Opening Night - Utopia Beach Life (Old Pier)

Elaine Kennedy · Post by **Elaine Kennedy** » 03 May 2005, 10:35

For all those of you who expressed an interest previously, the opening night for this newly refurbished bar is on Thursday 5th May from 7.30pm. We would be delighted to see you there, no need to have a ticket, just ask for Alistair Tillbrook.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 03 May 2005, 11:20

Was in for a couple of drinks last night. Liked the new decor and hope that Ali rewards last night's barman handsomely for being the only guy to turn up for his work yesterday. He did a great job of serving and remaining cheerful despite the fact that he was holding the fort on his own and on a Bank Holiday.

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 03 May 2005, 13:21

'Nice floor, boring decor, what's new?' is today's feedback from 'people I know who can get out at night'!

No mention of paninis or blood.

One day I will see for myself...

thumper · Post by **thumper** » 01 Jun 2005, 20:06

was here on Friday night,,,not very impressed with the place. we had booked seating area for a leaving night.which we never got...very dull and over priced

Robin! · Post by **Robin!** » 01 Jun 2005, 23:19

Where is this about?

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 02 Jun 2005, 11:51

Bottom of Bath Street, robin!, on the prom - what used to be the Old Pier and before that the Lobster Pot. Right next to the "Miami style" new flats (oops, sorry, I meant apartments of course...

).
BB

paulw · Post by **paulw** » 02 Jun 2005, 12:13

Like the new look of the place. Don't think anymore was necessary. A nice place across the road where i can go to watch the footy on a Saturday with an excellent pint of Best is just what was needed.

thumper · Post by **thumper** » 02 Jun 2005, 14:41

PLUS SIDE THEY HAVE A GOOD JUKE BOX

Post by **wangi** » 04 Jun 2005, 23:21

I must say...

... not a bad place. They have considered their target (i'm guessing 18-30) and not done bad at all.

It's good to see a place in Portobello full at 23:00 on a Saturday night - they'd normally be in town. Good to get another option.

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 05 Jun 2005, 12:58

We've been in a couple of times and, although we're waiting for them to get the 'seafood restaurant' up and running, we've liked it. HUGE improvement over the old worn/frayed look (the place was desperately in need of a few coats of paint) and the jukebox is great.

As Wangi says, they know which market they're after, and I think, as such, it complements Dalriada as it's not in direct competition with them. I may be (v slightly

) over the 18-30 market, but I'd like to think I'm still close enough to pretend

All-in-all, good to get another option in the Porty entertainment sector

paulw · Post by **paulw** » 06 Jan 2006, 14:22

I have heard a rumour that the Utopia bar has closed for good. Bankruptcy being the reason. A Â£44K price tag for a 2 year let was also quoted.

Poor winter trade blamed.

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 06 Jan 2006, 14:31

paulw wrote:I have heard a rumour that the Utopia bar has closed for good. Bankruptcy being the reason. A Â£44K price tag for a 2 year let was also quoted.

Poor winter trade blamed.

Apparently Hogmanay was their last night.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 06 Jan 2006, 15:17

I think that Porty's explanation of the potential perils of franchising/licensing should be put up as a permanent sticky on the forum, together with all the Punch stories we can find, of which there seem to be more than one.

NOT THAT THE TWO ARE RELATED, I AM SURE PUNCH'S MODEL FOR FRANCHISING IS *EXEMPLARY*, THAT PUNCH PAYS THEIR LANDLORDS ADEQUATELY AND LOOKS AFTER THEM VERY VERY WELL INDEED.

Jackson Priest · Post by **Jackson Priest** » 06 Jan 2006, 15:31

Hmmm. Starting to have second thoughts about taking over the Figgate Whins and turning it into a Star Wars theme pub now (with 'light sabre' paninis).

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 06 Jan 2006, 15:34

Jackson Priest wrote:Hmmm. Starting to have second thoughts about taking over the Figgate Whins and turning it into a Star Wars theme pub now (with 'light sabre' paninis).

The Farce will be with you, always.

JP : What would you like to drink?

Dada : I'll have a Jar Jar please!

Jackson Priest · Post by **Jackson Priest** » 06 Jan 2006, 15:56

Dadaist wrote:The Farce will be with you, always.

JP : What would you like to drink?

Dada : I'll have a Jar Jar please!

Ha ha!

No Jar Jars in my pub though. They'd be out in the bink of an eye.

Groan.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 06 Jan 2006, 22:46

Dadaist wrote:NOT THAT THE TWO ARE RELATED, I AM SURE PUNCH'S MODEL FOR FRANCHISING IS *EXEMPLARY*, THAT PUNCH PAYS THEIR LANDLORDS ADEQUATELY AND LOOKS AFTER THEM VERY VERY WELL INDEED.

A pint of what he's drinking please.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 07 Jan 2006, 18:36

I only heard about Utopia closing today. That along with the Door Centre (who have moved to Penicuik) and Eleanor Robertson having a closing down sale are we back on the slide? Anybody know what's going in Kirkwoods?

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 07 Jan 2006, 18:45

Epykat wrote:I only heard about Utopia closing today. That along with the Door Centre (who have moved to Penicuik) and Eleanor Robertson having a closing down sale are we back on the slide? Anybody know what's going in Kirkwoods?

Bob mentioned on the Eleanor Robertson thread that Kirkwoods is going to be a Marie Curie shop.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 07 Jan 2006, 18:55

ecm wrote:
Epykat wrote:I only heard about Utopia closing today. That along with the Door Centre (who have moved to Penicuik) and Eleanor Robertson having a closing down sale are we back on the slide? Anybody know what's going in Kirkwoods?
Bob mentioned on the Eleanor Robertson thread that Kirkwoods is going to be a Marie Curie shop.

Yes, sorry - I was reading backwards tonight! Just what we need though - another charity shop

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 12 Jan 2006, 00:06

Sorry to hear this, a shame to lose a pub that was a bit different to the rest in Portobello.

I'd noticed when in that trade didn't appear to be that "brisk". However, I wondered if all was rosy in UBL's garden almost as soon as it opened.

When the planned "seafood restaurant" didn't materialise after the refurbishment, the chef told me that it was due to the cost of installing the required kitchen, which seemed a strange thing to throw a spanner in the works after going through all the refurbishment work, and costs involved (ie. surely kitchen cost should have been factored in). Since then, the area at the back of the pub has always seemed to me to be a sad waste of space.

Considering the success of Sizzlers and Dalriada, maybe giving up on (or not being able to afford) the restaurant was the nail in the coffin.

I hope that potential owners of the premises are not put off, as I believe there is still the market in Portobello for a quality bar/restaurant.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 12 Jan 2006, 10:53

Utopia Beach Life is advertised in business opportunities in Scottish Licensed Trade News January 12th issue -

newly refurbished outlet with fantastic views over the beach

Good wet led trade, Superb opportunity to develop the food offer

Est. Capital Required Â£44,000
Available now - no lease premium

If I had the money I'd be interested

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 12 Jan 2006, 13:53

Sandra wrote: Utopia Beach Life is advertised in business opportunities in Scottish Licensed Trade News January 12th issue -

newly refurbished outlet with fantastic views over the beach

Good wet led trade, Superb opportunity to develop the food offer

Est. Capital Required Â£44,000
Available now - no lease premium

I had missed this development.

What a darned shame, this franchisee will have forked out bundles of cash and effort to try and make it work. We have a situation where a Franchisor (Punch) has watched a business that had a signifgant capital expenditure less than a year ago (not by them) fail. How do they respond?

Ask for another capital introduction from a different franchisee.

Sandra wrote: If I had the money I'd be interested

If you had the money I would write to Bearcub and implore him to keep you under house arrest until the insanity passed over. If the advert said "Punch Taverns will finance the Â£44,000 required to bring this establishment up to standard" I would still run a mile.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 12 Jan 2006, 14:14

Another Franchisee bites the dust but the Punch machine rolls on having received their rent, franchisee fee and margin on the sales over the period. Next!

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 06 Jul 2006, 13:27

Elaine Kennedy wrote:For all those of you who expressed an interest previously, the opening night for this newly refurbished bar is on Thursday 5th May from 7.30pm. We would be delighted to see you there, no need to have a ticket, just ask for Alistair Tillbrook.

I think its quite clever the way that Elaine left the Year of the pub opening out of the date. We can have Groundhog Year.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 06 Jul 2006, 13:42

At least last year one didn't require a ticket to enter

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

Opening Night - Utopia Beach Life (Old Pier)

Opening Night - Utopia Beach Life (Old Pier)

Closure

Re: Closure

Re: Opening Night - Utopia Beach Life (Old Pier)