Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2024 9:56:40 GMT 1
I don't think aynone is suggesting that Smithys should be competing with the Mytton. But could it be completing with the likes of the Charles Darwin, Brooklands, Grove, Belle Vue Tavern in terms of a place to drink post match, a place to hold a pub quiz, a place to watch a singer, a place to hold a private party, etc. Isn't it already an option for a post match drink? Although how does it work with the Smithy's being located behind the away end? How easy and how quickly would it be to get there after a game? As I have always questioned the setup, to have the supporters bar located directly behind the away end wouldn't seem to be the best option. Take your point about a place to hold a quiz and what have you though. Although again, I'm sure there are plenty of venues in and around Shrewsbury offering the same (that might well be considered more attractive venues). I don't know if it is open? Perhaps that tells it's own story But lets say it is, I'm pretty sure that's the extent of the club's PR, the club open it up for a few hours and that's it. How about the club make some effort to actually attract people? Advertise is, put on drink promotions, maybe have entertainment such as singers? The club have a fanzone pre-match alongside Smithys, maybe use that after the match too? None of this is particularly revolutionary. As for your point on other venues hosting quizes and the like, yes they are but to say lets not bother because there's too much competition seems very defeatist. And to be honest, considering one the arguments for the ground move was because we can have these additional facilities which bring money in, if we are going to accept that there is no demand for them then you question why bother moving My point is the club have done nothing to attract people to the likes of Smithys and the restaurant, therefore we don't know if there is the demand for it. Maybe if they market it well, it will attract people. If it doesn't then I'll accept it. |
|
|
|
Post by talkingoftheshrews on Aug 8, 2024 10:07:06 GMT 1
A lot of fair points made about using the restaurant and smithy's more. One thing I would say is that - from all public statements - the club is cutting costs and stripping back to try and get the finances on an even footing. Actively pursuing the Relaunch of either of those would cost money upfront. The club aren't going to do that unless there's a guaranteed return, which there isnt in hospitality. So I suspect its a case of holding fire until new ownership  |
|
|
|
Post by Pilch on Aug 8, 2024 10:11:06 GMT 1
I don't think aynone is suggesting that Smithys should be competing with the Mytton. But could it be completing with the likes of the Charles Darwin, Brooklands, Grove, Belle Vue Tavern in terms of a place to drink post match, a place to hold a pub quiz, a place to watch a singer, a place to hold a private party, etc. Isn't it already an option for a post match drink? Although how does it work with the Smithy's being located behind the away end? How easy and how quickly would it be to get there after a game? As I have always questioned the setup, to have the supporters bar located directly behind the away end wouldn't seem to be the best option. Take your point about a place to hold a quiz and what have you though. Although again, I'm sure there are plenty of venues in and around Shrewsbury offering the same (that might well be considered more attractive venues). The away end is fenced off after the game allowing access from west stand to smithy's , something I campaigned for back in the early days , I nearly always used to go back after the game and watch the first half of the live prem game and book a cab for half time , usually as most weeks they would be closing around then for a private party , have not been there after a game for many years now due to various different travel arrangments |
|
|
|
Post by stuttgartershrew on Aug 8, 2024 10:16:21 GMT 1
Isn't it already an option for a post match drink? Although how does it work with the Smithy's being located behind the away end? How easy and how quickly would it be to get there after a game? As I have always questioned the setup, to have the supporters bar located directly behind the away end wouldn't seem to be the best option. Take your point about a place to hold a quiz and what have you though. Although again, I'm sure there are plenty of venues in and around Shrewsbury offering the same (that might well be considered more attractive venues). I don't know if it is open? Perhaps that tells it's own story But lets say it is, I'm pretty sure that's the extent of the club's PR, the club open it up for a few hours and that's it. How about the club make some effort to actually attract people? Advertise is, put on drink promotions, maybe have entertainment such as singers? The club have a fanzone pre-match alongside Smithys, maybe use that after the match too? None of this is particularly revolutionary. As for your point on other venues hosting quizes and the like, yes they are but to say lets not bother because there's too much competition seems very defeatist. And to be honest, considering one the arguments for the ground move was because we can have these additional facilities which bring money in, if we are going to accept that there is no demand for them then you question why bother moving My point is the club have done nothing to attract people to the likes of Smithys and the restaurant, therefore we don't know if there is the demand for it. Maybe if they market it well, it will attract people. If it doesn't then I'll accept it. Be interesting to know if it is open after games. Would also be interesting to know whether you have to wait for the away end to clear before being allowed to enter. Although when it comes to some games, just having to walk through the away support might put a few off from going anyhow. I wouldn't call it defeatist, just being a realist.  I guess they have to have a certain amount of people in to make money. Perhaps with how tight things are its just not something that they can risk. So when you say "if it doesn't then I'll accept it", for example, perhaps the club just isn't in a position to risk money and lose out if it doesn't. Dunno but maybe. |
|
|
|
Post by stuttgartershrew on Aug 8, 2024 10:17:41 GMT 1
Isn't it already an option for a post match drink? Although how does it work with the Smithy's being located behind the away end? How easy and how quickly would it be to get there after a game? As I have always questioned the setup, to have the supporters bar located directly behind the away end wouldn't seem to be the best option. Take your point about a place to hold a quiz and what have you though. Although again, I'm sure there are plenty of venues in and around Shrewsbury offering the same (that might well be considered more attractive venues). The away end is fenced off after the game allowing access from west stand to smithy's , something I campaigned for back in the early days. Thanks for the info.👍 |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2024 10:19:37 GMT 1
A lot of fair points made about using the restaurant and smithy's more. One thing I would say is that - from all public statements - the club is cutting costs and stripping back to try and get the finances on an even footing. Actively pursuing the Relaunch of either of those would cost money upfront. The club aren't going to do that unless there's a guaranteed return, which there isnt in hospitality. So I suspect its a case of holding fire until new ownership Got it in one. The club are now in a period of Chairman led austerity,not as bad as the one that poor old Jake King had to deal with but still bad.As with last time he wants both his money back and the club in profit as soon as possible irrespective of the results on the pitch. Listening to the comments about the meeting it's almost as if the Chairman has said to Liam etc beforehand"whatever you do and say don't agree to anything that's going to cost money" External investment is our only hope but I would imagine that any potential interested parties have long disappeared down Otley Road All very depressing atm |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2024 12:07:11 GMT 1
I wouldn't call it defeatist, just being a realist. I guess they have to have a certain amount of people in to make money. Perhaps with how tight things are its just not something that they can risk. So when you say "if it doesn't then I'll accept it", for example, perhaps the club just isn't in a position to risk money and lose out if it doesn't. Dunno but maybe. I do take the point but I just see it as either laziness or lack of business understanding, either way it doesn't work. I've seen plenty of local pubs, cafes & restaurants close down and there is a bit of an outcry, but the reality is that some of the owners made little attempt to attract customers and just rely on a 'we're open so some and visit us' attitude, that might have worked 40 years ago when people were loyal to pubs but now you need to do something to attract people. But I don't see that from the club at all. Regarding taking a risk, I mentioned earlier that I was proposing to hold a pub quiz, I was asked how many people would attend, I couldn't guarantee numbers but was expecting 30 as a minimum, I was told that wasn't sufficient to open up. Perhaps I'm a bit naive but I would have thought that the costs of opening up for a few hours would be met by 30+people in attendance, instead the place would have remained closed (and actually in the end, I had closer to 70 people turn up). As I repeatedly say, it seems all very short-sighted, reactive and done with the minimal of effort. |
|
|
|
Post by wookeywombat on Aug 8, 2024 12:13:57 GMT 1
As a matter of interest, have we heard anything official regarding minutes from this meeting or have I missed them
|
|
|
|
Post by davycrockett on Aug 8, 2024 12:51:07 GMT 1
It is bizarre to compare smithy's with the mytton and mermaid one is still a novelty after a £5 million refurbishment , full of brand new luxury seating and decor ,amazing choice of drinks and food , scenic surroundings , the other is small square room , with no view , seats like your average cafe and a limited choice of drinks , and Lidl next door , smithy's is more expensive too yes there could be events held there but good luck to anyone who can arrange it and make it work I was pointing out people will travel to a destination that's well run with a good reputation our facilities aren't seen that way although we're promised to be the ultimate function facilities in Shrewsbury which they're not. Not comparing them 👍 |
|
|
|
Post by Pilch on Aug 8, 2024 12:55:19 GMT 1
It is bizarre to compare smithy's with the mytton and mermaid one is still a novelty after a £5 million refurbishment , full of brand new luxury seating and decor ,amazing choice of drinks and food , scenic surroundings , the other is small square room , with no view , seats like your average cafe and a limited choice of drinks , and Lidl next door , smithy's is more expensive too yes there could be events held there but good luck to anyone who can arrange it and make it work I was pointing out people will travel to a destination that's well run with a good reputation our facilities aren't seen that way although we're promised to be the ultimate function facilities in Shrewsbury which they're not. Not comparing them 👍 when I went to the mytton I found I had to park in the lay-by the other side of the A5 , the guy on the car park seem to find spaces for posh cars 🤣 |
|
|
|
Post by GrizzlyShrew on Aug 8, 2024 13:02:47 GMT 1
I wouldn't call it defeatist, just being a realist. I guess they have to have a certain amount of people in to make money. Perhaps with how tight things are its just not something that they can risk. So when you say "if it doesn't then I'll accept it", for example, perhaps the club just isn't in a position to risk money and lose out if it doesn't. Dunno but maybe. Regarding taking a risk, I mentioned earlier that I was proposing to hold a pub quiz, I was asked how many people would attend, I couldn't guarantee numbers but was expecting 30 as a minimum, I was told that wasn't sufficient to open up. Perhaps I'm a bit naive but I would have thought that the costs of opening up for a few hours would be met by 30+people in attendance, instead the place would have remained closed (and actually in the end, I had closer to 70 people turn up). As I repeatedly say, it seems all very short-sighted, reactive and done with the minimal of effort. I do sympathise a little but two points to consider here. 1) In the case of pubs there us usually the landlord (& possibly family) that are living on site so there is no cost involved in being open. In the case of the club they would need to pay a few people to come along, open up and serve behind the bar so there is a cost to consider just opening up. And 2) I have heard that there are quite a few who go round pub quizzes on a regular basis that are there just for the quiz, not a good social with drinks. So they sit around all night and have just 1 drink, make it last all night and move on to the next quiz at another pub the next night. These people dont spend very much at all (heard this from a friend who runs a weekly pub quiz). Not everyone is like this of course but if you get 30 people you may well get maybe 10 who dont drink, or dont drink very much (driving will be an issue too). |
|
|
|
Post by belfastshrew on Aug 8, 2024 13:08:50 GMT 1
I will live above Smithys to keep it open 24/7 then 🤣 sorted.
|
|
I guess they have to have a certain amount of people in to make money. Perhaps with how tight things are its just not something that they can risk. So when you say "if it doesn't then I'll accept it", for example, perhaps the club just isn't in a position to risk money and lose out if it doesn't. Dunno but maybe.
