Bewleys

@Pauline’s Pens wrote:

sound, thanking you

No need for thanks,

the figures will stand up or they won’t, the essential difference is that Cambpell Group have had since February to plan their exit, we have had two weeks to appraise everything, hardly a level pitch, we also lack Kinman PR to lead the claps for the closing ceremony.

Tsiochaigh ar Latte

http://www.savebewleys.com

You’re right when you say that it’s wrong to get nostalgic about something that never was, but in this case it would be sad to see the last architectural vestiges of a cafe destroyed and gone forever especially when there is still potential to turn it around and make it profitable with good maketing, quality service etc…..which in recent times Bewleys lacked which ran it into the ground in the first place etc….Ye’d hardly wish to see it replaced with a McDonalds!

@Lotts wrote:

“the last architectural vestiges of a cafe destroyed”

But this is a listed building – surely the architecture is safe? Windows too for that matter.

Lets put it another way …..Would ‘nt it be good however to keep the building as a cafe rather than having it’s next door neighbours moving in and expanding into the premises or maybe some other retail fashion outlet utilising the building as a clothes shop. It has happened aleady recently with banks becoming pubs and in the case of the once Abbey Mooney pub becoming a building society.

I agree Diaspora. Why is it so many people – not just burgeye – since the start of this thread have wheeled out that tired old line; “the food is crap” “the coffee is crap”? That is not the point. Something can be done about all that under different management. It’s Bewley’s itself that needs to be saved, the Bewley’s ‘ethic’, that ‘certain something’.

It’s probably been said before but other European cities have managed to keep these cafes open – why can’t we?

@Sue wrote:

who’s Paul Quilligan?

Quilligan Architects. Their office is in a 3 storey Georgian building with some nice plasterwork, on Camden Street beside the Concern building.

@Diaspora wrote:

I really am begining to question the rationale behind the purchase, as I feel the initial yield of 7.43% adequately reflects the ‘protected status’ of the property.

Given that prime retail yields at the time of the transaction were c 4% it is fair to discount current rental vales by about 40-45% thus giving a rental cost well below the market value.

You wouldn’t get that type of return from a bank, it is the fools who sold it that I think were mad.

When are Zara movin in?

@burge_eye wrote:

It might be made up, it might be ripped off, it might be polemic, blah blah blah

ireland.ie doesn’t list Bewleys under cafes
visitiireland.com doesn’t list it
Lonelyplanet.com doesn’t list it
the official northern ireland site doesnt even mention the south!

The reference has been removed from the online versions because it is no longer open, The online version of Lonely Planet doesn’t list Hotels, Hostels, Restaurants or Transport Links. Why? Because no-one would buy the books. The other websites are continually updated and the Northern Site doesn’t list Southern attractions because they are in direct competition for the ‘Weekend Break’ segment of the market.

They did however feel strongly enough to send a spokesman to the Crown Liquor Salon to comment which is a clear indication of their ‘Concern about the closure’

@burge_eye wrote:

My point, however polemic, is simple. How many of the bleeding hearts on this page were through the doors of Bewleys in the last 6 months? If it reopens, how many of the same will have been in it 6 months later? There’s a very dangerous precedent being set here whereby any old kip that becomes financially unviable but has any link to the good old days will be clamouring for political and media support to get it back on its feet. How many other cafe retailers will want to take it over with a bewleys sign over their doors?

This is not just any other kip but is according to the Council of Europe one of the finest cafes in Europe (1990) that is before the extremely poorly executed revamp. The save Bewleys campaign have never called for the cafe to be simply re-opened and operated by Campbells, the important interior will require work to ‘Restore it’ to the standard that prompted the Council of Europe to make such an unequivical statment of fact.

@burge_eye wrote:

We also see on this site the bemoaning of grafton street becoming a Uk high street. That’s progress I’m afraid no matter how galling. The Crown isn’t even in the middle of Belfast as such but people still go to it, search it out. Maybe Bewleys needs to relocate to a cheaper more atmospheric part of Dublin in keeping with its supposed reputation. Use it as a regeneration tool if it’s so great. A Diaspora of latte?

I have no problem with the Globalisation of Dublin shopping trends and I generally compare quality and price in my purchasing decisions, I couldn’t care less if a clothes retailer has their HQ in Ulan Bator. What I do have a problem with is the closure of an iconic cultural institution, the landmark that most people regard as the centre of the Street. It is regarded as the landmark because most have entered the premises and enjoyed the product on offer.

You cannot judge Bewleys on what has been seen over the past year or so.

@Diaspora wrote:

This is not just any other kip but is according to the Council of Europe one of the finest cafes in Europe (1990) that is before the extremely poorly executed revamp. The save Bewleys campaign have never called for the cafe to be simply re-opened and operated by Campbells, the important interior will require work to ‘Restore it’ to the standard that prompted the Council of Europe to make such an unequivical statment of fact.

You cannot judge Bewleys on what has been seen over the past year or so.

I hardly think that an award – being judged by few and, therefore, inherently subjective, can be an “unequivical statment of fact” but we quibble over terms. I look forward to receiving your daily coffee updates when Insomnia take it over (Sunday Tribune). Shame Starbucks aren’t interested – they could have spiced the place up with some good ole razzamatazz.

So here is my story along these lines, I had some people visiting from Singapore and they all wanted to see Bewley’s, heard about the atmosphere, open all night, fully of lively characters, historic, etc, I brought them and they loved the open fires and the windows, but god was the food and organization embarrassing. The staff were always lovely, but the way it was organized was terrible. I used to use Bewley’s quite often, it is between work and my son’s creche, and it was always, always, infuriating.

The reason Bewley’s didn’t make money was because Cambell’s weren’t happy with a moderate income, they wanted a substancial income and so ended up making a loss. If the city bought it, I am sure it could be run at a profit, just not as great a profit as a clothes shop would make in the same place.

Wasnt Cafebardeli on georges street once a bewleys ?- granted I was never there when it was but from what I’ve heard they kept the interior pretty much the same, even the furniture. The big difference is cafebardeli offer great food and value for money instead of canteen tripe, bad service and worst of all miserable coffee..

@Rory W wrote:

It was indeed and it was the oldest of all the Bewleys branches. It shows what can be done if people put their mind to running a decent offering can do in what is still quite a large premises. Its where I would go in town rather than Bewleys for a spot of lunch (plus a pint/glass of wine if the mood takes you!)

Cafe Bar Deli is very good,

But there is definitely room for a more upmarket Bewleys as well,

we have a great article in the news section on http://www.savebewleys.com written by Kathleen Barrington of the SBP

Apparently Bewley’s supply tesco with their ‘Tesco Own Brand’ coffee, it is amazing how much value Campbells got from the facade of no78 Grafton St as a marketing tool.