I think pubs caused their own downfall when the smoking ban came in and due to the drop in numbers coming in the door they increased prices rather than dropping prices to get customers back in. Right across the board. No business sense and was the death knell for a lot of pubs in Ireland. People ended up staying away. But in this case to be fair to the average pub I think expecting the local to match Wetherspoons is a bit like asking the corner shop to compete with Lidl. Economies of scale, the small business cannot buy at bulk discount prices to sell cheaper the same as the big operation and cannot subsidise in some cases loss of profit to build up a client base. They have to go for another angle, better quality or atmosphere or something, they won't win on price.
This is lovely stuff. Expensive here in the offie compared to other beers though. I have been drinking a lot of ales lately for a change, it's hard to go back to the bog standard lagers when you get the difference in flavour. Blacks of Kinsale IPA is lovely, as is the Franciscan Well IPA (Chieftain I think they call it). London Pride is a nice ale as well. Sound like a right hipster... I'm off to grow a beard with a handlebar moustache and plant radishes in my garden to sell at the local farmer's market off the back of my single speed high nellie bike....
I love getting a few bottles of new ale I haven't tried, some of it is lovely. I like Hob Goblin, Old Speckled Hen, McGargles Gravey Mavey & Grannys Red I'm more of a ruby ale man myself than pale ale, but it's nice also. Some great ones out there.
Now thats one I'm fairly sure I saw on tap out in Blackrock when I was there, think it was one of the cheaper priced beers also. Have a pint for me, if you head over mate Sure I'd buy it for the name alone mate
Thanks. I converted to these ales after doing the Samuel Adams tour in Boston. You make a donation and they take you on a brief tour then all into a room and free sampling for half an hour. I tried a pumpkin spice and chocolate beer which I expected to be muck and they went down so well. I also tried the coldsnap which was really nice. I was disappointed to say the least to find out the coldsnap only comes out from Jan-April and the other two aren't on the market anymore. The regular stuff is lovely though. I will try the few you have mentioned thanks.
In our analysis here we have focussed on Wetherspoons competing with other pubs, but it is also the case that Wetherspoons see themselves as competing with supermarket and off license sales. By having their prices marginally above supermarket prices (in some cases), they are seeking to draw people out of their homes, and not necessarily out of other pubs. While only Wetherspoons themselves really know just how the business works, we have a few questions that we think will at least get the conversation started as to how the chain operates. Information about their business model is very scarce, so we’re asking these questions in the hopes that we can, in the future, get some answers. We’re not looking for Wetherspoons or anyone else to give us the golden ticket in the comments section, but it is helpful to have a starting point when trying to understand how Wetherspoons can undercut other pubs in the market by such a margin. 1. Are individual pubs judged on their profitability or do they work as a sum of their parts? Can one pub make a temporary loss and be carried by other pubs in the chain? If the Blackrock pub takes a while to gain market share, will it be subsidised from the larger company? 2. Is there a central Wetherspoons depot that distributes beer all over the country? 3. Is beer bought on a pub by pub basis or is the demand calculated for all beer nationwide (UK and Ireland). 4. How much of a discount do Wetherspoons get from large breweries by buying in bulk? 5. Is food bought/produced in bulk from the same sources and then distributed in much the same way a large restaurant/fast food chain would? 6. How is there such a discount on some bottled craft beers? Is this deal done with the wholesalers, rather than directly with the brewery? 7. What is the profit margin on a pint of beer that is sold for €2.50? (Perhaps the margin on a keg is a better indicator). 8. Is the idea that while some might drink beers for €2.50, their friends may be in there drinking spirits or other drinks that have a higher margin? Does your average customer only drink the cheapest of the cheap? 9. Is it the case that it is factored in to the business plan that people are more likely to have a drink and a meal in a Wetherspoons, whereas other pubs are just for drinking? Thus, the low margin on the beer, combined with the margin on the food makes it worthwhile? 10. How much do Wetherspoons save on not having sky sports and other sports channels in the pubs? Is this a cost saving measure or a conscious decision to preserve a certain type of atmosphere? 11. How do Wetherspoons calculate how much beer they need if they are operating on such a scale where wastage must be kept at a minimum? 12. Do Wetherspoons have less staff than a pub of a similar size because of their methods for ordering and serving? 13. Are foreign brands used in Wetherspoons and sold at a low price because they don’t see it affecting their brand image? Meaning, if the UK and Ireland is not their prime market, they don’t really mind if their brand is seen as a cheap option. 14. Do Wetherspoons benefit from paying tax and excise as a single large company, rather than as an individual pub or as a smaller chain? Are there tax breaks that they can avail of that give them an advantage over smaller competition? 15. How do big brands like Heineken feel about their beer being sold at a significantly lower price than other pubs? Wetherspoons currently have The Three Tun Tavern in Blackrock, The Forty Foot in Blackrock, and there are 3 more due to open soon in Blanchardstown, Swords, and on Camden street. Would love to hear their answers to some of these.
That's sounds like a press release from the Vitner's Federation. Some of the answers to me at least are self evident, e.g. Question 10 on Sky Sports. The saving there is whatever the monthly rental cost of sky sports in a pub is, which I would imagine, everyone in the industry already knows and given that you are in the industry why do you ask?
Their not my questions Roger, and yes , while i do know the answer to some of them, id be interested in WS answers to the others.
We'd all love to know the answers but the only answer we would get will be **** off its none of your business how we operate
Not a new article, but thought it might be of interest to those within reach of the locations named above http://utv.ie/News/2015/05/20/Wetherspoons-to-expand-pub-chain-to-Cork-37600 I wish there were dozens more of the Weatherspoons pubs opening up in Ireland, after reading yet another article (here) recently which suggests we're one of the dearest places in Europe to buy drink. The rip off mentality just won't go away when it comes to our friendly publicans, it seems ....
2 more planned for the city centre I believe, one being the old Trustee Savings Bank on Abbey St http://publin.ie/2015/wetherspoons-will-open-a-pub-on-abbey-street/
They're not my idea of a great pub but I'm just hoping that they'll heap the pressure on the other pubs to lower their prices, going out in Dublin city has become a hobby for the rich.
Suggest you introduce him to some of the cheaper ones so mate Jokes aside, I know lads who have dropped north of 700 lids on a night out, primarily having either "gone dancing" or to a casino, with most of these places now offering ATMs or cashback to help get the cash out of your pocket. Serious wedge to be dropping....
Wouldn't do strip clubs in Dublin, after being in Lapello's and the one near the laughter lounge (both shit holes and overpriced). It's 25 quid for a taxi each way. 15 quid for a kebab and chips. 5quid a pint 8quid vodka mixer 10quid for 2 jager bombs 10quid entry to somewhere So even on an easy night your talking 6 pints, 5 vodkas and 4 jagers, kebab, entry, taxi's. That's 165euro.