A Greater Manchester bar has issued a plea to customers after they said they were ‘struggling’ to keep their heads above water. Owners of the Littleborough venue said they wanted to ‘admit’ the problems they were facing and encourage people to visit the site ‘before it’s too late’.
Grape N Grain opened two years ago in the town of Rochdale, near picturesque Hollingworth Lake, but despite racking up a string of five-star reviews for its food, drink and staff, the owners have shared an update on social media with customers about the reality of owning a hospitality business in the current climate.
The bar, which serves cocktails, wines, beers and an extensive food menu, posted a message on Facebook ahead of the sunny weekend explaining that the weather is ‘killing’ the business. At the time it also said it had only three bookings for the weekend and that it did not want the bar to sink due to low footfall.
READ MORE: ‘We just couldn’t carry on’ – Much-loved Greater Manchester cafe announces sudden closure
The message read: “We don’t really need to talk about all the problems with the pandemic and the fact that the world is short of cash flow with ever increasing costs, but in fact what we unfortunately have to admit here is that we are having a hard time, big time!
“The sunny days kill us as a company because people prefer barbecues or walks around the lake. And the lack of parking also kills us with heavy rain because people are not deterred from going out in rainy weather.” to come to us.”
The message went on to say that the owners “love” what they have created at Grape N Grain and that the vast majority of customers “leave with happy faces.” It added: “When we first opened two years ago we never expected it to be an easy ride. We had a simple offering to give good premium drinks to the village and great small plates to serve the drinks coach.”
To encourage new customers to book, the post explains that they are open seven days a week and can be used ‘more like your local restaurant than just a restaurant’. Dogs and children are welcome and customers don’t have to eat if they just want a few drinks.
But despite the various offers, including ‘Wine Wednesday’, where a bottle of house wine costs £15, and two cocktails for £14, the company said bookings for the weekend were very low and issued a stark warning.
“We currently have three bookings for the entire weekend, including tonight, and we believe we have created a product that is far too good to sink as quickly as we have, our five star reviews say it for themselves.
“All we ask is, please use us before it’s too late.”
The post was flooded with support from regulars urging people to book and praising owners for their honesty. There were also a number of customer suggestions on how to attract more bookings, including a bottomless brunch and improved baby changing facilities.
One wrote: “My husband and I have been there twice and we also took our 3 year old and dog. We enjoyed every visit and have recommended to our friends and family many times!
“It would be so sad to see this place close as we have had great experiences here. Fantastic food, especially the creamy garlic mushrooms and the truffle fries.”
Another added: “Brave post this friend, I really hope things get better for you soon. It would be Littleborough’s loss if you had to close, hoping it doesn’t come to that.”
A third said: “We wish you all the best, the weather has such an impact on businesses. Working in the hospitality industry yourself or going out for a night out is very rare but we sincerely hope that the lovely people of Littleborough will have your back. Much good luck!!! Keep fighting!”
Matthew, owner of Grape N Grain, along with a handful of other locations in Greater Manchester, told the Manchester Evening News that the post encouraged many people to call and then they were fully booked for the weekend. And while he was pleased with the response, he says the underlying problems still persist.
“My concern is the area, at the moment all the pubs are for rent and they’ve built a lot of houses so it’s becoming a commuter town. It’s cheaper than places like Stockport and Cheshire and it’s only about 15 minutes on the train.”
“In terms of hospitality, it’s basically the same price to have it delivered to your home as it is to go and eat it at a restaurant, but people just can’t figure it out. I have a few other places and they’re doing well in other areas, while Littleborough has struggled with.
“We didn’t take it over at the best time, our electricity was £3,000 a month and thankfully we’ve got that under control now, but I’m also worried about my staff. I can’t close it down two or three days a week because she was going to leave and I already have to wind down.
“Maybe people forget, but we lose 20% of every sale when we process payment because of VAT and we just don’t get as much as people think, even with high sales that doesn’t mean we make a profit. When wages go up too up, which crucifies small businesses.
“A few people messaged and asked if I should have done the post, but I want to be honest and take care of my team. It’s worth sharing what it’s like, I love hospitality but it’s getting to the point where there won’t be less anywhere. I think it’s just that people need to make more use of hospitality where they can.”