1st Anniversary at Meadow House
Aug. 15th, 2019 11:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lucifersprizeWell, it's a year ago this week that my son and his business partners got the keys to their restaurant/pub and this time last year we were scrubbing filth from, well, everywhere, mending to make do because, honestly - they got there on a shoestring budget.
Sixty percent of landlords in the UK don't make it through to a year, most going bust along the way. They knew that and set about doing everything they possibly could themselves - toilet needs fixing? They would go get the parts and get on with it. It was a hella big learning curve, staff came and went. One partner found it too much, backed out and left. They had to trim costs and lose other staff, work long hours to make that up, eat their pride and ask a chef to come back and rearrange their staffing again so it worked on that shoestring. They didn't pay themselves for literally months so that staff and suppliers got paid.
They shut down for two months with no income to allow for a huge refurbishment which wasn't perfect in some details but was pretty damn awesome on the whole and included a new kitchen from floor and walls up, all new or refitted equipment. From the gross, run down restaurant and bar, emerged a new modern, clean pub which recently got the top hygiene rating.
My son, at eighteen, has truly learned the value of money and budgeting on very little. Once upon a time, as a kid, he would get upset about me buying 'reduced for quick sale' food at the supermarket- now he spots it from a distance and makes use of it at home. Lights get switched off without complaint! He has become shockingly mature and has mostly moved into the cottage that was the original inn, built in 1826.
I'm not sure who remembers the original pics of the state of the place and I'm sure that I posted a few of the refurb, but here's a couple more details - because - they made the year and came out stronger and right now they are planning for Christmas parties because that's the hospitality industry for you. And also because ... wait for the last detail hehe...
The beer garden is updated and twinkly. They have decided that they won't be using chemicals on the gardens in general and are also now a water bottle refill station with Refill which is a great scheme, aiming to prevent plastic bottle waste. The bubble wrap which their suppliers are so fond of gets donated to local charity shops for reuse.
Though with this being England you can't really trust the weather - they are prepared ...
And last but DEFINITELY not least, being a publican can be stressful, the cottage is a bit remote at night, exercise is good and they pride themselves on being dog friendly so...
Meet Khalifa. The Meadow House's new and most enthusiastic greeter. My newest grand 'kid'
Here's to a year.
Sixty percent of landlords in the UK don't make it through to a year, most going bust along the way. They knew that and set about doing everything they possibly could themselves - toilet needs fixing? They would go get the parts and get on with it. It was a hella big learning curve, staff came and went. One partner found it too much, backed out and left. They had to trim costs and lose other staff, work long hours to make that up, eat their pride and ask a chef to come back and rearrange their staffing again so it worked on that shoestring. They didn't pay themselves for literally months so that staff and suppliers got paid.
They shut down for two months with no income to allow for a huge refurbishment which wasn't perfect in some details but was pretty damn awesome on the whole and included a new kitchen from floor and walls up, all new or refitted equipment. From the gross, run down restaurant and bar, emerged a new modern, clean pub which recently got the top hygiene rating.
My son, at eighteen, has truly learned the value of money and budgeting on very little. Once upon a time, as a kid, he would get upset about me buying 'reduced for quick sale' food at the supermarket- now he spots it from a distance and makes use of it at home. Lights get switched off without complaint! He has become shockingly mature and has mostly moved into the cottage that was the original inn, built in 1826.
I'm not sure who remembers the original pics of the state of the place and I'm sure that I posted a few of the refurb, but here's a couple more details - because - they made the year and came out stronger and right now they are planning for Christmas parties because that's the hospitality industry for you. And also because ... wait for the last detail hehe...
The beer garden is updated and twinkly. They have decided that they won't be using chemicals on the gardens in general and are also now a water bottle refill station with Refill which is a great scheme, aiming to prevent plastic bottle waste. The bubble wrap which their suppliers are so fond of gets donated to local charity shops for reuse.
Though with this being England you can't really trust the weather - they are prepared ...
And last but DEFINITELY not least, being a publican can be stressful, the cottage is a bit remote at night, exercise is good and they pride themselves on being dog friendly so...
Meet Khalifa. The Meadow House's new and most enthusiastic greeter. My newest grand 'kid'
Here's to a year.
