New Bar In Town
 

The Barracuda Group has decided to go ahead with its unnamed pub in Accy under its Smith & Jones brand. This group also has Barracuda Bar Varsity and Juniper Inns and yet has decided that "Accrington was identified as a highly suitable site" How did they reach that conclusion I was in Accy on a Saturday night when I was down the other week and I cannot see where the custom will come from. Yes it will be busy for a month or two untill the novelty wears of or the crowds find a new "in place". Does Accy really nead another pub with grub. Here is there info on the Smith & Jones brand;

Smith & Jones is an upmarket, authentic pub offering an appealing menu, an excellent range of wine and beer delivered through top quality service in classy, comfortable surroundings.

Does this sound like it would fit in with Accy? Maybe I am being harsh but there is little to go round as it is so unless people stay in accy instead of heading out of town it could become a folly. Yes there will be jobs I grant you that but will it hold its own? The council should have had that space set aside for a decent shop yet let it go as a pub so is this a trend they are setting? If so they need to look again Accy needs shops not more pubs.

Re: New Bar In Town
 

Spuggie, I used to be regular in town but haven't been down there for ages, I lost interest when Opium burn't down, not for Opium but for Voodoo, I know so many people who feel the same, most of the time we'd drink at locals then go down there about 10.30pm for a dance. I dont think this bar will make any difference, a lot of people now go to Burnley and its a cracking night out.

Re: New Bar In Town
 

looks like there will be 2 new pubs opening near each other, they are doing the old Nags Head up, had a peek inside the other day and it looks like it is going to be a pub they way they are kitting it out

Re: New Bar In Town
 

Will have to give Bunley a try when I am next down but can it come close to glasgow or edinburgh? I need an exciting night out down there.

Re: New Bar In Town
 

noticed tonight the railway has returned!

Re: New Bar In Town
 

When this plan was first mooted it said it was being pitched at the 'lunchtime female market'. It will feature sofas and speciality coffees.

Central Perk in Accy? Good luck.

Re: New Bar In Town
 

I can't see it having much custom at night as the nightlife in Accy is generally weary. It may attract a lunchtime crowd from council and bank workers but I doubt that it will tempt shoppers to stop for a bite to eat, seeing as we have no decent shops and many people do the bulk of their shopping out of town. I haven't been into town for a drink since Voodoo burnt down and wild horses couldn't drag me down there now.

Re: New Bar In Town
 

It may not sound like Accy but it very much describes the pub we hold the meets in, but that one is in up market Church!
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/13/13_4_7.gifhttp://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/13/13_4_6.gifhttp://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/13/13_4_8.gif

Re: New Bar In Town
 

I was taken for a night out in Accy a month or so back, and I couldn't believe how dead the place was- much prefer Blackburn. As yet I have never had a night out in Burnley, although I have heard on more than one occasion that it is a good night out.

Wish Wetherspoons would open a pub in Accy, then I could get a job there, without having to bother with any transport to get anywhere.

Re: New Bar In Town
 

Love the Witherspoon set up. I have 2 to choose from up here and its great one a traditional pub set up the other a nice open plan setup with good food and nightlife. Its what Accy really needs a cheap and cheerful cater for all sort of place.

Re: New Bar In Town
 

It should be made quite clear - this will not be a pub, it will be an open plan large bar. I drink in one of Barracuda's establishments here in London... several other Accy web members have been in there with me. It attracts quite a few regulars

The style of their bars does resemble Wetherspoons establishments, but only in size and to some extent decor. They are very, very big and inside there is lots of pine, leather and mirrors. They have a good choice of house and guest real ales and the usual mickey mouse lagers. However, they don't do Wetherspoons prices. I pay £2.50 for a pint of bitter, about the average for inner London, as against £1.80 in a Wetherspoons. (I don't know what they will charge in Accy.)Unlike the latter, however, there is taped music played in the pub and there is TV. In fact, you can't avoid the TV.....two big drop down screens (12ft x 10ft) and 6 big flat screens dotted around the place, often showing 2 different footy games.

There is also a big emphasis on food sales with permanent people in the kitchen. What effect the proposed smoking ban will have on this, I don't Know.

I certainly won't be paying the Accy bar a visit.

Re: New Bar In Town
 

Do you think it will be a lame duck or end up full of the less social parts of our community?

Re: New Bar In Town
 

If the smoking ban comes in, they will probably go for dry sales rather than stop food and allow smoking. I don't think that will be a success in Accy. If they do drop food sales and allow smoking then the size of the place & its location will invariably attract the local riff-raff, if their pricing policy is the same as other town centre pubs.

We've had similar threads before; then it was a proposed Wetherspoons pub, but the problem is the same. These mega-bars take trade from the traditional local pubs which end up closing; meanwhile, the night time town centre sinks deeper into the mire of vomit and violence.

Re: New Bar In Town
 

Afternoon Mr T

Why?

Re: New Bar In Town
 

Because I wish to have no part in the closing of our traditional local pubs.

The Barracuda establishment that I drink in is at the bottom of 3 12-storey office buildings,and the local pubs had already gone when it was built 15 years ago, so I'm quite happy drinking there; but I have no intention of going anywhere near the Accy one. I find it most peculiar, that having lost so many great Victorian & Georgian pubs in the borough, people now seem to be getting so excited about doing their drinking in an ex-settee shop. Have things really come to this?

Re: New Bar In Town
 

OK Thanks for that Mr T, I see were your coming from but I make a distinction between traditional local pubs and town centre pubs and can't see how this pub would affect the locals, if your going out for a quite night of chat with friends you go to a less noisy local and into town if you want to let your hair down, have a dance and get slightly typsy.

I personally think this new pub would be a waste of time. I remember when the Baileys opened, it had similar ambitious plans with it's VIP area and cafe style bar through the day. Look what became of that, it is very rarely open during the day now and has just become a normal town centre pub. BUT I would encourage any kind of plan that would turn Accrington town centre back into a thriving nightlife that it once had!

Re: New Bar In Town
 

Here here T when I was out with shiny and g78 the oyher week I could not believe it was as bad as it was. I when staying down there did have the occaisional foray into blackburn but that was usually for a birthday or something simular. Now it sadens me to see what it has come to especially the bridge. It seems that they are trying to catch the young end and I mean young end as the amount of jail bait would put a highschool to shame. My preference is somewere that has music but not at the level were my eardrums are in the middle of my scull the following day. There is nothing wrong with a pub with the occasional live band or a decent jukebox.

If I want to enjoy a natter I found it impossible and couldnt think straight anyway. Accy had at one time some lovely places for a good night out at the weekend but now it seems as though the older set are not wanted. Should one of the older set be in one of the so called hip places they stand out like a fox in a hen house. As it stands the only thing that will happen at weekends now is it will become quiter in town and those that do go will be in the 13-23 age bracket. Sticking to my usual haunts will be better at least I get a cheap drink conversation and a laugh with no aggro. Has been sujested I try Burnley next time I am down and I aint had a drinking session in burnley for 16 years so this will be different.

Re: New Bar In Town
 

I think you miss understood me Spuggie, the only problem I have with our town centre pubs is that a lot of the customers have gone else were ... why? ..... I wish I had the answers!

Town centre pubs are for the younger element to enjoy, I still feel ok going into town, I like the music and I like it loud when I'm in town. I think 13 year olds was a little far fetched but yes do appear to be and probably are underage. Did you never go into a pub underage?

Re: New Bar In Town
 

It was a bit of a rant T because it was once upon a time a great night out.
I stuggled to get in pubs even when old enough but made up for it when I did get in. As for the age grouping it wont be far of if the trend down there is the same as in Falkirk.

Re: New Bar In Town
 

lol ok Spug rant away because I'll agree it was a once great night out ...... and it still can be. The night out is what you make it and were you feel comfortable.

I just sit and wonder sometimes what Blackburn and Burnley town centre pubs have to offer that ours doesn't?

Re: New Bar In Town
 

I feel comfortable in a nice local or the Brooks Club. As for what B and B have I dont know but would hazzard a guess at atmosphere and fun.

Re: New Bar In Town
 

If you're interested in grading pubs and making comparisons and comments then have a look at this site:

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs...tag_Inn/Church

Re: New Bar In Town
 

Nice website Mr T I hadn't realised that there was so many pubs in the area :)

Re: New Bar In Town
 

Does that mean you are going on a drinkathon? :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :D

Re: New Bar In Town
 

A little birdy tells me that there are workmen on the premises and that there is a possibility that the "Calder" (Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha) may well be open for Christmas. Oh dear. I was going to go into Accy over the festive season to admire the new pavement on Broadway, but I doubt if that will now be seen for vomit.

Re: New Bar In Town
 

If it opens then there will be the usual promotions parties etc but should we bill them for cleaning up after Uncle Hughie Urquart as been? Then again from what I saw on my last visit on a Saturday night there might be very few people to visit it.

Re: New Bar In Town
 

I think it is great to have a new bar in town.I think itl be a great success there isnt many places to go in accrington.Most people go to bridge or baileys and the little underage drinkers go to lar de dars oh n chavs with their rockports on.The more upperclass people used to go to panamas untill it caught fire but now we have BARRACUDA!!!!!!:)

Re: New Bar In Town
 

Only ever been in 1 Barracuda bar and that was in Hanley. It was diferent I will concede that about it.

Re: New Bar In Town
 

I'm with wellbeing on this. I will definately being checking out the new bar and I hope it manages to pull some town centre trade back to Accrington from Blackburn and Burnley.