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Hop and Vine - New eatery for Fiveways



T

twowheelsbest

Well-known member
Nov 1, 2009
489
Brighton
Formerly The Tin Drum / Birdcage Walk / Chameleon Thai - now undergoing full refurb. Poster in window says "coming soon - The Hop and Vine - fine wines, craft beers, and fine food. Can we hope the new owners have got it right, and it will be a mighty improvement on previous incarnations. I look forward to trying it out
 




The Large One

The Large One

Who's Next?
Jul 7, 2003
52,343
97.2FM
twowheelsbest said:
Formerly The Tin Drum / Birdcage Walk / Chameleon Thai - now undergoing full refurb. Poster in window says "coming soon - The Hop and Vine - fine wines, craft beers, and fine food. Can we hope the new owners have got it right, and it will be a mighty improvement on previous incarnations. I look forward to trying it out
Click to expand...

The principle problem with that sort of business in that particular location is what's next door (but one).

Nice idea, but I fear it will fall flat.

I don't think the newly-refurbished Preston Park Tavern, evidently owned by the same people who've just taken on the Hare & Hounds, is going to work either, even though I think the Hare & Hounds will.
 


Nitram

Nitram

Well-known member
Jul 16, 2013
2,178
Let's hope it's more of a success then the ones that went before look forward to trying it.
 


G

Greavsey

Well-known member
Jul 4, 2007
1,127
twowheelsbest said:
Formerly The Tin Drum / Birdcage Walk / Chameleon Thai - now undergoing full refurb. Poster in window says "coming soon - The Hop and Vine - fine wines, craft beers, and fine food. Can we hope the new owners have got it right, and it will be a mighty improvement on previous incarnations. I look forward to trying it out
Click to expand...

That Chameleon place was bloody awful. Run by teenagers it seemed who didn't have a clue about customer service, or running a business. Awful awful place, really hoping forsomething better from the new incarnation.

TLO - out of interest why don't you think the "new" PPT will work? I live opposite and been in a few times and always seems busy. Went in the Hare and Hounds on Friday evening and couldn't get anywhere near the bar for the amount of trendies with massive beards - ended up in the awful Circus Circus. Will try H and H again when it has been open for a few more weeks.
 


Albumen

Albumen

Don't wait for me!
Jan 19, 2010
11,495
Brighton - In your face
The Large One said:
The principle problem with that sort of business in that particular location is what's next door (but one).

Nice idea, but I fear it will fall flat.

I don't think the newly-refurbished Preston Park Tavern, evidently owned by the same people who've just taken on the Hare & Hounds, is going to work either, even though I think the Hare & Hounds will.
Click to expand...

The PPT is no longer serving good posh nosh? Bah, can't keep up. The H&H is similar to the PWNN (and same owners along with 8 others in Brighton).
 




spongy

spongy

Well-known member
Aug 7, 2011
2,764
Burgess Hill
To me "fine wine, craft beer and fine food" says bring plenty of money because all our stuff is expensive. Remember that pub in Middle St I think that used to sell foreign lagers, Cask?? That was the most I've ever spent on a pint. I had one and left. This sounds like the same kind of thing to me.
 


The Large One

The Large One

Who's Next?
Jul 7, 2003
52,343
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Greavsey said:
TLO - out of interest why don't you think the "new" PPT will work? I live opposite and been in a few times and always seems busy. Went in the Hare and Hounds on Friday evening and couldn't get anywhere near the bar for the amount of trendies with massive beards - ended up in the awful Circus Circus. Will try H and H again when it has been open for a few more weeks.
Click to expand...

Tricky to put my finger on in terms of anything tangible.

For a start, it felt like it was to be trying to be a city centre pub out in the suburbs. The Open House eventually learned the lesson that that doesn't work, it is much better these days for it. Secondly, it may have been bad timing on my part, but there seemed to be an atmosphere; not quite a tumbleweed moment, but... something. Thirdly, it doubled as a creche. That may attract some, but will put off others.

Perhaps I was being unfair on it, and if it works for you, and you reckon it's OK, I'll give it another whirl.

Hare & Hounds is, for me, located in what I'd call the start of the city centre, and will therefore work as a city centre bar. It will only really work with the rest of London Road improving. Now that that appears to be happening, I think the chances of success are greater than its previous incumbents. Granted, though the beers are good, they're very steep pricewise, and the Nordic beards which seem to be in fashion are everywhere. Not that I have an issue with that, of course. However, I think getting La Choza in is a good thing, and the beer garden isn't too shabby.

And you're right - Circus Circus is awful.
 


Horton's halftime iceberg

Horton's halftime iceberg

Blooming Marvellous
Jan 9, 2005
16,484
Brighton
Albumen said:
The H&H is similar to the PWNN (and same owners along with 8 others in Brighton).
Click to expand...

I noticed the article on the argus site about the sale of the Lion and Lobster for £4.5 million, implied that the Wick and Good Companions owned by http://www.indigopubco.com cost near £2million each. I count 17 pubs in the chains ownership, anyone know who they are, thats a lot of money invested in pubs, a bit like football clubs if they over expand or loose interest thats a lot of pubs that would go under if the owners over expanded.

Quote from the Argus

Previous high pub sales in Brighton and Hove were around the £2 million mark including the Wick Inn in Western Road, the Good Companions in Dyke Road, the Pub Du Vin in Ship Street and the Post and Telegraph Wetherspoons in North Street.

Good luck to the Hop and Vine, no one has made anything stick since Savery sold the site, It has the catchment area if it can get it right.
 




Herr Tubthumper

Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
59,465
The Fatherland
spongy said:
To me "fine wine, craft beer and fine food" says bring plenty of money because all our stuff is expensive. Remember that pub in Middle St I think that used to sell foreign lagers, Cask?? That was the most I've ever spent on a pint. I had one and left. This sounds like the same kind of thing to me.
Click to expand...

Decent food and drink is expensive.
 


KNC

KNC

Well-known member
Sep 3, 2003
2,021
Seven Dials
While the PPT is being mentioned, the ex-owner has just opened a 'gourmet' burger restaurant at the Dials.
Sadly, the excellent Blenios, has closed.
 








J

joeywortho

New member
Jun 3, 2013
189
still pine for the original savery books frankly but yeah has always amazed me how that site has failed. Fiveways has no place to eat, its full of mungos so not sure why its been so hard. Chamelon was a shambles, birdcage ok as was tin drum. Heres hoping for this new place
 


G

Greavsey

Well-known member
Jul 4, 2007
1,127
The Large One said:
Tricky to put my finger on in terms of anything tangible.

For a start, it felt like it was to be trying to be a city centre pub out in the suburbs. The Open House eventually learned the lesson that that doesn't work, it is much better these days for it. Secondly, it may have been bad timing on my part, but there seemed to be an atmosphere; not quite a tumbleweed moment, but... something. Thirdly, it doubled as a creche. That may attract some, but will put off others.

Perhaps I was being unfair on it, and if it works for you, and you reckon it's OK, I'll give it
Click to expand...

I hear what you're saying re the city centre bit, think they probably need to give more focus to their menu in order to really flourish. And the crèche feel is probably what appeals to me - I have young kids - so it's nice to go somewhere that is still quite vibrant and relive life before children, but with the children!! Imagine this will appeal to the general populace of the "Golden triangle" too. I'm also a big fan of the bar staff recruitment policy - phwoooaarrr - or something equally sexist
 




Nitram

Nitram

Well-known member
Jul 16, 2013
2,178
Greavsey said:
I hear what you're saying re the city centre bit, think they probably need to give more focus to their menu in order to really flourish. And the crèche feel is probably what appeals to me - I have young kids - so it's nice to go somewhere that is still quite vibrant and relive life before children, but with the children!! Imagine this will appeal to the general populace of the "Golden triangle" too. I'm also a big fan of the bar staff recruitment policy - phwoooaarrr - or something equally sexist
Click to expand...
I was also very impressed by the bar staff!!!
 


The Large One

The Large One

Who's Next?
Jul 7, 2003
52,343
97.2FM
Greavsey said:
I hear what you're saying re the city centre bit, think they probably need to give more focus to their menu in order to really flourish. And the crèche feel is probably what appeals to me - I have young kids - so it's nice to go somewhere that is still quite vibrant and relive life before children, but with the children!! Imagine this will appeal to the general populace of the "Golden triangle" too. I'm also a big fan of the bar staff recruitment policy - phwoooaarrr - or something equally sexist
Click to expand...

Didn't notice. Will definitely need a revisit.
 










Herr Tubthumper

Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
59,465
The Fatherland
I'm starting to think it will not be long before there are some craft beer casualties. Whilst it's a boom area there is only so much dollar to go around yet every new venue is tacking "craft" onto the venture. I think the specialist places will survive but will all the others with broader fayre? My Brewery Tap, the first craft beer pub in Brighton, diversified; craft drinkers were put off by the San Miquel drinkers and the San Miquel drinkers were out off by the expensive beers. Net result was an empty pub.
 


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