I've just woken up to the sad news that the Beer Ritz shop in Leeds has ceased trading.
I never got the opportunity to visit the shop myself but I know plenty of people that have and I know a shop just like it and it was one of these places that you could probably stare at the shelves for hours trying to decide which great beers you wanted to buy.
There are a couple of reasons I wanted to post about this.
Firstly there's the human element, Both Zak and Ghost Drinker have their blogs, they have both visited The Rake at various times and although I missed Ghostie when he came in I consider him and Zak 'mates'. The world of craft beer is very small you see and this news almost comes like the news of a death in the family.
I wish every one involved in Beer Ritz all the best for the future, having worked in a pub years ago that closed down, I know how gutted they will all be. I really hope this current cloud over the British beer scene has its own silver lining.
Secondly if the 'beer world' or 'craft beer scene' is to turn into a proper 'craft beer revolution' then these British Isles need places like Beer Ritz and Utobeer and other places like them to thrive and it's tragic that we seem to have lost another venue that was close to so many peoples hearts.
Good luck and best wishes.
12 comments:
Hear, hear.
That's truly awful news. :(
Well said!
And a stark reminder that we all need to support the pubs and shops that sell the beers we like, because some day we may wake up to find them gone too.
Best wishes to all at Beer Ritz.
Shit. Bad news indeed.
Totally agree with Glyn's comments.
All the best to Zak the the team...
Terrible news and a big loss.
Check out my tribute blog.
Beer Ritz - A sad farewll
http://hopzine.com/?p=2508
It's not uncommon for basically sound businesses to fail because of poor financial controls – was this the case here, or was it genuinely due to declining trade?
I share the sentiments. Sad news and all the best to the guys. Niche shops add to consumer choice and it would be great to see it come out of administration.
yes, all the best to Zak and Ghostie.
I loved watching the videos that Zak did from the shop, very entertaining.
Thanks for this Glyn. And it should be stated that it was not through fault of not doing enough trading. We had been growing bigger and bigger every year. I'll have to come to London to get my beers now.
Ghostie, you guys are very welcome. I think the level of sadness about this is higher than a lot of people expected. All the best.
Beer-Ritz has been saved: http://ghostdrinker.blogspot.com/2011/03/were-back.html
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