Scottish version of Ace Cafe
Discussion
Not really
this has been a pet project of mine for years! I spent quite a bit of time researching this, including going to the Ace a few times and other work.
the main issues are:
Location ( we don't have 11 million people within 15 miles, unlike Park Royal
Making it viable all year round!
There is another guy on here in the trade who is interested in a joint venture for one.
Paul
this has been a pet project of mine for years! I spent quite a bit of time researching this, including going to the Ace a few times and other work.
the main issues are:
Location ( we don't have 11 million people within 15 miles, unlike Park Royal
Making it viable all year round!
There is another guy on here in the trade who is interested in a joint venture for one.
Paul
I go down to Ace Cafe a few times a year for the Petrolhead Nirvana monthly meet. Try to get some work done aswell while down south.
It works down there as you have a huge population in the area. Most travel outside of London in.
Somewhere central for the population of Scotland but also with good space is hard to get.
It works down there as you have a huge population in the area. Most travel outside of London in.
Somewhere central for the population of Scotland but also with good space is hard to get.
I remember a good few years back the Harley Davidson dealership (that then became TVR or vice versa) at Halbeath near Dunfermline had a sort of cafe area upstairs. Always thought that was a great idea. Likewise, Transcal, Skidz, KAS, XS Motorsport, MMV and so on were always busy back int he day with people just there becasue that's what you did. Took a run along at the weekend and there was always loads of like minded others hanging aboit. They were decent times... then again they were also pre-forum and social media so if you wanted to go and actually speak to a human or look at a car, you had to get off your arse!
I used to have these discussions with a few older guys when I still went along to car meets around 12 years ago (back in the days of SS-R club).
We always thought, if you could find a suitable site, with the correct investment and run it as a truck stop during the day Mon-Fri, with themed cafe, maybe some 4 post lifts for hire with tools, an arcade with driving games, and an area where local cruisers could meet, do burnouts (if that's what they wanted), etc. you could probably justify charging a small entrance fee and maybe, just maybe it could be viable.
The issue is siting it far enough away from any housing to avoid noise pollution complaints, but having it close enough to a major road network.
I would assume the public liability insurance aspect would also be prohibitive, security aspect, etc. but it would be great to think something like this would work.
We always thought, if you could find a suitable site, with the correct investment and run it as a truck stop during the day Mon-Fri, with themed cafe, maybe some 4 post lifts for hire with tools, an arcade with driving games, and an area where local cruisers could meet, do burnouts (if that's what they wanted), etc. you could probably justify charging a small entrance fee and maybe, just maybe it could be viable.
The issue is siting it far enough away from any housing to avoid noise pollution complaints, but having it close enough to a major road network.
I would assume the public liability insurance aspect would also be prohibitive, security aspect, etc. but it would be great to think something like this would work.
I'm thinking that you would surprised by how much backing this idea would receive, a motoring related destination restaurant/cafe. This seems like an investable opportunity dragons. There are umpteen disused old petrol station sites, just need to find the one with the best accessibility and space for a growing business. I'll book my table now
The old Kingdom services the the east of Dunfermline would be a great site.
Started off as a petrol station / cafe / truck stop / soft paly / cash wash kind of place but it was massively flawed basically because passing traffic to the North didn't even know it was there and traffic to the east would need to come off a junction earlier, so really passing trade was more local traffic.
That said, it's a prime location plus with Amazon and the MAN service centre next door, you'd think they'd reopen it as a truck stop especially as Police Scotland seem to have been busying themselves this week by moving on truckers parked up in teh vacinity of Amazon.
If they also opened a slip road directly in to it from the A92... though that was thrown out as the access would be too short, oh really... tell that to a few services on the M6... but doing taht would open it's potential right up.
Still a good place for meets due to the massive parking are... just no facilities anymore.
Shame
Started off as a petrol station / cafe / truck stop / soft paly / cash wash kind of place but it was massively flawed basically because passing traffic to the North didn't even know it was there and traffic to the east would need to come off a junction earlier, so really passing trade was more local traffic.
That said, it's a prime location plus with Amazon and the MAN service centre next door, you'd think they'd reopen it as a truck stop especially as Police Scotland seem to have been busying themselves this week by moving on truckers parked up in teh vacinity of Amazon.
If they also opened a slip road directly in to it from the A92... though that was thrown out as the access would be too short, oh really... tell that to a few services on the M6... but doing taht would open it's potential right up.
Still a good place for meets due to the massive parking are... just no facilities anymore.
Shame
The problem with the idea, is location and trade. If it is seasonal, then do you simply close November to April? Only open weeknights and weekends? Have a location where you have a 'normal' trade the rest of the time, which is then dependant on location.
75% of the population live within 30 miles of Glasgow cross. So where to locate? if purely for convenience for everyone, then it isn't going to be a passing trade place.
I spent a lot of time trying to search out locations and venues. It isn't easy.
75% of the population live within 30 miles of Glasgow cross. So where to locate? if purely for convenience for everyone, then it isn't going to be a passing trade place.
I spent a lot of time trying to search out locations and venues. It isn't easy.
The Dakota was great for space and venue IMO. Just a shame they are not "on board" any more.
Strathclyde park, again, great location but the meets there are, well you all know what they're like.
I don't think it's possible to have somewhere large enough that won't attract cruisers and the trouble that comes with them. Not writing every young un' off as trouble, just that i've been to my fair share of these in my younger years and know exactly what they're like in general. Not to mention they are seen as a more constant stream of income if they are visiting twice a week.
I think you would be best off going for somewhere medium to small sized car park, with existing facilities or simply have specialised catering vans you can bring along a few times a month. If it outgrows itself, great, move on up to bigger premises.
What do we actually want from the venue? Parking spaces, food and drink and toilets?
Strathclyde park, again, great location but the meets there are, well you all know what they're like.
I don't think it's possible to have somewhere large enough that won't attract cruisers and the trouble that comes with them. Not writing every young un' off as trouble, just that i've been to my fair share of these in my younger years and know exactly what they're like in general. Not to mention they are seen as a more constant stream of income if they are visiting twice a week.
I think you would be best off going for somewhere medium to small sized car park, with existing facilities or simply have specialised catering vans you can bring along a few times a month. If it outgrows itself, great, move on up to bigger premises.
What do we actually want from the venue? Parking spaces, food and drink and toilets?
A friend of mine runs a very busy burger restaurant in Glasgow and I happily go for my weekly burger fix,throw in some interesting people and car related malarkey and I'm a happy customer. Sensible prices for above average food with the odd Sunday meet up. I'm up for discussions if anyone is interested
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