Forum Topic

The Telegraph Pub

Walked past today and was surprised (but not really!) to see that it has permanantly closed. Anyone know what's going to happen to it?

Amanda Robart ● 2871d30 Comments

NopeBut I do know that the staff found out just yesterday that they didn't have a job today..... While the owner was flying to South AfricaThat's nice

Emarisa Battoia ● 2871d

see this message on their website - https://www.thetelegraphputney.co.uksounds like they took bookings for today, which they didn't fulfil. terrible.every time I have been there recently it has been really busy, so surely it was making plenty money??

Chris Rumfitt ● 2871d

All a bit sudden. Potted history on the website, which explains the origin of the name, taken from the earlier telegraph station:-https://www.thetelegraphputney.co.uk/history/"The Telegraph had been set up to convey messages between London and Portsmouth at a time when fears of a Napoleonic attack were rife. The chain of 10 telegraph stations started with the Admiralty, then continued at Chelsea, Putney, Kingston Hill, Cooper Hill and so on down to Portsmouth."

David Ainsworth ● 2871d

Thank you for posting,  I wasn't aware they had closed. I have liked the telegraph over the years, we ate there a few months back just after the children's playground opened. That was a great idea. I hope it reopens soon.

Alan Sherman ● 2871d

The telegraph website now says that they’re opening two new pubs...“The Tree House in Barnes and The Rocket in Epsom shortly thereafter”

Claire Longworth ● 2870d

Assuming the rent is correct on the website article at around 240k per annum. That is absolutely ridiculous!! I am not surprised it’s closing!!I would’ve put that property at a rent in region of 140k to be sustainable!I am amazed they’ve kept going for that long paying that rent! It’s only sustainable during peak summer months as you’d need to be taking 50k a week average for the year!

Nick Gulliford ● 2870d

And the rent was being pushed up to £270Basically greedHowever, bearing in mind that the owners knew this for some time as they had being trying to negotiate as albeit in unsuccessfully, it doesn't excuse them only telling staff on the 31st that they were closing as of the 1st. And not paying them what they were owed for the past month and declaring themselves bankrupt (while opening other businesses)

Emarisa Battoia ● 2870d

Can I ask where you got the bankruptcy info from?

Amanda Robart ● 2869d

My friend works there and was told that the business was now insolvent and that they will try and offer some of them jobs at EpsomMeanwhile they are all owed holiday pay and wages.

Emarisa Battoia ● 2869d

Interesting - and also shocking!Morale had been down at the pub for a while so no huge surprise.

Amanda Robart ● 2869d

Inflated rents, failed businesses: Putney's story? Employees and consumers suffering from greedy landlords? Still, we only have one side of the story, perhaps the landlords would like to present their position?

Michael Ixer ● 2869d

Great site for a tall apartment block. Think of the views.

David Ainsworth ● 2869d

Views????  Eyesore!!!No, please, let the Heath remain as it is please!!!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2869d

Yes, I read in PutneySW15 that the rent was going up to £270,000 from 2020.....  Eye watering figure!!The fact that the owners (Youngs?) knew this was coming does not excuse them from their behaviour.Just as shocking is that they are opening another business(es) after filing for bankruptcy.....  It does leave a sour taste in one's mounth!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2869d

We just went past The Telegraph and it looks closed but not shut down!In a totally flippant remark, I wonder if its owners are the same as those for Seaborne Freight?Bizarre, I know, but so many things are of late!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2869d

This is not a Youngs pub and is owned by two gentleman (information can be found on companies house) and there is no evidence of bankruptcy.

Gabrielle O'Mahoney ● 2869d

Just found out from an undertaker friend of ours that a family had booked The Telegraph for a wake tomorrow (Friday) and had been getting frustrated with the communication leading up to it, only to be told on New Year's Eve that they couldn't honour the booking. Very poor - just what you need at such an upsetting time. Having patronised The Telegraph over many years, even prior to it's re-launch a few years back, we won't be going to either of the new pubs being opened by the owners if this is their idea of customer service.

Roy Robart ● 2869d

Just found out from a friend in the funeral business that the pub cancelled a wake that was due to take place tomorrow on NEW YEAR'S EVE!  Shocking behaviour and business practice. After personal dealings with The Telegraph (various charity events) I can't say I'm surprised. Still waiting for a meeting with Peter Linacre regarding my fury over my last charity event.His poor right hand man, Maria, is left to clean up all his mess and the events manager, Claude is rude and offensive.The leaky roof and staff morale should have been enough of a warning to us that this pub was going down The Swanny.As for bankruptcy, who knows? The truth will out!

Amanda Robart ● 2869d

Companies House only shows when the most recent accounts were submitted, but doesn't yet show any information about winding up. So it would be wrong to speculate they were insolvent without proof.

Roy Robart ● 2869d

Morale was indeed low, and there seemed to be a power struggle between the events manager and the admin staff. Bar staff were also openly overheard by customers to be grumbling about a recent charity event.  This might make some sense in retrospect, as they may have had their own grievances while the pub was seen to be supplying the space and food gratis, as appreciated as it was, while they may not have been happy with their own terms.

Roy Robart ● 2869d

Amanda and Roy, I am totally speechless to hear the news.  The poor family are dealing with grief and the pub tells them it is a no no????  Saying that it is shocking is an understatement! How absolutely thoughtless, gutless and devious!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2869d

Couldn't agree with you more.When Jasmin was there as events manager it was a pub that you couldn't fault. Sadly, when she left it went rapidly down hill.On another note, what about the people who had bookings for New Year's Day? Can you imagine arriving with your party just to find a note on the door?! I can't get my head around why they weren't informed of the closure.My very overdue meeting with Peter Linacre regarding the issues I had with my Age UK charity event I held there in November will never happen now. I guess I now know why he was dodging me!

Amanda Robart ● 2869d

As I mentioned in my earlier post, the owner has declared himself insolvent and was flying to South Africa on New Years EveStaff found out that night that they no longer had a job as I'd the next day, but still worked that night. They have not received wages or owed holiday pay. The owner sent his friend to tell the staff this while he was on the plane. So why you would be surprised at them cancelling the people on NYD after he has treated his staff this way? He's a tosspot. He is actually, in my eyes, worse than the freeholder asking for more rent.

Emarisa Battoia ● 2869d

His comment on the article on this website says that 'we finish our time there with our highest ever levels of revenues' so I don't see how he can be bankrupt or insolvent.If he treated his staff that badly, then I agree,it's unforgivable. So why would they choose to follow him to the 2 new pubs he's opening?! The plot thickens ... !

Amanda Robart ● 2869d

Revenue doesn't necessarily mean the business was in profit or didn't have a cash flow problem; alternatively, did the lease from the landlord expire at the end of December 18? Speculation but it seems odd that the owner's gone off to South Africa if the business has gone into administration. I suppose we'll find out in due course - did the friend who spoke to the staff say when the owner was returning? Just feel sorry for the customers with bookings not honoured and unpaid staff, bad way to start 2019.

Michael Ixer ● 2869d

The person i know is in desperate need of a job so if they are offered one they will take it, as they will also hope to get their back pay that's due. Pretty obvious reallyBut if they found a job in the meantime then no, they would not take the job of it was offered

Emarisa Battoia ● 2869d

The law really needs to be changed about people bankrupting themselves and then starting up other businesses, even if it's with different partnersTwice as a business I have not been paid by people who have declared themselves bankrupt and then began trading under a different nameThe way the law is you can very easily toodle off on holiday, set up new pubs in Epsom etc, while bankrupting a business and getting out of what you owe people

Emarisa Battoia ● 2869d

I guess we need to see the full facts of this case - rent v cash flow v optimism v ... but what you're sating seems to reflect the example of business ethics set by POTUS#45?

Michael Ixer ● 2868d

The Jolly Gardeners pub on Lacy Road is hiring bar and kitchen staff at the moment.

Ben Rainbow ● 2868d

In the article published by PutneySW15 dated 4 January 2019, owner Peter Linacre told this website, "We told all members of staff on 29th December about the impending closure. Happily, pretty much all staff have been offered positions at two new premises that will open imminently; The TreeHouse in Barnes and The Rocket in Epsom"."We have been negotiating with our landlord for months and years that he might adjust the current rent of £243,000 and rising to £275,000 in May 2020 - in the light of current and recent market conditions. That negotiating door was finally closed on 28th December. ""We have loved owning and running the site. And it says something that we finish our time there with our highest ever levels of revenues and our highest ever levels of positive customer feedback! We look forward to opening very soon in Barnes and Epsom".So, a few questions arise.  If they knew on 29 December they were going to close, why no cancel all the bookings they were holding for January?If in fact there is no bankruptcy, why were the staff not paid? Also, why does the Telegraph still have all the garden furniture out, all hanging baskets still hanging, nothing changed inside?  It looks as if it is closed "for a holiday"....

Ivonne Holliday ● 2868d