Hoops Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 9 hours ago, Steady Eddie said: Well if they can’t make money literally pulling your pants down and sticking a root vegetable up your ass in order to eat at the totally overpriced 14 North then I don’t really feel that sorry for them. Didn’t they issue vouchers over lockdown? I hope everyone redeemed theirs. Literally? Might try that, then 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTF Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 8 hours ago, Gladys said: You have an unhealthy appetite for bums. is there a healthy version ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AcousticallyChallenged Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 Ask anyone in hospitality, and staffing is a huge issue in itself. Look at Pizza Napoli in Ramsey closing, blamed on a lack of suitable staff. Add in the spiralling cost of everything, and people tightening their belts, it’s not set to be much fun for anyone. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out of the blue Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 26 minutes ago, AcousticallyChallenged said: Ask anyone in hospitality, and staffing is a huge issue in itself. Look at Pizza Napoli in Ramsey closing, blamed on a lack of suitable staff. Add in the spiralling cost of everything, and people tightening their belts, it’s not set to be much fun for anyone. Absolutely agree, staffing from both an availability and salary point of view is a huge issue. London keeps getting mentioned as way of comparison, and it just isn't comparable. If we with a population of 85k (I am guessing only 50% are potential customers) want a a decent variety and number of good quality restaurants we are going to have to pay more. Footfall is less than London and people running these businesses need to make a living, add to that the fact that staffing is limited, so the wages are higher than London and that the supply of ingredients, power etc is generally more expensive than London and to be honest I am surprised that the prices are not even higher than they are currently. I am aware that some restaurants have absorbed the recent rises in power/ingredients, as they do not think that the customers will pay more, but this is unsustainable. We are soon going to be in the unenviable position of either supporting our local hospitality, if we can afford to, or losing many of its players. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevster Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 12 hours ago, Non-Believer said: Missing the Molenburg 🙁 Anyone found a decent replacement yet (not tesco)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kopek Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 (edited) Jacksons seeded batch at Shoprite? Won't fit in your toaster though! £1.95 for the 800gram but £1.85 for the 400 gram!!! Is anything happening at Ramsey Bakery site yet? Clear out, new owners, for sale? Act. Multiseed Bloomer. Edited June 13, 2022 by Kopek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackwhite Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 My view on Dreambird (and all of Rock Food Concepts premises) are the same as on here. It's over priced and pretentious. Being in hospitality, not sure we have to submit to paying more than London prices. Staffing is absolutely an issue though. I do know the frustrations the owner of Pizza Napoli had, having heard it regularly directly from him. That said there are ways to do it. However we do need more support of the economy locally. The next 12 months will be pivotal for a lot of owners in the industry as to whether they continue. I know businesses have made some money from TT but it's a brief reprieve. A lot of owners feel mentally and physically battered with the exertions they have had to deal with that they shouldn't have to, mostly due to lack of staff and people just not appreciating the difficulties they then face when short staffed and not being able to get them. Other issues seem to be reaching people. Dream Bird (for me) is well known but again I'm in the industry. I don't think they had to do a huge amount of advertising as they seemed busy enough and had a following through their previous business there, Bath & Bottle. Again I didn't like the setup there either, but that's just personal taste. A lot of people did, the cocktails in particular. That said it seems difficult to get the message out there. Am aware of a few businesses dealing with social media frustrations. They're hammering Facebook, now spending money on it. Doing the same with Instagram. Things like radio advertising are expensive and, I'm not convinced, value for money as they'll only reach a very small demographic. Appreciate costs of living have gone up and I rarely out eat these days myself. I can't afford to for one and, honestly, there are only a handful of places I'd be happy spending cash in. What's the solution? I honestly don't know. But again, being in the industry, it's certainly making me wonder whether my future lies away from the Isle of Man in a couple of years. I will give it that time which will make my mind up for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevster Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 44 minutes ago, Kopek said: Jacksons seeded batch at Shoprite? Won't fit in your toaster though! Tried that and you're right about it not going in the toaster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Voice of Reason Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 7 minutes ago, jackwhite said: Other issues seem to be reaching people. Dream Bird (for me) is well known but again I'm in the industry. I don't think they had to do a huge amount of advertising as they seemed busy enough and had a following through their previous business there, Bath & Bottle. Again I didn't like the setup there either, but that's just personal taste. A lot of people did, the cocktails in particular. Not being in the industry I always had the thought in the back of my mind that Dream Bird was perhaps an escort agency. As always it is sad when a business closes, but hopefully from what’s been written on here the staff should not have too much problem in obtaining alternative employment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Time Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 11 hours ago, Annoymouse said: First thing we cut back on was going out to restaurants/cafes, we had two favourites who both put their prices up by 50p-£2 for just about everything on the menu, it’s just not sustainable. This time of year we’d normally be out once or twice a week, whether for lunch, an ice cream or coffee somewhere. I understand we’re probably in the minority to cut back this early but we’re finding everything has gone up, even our Manx Telecom bill has gone up by a fiver. Anyone counting the cost of fuel yet? despite having an economical car I put a tenner in and got 76 miles of range, due to a one way mountain that was near enough a round trip, in my old car I’d probably be spending £20 for the same journey. The cost of living is really starting to bite now. Maybe take the time to talk to a restaurant owner and see just why prices have crept up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Time Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 11 hours ago, Steady Eddie said: Here’s the menu for The Ivy in Spinningfields in Manchester. Compare it to 14 North’s menu. It’s so much cheaper. And they claim they still can’t make money? https://theivymanchester.com/the-ivy-brasserie/menus/ Hardly a great comparison, restaurants in the UK have a variety of suppliers they can purchase from. Here on the Island it is limited and the suppliers know it and charge accordingly 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackwhite Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 16 minutes ago, The Voice of Reason said: Not being in the industry I always had the thought in the back of my mind that Dream Bird was perhaps an escort agency. As always it is sad when a business closes, but hopefully from what’s been written on here the staff should not have too much problem in obtaining alternative employment. Staff won't have any issues. If anything they were having difficulty filling a vacancy (possible vacancies) at Little Fish so they won't be short of hours. As you allude, even if they did, there's plenty work going elsewhere. Will be interesting now TT is over though as to how pay goes. I don't see 1886 maintaining the high rates they had and, only reading between the lines, these staff on the high rates won't have contracts and will be 'let go' (most of them would only have been doing it for the income over TT anyway). The rates will probably even out. It's not an easy industry to work in, neither is any business who deal with the public in fairness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackwhite Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 10 minutes ago, Passing Time said: Hardly a great comparison, restaurants in the UK have a variety of suppliers they can purchase from. Here on the Island it is limited and the suppliers know it and charge accordingly You say this but it's down to businesses to get creative in that instance. Where I've worked have certainly done that. We were told 'it couldn't be done' and that 'shipping costs would kill any margins and they can't be negotiated'. That's been found to be complete nonsense. It's not great news for the local suppliers either. For example, it's cheaper to go to Tesco than it is to buy a lot of products from any of the local wholesalers. That to me suggests there is an issue with these places and the prices they are charging. I'm all for supporting local, obviously in the business I'm in it would be folly not to. However that can't transcend to just ordering blindly at whatever price they are charging when the business, ultimately, has to look after their own profit margins. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoymouse Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 10 minutes ago, Passing Time said: Maybe take the time to talk to a restaurant owner and see just why prices have crept up... Why would I need to? All they will say is their costs have gone up so they’re passing it on to their customers, I’m not saying that’s wrong, it’s their choice but unfortunately my income hasn’t risen to the same level to match these increases and as such i’ve reached my limit point, others will be different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackwhite Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 1 minute ago, Annoymouse said: Why would I need to? All they will say is their costs have gone up so they’re passing it on to their customers, I’m not saying that’s wrong, it’s their choice but unfortunately my income hasn’t risen to the same level to match these increases and as such i’ve reached my limit point, others will be different. I understand your point here. Do you think their income has 'risen to the same level'? Food businesses in particular do not operate on much of a profit margin. For a number of years rising costs have been absorbed by businesses but it's just become unsustainable. Everything is going up and the cost of living only continues to spiral. Sadly I think that will continue for at least the next 12 months, maybe longer if I was being pessimistic (or realistic). If people simply can't afford to go out that's completely understandable. However if those that can then decide not to, and there's a general drop off for lots of people who 'don't go out anymore', then your choice will dwindle and potential new owners will perhaps think this isn't the place to open a business. It's a tough balancing act. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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