Wetherspoons Wick to be sold

[Kodiak]

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/s...-find-14238791

[dozy]

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]

They are selling off 16 pubs, so not just here.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-...oBHEsrl35Q8KOY

[Thursolad]

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]

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

[aqua]

Weekers not drinking enough to keep a pub going? Who would have believed it?

[Geo]

So spoons are not selling after all. That's good news. Just need Birons to change their mind as well. 🙂

[Birons]

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.

[aqua]

No. The future of Birons is in your hands.

Don’t whinge. Sell!

[Bill Fernie]

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.

[aqua]

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/showthrea...56#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.

[Birons]

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.

[aqua]

You don’t listen to me or, from what I’ve been told privately, to anyone else with more retail experience than yourself.

[aqua]

Good luck with running your shop, or moving it, or closing it down. Whatever... I won’t waste any more time on you.

[Birons]

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]

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