West Brewery Co. goes into administration after just 2 years

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

poodiecat

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

james73

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

James H

poodiecat

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

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

poodiecat

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

Fjord

Weiner Schnitzel pakora anybody?

poodiecat

With sauerkraut curry!

poodiecat

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

smiscandlon

escotregen

I would be sad to see this place not surviving; it's a definate addition to this East End part of the city.
I've been there only a few times (first time was with urbanglasgow!). I have to say that each of the three (I think) times they did not have the first of their advertised beers. From a commercial view, it's an awful big cavern of a place. The internal space added to its attraction, but that would mean that the proprietors would need a massive turnover in trade just to ensure they met the overheads.

On the micro brewery bit... didn't another one of my favourites, Mono give that up as uneconomic, even if it was popular?

poodiecat

escotregen

OK I know it's a bit off-topic... but it's still related. I was reminded at the weekend that at least the level of personal service at West has always been good for me.

At the weekend I was with a sizeable crowd in Weatherspoons in Bothwell Street (the one that's also called Edward Wylie?). The staff were clearly in bad humour and overworked trying to deal with the heaving punters trying to get served.

There's was almost a nasty situ generated by all this when one (big!) customer sneaked in ahead of several patiently waiting guys and girls and the barmaid went to serve him. When the others objected to the barmaid, she stood back, threw her arms up and said 'right, you fight it out among yourselves'

I later saw a couple of others give up on their idea of ordering a meal when they got similar passed over after waiting some time to get served.

I'm not often in Weatherspoons, but I do recall a couple of years ago me and my partner arrived at the Counting House in St Vincent Street early on a busy Friday night to meet another couple of couples. When we arrived they came up to say 'now you're here, let's go elsewhere - we just spent 15 minutes trying to get served here'.

Is that the Weatherspoon offer; 'good prices but bad service at busy times'? Or maybe I've just been unlucky (I've been into the one in Sauchiehall Street twice with no problems, but that was at quite times).

sputnik

been in three city centre weatherspoons,complained about the state of the food and service in two of them.no apologies from anyone.wont be back.now i see they are going to open one in clydebank,where i live.

Stuball

The service can be dreadfully slow with lack of staff... I've often waited patiently for service when someone walks up beside me and gets served straight away. The staff need to learn to control their bar and customers should learn a bit of respect.

I'm appauled by the staff telling you to fight it amoungst yourselfs