Lou's Fine Ales and Beers

Aye mate, he's decided to shut down. It was hard graft and not paying for itself. I've been in that situation and knowing when to jump is a skill I wish I had at the time. :lol:

Gutted it never really got going. Can't help feel he's really missed a trick. I sent half a dozen people there and they all came back saying it was shut when they turned up even though they'd checked the times. if they'd become customers and recommended others business can boom from there. Aye the supermarkets jumped on the idea but as i said to him plenty, i'd soon er spend a bit more on some different stuff from an independant local business than in a supermarket, difference is tesco is open when i go there.

Was an awful location anarl and when he told us he was planning on opening the sea road as well as keeping that one i figured it wasn't going to last long. First thing i ever said to him was this place should be around sea road (mostly as it would be closer for us, obviously)

Shame, he seemed a genuine bloke, just either not cut out for running a business or had too much on in his life.
 


Gutted it never really got going. Can't help feel he's really missed a trick. I sent half a dozen people there and they all came back saying it was shut when they turned up even though they'd checked the times. if they'd become customers and recommended others business can boom from there. Aye the supermarkets jumped on the idea but as i said to him plenty, i'd soon er spend a bit more on some different stuff from an independant local business than in a supermarket, difference is tesco is open when i go there.

Was an awful location anarl and when he told us he was planning on opening the sea road as well as keeping that one i figured it wasn't going to last long. First thing i ever said to him was this place should be around sea road (mostly as it would be closer for us, obviously)

Shame, he seemed a genuine bloke, just either not cut out for running a business or had too much on in his life.
I think the location was a bit of a hindrance as well but at the time there wasn't a realistic alternative. When he got the shop he spent about 8 months doing it out as it was that bad. Add the time open to that and it was over 4 years. The retail sector is suffering everywhere, I work on shops everyday and all I hear is how desperate it is at the minute. No-one got hurt, nobody died, no-one lost any money except him. Businesses fail all the time, in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter. You write it off to experience and crack on. ;)
 
No problem mate. When it was quiet it stopped him getting all the new beers he wanted which meant it would look bare, it's a vicious circle.
The supermarkets all jumped on the trend as well.
He's fine about it, tried it, didn't work like he wanted and so stepping off at the right time was the right thing to do.

Must say that in the time since its opened the supermarkets have really cottoned onto the fact people wanted something different and had to react ie getting a lot of craft beers in what one time you couldnt get anywhere.
Shame though as he gave it a go.
 
The one at Framwell Gate Moor seems to do really well, but it’s in a place that has plenty of footfall , and obviously the local residents want more options that 8 cans of cooking lager for £5. The location was terrible mind unfortunately
 
I think the location was a bit of a hindrance as well but at the time there wasn't a realistic alternative. When he got the shop he spent about 8 months doing it out as it was that bad. Add the time open to that and it was over 4 years. The retail sector is suffering everywhere, I work on shops everyday and all I hear is how desperate it is at the minute. No-one got hurt, nobody died, no-one lost any money except him. Businesses fail all the time, in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter. You write it off to experience and crack on. ;)
Only noticed it had shut a couple of days ago, Lou's signs painted over and a hand written sign at the door that said "Aunty B's" or something like that. Shame, did seem to offer something a bit different.

Not surprised to hear it was a mess before like. When it was a newsagent the bloke who ran it was a reet misery guts. Felt depressed going in.
 
Was in Newcastle Station the other day. Very good selection in the real ale shop in there. Could have bankrupted myself like. Nee good if you’re looking to pop in on the way home from work, but handy if you want a trip out.
 
Gutted it’s gone like. Had some canny beers from there and the lad was always good craic. It was nice to have somewhere local to get different beer from instead of Newcastle. But I agree with the last poster about that centrale shop in central station. Packed to the rafters with all kinds - went to London the other week and spent £25 on a few cans for the train - got to treat yourself though !!
 
Gutted it never really got going. Can't help feel he's really missed a trick. I sent half a dozen people there and they all came back saying it was shut when they turned up even though they'd checked the times. if they'd become customers and recommended others business can boom from there. Aye the supermarkets jumped on the idea but as i said to him plenty, i'd soon er spend a bit more on some different stuff from an independant local business than in a supermarket, difference is tesco is open when i go there.

Was an awful location anarl and when he told us he was planning on opening the sea road as well as keeping that one i figured it wasn't going to last long. First thing i ever said to him was this place should be around sea road (mostly as it would be closer for us, obviously)

Shame, he seemed a genuine bloke, just either not cut out for running a business or had too much on in his life.

Sea Road has completely gone to shit, he timed it right by not opening a retail outlet there.
 
Only noticed it had shut a couple of days ago, Lou's signs painted over and a hand written sign at the door that said "Aunty B's" or something like that. Shame, did seem to offer something a bit different.

Not surprised to hear it was a mess before like. When it was a newsagent the bloke who ran it was a reet misery guts. Felt depressed going in.
Him and his wife were both pains in the arse as far as I could tell.
 

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