View Full Version : Wetherspoons Wick to be sold
Wetherspoons in Wick is to be sold off, Alexander Bain in Wick will likely be rebranded with new names and menus if they are taken over.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/wethespoons-close-scottish-boozers-find-14238791
Wetherspoons stated " whoever buys it would need deep pockets " the reports says mega deep pockets and then some . It's a money pit in the making . Maybe the Council will buy it as their great at throwing taxpayers money at any black hole , but not potholes.
Goodfellers
09-Apr-19, 08:01
They are selling off 16 pubs, so not just here.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/wetherspoon-close-16-pubs-bars-16081759?fbclid=IwAR1lBhMU5LlwRIdretv2dqlhHeVoVqJY zB8ORWriQnCf4oBHEsrl35Q8KOY
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Thursolad
09-Apr-19, 15:22
If wetherspoons can't run the Alexander Bain at a reasonable profit with the buying power of their business, I doubt anyone can. A real shame.
Bill Fernie
09-Apr-19, 16:55
Take care not to read that a pub is up for sale in a big chain and that therefor it is necessarily making losses.
There may be many reason to sell off pubs. Rationalisation may be required to reduce over all expenses.
Return on the capital outlay may be part of it.
They may also need cash for other reason - eg to service or reduce existing debt.
They may also be testing the water to see what the pubs are worth in the open market and may keep them or some of them if they cannot reach a target price they have set for themselves.
Potential buyers will want to see the books to check the gross and net profit levels and what if any room there is for improving the bottom line if they invest in it.
There is much more to this than merely that only a big chain can run a profitable business. The business is on the market - it is not closing. It has a lot going for it - large premises et c etc
Weekers not drinking enough to keep a pub going? Who would have believed it?
So spoons are not selling after all. That's good news. Just need Birons to change their mind as well. 🙂
So spoons are not selling after all. That's good news. Just need Birons to change their mind as well.
Good news for Spoons, (if true).
The future of Birons is firmly in the hands of the HighlandCouncil and their “blunt instrument approach without consultation” to “traffic management” that will have a very negative affect on the towns “stake holders”.
Interpretations by request.
No. The future of Birons is in your hands.
Don’t whinge. Sell!
Bill Fernie
09-Jun-19, 10:54
The parking issue was discussed and debated many times at Wick community council and always they wanted the Highland council to take action to stop parking in the main street. The meetings were open to the public and no voices were opposed as far as I recall. Certainly it may well be that folk forget and few ever attend the meetings so it is understandable if you don't know what has happened in the past. Perhaps this may be discussed once again at the Town Centre regeneration meeting on Monday 10th June in Mackays hotel - it is for the public. Although I am sure parking is not supposed to be the main topic for regeneration. If too long is spent on that then we will not get some new ideas getting proper discussion.
An interesting debate was on tv yesterday from Westminster about business rates and mention made of taxation on digital sales etc but that will probably not come in time to save High Streets across the country. All taxes business rates or other wise go to running services so let's hope they get a move on with changes in that direction. Will it create an even playing field for the High Street - perhaps a little but we cannot turn the clock back and even the big stores are wilting under internet competition.
It’s good to hear that Westminster are at least discussing taxation of digital sales. Recall that we discussed this issue in a previous thread:
http://forum.caithness.org/showthread.php?272189-Back-o%92-Woolies&p=1182156#post1182156
Immediate action is required to preserve the nature of our high streets. IMHO of course.
It’s also necessary that retailers provide justifiable arguments for closing down.
"It’s also necessary that retailers provide justifiable arguments for closing down."
Er, no... it is not. Unless you are living in a communist dictatorship.
If a man decides it ain't worth the grief, then he can do as he pleases.
It is absolutely necessary for retailers to give justifiable reasons for closing down in order to convince the politicians to change policies on high business rates in town centres and to charge fair taxes to online retailers.
Justifiable reasons are high business rates and not charging fair taxes to online businesses. Mackerel is right though, it isn't necessary for any business to give reasons why they are closing down.
Why this sudden rush to tax internet sales? To save the local high street shops? If you believe that you'll believe anything; any such revenue will quickly disappear into the treasury coffers in Wasteminster. In my experience many high street retailers have no interest in selling anything outside a narrow range of offerings. Whether its clothes, shoes, fixtures or fittings many can't or won’t even order a different size or colour for you. My only alternative has been to go online. I can quickly find what I want, order it online and have it delivered to my door, so I don't have to hunt through a myriad of local retailers to find what I need. Local shops cannot possibly hope to cater for the vast amount of choice that the major internet retailers offer. Time to let go of the past and move on.
I’m advocating fair taxation of online retailers rather than taxation of digital sales. I used Bill’s expression without clear thinking. Thanks for pointing out my lapse.
I think Gronnuck is right. My twist is that high street retailers need to come up with a new business model if they are to survive.
My twist is that high street retailers need to come up with a new business model if they are to survive.
Our business model of being able to supply goods and services that no other business wanted to bother with was working fine until a decision was made to litter the town with double yellow lines in order to turn the car parks into cash cows. We bought our shop because it was both visible and accessible, when you start to mess about with a fine balance without consultation something will to topple over.
As I have pointed out before, you don’t have hard evidence for your claims about double yellow lines.
Do you have any evidence for your “cash cows” accusations?
As I have pointed out before, you don’t have hard evidence for your claims about double yellow lines.
Do you have any evidence for your “cash cows” accusations?
aqua, I work from a position of complete transparency and have always posted under my own name or my company name, the same cannot said for yourself. If you are truly interested in the position I find myself in please call by the shop and I will show you round both shop and storage area, also you can see my books, spread sheets and bank balance, then you can decide for yourself if I am doing the right thing or not. I have been in the game long enough to know that the proposals that have been put forward for the centre of Wick are flawed.
As I have oft repeated, you have no hard evidence to back up your claims. You don’t know what will happen to your trade in a settled situation after double yellow lines have been in place for a significant time. You are merely speculating based on your sales during short disruptive events. You can repeat your speculation as much as you like, it won’t change anything.
As I have oft repeated, you have no hard evidence to back up your claims. You don’t know what will happen to your trade in a settled situation after double yellow lines have been in place for a significant time. You are merely speculating based on your sales during short disruptive events. You can repeat your speculation as much as you like, it won’t change anything.
So your not prepared to discuss this with me face to face then?
Aqua
Would you be prepared to run a business where you are liable to make a loss due to the daily upset of traffic.
Running a business is difficult at the best of times but if you have an on going issue with traffic management and parking issues and struggling to make a profit and staff employed would you think it worth while to face the hassle and problems every day, knowing your stress levels are going to rise or will you call it a day and try to find alternative premises where no extra outside pressures exist.
I would certainly be looking at alternative premises - not worth the hassle and pressure, doubt of income, staff - loss of interest if they know they are not in a fairly secure job due to loss of trade, the list goes on and on.
Loss of income means loss of products, loss of customers, loss of staff, loss of business and liveliehood
Relocation is the only option if trade has been monitored - as it has been.
Good luck to Birons in finding new premises
Our business model of being able to supply goods and services that no other business wanted to bother with was working fine until a decision was made to litter the town with double yellow lines in order to turn the car parks into cash cows. We bought our shop because it was both visible and accessible, when you start to mess about with a fine balance without consultation something will to topple over.
Of course aqua has noticed how successful all the other small 'niche' shops have been along Bridge Street and High Street; all notable for their longevity. All the empty shops must just be a temporary aberration!
There’s no point in meeting Kevin. He doesn’t listen.
And it took you six weeks to come up with that one liner, I am prepared to listen to anyone that knows and understands what they are talking about and its abundantly clear you have no actual knowledge of how the retail industry on our high streets work.
You don’t listen to me or, from what I’ve been told privately, to anyone else with more retail experience than yourself.
Good luck with running your shop, or moving it, or closing it down. Whatever... I won’t waste any more time on you.
Good luck with running your shop, or moving it, or closing it down. Whatever... I won’t waste any more time on you.
Aqua
Before we considered buying our shop on Bridge Street we did extensive market research to take in all needs and requirements for the town,plus position of the shop, this meant spending many hours stood on Bridge Street studying peoples shopping habits.
At the time of making our commitment the town had a full time traffic warden that was both fair and measured and although some would argue he didn’t do a lot I can tell you his presence and ability to keep the town moving while trying to be fair and patient was second to none.
Since he was let go because no budget for him gave the less considerate in the parish an excuse to park where they wanted and for as long as they wanted. Painting double yellow lines will not deter those people and the promised wardens from South on a regular basis have not materialised and probably never will.
The answer is fairly simple; get another local person to work in the town or even share with Thurso and the flow of traffic will be much improved with no damage to local business.
I have listened to many arguments for and against double yellow lines and believe me it will end badly for the town and any possible regeneration attempts.
orkneycadian
16-Sep-19, 21:41
Came through Wick the other week, and how good it was to see double yellow lines up Bridge Street. Still a nightmare to negotiate due to all the parked cars paying no attention though. What is it with Weekers and parking? What on earth possesses you to park within 3 feet of the stop line at traffic lights? Bridge street being one example, Francis Street at the junction with the Thurso road being another
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