Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
25 October 2010
18:3276609Been nice knowing you :)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
25 October 2010
18:4676611rather sad, i thought they had got things right with their lunchtime deals and the varied evening menu.
looking at the figures briefly the turnover does not look very high balanced against the rent and business rates.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
25 October 2010
19:3676613I'm not overly surprised but quite sad really; Szabi and his wife (who's just had her baby), his sister and I believe his brother worked very hard on providing good quality food and very reasonable prices.
He did have a problem with business rates (they went up by over 60% last April) which I passed on to the C. E. at the Chamber (he was/is a member there) but I don't know if they gave him any real help to get them reduced.
I organised their launch, with Diane Smallwood when she was Mayor and it was a great evening, sadly it seems, business has reduced to the point where they must sell up.
Use it or lose it, now we lose it.
Roger
25 October 2010
19:3976615What a shame! A lovely location near the seafront and what looked like a decent menu at reasonable prices. I had no idea the rates had increased so outrageously. I am sorry they are having this trouble.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
25 October 2010
20:4976621Unfortunately the location is part of the problem, a bit away from the main footfall.
The Chief Exec of the Chamber did help out on the rates issue.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
25 October 2010
21:5676629I think the rent is a bigger problem than the rates. £17,500 is just too high for the location and size of premises.
PG.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,706
25 October 2010
22:0376633Indeed it is Peter, but that is one of the problems in Dover, rents are unrealistically high.
A few years ago when we were looking for shop premises we happened to look at the shop Sussex Bookstore is in - the landlords wanted £52,000 p.a. for it.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
25 October 2010
22:0976637Both of you are right I was only talking to Mr Garstin today, I also think that the shops need more help with lower rent and help with the rates and the VAT going up again it is not good.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
25 October 2010
22:1076639interesting stuff about the rents, find it hard to believe that a discount book shop/stationers can pay a grand a week and still survive.
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,706
25 October 2010
22:1576644Indeed Howard but the real kicker is they wanted 3 months rent in advance and a 3 month deposit - I mean seriously where are small businesses going to find that sort of money before the kit the shop out and stock it.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
25 October 2010
22:1776645Again Mr Miller some very good points come next May at the locals, all this will be talked about alot more.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
26 October 2010
06:4176659Tell me Vic, what has the rent to do with the Councils and elections, oher than those very few shops that they own?
It is nothing to do with local politics and the elections.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
26 October 2010
07:3576662Well done to Scotchie for coming up with this item. Real news there and very sad to see. I was at the launch and it was interesting to see a nice group of people trying something different foodwise. They were all from the Carpathian Mountain region of Hungary hence the name, and tried to bring something different in terms of food.
Unfortunately the market is reluctant to try anything too different, thats why we see these chains of restaurants all purveying the same thing. It is because they know how to make money doing it. They know what the market wants and they give it to them.
The chances of people grasping this particular hungarian ghoulash nettle on a regular basis was slim...this idea would have a real chance in London where you have a ready market for allsorts of international cuisine but Im afraid Dover still goes essentially for Burger and Chips. The Carpathian did realise this and eventually embraced the lunchtime Fish n Chips menu near the end but I guess it was too late.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
26 October 2010
08:1376669Glad to hear the Chamber did help out with the rates Barry.
Some restaurants do very well, and some don't and there's no particular reason why one succeeds and another fails. I don't think it's because no one has the money for lunches or evening meals anymore, we see them out and about all the time.
PaulB is right that places like Marstons with the Kittiwake, Wetherspoons and Whitbreads with Premier Inns and their restaurants, satisfy the majority of people; there are of course other good, individually-owned restaurants in Dover like La Scala, The Allotment and not forgetting Blakes in Castle Street and of course the White Horse.
Roger
26 October 2010
09:0876685Interesting post here my brother in law is a chef looking to open up in Dover i will pass on these details.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
26 October 2010
10:1576690It is sad to lose a 'restaurant out of the ordinary', Great cuisine, but in the wrong place. Szabi told me that he had to plough what profits he made from his 'Pizza Sprint' takaway in London Road to keep the Carpathian ticking over
The Chamber did help out with the rates issue eventually but the rents were the killer in this case, sadly not helped by the fact that there was no parking for passing prospective customers.
I wish Szabi and his family all the best for their future.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
26 October 2010
11:4276698I would suggest avoiding the Carpathian location Melissa - too off the beaten track.
26 October 2010
12:1176700But it is right on the pathway between the town and the seafront........?
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
26 October 2010
14:0476718Cut off by the dual carraigeway. OK for the summer maybe but how many people head that way in the winter...
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
26 October 2010
14:2076722I noted many times last year that it was closed, despite the time of day and the advertisement boards being outside. I only went in there once myself. It`s a very clean and attractive looking place.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.