On 30 Jan 2018 at 7:48pm Why ? wrote:
Information recently indicates that both these pubs are going to close within the foreseeable future - shame villages are not villages without a pub.
On 30 Jan 2018 at 8:06pm Lewes born and bread wrote:
The Rainbow only opened a few weeks ago
On 30 Jan 2018 at 8:29pm Candy chris wrote:
Shame about the rainbow but not surprised or couldn’t care less about the oak
On 30 Jan 2018 at 8:59pm Lewes born and dead wrote:
LBAB do you go in there with your fox hunting thug mates?
On 30 Jan 2018 at 9:18pm Saucy sally wrote:
Have heard a few rumours now that the bloke in the oak is planning on doing a runner, but hopefully Harvey’s are now clued up on him
On 30 Jan 2018 at 9:36pm John Clark wrote:
Easy use them or lose the!
On 31 Jan 2018 at 9:10am Bloke in the oak wrote:
King Charles ?
On 31 Jan 2018 at 9:35am The Greek wrote:
Source?
On 31 Jan 2018 at 9:55am Um?? wrote:
I don't know about the Oak, but it's a pity about the Rainbow because they are a really nice couple that have just taken it over in the autumn. I think it might be the classic mistake of people not from a hospitality background wanting a lifestyle change to a country pub with roses around the door taking it on without the skills or experience to run it.
From what I hear the rent for them both is sky-high and without the trade they are burning through savings and will only survive for a certain length of time. I can only hope they have the sense to jump before their landlord swallows the lot.
On 31 Jan 2018 at 11:54am The Greek wrote:
The Rainbow appears to be doing well under new management. As for the Oak it's a tenanted Harvey's pub and they'll have a fight on their hands if they try to close it.
On 31 Jan 2018 at 1:06pm The Forester wrote:
Good luck with that fight Geek , those tactics worked well in East Hoathly. I think that Harveys are gearing up to sell the business.
On 31 Jan 2018 at 1:14pm E.H Kings head wrote:
Who needs 2 pubs
On 31 Jan 2018 at 2:56pm The Greek wrote:
Yep, not good r.e. the Foresters, however EH has two pubs. Barcombe saved the shop so could do the same with the pub if it ever came that way. I'd like to think Harvey's were a community-minded company when running tenanted pubs.. but then again the bottom line is probably all they care about in the end. I think they bought the place for £1mill...
On 31 Jan 2018 at 3:05pm The Greek wrote:
No question though that country pubs need to diversify.. opening early offering breakfasts or tea and cake to cyclists and walkers etc.. rather than just being a traditional boozer. OP is correct though, a village without a pub is not a village
On 31 Jan 2018 at 3:38pm E.H Kings head wrote:
Yippee ! The KH has always knocked the foresters into a cocked hat from 1970. E.H is being gentrified - no one needs a spit + sawdust like the foresters.
On 31 Jan 2018 at 4:17pm Local wrote:
Now come on, Forest! What are you thinking of, providing accurate hard facts that undermine the 100% true beliefs of the day-dreaming fools on here?
On 31 Jan 2018 at 4:37pm The Greek wrote:
The powers of using an alternative name...
On 31 Jan 2018 at 5:01pm Pubber wrote:
The previous lot who ran the Oak did a fantastic job but they also worked every shift themselves with their family working in the kitchen and helping out which meant they were able to turn a profit. One suspects it's the costs rather than the income that has done for the new guy, although not having a bonfire in 2016 just after he took over probably didn't help matters, that night alone has to be worth a month's trading at least!
On 1 Feb 2018 at 7:13am Local drinker wrote:
How does th Kings Head In Lewes survive? Never seem to be any customers?
On 1 Feb 2018 at 10:27pm Pub owner wrote:
The pubs around here are very difficult to run. Rents are high, rates are high, all running costs are high. To make a living you need to be able to do all jobs yourself. Anyone that thinks you can run a pub without the skills to make it work and rely on staff (however well paid) to do it for them, are kidding themselves. Too many of these establishments that have been taken over by people who have none of these skills are frankly a joke. The pub co's are to blame in more ways than one. They charge high rents and then let inexperienced people people take on their properties and wonder why they fail. The math just doesn't work and frankly it doesn't take a genius to work out why. The only way the pubs will work is that they are owned by the people that run them. This would mean that they would be willing to invest in the building as well as their future and hopefullly make a success of theirselves and their business.
On 3 Feb 2018 at 10:33am Outinthecold wrote:
The problem with pubs such as these is they move into a village and decide that fine dining would be just wonderful and draw in the punters, whack up the prices, piss off the locals and think that this is good business model. The 'let's just charge more' then it doesn't matter if we only get a few customers because we're can't be bothered to promote a good solid, friendly pub, suitable for locals and non locals with reasonably priced food or a little above. You need all types of customers to make a pub and that includes locals. So, saying 'use it or lose it', is completely irrelevant. We can't afford to use it. Theres no where to sit because they dedicate 5/6ths of the pub to restaurant seating so they can make money on food. Locals are sitting at home on a Saturday night, because local pubs are turning into fine dining experiences. If Marco Pierre White can't make fine dining popular round here, who can? I'm speaking as someone who is quite happy to pay money for an excellent meal and knows food. That's different to what is on offer. I don't want a pheasant on a stick and a my chips in an ash tray or tin cup. I know that pubs are suffering and rent is high, but all anyone wants is a reasonably priced drink, a good atmosphere, reasonably priced good quality food (Sadly lacking in Lewes, not enough competition, hopefully this is improving now) a warm fire in winter and a lovely garden in summer. Is it so difficult? I sit here on a night and think, I'd love to go for a drink but the two pubs I can walk to are both given over to dining and I have to sit at home. And that's why pubs are going out of business.
On 3 Feb 2018 at 4:45pm Barcombite wrote:
Right, I'm speaking as a very local person... Both rumours are completely false - in fact it's a running joke in the Oak, and we were all trying to think of stupid rumours we could spread about businesses in Lewes today that would screw people over. And that's what this bullsh#t is doing - it's actually HARMING hardworking local businesses. Talk about fake news! I'm sure Mr Putin would be proud of the Lewes forumites... You idiots are going to make people lose their jobs
On 3 Feb 2018 at 10:39pm Kate C wrote:
Thought the oak was just a running joke altogether to be fair
On 4 Feb 2018 at 7:37pm Why wrote:
Barcombite
Where are u coming from ? The rainbow was closed when a family had turned up after pre booking a meal with friends visiting.
The Oak at Barcombe needs to really up their game as they are not doing food ? You can not survive on the minor profit from drink
On 4 Feb 2018 at 7:43pm Don'tgiveash*te wrote:
I got me tins @ home.