Forum Topic

Brackenbury Restaurant

Does anybody know when or if this is due to reopen. Last time I tried to book a table there I was told it was temporarily closed but it seems to have been out of action for a while now.

Andy Jones ● 6076d9 Comments

Restaurants seem to be falling like flies at the moment but one launched as a kind of community venture seems like an interesting idea. With the banks unwilling to provide capital it perhaps is a time to look at alternative capital raising. One that might work is a debenture type scheme in which the restaurant sells you a bond which pays no interest but entitles you to eat at the restaurant for a nominal charge. If the restaurant trade doesn't pick up the restaurant at least has a steady stream of customers and the debenture holder gets regular good meals. If the restaurant trade does pick up the restaurant may need to buy the debenture back to ensure there are enough tables for full price customers.

Andy Jones ● 6000d

I know there were difficulties about the extracting unit, specifically its noise. And the cost required to remedy this.We would still like news, however, from the restaurant. There is such a lot of goodwill towards it that I feel sure that between us we could provide the kind of support that would carry it forward. The residents' association, for example, has promised publicity. Estate agents would love to be associated with it and a local agent has told me he would deliver leaflets round the area for free in exchange for a couple of dinners. One of the owners told me she wasn't much good at PR - so be it, but let others help then.Why doesn't the restaurant call a meeting of its former customers, and anyone else interested, in order to get the place up and running again? Brackenbury isn't short of talented people with ideas and energy, and some of them know how to open money-bags.What we can't be doing with is the place in darkness. It's too feeble.Just before Christmas the Brackenbury Residents Association held its first Father Christmas and carol event in Brackenbury, with sponsorship from local shops and businesses. Over 300 people came and it was judged a great success. It took place right outside the Brackenbury restaurant - a great opportunity you might think.If you know the people concerned do pass on our seasonal best wishes, and invite them to come and meet us and see how we can help.

Rosemary Pettit ● 6019d

As I'm sure you are aware Rosemary it is not a question of the majority of residents being supportive or not but of one or two raising difficulties. At a time when profit margins are tight a long and costly planning battle can be the difference between survival and closure for a small business.

Andy Jones ● 6030d

We are very supportive, it's just round the corner from me and a neighbour was bemoaning its loss only this afternoon. She was a regular patron there. I hate to see it in darkness. It has had previous changes of ownership before, and it's not clear to us why this didn't happen this time, especially in the run-up to Christmas.Brackenbury as an area is now distinctive enough to support even the loss of the restaurant however. Big shame though.

Rosemary Pettit ● 6041d

It seems remarkably short sighted of local residents to be anything of supportive of this establishment. A long time ago I considered moving there and the presence of such a great neighbourhood place to eat was quite a selling point. One resident told me that there was no such place as Brackenbury until the Brackenbury Restaurant opened.

Andy Jones ● 6041d

If anybody knows anybody who'd like to own and run a restaurant do direct them towards the Brackenbury.

Rosemary Pettit ● 6045d

Am I right in thinking Snows on the Green has shut as well? If so that's two of the best restaurants in the area shut. Unfortunately it may be that sub-standard chain restaurants do better in this environment and the higher quality independents fall by the wayside.

Paul Corcoran ● 6046d

Lisa Inglis, co-proprietor, has said that fewer customers at lunch-time over the last few months had brought the restaurant under financial pressure. To compound matters they were forced by regulations (EU, no doubt) to install a new, super-efficient and super-expensive extractor in the kitchen. This was noisy and residents in Tabor Road (at the back)complained to the Council which then measured the noise and told the restaurant they could not continue until they had brought the noise level down. There are also indications that the rent might go up but I don't think that is an immediate threat in the current financial climate.My feeling is that there is so much goodwill towards the Brackenbury that, with a bit of PR and marketing oomph, they could fairly easily get it back on its feet.No one is exactly to blame

Rosemary Pettit ● 6068d

I heard they were having problems with a licensing issue - I'm trying to find out as well!

Editor ● 6072d