Location Location

Forest is people. People is you. You is us.
Post Reply
User avatar
Gaz
Posts: 1373
Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2005 8:24 am

Location Location

Post by Gaz » Sun May 06, 2007 7:40 pm

So I guess we're on the look-out for new premises...
(you know, just in case).

Here's one to get the ball rolling which a few of us saw the other day. Right next to the embassy gallery.

http://www.scottishproperty.com/pdf/L/L024395.pdf

Could be worth a look

Post your huntings here...
the more you think, the more you stink

User avatar
chris
Posts: 2638
Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2005 1:50 am
Location: heartland
Contact:

Post by chris » Mon May 07, 2007 11:53 am

hmm, somethings fishy about this place. £12,000 is too cheap, and its being advertised as retail/offices, not as a pub... its a bit strange...

probably couldnt be noisy cos of upstairs neihgbours...
Maybe it could work? But it will be a kaleidoscopic blend of mysterious shadows and rainbow hued-dreams seen through compassionate tears.

User avatar
bill
Posts: 608
Joined: Tue Dec 19, 2006 7:43 pm

Post by bill » Mon May 07, 2007 1:31 pm

we can just glaze them in.....
does anybody know about that boarded up church by the uni library near suzies diner?

User avatar
dan
Posts: 1410
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 1:04 pm

Post by dan » Mon May 07, 2007 2:20 pm

That is also one of the dream building yes yes!!! Flavin reckons he might be able to get us in to have a look at it, I'll try and apply the pressure. Also the bowl maker on Blackfriars st (i think) looks interesting but I can't tell if it's in use...
Our big brother's got no heart,
when I get my chance I'm going to punch him in the nose, in the nose, in the nose

chombee
Posts: 1327
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:01 pm

Post by chombee » Mon May 07, 2007 4:03 pm

Here's one to get the ball rolling which a few of us saw the other day. Right next to the embassy gallery.

http://www.scottishproperty.com/pdf/L/L024395.pdf
Several pubs seem to have opened and closes at that place over the years. I think maybe no one goes there because it's hidden away. Might be good for us though.

User avatar
ravanwin
Posts: 5060
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2004 8:08 pm
Location: edinburgh
Contact:

Post by ravanwin » Mon May 07, 2007 4:32 pm

fat sams anyone....

User avatar
dan
Posts: 1410
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 1:04 pm

Post by dan » Mon May 07, 2007 6:16 pm

ravanwin wrote:fat sams anyone....
it's a pile of rubble. I'm sorry it had to be this way
Our big brother's got no heart,
when I get my chance I'm going to punch him in the nose, in the nose, in the nose

User avatar
Martin
Posts: 1084
Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:35 pm

Reconnaisance Mission #1: North Bridge to Newington Road

Post by Martin » Tue May 08, 2007 12:09 am

I went for a walk earlier this evening from North Bridge down through Nicholson Street and Clerk Street to Newington Road, noting down every unused shopfront in sight on the way.

I'm going to repeat this for some other areas. My aim here is not just to look for places we would definitely be interested in, but also to help build up our picture of the market and where we should be watching, as places are likely to come and go before we are ready to move.

Photos from this run are here: http://void.printf.net/~martin/photos/forest-recon-1/

There are a lot of boarded up places along here, many have been empty for a while, and a lot of the buildings are pretty run down. Also especially further south there are a lot of strange little shops that can't possibly get much business, so the rents are probably pretty cheap.

A few examples:

This is up near the Tron:

Image

Agent is Colliers CRE, but I can't find it on their website.

De Niros is pricey at £35K...

Image

...but here's the above mentioned ex-pub, just round the corner for £12K.

Image

Big shop nextdoor to Noor, £27.5K, includes large basement.

Image

User avatar
dan
Posts: 1410
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 1:04 pm

Post by dan » Tue May 08, 2007 10:11 am

Great work Martin!!! I've always quite liked that one up by the tron, it's labarynthine
Our big brother's got no heart,
when I get my chance I'm going to punch him in the nose, in the nose, in the nose

User avatar
thehemulen
Posts: 428
Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2004 3:26 pm
Location: cyberspace. Berlin
Contact:

Post by thehemulen » Tue May 08, 2007 11:04 am

think 4rest should move to berlin! : )

the church by susies/uni - d'you mean the one opposite human binn? if so, thats been empty for YEARS
"If something is boring after two minutes, try it for four. If still boring, then eight. Then sixteen. Then thirty-two. Eventually one discovers that it is not boring at all." --John Cage.

User avatar
Martin
Posts: 1084
Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:35 pm

Post by Martin » Tue May 08, 2007 11:12 am

Man, it's true. It amazes me what the c-base and CCC can afford to have over there.

User avatar
Martin
Posts: 1084
Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:35 pm

Post by Martin » Tue May 08, 2007 11:17 am

Should we call about the one by the Tron? What do we say? I presume we intend to stay in Bristo Place till the end of August.

User avatar
bill
Posts: 608
Joined: Tue Dec 19, 2006 7:43 pm

Post by bill » Tue May 08, 2007 11:52 am

yeah lets go check it out?

chombee
Posts: 1327
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:01 pm

Post by chombee » Tue May 08, 2007 12:16 pm

Couldn't find it on their website, but I saw the collierscre.com have a shopfront on St Mary's Street (off The Royal Mile/Pleasance), to lease, 240 7500.

Not sure we'd want it though, it's near the Cowgate centre and territorial army (or whatever).

I'm busy today, but my mobile is:

[REMOVED]. Ask for my mobile number if you see me, I can help with checking out premises.

if people want to text me about going to visit places. Can do weekdays if I know about it the day before usually, nn the weekends I am free.

What do people think about the Holyrood Tavern? It's still up for lease as far as I know.
Last edited by chombee on Tue May 15, 2007 12:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
dan
Posts: 1410
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 1:04 pm

Post by dan » Tue May 08, 2007 12:36 pm

Had an interesting chat with the Buddhists today. Looks like the offers for the Itralian Consul closed on Feb 3rd 2006. They put one in which is still being considered. They are very hopeful about getting it. They also heavily suggested that Holyrood Tavern would be good. I think it would definately worth having a look at, but can't find who's selling it.
There's another one which looks like it could be good on St Mary's St, up for sale, £250 big ones
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Our big brother's got no heart,
when I get my chance I'm going to punch him in the nose, in the nose, in the nose

chombee
Posts: 1327
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:01 pm

Post by chombee » Tue May 08, 2007 1:06 pm

So there are two places on St. Mary's, one apparently to rent, one to buy. Dan's is not the same one I saw. Dan's looks better. Both are worryingly close to crazy people outlets.

For Holyrood Tavern contact Bruce and Co: http://www.bruceandco.co.uk/bruce/prope ... opid=21228

lease for sale for £15,000 (offers over). Would be amazing I think, if the deal is right. I'd be happy to give them a call tomorrow, if no one beats me to it.

What do we say to these type of people when we call them?

* Do we say we're from the forest cafe on Bristo Place?
* And then just ask to get a look around, and find out more about the price?

User avatar
beev
Posts: 1626
Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:46 am

Post by beev » Tue May 08, 2007 1:42 pm

Here are more details for Holyrood Tavern...
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

User avatar
Martin
Posts: 1084
Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:35 pm

Post by Martin » Tue May 08, 2007 1:52 pm

So they're selling the business, not re-letting the space. The rent is £20K, which makes more sense.

User avatar
dan
Posts: 1410
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 1:04 pm

Post by dan » Tue May 08, 2007 2:11 pm

but what does that mean? would Punch Taverns have a stranglehold on what we do then? Is this: http://216.139.227.101/interactive/pub2006/ what they'd want us to be like?
Our big brother's got no heart,
when I get my chance I'm going to punch him in the nose, in the nose, in the nose

User avatar
Martin
Posts: 1084
Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:35 pm

Post by Martin » Tue May 08, 2007 2:38 pm

Possibly. In any case, we just want to rent a building, not buy a pub business.

swithun
Posts: 2683
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 12:24 pm

Post by swithun » Tue May 08, 2007 4:06 pm

The big furnishing shop next to Noor is nice - big windows at the back, and a side room at the front. But I suppose it is a big steep for the space on offer. Shame - it is only a minute from my house.

User avatar
lucky
Posts: 1460
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2005 4:01 pm
Location: Edinburgh
Contact:

Post by lucky » Tue May 08, 2007 4:49 pm

I get a nice feeling from the 12k place. Maybe we should be smaller.
Bohnenflaschen!

chombee
Posts: 1327
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:01 pm

Post by chombee » Tue May 08, 2007 7:06 pm

Like Dan's 250 big ones place, owning a place would be better than leasing one perhaps. Or would it?

User avatar
bill
Posts: 608
Joined: Tue Dec 19, 2006 7:43 pm

Post by bill » Thu May 10, 2007 12:26 pm

it would!

User avatar
Martin
Posts: 1084
Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:35 pm

Post by Martin » Thu May 10, 2007 12:35 pm

I don't think the forest is in any position to take out a decades-long mortgage. I thought this conclusion had already been reached.

User avatar
bill
Posts: 608
Joined: Tue Dec 19, 2006 7:43 pm

Post by bill » Thu May 10, 2007 1:43 pm

i thought that definately we can't pay a morgaga on somethimng which is worth 700,000 but less maybe we can? and it was more the deposit that we couldn't afford no?

User avatar
Martin
Posts: 1084
Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:35 pm

Post by Martin » Thu May 10, 2007 2:00 pm

The problem is not just the money, it's getting the mortgage. No bank is going to give us one without a thorough business plan and multiple years of audited accounts, which we don't have.

User avatar
dan
Posts: 1410
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 1:04 pm

Post by dan » Thu May 10, 2007 2:02 pm

hey no, we've been in touch with Triodos, a mortgage is a possibility...
Our big brother's got no heart,
when I get my chance I'm going to punch him in the nose, in the nose, in the nose

User avatar
Shannon
Posts: 2752
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2006 4:12 pm
Location: there and then

Post by Shannon » Thu May 10, 2007 2:10 pm

But it's true that we need a business plan...and probably at least one year of audited accounts. But I think a smaller building is doable...would take time, though.

User avatar
Martin
Posts: 1084
Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:35 pm

Post by Martin » Thu May 10, 2007 4:43 pm

The other thing is that I don't think it would be wise to commit to buying a building without having at least a year or so's experience of trying to run the forest in it. There isn't any way to be totally sure in advance what locations are going to work well enough.

chombee
Posts: 1327
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:01 pm

Post by chombee » Thu May 10, 2007 5:18 pm

The other thing is that I don't think it would be wise to commit to buying a building without having at least a year or so's experience of trying to run the forest in it. There isn't any way to be totally sure in advance what locations are going to work well enough.
That's what caused me to think maybe buying is not best. On the other hand, we want the security of a mortgage or long-term lease, and not to be at the mercy of landlords with their own interests. Bah!

swithun
Posts: 2683
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 12:24 pm

Post by swithun » Thu May 10, 2007 7:14 pm

I guess you have to weigh up the security of owning a building with the worry of making enough for the mortgage payments one one hand and the security of a long lease with cheap rent against the conflicting interests of the landlord on the other hand.

If we think we can make the payments, then I would go for buying somewhere. If were thinking we could get a mortgage for Bristo Place, then surely we can get one for a 250K building.

It is true that we don't know how a change in location would change our fortunes - passing trade, license possibilities, neighbourhood etc., but there aren't many try-before-you-buy buildings, are there?

User avatar
beev
Posts: 1626
Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:46 am

Post by beev » Fri May 11, 2007 10:50 am

Martin's right about mortgage, and just to pay the interest on £250K could be quite a stretch.

I think our best bet is to try and get a ludicrous 1 million pound grant to buy and upgrade Bristo Place. We know this building is good for us, and we'd be laughing if we didn't have to pay any rent. Even if we got less than a million, we could still potentially do it, because we'd have sufficient guaranteed money coming in to borrow quite a bit.

User avatar
bill
Posts: 608
Joined: Tue Dec 19, 2006 7:43 pm

Post by bill » Fri May 11, 2007 11:01 am

so we see how the talks on monday go with eus, then sort out a great fucking grant eh?

nice!

User avatar
bill
Posts: 608
Joined: Tue Dec 19, 2006 7:43 pm

Post by bill » Fri May 11, 2007 11:06 am

so the arab social league own that burnt oot church opposite the art college (59 lauriston place) (http://www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk/view. ... ef+No=1708)


looks like it may be up for grabs also.......the search goes on

User avatar
Martin
Posts: 1084
Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:35 pm

Post by Martin » Fri May 11, 2007 12:29 pm

I used to live round the corner from that church, often wondered what the deal with it was. It sounds like the owners might be glad of some rent for it - let's get in touch.

I also think we should look into the place on St Mary's Street (the one for rent at £17.5K), and also that shopfront near the Tron.

User avatar
lucky
Posts: 1460
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2005 4:01 pm
Location: Edinburgh
Contact:

Post by lucky » Fri May 11, 2007 12:52 pm

beev wrote: I think our best bet is to try and get a ludicrous 1 million pound grant to buy and upgrade Bristo Place. We know this building is good for us, and we'd be laughing if we didn't have to pay any rent. Even if we got less than a million, we could still potentially do it, because we'd have sufficient guaranteed money coming in to borrow quite a bit.
Maybe this is a silly question, but is there any chance in hell we would be able to actually get a grant that huge?

Did I miss something?

A*
Bohnenflaschen!

User avatar
beev
Posts: 1626
Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:46 am

Post by beev » Fri May 11, 2007 1:07 pm

StarFragment wrote:is there any chance in hell we would be able to actually get a grant that huge?
Am making enquiries. I'll get back to you...

User avatar
Gaz
Posts: 1373
Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2005 8:24 am

Post by Gaz » Fri May 11, 2007 5:07 pm

does anybody know about that boarded up church by the uni library near suzies diner?
i had a quick look from the road...
what a great building....but....
there be dead bodies in the graves i thinks.
that could be the dealbreaker...unless someone is willing to get down and dirty.
the more you think, the more you stink

swithun
Posts: 2683
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 12:24 pm

Post by swithun » Fri May 11, 2007 5:21 pm

What is wrong with dead bodies in the garden? Is there some law saying you can't rock out within 6ft of a corpse? I think it might add a certain frisson to proceedings, knowing that death is in the air. We could spread stories of the headless kitchen manager, and how, when it is very quiet, you can hear it eating nachos.

User avatar
ravanwin
Posts: 5060
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2004 8:08 pm
Location: edinburgh
Contact:

Post by ravanwin » Sat May 12, 2007 9:47 am

i like all these possibilities here. obviously, the path of least resisitence is a more formal and secure partnership with the EUS but buying is a top priority too and then, of course, looking at other spaces seems really exciting and has my blood going good. next to the art college... that sounds like a winner.
r

User avatar
bill
Posts: 608
Joined: Tue Dec 19, 2006 7:43 pm

Post by bill » Sat May 12, 2007 10:54 am

the art collage i smore of a fart collage....but who knows maybe if we are right by them we could muster up something good?

in my opinion there is certainly a need for something exciting to happen around there...like good cheap ethical food....

peace.

chombee
Posts: 1327
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:01 pm

Post by chombee » Sun May 13, 2007 3:35 am

Is there any chance this could be moved to a public forum? There are people who want to help out but they just don't know what is happening or what they can do. I've spoken to some of them.

User avatar
beev
Posts: 1626
Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:46 am

Post by beev » Mon May 14, 2007 11:30 am

chombee wrote:Is there any chance this could be moved to a public forum?
Any objections?

User avatar
Martin
Posts: 1084
Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:35 pm

Post by Martin » Mon May 14, 2007 11:42 am

Seems like it would be good to get lots of people involved in looking for and discussing places. Arranging viewings etc could still go on here.

User avatar
ravanwin
Posts: 5060
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2004 8:08 pm
Location: edinburgh
Contact:

Post by ravanwin » Tue May 15, 2007 9:49 am

fine with me.

User avatar
beev
Posts: 1626
Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:46 am

Post by beev » Tue May 15, 2007 12:26 pm

moved to people's forum

User avatar
beev
Posts: 1626
Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:46 am

Post by beev » Mon Jul 02, 2007 11:00 pm

Just to give an idea of what else is on the market in our little corner of town...
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

User avatar
beev
Posts: 1626
Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:46 am

Post by beev » Mon Jul 02, 2007 11:02 pm

and...
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Post Reply