, 09:39 AM

Anyone involved in the restaurant business knows that January is a notoriously unpredictable month and most were anticipating a lean one due to the grim economic climate. However, I doubt many would have predicted the havoc caused by the weather since the turn of the year and now we face water shortages which will mean closure for many places.
All this coupled with the spate of high profile closures, floods in many parts of country causing more chaos and suppliers to the industry under severe pressure make for a fairly depressing time at the moment.
Our own RAI telling anyone who will listen that 30% of restaurants will close in the first six months of 2010 serves only to kill off what little slim hope most restaurants had of getting short term finance to see them through. Well done lads.

I plan to do my little bit to support the industry by eating out as much as I possibly can in January. I don't need much excuse!

meatmonger · 13th January 2010, 10:15 AM

Christ Pat I had prepared myself to hear some good news from your post!

The ice discarded outside our kitchen from the top of my fish bought at the last aution of 2009 on 18th dec finally melted last night!

Couple of restaurants up this way have closed since and the music/food venue mcgrorys is being sold by the bank. Biz across the border isn't actually much better. Time to knuckle down and see you the other side!

Nice time to enjoy the food of others as well.

unclepat · 13th January 2010, 10:25 AM

Sorry about that MM, I woke up in a miserable bastard mood this morning!

You're dead right about putting the head down and working through it. Some industries are starting to turn a corner so hopefully later this year we'll start to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

sean_dru · 13th January 2010, 11:28 AM

i wonder how many vouchers the rai have stropped people from purchasing as a result of their lazy unsubstantiated claims, 30% of restaurants closing this year? not a chance,more chance of getting a loan of 500 quid from anglo irish bank.

i would rather join fianna fail than those bunch of backslappers.

viva independence....2010 is going to be an amazing year, eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow always comes.

Hanna · 13th January 2010, 01:14 PM

UnclePat, I think you might need a New Years {{{{{hug}}}}}} !

unclepat · 13th January 2010, 01:20 PM

Thanks Hanna, I'm feeling better already!

Old Tart · 13th January 2010, 01:30 PM

http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/...o-2009390.html

It's ok. The industry is safe. Conrad's back!

PS What happened to Darwin's? I didn't realise it had closed.

italian foodie · 13th January 2010, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclepat

Sorry about that MM, I woke up in a miserable bastard mood this morning!

You're dead right about putting the head down and working through it. Some industries are starting to turn a corner so hopefully later this year we'll start to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

I don't think we will until something starts to change, working to pay staff and bills can't go on forever. People have their own business to make money and I wonder how many are at the moment.

petitechef · 13th January 2010, 05:54 PM

I'm just keeping my head down until my next booking - on the 2nd Feb!

unclepat · 14th January 2010, 03:19 PM

And so it goes...the kind people at Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council have cut off our water without any notice and for an indefinite length of time. We had over 100 people booked tonight and would have had something similar in walk in business. We now have to call everyone to cancel them and as the DLRCC ( who's budget we fund to the tune of about 50k per annum in rates and water charges) have stopped answering their phones, we are unable to establish when we can reopen and therefore can not take any more reservations for the weekend.
I'm still anticipating that plague of locusts anytime soon!

DonalH · 14th January 2010, 03:27 PM

All I can see in the previous post is -WHAT he is getting 200 people on a thursday night in January????? Take a night off, go to the pub and look at it again tomorrow. Seriously Pat, you are probably one of the most successful restaurants in Ireland. In less than 4 years? Well done mate.

unclepat · 14th January 2010, 03:51 PM

Cheers Donal, that's exactly what I intend to do.

Ernie Whalley · 14th January 2010, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Tart

http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/...o-2009390.html

It's ok. The industry is safe. Conrad's back!

PS What happened to Darwin's? I didn't realise it had closed.

Darwin's, last I heard, is re-locating. But it's taking longer than expected.

meatmonger · 14th January 2010, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclepat

Cheers Donal, that's exactly what I intend to do.

you need to quit that day job! Great numbers.

sean_dru · 15th January 2010, 12:51 PM

outrageous UP outrarageous!!! we live in a banana republic where the amount of tax and revenue we pay only pays for criminals, one small snow storm and the country hangs by a thread. dont pay your rates and let them bring you to court and then ask them to define what rates are. if you steal a loaf of bread in this country you get 5 yrs, steal a bakery and they will let you off.

Hanna · 15th January 2010, 02:15 PM

(One of) the reasons for the current water shortage is that a certain insurance company told it's member that the best way to prevent water freezing in your pipes is to leave the water running (apparently this isn’t true). Consequently, several thousand homes left their taps (sometimes all of their taps) running for 3-5 days, which has totally emptied several reservoirs. That, combined with the 40-70% leakage loss (depending on your location) in underground pipes has led to the current problem. It's ghastly, but there you go. While the CoCos can certainly be blamed, at least in part, for the poor state of the water distribution network, people's silliness and lack of respect for the excellent drinking water the majority of us enjoy must also be blamed.

Several restaurants have, I believe, indicated they will be suing Dublin CoCo for loss of earnings

laineyg · 17th January 2010, 10:32 PM

It seems Ouzo's in Dalkey have taken it quite personally: http://twitpic.com/yicfh

unclepat · 18th January 2010, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean_dru

dont pay your rates and let them bring you to court and then ask them to define what rates are.

Unfortunately Sean, you don't get to have your say in court if you don't pay rates. They get summary judgement against you.

I've spoken to several business people over the weekend and they are seething at the contempt with the which they have been treated by the Co.Councils.
The attitiude of DLRCC was astounding in it's arrogance and indifference. They are so far removed from reality in their permanent jobs with their rolls royce pensions that they have no concept of what it's like trying to do business at the moment and nor do they care. The only thing that local business gets from DLRCC is parking tickets...the most agressive parkies you have ever encountered.

I completely understand how Ouzos feel. Hard to disagree with anything they've said.

End of rant.

petitechef · 18th January 2010, 07:53 AM

I was feeling sorry for myself last weekend when I was waterless for three days but thankfully I wasn't working and I survived. However I didn't realise how bad ye guys in Dublin were til I was up at a funeral on Friday and saw the large jugs of water left in the ladies for handwashing! It's absolutely appalling that with businesses trying therir best to survive that the CoCo's are behaving like this. I think the sign says it all.

UP did you get to reopen?

unclepat · 18th January 2010, 08:21 AM

We got open again on Friday PC and brought in water from outside for all cooking/washing etc. We had to leave enough in the system to flush the toilets. We could not afford to close a weekend day so we hired chemical loos as a back up but thankfully didn't need to use them.
Funny old start to the year...the first week we had plenty of water and no customers, the second week we had plenty of customers and no water!

13th January 2010, 09:39 AM	#1
unclepat Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 733	Great start to the New Year Anyone involved in the restaurant business knows that January is a notoriously unpredictable month and most were anticipating a lean one due to the grim economic climate. However, I doubt many would have predicted the havoc caused by the weather since the turn of the year and now we face water shortages which will mean closure for many places. All this coupled with the spate of high profile closures, floods in many parts of country causing more chaos and suppliers to the industry under severe pressure make for a fairly depressing time at the moment. Our own RAI telling anyone who will listen that 30% of restaurants will close in the first six months of 2010 serves only to kill off what little slim hope most restaurants had of getting short term finance to see them through. Well done lads. I plan to do my little bit to support the industry by eating out as much as I possibly can in January. I don't need much excuse!

13th January 2010, 01:30 PM	#7
Old Tart Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dublin 12 Posts: 198	http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/...o-2009390.html It's ok. The industry is safe. Conrad's back! PS What happened to Darwin's? I didn't realise it had closed. Last edited by Old Tart; 13th January 2010 at 01:32 PM. Reason: PS

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13th January 2010, 10:15 AM	#2
meatmonger Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Bridgend, Co Donegal Posts: 370	Christ Pat I had prepared myself to hear some good news from your post! The ice discarded outside our kitchen from the top of my fish bought at the last aution of 2009 on 18th dec finally melted last night! Couple of restaurants up this way have closed since and the music/food venue mcgrorys is being sold by the bank. Biz across the border isn't actually much better. Time to knuckle down and see you the other side! Nice time to enjoy the food of others as well.

13th January 2010, 10:25 AM	#3
unclepat Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 733	Sorry about that MM, I woke up in a miserable bastard mood this morning! You're dead right about putting the head down and working through it. Some industries are starting to turn a corner so hopefully later this year we'll start to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

13th January 2010, 11:28 AM	#4
sean_dru Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 231	i wonder how many vouchers the rai have stropped people from purchasing as a result of their lazy unsubstantiated claims, 30% of restaurants closing this year? not a chance,more chance of getting a loan of 500 quid from anglo irish bank. i would rather join fianna fail than those bunch of backslappers. viva independence....2010 is going to be an amazing year, eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow always comes.

13th January 2010, 01:14 PM	#5
Hanna Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 222	UnclePat, I think you might need a New Years {{{{{hug}}}}}} !

13th January 2010, 01:20 PM	#6
unclepat Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 733	Thanks Hanna, I'm feeling better already!

13th January 2010, 05:54 PM	#9
petitechef Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Beyond the Pale Posts: 1,064	I'm just keeping my head down until my next booking - on the 2nd Feb!

14th January 2010, 03:19 PM	#10
unclepat Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 733	And so it goes...the kind people at Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council have cut off our water without any notice and for an indefinite length of time. We had over 100 people booked tonight and would have had something similar in walk in business. We now have to call everyone to cancel them and as the DLRCC ( who's budget we fund to the tune of about 50k per annum in rates and water charges) have stopped answering their phones, we are unable to establish when we can reopen and therefore can not take any more reservations for the weekend. I'm still anticipating that plague of locusts anytime soon!

14th January 2010, 03:27 PM	#11
DonalH Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kinsale Posts: 443	All I can see in the previous post is -WHAT he is getting 200 people on a thursday night in January????? Take a night off, go to the pub and look at it again tomorrow. Seriously Pat, you are probably one of the most successful restaurants in Ireland. In less than 4 years? Well done mate.

14th January 2010, 03:51 PM	#12
unclepat Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 733	Cheers Donal, that's exactly what I intend to do.

15th January 2010, 12:51 PM	#15
sean_dru Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 231	outrageous UP outrarageous!!! we live in a banana republic where the amount of tax and revenue we pay only pays for criminals, one small snow storm and the country hangs by a thread. dont pay your rates and let them bring you to court and then ask them to define what rates are. if you steal a loaf of bread in this country you get 5 yrs, steal a bakery and they will let you off.

15th January 2010, 02:15 PM	#16
Hanna Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 222	(One of) the reasons for the current water shortage is that a certain insurance company told it's member that the best way to prevent water freezing in your pipes is to leave the water running (apparently this isn’t true). Consequently, several thousand homes left their taps (sometimes all of their taps) running for 3-5 days, which has totally emptied several reservoirs. That, combined with the 40-70% leakage loss (depending on your location) in underground pipes has led to the current problem. It's ghastly, but there you go. While the CoCos can certainly be blamed, at least in part, for the poor state of the water distribution network, people's silliness and lack of respect for the excellent drinking water the majority of us enjoy must also be blamed. Several restaurants have, I believe, indicated they will be suing Dublin CoCo for loss of earnings

17th January 2010, 10:32 PM	#17
laineyg Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 59	It seems Ouzo's in Dalkey have taken it quite personally: http://twitpic.com/yicfh

18th January 2010, 07:53 AM	#19
petitechef Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Beyond the Pale Posts: 1,064	I was feeling sorry for myself last weekend when I was waterless for three days but thankfully I wasn't working and I survived. However I didn't realise how bad ye guys in Dublin were til I was up at a funeral on Friday and saw the large jugs of water left in the ladies for handwashing! It's absolutely appalling that with businesses trying therir best to survive that the CoCo's are behaving like this. I think the sign says it all. UP did you get to reopen?

18th January 2010, 08:21 AM	#20
unclepat Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 733	We got open again on Friday PC and brought in water from outside for all cooking/washing etc. We had to leave enough in the system to flush the toilets. We could not afford to close a weekend day so we hired chemical loos as a back up but thankfully didn't need to use them. Funny old start to the year...the first week we had plenty of water and no customers, the second week we had plenty of customers and no water!