Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)

Subject: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 03:12 PM

We arrived for our Tuesday night session to find the pub closed. The landlady (Elaine) has gone - forced out by the iniquitous dealings of Enterprise Inns, the pubco that owns it.

The doghouse skiffle band, who were booked for Saturday next, have been cancelled.

Apparently the pub will re-open in a few day under a temporary manager until another mug can be found to take on the licence.

yet again the cycle repeats


A lovely pub sinking into decline under malign ownership and neglect.

when will an eccentric millionaire make the pubco an offer that they can't refuse and buy it to run as a true free house?


R

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: GUEST,M.G.John
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 03:19 PM

Truly, A Shame!

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Bloke in the Corner
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 05:03 PM

Why not come over the river to the Barrow session next Tuesday, until you find a new venue? Good mixed & very friendly session, beer fine and doubtless some new toons/songs for your repertoire.

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: jillfiddle
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 05:13 PM

Why not club together/fundraise/get sponsorship and make an offer ourselves? - The first Mudcat Pub!!

(Those of you who know me will KNOW that I'm not even half joking)

xx

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 05:15 PM

Checking my lottery ticket tonight

R

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Michael
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 05:44 PM

Sir Roger - be careful, Humphrey could be classed as a eccentric millionaire and he has pub interests!!

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: the one
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 06:37 PM

alas alas.

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 06:16 AM

Our CD sales are down otherwise we'd gladly contribute. harriWattsband are supposed to have a booking at The Sun on Saturday, 25th February. Looks like that is in the bin!

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Pistachio
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 07:10 AM

Sad news - it's such a great space - wasted!

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 07:16 AM

My inclination is to stay away from the place until it is taken over and run properly (which may be a long time). We can't, however, keep taking sessions back there or accepting bookings and then find it all going pear-shaped again.

We had only just moved one of the Sunday sessions back in and now have to find another home for it.

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: ossonflags
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 07:18 AM

A lovely idea Jill, a workers cooperative?

Join the club HPB, we wuz booked for five gigs.

An awfull shame for the Tuesday sessionares, Jo and Grahams sess
and our Sunday sessions.

In the words of the song "When will they ever learn?"

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: jillfiddle
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 09:52 AM

Yes, Mick - we'd have to form a company of some sort: I'm going to ask a chum who handles this type of thing, tomorrow.

Lottery wins'd be great, of course ... but 'ordinary' people can make this kind of thing happen too!!!

xx

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: harpmaker
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 10:02 AM

You can have my services for free, I have just finished & passed my MVQ.....as a cellerman.

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 10:20 AM

Cellars can be a great place to live especially if you've got an NVQ. Could you live with a ghost?

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 10:44 AM

Fear not you could always come to the best night of the year at Milnsbridge Socialist Club on Saturday 11 March 2006 for the annual Runswick Bay Rescue Boat fund raiser, a marvellous, momentous, merrymaking event full of music and mirth. See the Runswick Bay Rescue Boat thread for details



......... I'll get me coat ....

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 12:03 PM

Well, I've got my Advanced Food Hygiene Certificate which means that I can teach the basic food hygiene cert to all the co-operative members. (comes in handy as a requirement for handling food and drink)

R

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 12:07 PM

As a member of CAMRA I would also like a hand in drafting the beer policy for this co-operatively run pub.

Oversized, lined glasses to ensure full pints
No nitrokeg beers
Beers chosen from small, independent brewers

etc etc

Suggested marketing slogan

Real ale and real music in a real pub

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Les from Hull
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 01:33 PM

From Enterprise Inns website

'The Sun Inn is located just off the town of Beverley, directly opposite the Minster. Beverley is an historical tourist town approximately 7 miles from Hull with year round tourist trade to the area. The pub is a traditional cask ale house with exposed beams, slate floor all decorated in a traditional cask ale house style. The trading area comprises an open plan area with a number of designated customer areas including a no-smoking area. Externally there is an enclosed patio area to the rear of the property and a fully equipped catering kitchen located just off the trading area. The well presented private accommodation comprises lounge, kitchen, 3 bedrooms and bathroom. Enterprise Inns are seeking an experienced cask ale operator to further develop the trade by the continuation of the development of cask ale and the introduction of a daytime and early evening food offer. The business has been well supported by folk music and other live entertainment and the successful applicant should look to incorporate this within their plans for the business.
Estimated Capital Requirement £16,000'

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: oombanjo
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 02:46 PM

As much as I'm loath to say it. A full boycott of the pub is about due, with a letter to the local press, warning any other unwary and unsuspecting tenants, that in one way or another the owners will fleece them. Also a letter to the owners stating the intent. Until these people are sorted we will always have to take our own lights, toilet roll ECT in with us. The plumbing is shot and shorting out the electrics however you can get a BUZ out of the water coming out of the roof as it drips from the light socket.
This is only an idea say what you feel. Cheers to all. I 4 one love the pub and want to see it run properly under good management. Oombanjo

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 02:46 PM

The Tuesday night "acoustic workshop" moves to the Monk's Walk from this coming Tuesday. Can't see us returning to the Sun in a hurry.

R

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Willa
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 04:17 PM

'The business has been well supported by folk music and other live entertainment and the successful applicant should look to incorporate this within their plans for the business.'

How ironic that this is being used as a selling point in the circumstances!

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: ET
Date: 03 Feb 06 - 02:48 AM

The demise of the Sun is tragic but caused by Enterprise Inns lack of committment. They seem to thrive on churning landlords - a new one every four months or so, and a demand for a large sum from the new one.   The folkies who support this pub cannot go on doing so like this. The place has become unreliable. Monks Walk are more than welcoming, as indeed are other pubs in the area. I ask all to support the new venture next Tuesday. Appreciate there is a problem for the Friday session because Monks Walk is probably busy with other things and too small. Its Monks Walk this Sunday, and no doubt may signal a return to Hodgsons for other Sessions.   If one of us wins EuroMillions tonight??

One aspect of the Sun is its listed status. This should protect it from residential development but last Sunday the gents was "out of Order" and the floor covered with 2 inches of "water".   There was a steady leak through the ceiling into a bucket in the main bar.   It is a shame for Elaine, who had cleaned the place up, and who was generating more and more trade, but not fast enough it seems for Enterprise Inns (who show I think a decided lack of Enterprise).

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: ossonflags
Date: 03 Feb 06 - 04:14 AM

Well said Eric

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 03 Feb 06 - 06:54 AM

I'm with Eric on this.

with a large pubco such as Enterprise Inns the licensee has to pay several thousand pounds into the business (they quote £16,000 above but I have been told more like £24,000), have to pay a rental of around £800 -900 a week, then have to buy all of their drinks etc through the pubco at a huge markup (whilst the pubco uses supermarket-like buying power to squeeze the brewer's prices down and charges them thousands of pounds to be on the list of beers that the licensee can get)which means that the price to the customer is always at the top end and yet the licensee makes almost nothing. In addition nothing is spent on the fabric of the building by the pubco - the licensees discover to their cost that anything such as toilets, central heating etc is their own responsibility as well as all of the running costs such as gas, electric, rates etc. - no wonder they all quit once they realise what the situation is.

So, the pubco makes supermarket type profits all round, several hard working licensees have their dreams shattered and yet we, as the consumers, get no benefit at all - and the pub declines.

I think that we should boycott the place until such time as it gets the proper care and attention such a lovely building deserves. It sounds harsh and hard on the new licensee but we have gone back time and time again to work with a new incumbent only to find that it all happens again. Maybe if Enterprise Inns finds out how little trade there is without the regular folk/live music and the folk festival they might have a change of heart or, hopefully, sell it someone who will look after it (Jill's co-operative!)



R

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: GUEST,Jake
Date: 03 Feb 06 - 12:51 PM

I agree with Oombanjo & Sir Roger.
I've already sent a brief e-mail to Enterprat Inns advising them that they can no-longer rely on the folk music trade (as that seems to be the general view) and asking them not to use such information when marketing the pub to prospective tenants.
Why not let them know what you all think?? at

[e-mail]

Though I doubt that they will listen - these people never do!!

Jake

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Graham and Jo
Date: 03 Feb 06 - 04:13 PM

Sun was open again yesterday no reason not to have session tonight as usual. Temperary manager says welcome and the last ones have been great. Off there now.

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: oombanjo
Date: 05 Feb 06 - 03:01 PM

Ref. Sorry I could not make it to Monk on Sunday as I was oft buying the Oombanjo & the Dixy chicks Mobi. But as there is already two schools of thought. Is it best to keep this running or shall we all get together and talk it through, as a boycot won't work if only half support it. Cheers Oombanjo

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Beardy
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 05:40 AM

How is the proposed sale of Monks Walk going to affect scene in Beverley?

Has anyone heard if there is an interested party yet?


Stewart

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 12:13 PM

The pub took 3 days to clean up after Elaine and her family trashed the place! It seems she was upset........................

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: mississippi john
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 12:28 PM

Hi folks,

I would also like to see a total music ban on the Sun Inn until Enterprise get their act together.

I also think that it is wrong for Enterprise to use us musicians as advertising stunt for the Sun Inn, ( we are not part of the fixtures & fittings ) to encurage yet another unsuspecting fool to make them money & give nothing in return.
all we want from this consortium is a pub that we can use on a regular basis to play our music, ( we dont ask for beer or payment ) for entertaining the masses!!!!! that enjoy our music, is it to much to ask for?

its a pity with all the money Enterise is making from us, they cannot afford to repair all the water leaks and put in a few light bulbs.

yours in music.

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 03:11 PM

Well, the Tuesday sessin has found a new home.

Was anything decided on Sunday about next Sunday (which was due to be a Sun session)? I was ill so could not attend.

R

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: GUEST,ossonsanscookie
Date: 07 Feb 06 - 07:26 AM

SSee beverley session thread.

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 07 Feb 06 - 11:34 AM

I saw it. So, Hodgson's it is.

With regards to Oombanjo's last message (and also mississippi John's). The Friday sessioneers will do what they think best, given the available options on a Friday.

I, personally, do not intend to run any further sessions, or take any paid gigs, in the Sun (including the folk festival stuff)until it is clear that there is some hope of the pub being run properly again. This isn't organising a boycott in that I don't intend to stand ouside with placards or write to the papers - I'm just voting with my feet.

More in sorrow than in anger

R

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 07 Feb 06 - 11:43 AM

I saw it. So, Hodgson's it is.

With regards to Oombanjo's last message (and also mississippi John's). The Friday sessioneers will do what they think best, given the available options on a Friday.

I, personally, do not intend to run any further sessions, or take any paid gigs, in the Sun (including the folk festival stuff)until it is clear that there is some hope of the pub being run properly again. This isn't organising a boycott in that I don't intend to stand outside with placards or write to the papers - I'm just voting with my feet.

More in sorrow than in anger

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 07 Feb 06 - 11:45 AM

Sorry for the double post - I didn't think that it had gone the first time

R

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 07 Feb 06 - 12:46 PM

Costa del Sol

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Graham and Jo
Date: 09 Feb 06 - 03:23 PM

No session tomorrow as band is on so there's breathing space.
Alternative venues difficult as Fridays can be busy. Monk's walk certainly too busy. Gathering opinions of Friday session regulars. Might be stuck with sun if nowhere else.


One way to get enterprise to sell Sun could be complaints about maintenance to council and listed buildings people. Enterprise make money from tennant landlords whether there are pub customers or not. Musicians or not, boycot won't hurt them. If made to do some work and spend money on an assett perhaps they would sell it.

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 09 Feb 06 - 03:31 PM

Graham/Jo

Lorraine did suggest that you could use the pool room across the corridor on a Friday

R

Subject: RE: Sun Inn, Beverley(yet again)
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 09:11 AM

Is it true? Just when business looked to be on the up - so to speak!