howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#1
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#2
Ah yes this is the inevitable result of the economic downturn...its the first thing to go..dining out! In wider business terms the first thing to go is the advertising budget..I remember this all too well from the earlier career in advertising. Once there was a slump, the ad budget of all companies everywhere hit the buffers.
But for the ordinary guy in lean times the obvious one is dining out. However i notice some restaurants are fighting back with low cost deals which are good for the customer. Ive had a few leaflets drop through the door with special deals...one deal here says " 2 main meals and a bottle of wine for £14".
They cant be making much on that one..what with staff and overheads generally...but I suppose it keeps them going til times pick up again.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#3
I think that may well be the case - sadly.
I appreciate that rent and rates are unnecessarily high with very few landlords caring whether their premises are used or not so long as their property port-folio valuation stays high.
Rateable value of commercial premises, by the valuation office (our's is in Folkestone), is also too high - too high for the amount of trade they do and as there is no reduction for bad trading periods, or some similar calculation that would help in these austere times, the cost of running a restaurant far outweighs the pleasure of being able to offer customers, the benefits of your quality fayre.
There should be strong lobbying on the Government to allow local valuation offices to reduce rates during hard times.
The government would lose more money by businesses closing and paying out benefits to those new unemployed people who aren't paying any tax either.
If restauarants could afford to offer incentives (2-4-1 as per the Dover Marina Hotel) to diners, that may help bring in people, but they still have to have the ability to pay for the advertising to let people know.
The Kittiwake and Marine Court offer 2 meals for £10 and a starter or dessert for just £2.00.
Can the small independant restaurants - Blakes, Jack's Grill Bar, the Allotment, La Scala etc. afford NOT to offer incentives ?
It must be hard making a living nowadays running your own business - whatever sort of business it is - and that's why Dover and the businesses here, need help.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#4
we do seem to have a lot of good restaurants locally considering the population is not that high.
since the downturn a lot of food retailers stress the eating in thing by doing deals on main meals for 2, marks and spencers particularly.
#5
And they were good initially, but have been disappointing recently. Shame - good idea and well priced. But if I am staying in I actually like the cooking part!
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
#6
Reading the above it looks like I can possibly find a nice large slice of freshly made Quiche Lorraine with steak frites, followed by Lemon Meringue pie and a glass of wine for 13 euro
