Pubs To Reopen Sooner

[NorfolkNog]

1 hour ago, JennyMorgan said:

If someone actually makes a profit then the rent just goes up and up so little or no incentive to move forward

Absolutely spot on JM. John and Tracy had their rent hiked up. If he'd been realistic they might still be there. I think he's been reading the Pub Co manual. 

[Poppy]

1 hour ago, JennyMorgan said:

Got to say that I really don't understand the bloke. If someone actually makes a profit then the rent just goes up and up so little or no incentive to move forward. -

It's not just him JM.  It would appear to be the model for PubCos too.

[CambridgeCabby]

Sadly , even if The Berney Arms were able to become a destination pub with fantastic food and beer there is no way there would be sufficient trade to make it viable as a business considering the capital value , it would however be a wonderful lifestyle retirement premise.

I even considered it myself a few years ago ( I used to be a publican) 

[JennyMorgan]

1 hour ago, CambridgeCabby said:

Sadly , even if The Berney Arms were able to become a destination pub with fantastic food and beer there is no way there would be sufficient trade to make it viable as a business considering the capital value ,

I always felt that the charm of the place was that it did not do fantastic food. There were setts on the floor, carpet probably an unknown, at least down stairs. A decent pint, basic food, practical decoration, wellies welcome, I loved it for the simplicity of the place, as did others.

[NorfolkNog]

45 minutes ago, JennyMorgan said:

I loved it for the simplicity of the place, as did others.

My sentiments exactly JM. Here's a couple of pics taken when John and Tracy were in charge. I remember that day, it was bang on opening and me and Mrs Nog were first in as usual. They did OK - it was just that the rent bore no resemblance to the capital value of the place or even the achievable income. Even the grasping pub co's make some attempt at setting what they think should be an achievable turnover. 

Time flies I think they left about 7 years ago. It would take hard work to build it up again - a decent pint and basic food. 

[CambridgeCabby]

1 hour ago, JennyMorgan said:

I always felt that the charm of the place was that it did not do fantastic food. There were setts on the floor, carpet probably an unknown, at least down stairs. A decent pint, basic food, practical decoration, wellies welcome, I loved it for the simplicity of the place, as did others.

I totally understand your sentiments , but serving good food is paramount to financial success for many pubs .That said what I would envisage is a pub serving food as opposed to what many pubs have become which is restaurants serving beer.

Two much praised Broadland pubs nowadays are The White Horse, Neatishead and their sister ship The White Lion , Thurne, I used to love the old White Horse with its “biker pub”ambience , friendly locals and you could get reasonable food as well, nowadays although it is far busier it seems to have lost that feel.

Similar at The White Lion (old mine host excepted) 

I happily still visit both but only if I’m looking to eat out , and not to just have a social drink.

[dwhitty]

On 08/06/2020 at 19:39, MauriceMynah said:

It is my suspicion (just a suspicion mind) that someone has worked out that the economic condition of this country, is every bit as important as the health of the people in it.

It is the same scenario with nonessential shops opening, allowing me to shop with countless strangers, who may have touched something I purchase. People not following the guidelines and the arrows if they have them, and certainly not at all times remaining 2 metres away from me, yet I still can't have my family round unless we are outside and there's only 6 of us in total. No economical value for a family get together.

[MauriceMynah]

19 minutes ago, dwhitty said:

It is the same scenario with nonessential shops opening, allowing me to shop with countless strangers, who may have touched something I purchase. People not following the guidelines and the arrows if they have them, and certainly not at all times remaining 2 metres away from me, yet I still can't have my family round unless we are outside and there's only 6 of us in total. No economical value for a family get together.

Absolutely agree, though I have highlighted a couple of very important words. You don't need to go to those shops, you want to. You have assessed the risks and have decided the gamble is worth it.

It is all those people going to those shops who will start the economic recovery.

[Smoggy]

My job is very non-essential and I've been working all the way through, we furloughed half the workshop (oldies and infirm) and took a few extra precautions, we probably do get way too close sometimes as you just can't help it.

The only essential bit is turning rich boys money into paye/ni/vat/import tax that is going to be vital in the long run, it's no use saving lives just to watch them starve down the line, unless we all go back to being hunter/gatherers it's all got to be paid for.

[JennyMorgan]

2 hours ago, MauriceMynah said:

It is all those people going to those shops who will start the economic recovery.

Or trigger the anticipated second spike for which my local hospitals are preparing themselves. The Norfolk & Norwich, for example, is building a specialist Covid 19 annex. 

[grendel]

At least the initial Lockdown has given the hospitals a breathing space during which to prepare themselves. to get the processes , procedures and equipment needed into place.

[ExSurveyor]

A second wave is probably inevitable but hopefully can be managed now we have greater knowledge and systems set up to cope.

It is still dependent on the public doing as they are asked.

[vanessan]

29 minutes ago, JennyMorgan said:

Or trigger the anticipated second spike for which my local hospitals are preparing themselves. The Norfolk & Norwich, for example, is building a specialist Covid 19 annex. 

Glad they are preparing - hope for the best, prepare for the worst as the saying goes. I wouldn’t mind betting most hospitals are preparing in a similar manner, as I’ve said before people from Norfolk will be travelling to other destinations in the country. (As marshman will confirm.)

[JennyMorgan]

3 hours ago, psychicsurveyor said:

It is still dependent on the public doing as they are asked.

Exactly! And will they, will they heck!

[tim]

I unfortunately never managed to visit this pub, the first few years on the boards we stayed north, when we did go south for some reason we didn't visit and by the time I got round stopping there it was closed!

However, below is a copy of the pubs description from a dog friendly website I use, sounds like a pub I could have enjoyed

 

BERNEY MARSHES Berney Arms Inn

Address: Berney Marshes, Great Yarmouth, NR30 1SB
Tel: 08721 077 077

The pub is warm welcoming and friendly it has only one drawback it is only accessible by rail, foot or boat, your dog is greeted as warmly as you are. He/she will be offered a biscuit while you peruse the menu. Excellent food. If you visit by boat and have disabled family members who cannot manage the steps up and down to get in, the landlord and landlady are happy to fill your own plates with their delicious food and bring them back to the boat. Now thats service for you!

Added 5th March 2010

[ranworthbreeze]

I never managed to visit this pub in over 19 years on the Broads, maybe it was the state of the tides or the place did not look that inviting. I agree with others that it is hardly viable because of its limited access.

 

[Paul]

I remain convinced that as a free house in the right ownership the Berney Arms remains viable, though it would need someone with bottomless pockets willing to pretty much write off the initial and significant investment needed in the place to get it back on track. Will that ever happen, very unlikely. 

Firstly you would need to acquire the whole site, not some ridiculous notion the owner has had of trying to sell just parts of it. You would need to persuade the current owner to sell which I have no doubt would mean over paying significantly compared to the current value based on condition and usage. Fro the last report I heard about it's condition the place is deteriorating rapidly so once you have acquired it you would need to spend a small fortune on a) making the living quarters habitable again and b) bringing the public bar up to standard. 

You would need to understand the location and the diversification options suitable to it. You need to create a product which rewards the intrepid for making the effort to visit and be realistic about it's earning potential and as such the lifestyle it would afford. 

Settle all of that and you could have a future at the Berney Arms. 

[VetChugger]

22 hours ago, Chelsea14Ian said:

My feeling is if he was to go ,access across there land would ease.

I suspect this is key to any likely future successful restoration of the place. If there were to be movement on improving the land access then the place becomes viable once more. Obvious I know. Wonder how long it will take the present owner to realise this!

[NorfolkNog]

I think permissive access is needed from several landowners. Goodwill needed. Keith knows better as he's done it but I think it takes something like 20 minutes to get to the public road (assume Halvergate) including opening and shutting various gates. 

[Paul]

Regardless of the ownership I don't think public vehicular access is ever going to be viable. The property has limited right of access across private property but even if the landowners were obliging in extending this I think railtrak would quash the idea given the two user operated level crossings which have to be negotiated. 

[NorfolkNog]

58 minutes ago, Paul said:

I remain convinced that as a free house in the right ownership the Berney Arms remains viable, though it would need someone with bottomless pockets willing to pretty much write off the initial and significant investment needed in the place to get it back on track

I agree. 

 

59 minutes ago, Paul said:

over paying

Exactly, dog and Manger as I mentioned earlier. Rather let it rot than give anyone else a chance. Also the forlorn hope it can be turned into holiday or residential use. 

 

1 hour ago, Paul said:

you would need to spend a small fortune on a) making the living quarters habitable again and b) bringing the public bar up to standard.

True. Bear in mind John had a range of building and electrical skills and did all the necessary work himself. Daunting task but someone with skills and determination? 

1 hour ago, Paul said:

You would need to understand the location and the diversification options suitable to it

Agreed again. Which is exactly what John and Tracy did. 

By the way that nice review posted earlier would have been during their tenure. 

[NorfolkNog]

7 minutes ago, Paul said:

I don't think public vehicular access is ever going to be viable.

Again agreed. OK for say for the pub tenant but for Joe Public no chance. That's one of many reasons why the holiday park ideaa is a no no. 

[Paul]

Right, I've spoken to the current Mrs Boatboy and we have agreed. 

When my numbers come up on tomorrows lottery we will buy the place and restore it and reopen it as a brewpub. I can create a couple of house ales available only at the Berney, "Berney Best" and "Wherryman's Special". A guest from Humpty Dumpty or Green Jack maybe, that fizzy cold stuff for our unenlightened friends and Stowford Press for the ladies.  A few decent single malts on the top shelf and all those funny coloured gins that Tesco seem to have nowadays. 

Beer by post from the brewery, perhaps a bunk house style letting room for hikers in one of the outhouses and a small hikers camping field. Market it to hikers, birders or simply anyone who wants a day or two of reclusion, given the lack of anywhere else to eat and drink they are all captive audience. Open from Imbolc to Samhain and mark opening and closing with a bonfire party. Free daytime moorings, overnight moorings a fiver redeemable at the bar.

Basic pub fayre, rolls and pasties at lunch time then in the evening cottage pies, gammon and egg, liver and onions, spotted dick, roly poly and apple pie. Pool table, dart board, cribbage and dominoes but absolutely no jukebox and no one arm bandits. No wi-fi, no apps but conversation to be fully encouraged. 

TCMBB has identified just one slight hurdle, we don't play the lottery .......

[Paul]

TCMBB has added another wonderful idea, A railway carriage holiday cottage, arrive by train at one of Britain's most unique stations and spend the night in a converted railway coach. 

So we are now pitching to hikers, birders, recluses and trainy types. 

We'll be fighting them off soon ....

 

[NorfolkNog]

17 minutes ago, Paul said:

we don't play the lottery

I do and once I've got my boat at Swancraft I'll be right behind you and Mrs BB!!!