"The Downswings of Property and Poker"

[Eso Kral]

Easy life in the South, I'm stood in a cold industrial unit trying to get it flogged. Saying that it's aaking rent is £150,000 a year. I know even in the north!

Surely you get to rent half of Sheffield for that?      (smiley for context)

[BorntoBubble]

Easy life in the South, I'm stood in a cold industrial unit trying to get it flogged. Saying that it's aaking rent is £150,000 a year. I know even in the north!

Surely you get to rent half of Sheffield for that?      (smiley for context)

all.

[Eso Kral]

I just dont know where the time goes and if I could add a few hours onto each day I would be vvvv grateful.

This week has been good and not so good but lets start with the not so good!

Our only and main bit of competition in the town for a competing restaurant had decided to move venues from their small 40 cover restaurant to a former nightclub a few hundred yards from our proposed venue but also just off the main town drag and we have been waiting to see a little of what they do as they are already an established business with over 12000 likes on their FB page and this week they launched their new menu and website.

They were always going to beat us to the punch in terms of opening as they had locked up their venue earlier but it seems they have gone down a "similar" route to our concept although we do believe there are enough difference in venue, menu and importantly marketing that our business plan should still work but it is a little bit annoying to say the least.  I actually had a meeting with one of our investors a couple of weeks ago and said whilst I loved our concept, the fact they would open first didnt mean I was tied to venue and would if required be more than happy for a different town/city to launch in rather than iron out £40k just trying to compete toe for toe with these guys.

This is them http://www.mangetoutgrill.co.uk/ and feel free to comment on their website/menu etc as we already have our own opinions.

The next few weeks will be very telling for us as we met a licencing manager this week and they said the council were looking to ensure the righ tenants were in the Royal Hotel as they wish to use the hotel and the recently renovated Park Inn Hotel as part of their marketing for the coming years due to the iconic nature of the buildings but they then caveated that with ia message that if we tried to open it as a nightclub they would refuse licensing and so would the police but luckily the guy seemed happy with our plans and wants to work with us.  Unfortunately we cannot start any building work until all the licencing is resolved so our proposed dates will move back slightly as this process is about 8 weeks if we only get a few basic appeals.

I have learnt so much from this process that whatever happens and whether Southend takes off I will definitely be doing something like this in a town or city big enough to do the numbers we would need to.

Onto the good...

This week on my half day off for the week, Petra had asked me to do a few photo's with Max for a Portrait Group she is part of so we had these done at home with the last one being done on a timer which turned out well and only took 3 goes to get it right.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Busy 10 days before GPS Southend and the only time during the year where hotels are not required....

[arbboy]

Nice pics!  Have you got a £4500 bottle of champers on your drinks menu like Mange have?  The only way is essex!

[Eso Kral]

Nice pics!  Have you got a £4500 bottle of champers on your drinks menu like Mange have?  The only way is essex!

Thx bud and lol no, plus I dont think that Southend have the palette for anything on that fine wine menu

That unfortunately/fortunately is part of the Ego's of the brothers involved in that place.

[bobAlike]

Great pics Rich. You must be really proud.

Initial thoughts on Mange are that I found the website v tilting. Menu looks nice to me with a varied selection although a full English breakfast should always have more than 1 of each item.

Not knowing Southend at all are you confident that there is enough customer base for 2 similar restaurants?

[arbboy]

Nice pics!  Have you got a £4500 bottle of champers on your drinks menu like Mange have?  The only way is essex!

Thx bud and lol no, plus I dont think that Southend have the palette for anything on that fine wine menu

That unfortunately/fortunately is part of the Ego's of the brothers involved in that place.

Must add a few quid to your insurance bill surely having 5 figures of redic wine in a burger bar effectively!

[Eso Kral]

Great pics Rich. You must be really proud.

Initial thoughts on Mange are that I found the website v tilting. Menu looks nice to me with a varied selection although a full English breakfast should always have more than 1 of each item.

Not knowing Southend at all are you confident that there is enough customer base for 2 similar restaurants?

Cheers Andy and good read

I thought the website was more like a computer game tbh but thats just my humble opinion and when you click on the restaurant bit the guy who walks on is one of the brothers who own it and again becomes part of the ego.

The thing is there is not that much breakfast trade in the area and not at that price so overheads must be really high so we wouldnt be going down that route, all other research dictates that the area is big enough with more money being thrown at Southend but as I said in a meeting the other day I would rather walk away from this venue and go to a different place than take a punt and try to compete toe to toe.

Price point wise they are a touch higher than our proposal which is good and they are verging on fine dining price in as Mark says effectively a burger joint but the one thing that even having no experience of working a joint like this (dont plan to either) the research has shown us is that their menu will not be fresh and most will be frozen and they will have a ridiculous amount of waste as it will be impossible to service this menu freshly made where as our proposed menu was having a more workable core menu with some seasonal specials that are added weekly/monthly  with a big noise made about it through all the social media.

Will post some stats on the town later on.

[Eso Kral]

Nice pics!  Have you got a £4500 bottle of champers on your drinks menu like Mange have?  The only way is essex!

Thx bud and lol no, plus I dont think that Southend have the palette for anything on that fine wine menu

That unfortunately/fortunately is part of the Ego's of the brothers involved in that place.

Must add a few quid to your insurance bill surely having 5 figures of redic wine in a burger bar effectively!

Thats if they actually have those champagnes/wines there at all.....

[arbboy]

Nice pics!  Have you got a £4500 bottle of champers on your drinks menu like Mange have?  The only way is essex!

Thx bud and lol no, plus I dont think that Southend have the palette for anything on that fine wine menu

That unfortunately/fortunately is part of the Ego's of the brothers involved in that place.

Must add a few quid to your insurance bill surely having 5 figures of redic wine in a burger bar effectively!

Thats if they actually have those champagnes/wines there at all.....

Not very good for your ego as the owner if Dubai rocks up and asks for 2 bottles and they are not available though is it?

[simonnatur]

Main thoughts on the competition was that the name was poor/at odds with the concept. Have they been reading this diary/ got wind of your plans?    Graphics give a poor impression to me unless they have really gone for an 80's video game themed interior.

I wouldn't take the fact that someone else is prepared to invest a ton of money in the area as wholly negative. Doubt you can relocate elsewhere and run a thriving restaurant without competitors springing up.

Thanks for taking the time to update - it's a fascinating read.

[Eso Kral]

Main thoughts on the competition was that the name was poor/at odds with the concept. Have they been reading this diary/ got wind of your plans?    Graphics give a poor impression to me unless they have really gone for an 80's video game themed interior.

I wouldn't take the fact that someone else is prepared to invest a ton of money in the area as wholly negative. Doubt you can relocate elsewhere and run a thriving restaurant without competitors springing up.

Thanks for taking the time to update - it's a fascinating read.

Thanks very much for the nice comment!

They were already based 200 yards away from their new venue and had a solid following in their old venue hence the 11000 likes before they even moved but were more Bistro in nature although offered a few Smokehouse style dishes and have just expanded on their menu but it's very busy.

Good point on the running a thriving restaurant without others popping up and the bottom end of the town has always been the poor relation until recently with them moving and the Park Inn opening plus the new G Casino on the ground floor of this venue with it being located 100 yards from the Royal Hotel.


I personally feel these three venues (The council want to use the Park inn and the Royal as reasons for people to come to Southend so we would benefit from some free marketing) could mean that the bottom end of the town beocmes the part of town to be for an evenings entertainment.

Thank you for the feedback Simon.

[Eso Kral]

Nice pics!  Have you got a £4500 bottle of champers on your drinks menu like Mange have?  The only way is essex!

Thx bud and lol no, plus I dont think that Southend have the palette for anything on that fine wine menu

That unfortunately/fortunately is part of the Ego's of the brothers involved in that place.

Must add a few quid to your insurance bill surely having 5 figures of redic wine in a burger bar effectively!

Thats if they actually have those champagnes/wines there at all.....

Not very good for your ego as the owner if Dubai rocks up and asks for 2 bottles and they are not available though is it?

That reminds me of Dubai's champagne story when he held all the monies....

[RED-DOG]

I just dont know where the time goes and if I could add a few hours onto each day I would be vvvv grateful.

This week has been good and not so good but lets start with the not so good!

Our only and main bit of competition in the town for a competing restaurant had decided to move venues from their small 40 cover restaurant to a former nightclub a few hundred yards from our proposed venue but also just off the main town drag and we have been waiting to see a little of what they do as they are already an established business with over 12000 likes on their FB page and this week they launched their new menu and website.

They were always going to beat us to the punch in terms of opening as they had locked up their venue earlier but it seems they have gone down a "similar" route to our concept although we do believe there are enough difference in venue, menu and importantly marketing that our business plan should still work but it is a little bit annoying to say the least.  I actually had a meeting with one of our investors a couple of weeks ago and said whilst I loved our concept, the fact they would open first didnt mean I was tied to venue and would if required be more than happy for a different town/city to launch in rather than iron out £40k just trying to compete toe for toe with these guys.

This is them http://www.mangetoutgrill.co.uk/ and feel free to comment on their website/menu etc as we already have our own opinions.

The next few weeks will be very telling for us as we met a licencing manager this week and they said the council were looking to ensure the righ tenants were in the Royal Hotel as they wish to use the hotel and the recently renovated Park Inn Hotel as part of their marketing for the coming years due to the iconic nature of the buildings but they then caveated that with ia message that if we tried to open it as a nightclub they would refuse licensing and so would the police but luckily the guy seemed happy with our plans and wants to work with us.  Unfortunately we cannot start any building work until all the licencing is resolved so our proposed dates will move back slightly as this process is about 8 weeks if we only get a few basic appeals.

I have learnt so much from this process that whatever happens and whether Southend takes off I will definitely be doing something like this in a town or city big enough to do the numbers we would need to.

Onto the good...

This week on my half day off for the week, Petra had asked me to do a few photo's with Max for a Portrait Group she is part of so we had these done at home with the last one being done on a timer which turned out well and only took 3 goes to get it right.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Busy 10 days before GPS Southend and the only time during the year where hotels are not required....

The photographs are excellent Rich. How does she do the dark background?

[Eso Kral]

I just dont know where the time goes and if I could add a few hours onto each day I would be vvvv grateful.

This week has been good and not so good but lets start with the not so good!

Our only and main bit of competition in the town for a competing restaurant had decided to move venues from their small 40 cover restaurant to a former nightclub a few hundred yards from our proposed venue but also just off the main town drag and we have been waiting to see a little of what they do as they are already an established business with over 12000 likes on their FB page and this week they launched their new menu and website.

They were always going to beat us to the punch in terms of opening as they had locked up their venue earlier but it seems they have gone down a "similar" route to our concept although we do believe there are enough difference in venue, menu and importantly marketing that our business plan should still work but it is a little bit annoying to say the least.  I actually had a meeting with one of our investors a couple of weeks ago and said whilst I loved our concept, the fact they would open first didnt mean I was tied to venue and would if required be more than happy for a different town/city to launch in rather than iron out £40k just trying to compete toe for toe with these guys.

This is them http://www.mangetoutgrill.co.uk/ and feel free to comment on their website/menu etc as we already have our own opinions.

The next few weeks will be very telling for us as we met a licencing manager this week and they said the council were looking to ensure the righ tenants were in the Royal Hotel as they wish to use the hotel and the recently renovated Park Inn Hotel as part of their marketing for the coming years due to the iconic nature of the buildings but they then caveated that with ia message that if we tried to open it as a nightclub they would refuse licensing and so would the police but luckily the guy seemed happy with our plans and wants to work with us.  Unfortunately we cannot start any building work until all the licencing is resolved so our proposed dates will move back slightly as this process is about 8 weeks if we only get a few basic appeals.

I have learnt so much from this process that whatever happens and whether Southend takes off I will definitely be doing something like this in a town or city big enough to do the numbers we would need to.

Onto the good...

This week on my half day off for the week, Petra had asked me to do a few photo's with Max for a Portrait Group she is part of so we had these done at home with the last one being done on a timer which turned out well and only took 3 goes to get it right.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Busy 10 days before GPS Southend and the only time during the year where hotels are not required....

The photographs are excellent Rich. How does she do the dark background?

Thanks Tom!

She uses one of these


Available from all good retail outlets and the either drapes over a black sheet and clips it to the side of the window also with the room we use as a studio being west backing for the best natural light which she shoots all the babies in and then snaps away.

Petra has a variety of backgrounds that she will use and the clothes rack also acts to suspend babies wrapped up for floating shots when required.

The family shot with the light background is just the back wall in the room but us sat in exactly the same place as the others.