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james73

Dragons’ Den bar goes into administration just 2 years after opening

ENTREPRENEURS on TV show Dragons' Den told them it wouldn't work.

Now a microbrewery and restaurant in Glasgow's East End - the dream of Petra
Wetzel and Gordon Stewart - has gone into administration, just two years after opening.

The determined pair went ahead with their business venture - the 300-seat West
Brewing Company near Glasgow Green - despite their knockback at the hands of
the BBC2 programme's Duncan Bannatyne, a multi-millionaire tycoon from Clydebank.

The venue at Bridgeton's former Templeton carpet factory, inspired by Germany's
microbreweries, seemed a hit with beer drinkers when it opened in March 2006.

But today it was revealed Anne Buchanan and Bryan Jackson, corporate recovery
partners with accountants and business advisers PKF, were appointed joint administrators
earlier this month on the instruction of a director of the company.

The move however does not spell the end for the venue. A new buyer - Noah
Beers Ltd - which it is understood is run by Ms Wetzel has taken over.

And today she insisted the future was bright for the brewery and restaurant,
which employ more than 20 staff.

Although no figures are yet available for the West Brewing Company's debt,
PKF stepped in when the funds became unmanageable.

James H
_________________
Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...

poodiecat · Tofu hot dog & mustard Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 437

I'm not surprised, the food is ok but far from authentic ( could have done with a real German chef and sourcing ingredients from Germany ) and half the time they didn't have the beers that were on offer and also didn't even bother getting in proper Schnaps! I remember the disappointment well that I felt when I went there the first time just after they opened.

HollowHorn · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:02 pm Post subject:

james73 · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:03 pm Post subject:

Aye, I liked the beer. Or is it bier?

James H
_________________
Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...

poodiecat · Tofu hot dog & mustard Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 437

Aye HH, I'd also hate to see it fail, I just think that they could have tried harder to make it a success. And since they serve Schnitzel ( which is clearly an Austrian dish ), I see it more as a Germanic place rather than purely German one, anyway.
And yes, Bier is correct

james73 · Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:22 pm Post subject:

Curry king invests cash in firm Dragons’ Den rejected

MILLIONAIRE tycoon Duncan Bannatyne may have rejected it, but Glasgow's
curry king knows a hot business venture when he sees it.

Charan Gill, the man behind the Harlequin group of Indian restaurants, has
become a shareholder and non-executive director at the West Brewing
Company - the microbrewery and restaurant famously knocked back for
funding in BBC2's Dragons' Den.

The venue, at the former Templeton carpet factory at Glasgow Green,
went into administration last month, as reported by the Evening Times.

But German owner Petra Wetzel and her company Noah Beers took it over
- and were determined to make it succeed.

Now Mr Gill has revealed he has invested in the brewery - which is inspired
by Germany's microbreweries - after falling in love with the buzz of the
German-style beer hall. He says profits are 30% up on last year.

James H
_________________
Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...

poodiecat · Tofu hot dog & mustard Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 437

Oh cool that's really good news, and I'm sure he's got the right contacts

Fjord · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:40 am Post subject:

Weiner Schnitzel pakora anybody?

poodiecat · Tofu hot dog & mustard Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 437

With sauerkraut curry!

poodiecat · Tofu hot dog & mustard Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 437

Well, after I met a couple of guys from West the other day who told me that they now have a chef from Germany, I decided to go there today for linner/dunch. Food and service ( the chef's German partner served us, yay ) were really nice, a lot more authentic, too.
Apparently the German lady that started it is still one of the bosses.
In any case, well worth going back to check it out.
Oh and their Christmas meals sound like they're to die for.
P x