The idea behind this blog was to allow people have a central location where they could find out the real stories about bars and restaurants in Lanzarote.
This would be as opposed to the bland ads such establishments take out in other publications, where sausage-sandwich-serving cafes make themselves out to be chic, gourmet restaurants and lifeless, pigsty Irish/UK bars describe themselves as the life and soul of the island's nightlife.
The opinion and comments received thus far have been few. And what has been sent in has been unpublishable (even on this anonymous forum-blog). Hence, my own ramblings on matters related to Lanzarote have been the mainstay up to now.
Hopefully, this will change with more coherent and less insulting opinions/comments on Lanzarote's bars/restaurants submitted soon. But for now, ramblings will continue...
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
What can you do differently? Or better?
Following on from the previous post regarding more new businesses are started during a Recession, I got to wondering about new businesses starting up in Lanzarote, in general.
Let's assume that most new businesses in Lanzarote will be either eating or drinking establishments. This immediately begs the question: is there currently a shortage of such outlets in Lanzarote? For the most part, the answer is obviously no. So, why do people continue to open up new bar/restaurant businesses?
If you see a gap in the market for a particular type of food, or a certain type of pub, then great - go for it. Niche markets/locations aside (and generally, there aren't too many niche markets or locations for eating/drinking in Lanzarote) , most people should - but don't - ask themselves what they can do differently or better than the bars/restaurants already in situ, before they even speak to an estate agent/landlord?
You can sell food/drink cheaper maybe, but this becomes a downward spiral. Cheap tends to have a whiff of desperation about it too, and punters like the smell of desperation as much as they like the strong stench that they get when they walk into poorly plumbed toilets.
So, what then? Are you more charming and attractive than those behind other bars/restaurants? Sometimes, this can be enough. Sex sells after all. But what if you're competing in this regard with the endless supply of handsome/pretty young things who staff the establishments already in place?
Location? Most of the good locations for bars/restaurants are already long since taken. Chances are if there's a vacant lot/locale not far from what seems like a busy spot, then someone else has already tried (and failed) to do something there.
To end on a less depressing note however, potential start-up business owners should look at the established bars/restaurants in Lanzarote and realise that they too were once fledglings. Not all slotted in the niche market/perfect location category. (1) Some were just lucky. (2) Most worked hard, (still work hard). (3) They could afford to have lean periods. (4) There was family/friends to support them.
If new businesses can tick those boxes, then they're on square 1 of the ladder to surviving and making a living in Lanzarote.
Let's assume that most new businesses in Lanzarote will be either eating or drinking establishments. This immediately begs the question: is there currently a shortage of such outlets in Lanzarote? For the most part, the answer is obviously no. So, why do people continue to open up new bar/restaurant businesses?
If you see a gap in the market for a particular type of food, or a certain type of pub, then great - go for it. Niche markets/locations aside (and generally, there aren't too many niche markets or locations for eating/drinking in Lanzarote) , most people should - but don't - ask themselves what they can do differently or better than the bars/restaurants already in situ, before they even speak to an estate agent/landlord?
You can sell food/drink cheaper maybe, but this becomes a downward spiral. Cheap tends to have a whiff of desperation about it too, and punters like the smell of desperation as much as they like the strong stench that they get when they walk into poorly plumbed toilets.
So, what then? Are you more charming and attractive than those behind other bars/restaurants? Sometimes, this can be enough. Sex sells after all. But what if you're competing in this regard with the endless supply of handsome/pretty young things who staff the establishments already in place?
Location? Most of the good locations for bars/restaurants are already long since taken. Chances are if there's a vacant lot/locale not far from what seems like a busy spot, then someone else has already tried (and failed) to do something there.
To end on a less depressing note however, potential start-up business owners should look at the established bars/restaurants in Lanzarote and realise that they too were once fledglings. Not all slotted in the niche market/perfect location category. (1) Some were just lucky. (2) Most worked hard, (still work hard). (3) They could afford to have lean periods. (4) There was family/friends to support them.
If new businesses can tick those boxes, then they're on square 1 of the ladder to surviving and making a living in Lanzarote.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
New businesses in time of Recession
A new bar/cafe/restaurant is opening up in Los Pocillos, as mentioned here on the Gazette Forum.
First of all - good luck to the people involved. They're to be commended for being brave enough to give it a go. Pub Spy admires their spirit. They've got a chance at least, given the Los Pocillos location, as is mentioned in the above Forum thread.
What i'm sure the new proprietors already know is that the Jameos Playa complex is one of the biggest on the island. And that it caters for all-inclusive holidaymakers - those who have paid in advance to be fed, watered and entertained all within the confines of a single complex.
Leaving aside the merits or otherwise of all-inclusive holidays, it'll be interesting to note how many other new pub/restaurant businesses will start up in Lanzarote in the coming months/years of the current Recession. Conventional wisdom states that with more people unemployed during a Recession, there are more people with free time on their hands and in need of work/money - hence, they start up their own business.
As with any kind of business though, its success depends on how it's run. Here's hoping the new (presumably ex-pat) bar/cafe/restaurant is well run and adds something to the Los Pocillos area.
First of all - good luck to the people involved. They're to be commended for being brave enough to give it a go. Pub Spy admires their spirit. They've got a chance at least, given the Los Pocillos location, as is mentioned in the above Forum thread.
What i'm sure the new proprietors already know is that the Jameos Playa complex is one of the biggest on the island. And that it caters for all-inclusive holidaymakers - those who have paid in advance to be fed, watered and entertained all within the confines of a single complex.
Leaving aside the merits or otherwise of all-inclusive holidays, it'll be interesting to note how many other new pub/restaurant businesses will start up in Lanzarote in the coming months/years of the current Recession. Conventional wisdom states that with more people unemployed during a Recession, there are more people with free time on their hands and in need of work/money - hence, they start up their own business.
As with any kind of business though, its success depends on how it's run. Here's hoping the new (presumably ex-pat) bar/cafe/restaurant is well run and adds something to the Los Pocillos area.
Friday, December 4, 2009
When does liable turn into responsible?
In a previous life Pub Spy reported on Town Council meetings for a regional newspaper. The issue of libel was fairly clear then - if a Councillor called a local business man a crook (to take a random example!), then we didn't print that, even though we'd only be faithfully reproducing what was said at an open meeting.
Why?
Well, because now it wasn't just the Councillor saying the business man was a crook - the newspaper was saying it also. This could be argued either way in a court of law, but the newspaper editor took the view that it wasn't worth the hassle (or cost) of finding out if we'd be liable or not.
A recent thread on the Gazette forum brought this instance to mind again. Disclaimers aside, the merit or otherwise of which is open to debate anyway, just who is responsible for the sometimes slanderous comments made on a forum? The poster who wrote them? Or the forum which faithfully printed/reproduced them?
Why?
Well, because now it wasn't just the Councillor saying the business man was a crook - the newspaper was saying it also. This could be argued either way in a court of law, but the newspaper editor took the view that it wasn't worth the hassle (or cost) of finding out if we'd be liable or not.
A recent thread on the Gazette forum brought this instance to mind again. Disclaimers aside, the merit or otherwise of which is open to debate anyway, just who is responsible for the sometimes slanderous comments made on a forum? The poster who wrote them? Or the forum which faithfully printed/reproduced them?
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Recent pub crawl around Puerto del Carmen
To kick things off, here's something of a puzzle:
The price of a bottle of Heineken in three different Irish bars is shown below. Does this represent value for money in each case?
Brendan Behan (Old Town) - €2
Mulligans (New Town) - €4
The Dubliner (CC Maritimo) - €4.50
The price of a bottle of Heineken in three different Irish bars is shown below. Does this represent value for money in each case?
Brendan Behan (Old Town) - €2
Mulligans (New Town) - €4
The Dubliner (CC Maritimo) - €4.50
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Rate my Lanzarote Pub
Welcome to the most democratic and unbiased guide to Lanzarote's pubs and nightlife.
To enter and/or rate a pub, simply e-mail: lanzarotepubspy@gmail.com
If you've had a bad time, a good time or a great time in one of the numerous pubs in Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise or anyplace else on the island of Lanzarote, then we want to heard about it.
Atomsphere, prices, toilets, staff, location, opening and closing times, people you met there - we want to hear all about it.
Disclaimer: All e-mails will be vetted, before being included on this site.
To enter and/or rate a pub, simply e-mail: lanzarotepubspy@gmail.com
If you've had a bad time, a good time or a great time in one of the numerous pubs in Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise or anyplace else on the island of Lanzarote, then we want to heard about it.
Atomsphere, prices, toilets, staff, location, opening and closing times, people you met there - we want to hear all about it.
Disclaimer: All e-mails will be vetted, before being included on this site.
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