Draft house

[85volga]

Franca Manca must have to much money to have a prime building sitting empty for 6 months while they twiddle their thumbs... in light of that, lots of turnover in the Lane at the moment.....

[85volga]

Planning docs

http://planningonline.southwark.gov.uk/AcolNetCGI.exe?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeDocs&TheSystemkey=9553547

[ths0105]

@85volga - they will have negotiated a rent-free period with the landlord whilst they do the fit-out.

[Applespider]

I find FM a little hit and miss on the pizzas. I don't like mine too thick and occasionally, at Brixton, at least, I've had a few misses. I'm guessing though that building the wood fired ovens is bound to take a little time!

Has anyone been up to Pizza Pilgrims in Soho? They do some fabulous pizzas... and a dessert pizza. A salted ricotta and Nutella pizza... my pizza purist soul was horrified until I tried it. Delicious!

[????]

Always a massive queue= food must be fantastic, and so it comes to pass. Behavioural Economics in action (apply to bars/clubs....but not RyanAir).

[jomou]

If I'm reading the plans correctly (I may not be), it looks like they're sacrificing the basement in order to flatten out the previous 'raised middle' that the ground floor had.

Sounds like a smart move to me - as much as I liked the Draft House, it was a weird layout - but it is probably going to take significantly more work to achieve than your average interior fit-out.

[StraferJack]

Agreed jomou. But utterly necessary IMO

[jomou]

Looks like Franco Manca are now aiming to open in November.

On Twitter, they said on 7 Sept: "november ! - we've been throwing a lot of money down a very big hole".

On 12 Sept they posted this photo of the interior as it currently looks: https://twitter.com/FrancoMancaPizz/status/510339028290637824/photo/1

And if you look further back on the Twitter timeline there are references to the building work being more complex than originally hoped - e.g. "building snags - have to get it right" and "we are digging a very big hole and then filling it in again".

So, it looks like a lot is going on behind those hoardings.

[steveo]

I passed their branch in South Ken yesterday. It is also a building site.

A lot of money down two very big holes

[DulwichFox]

They have probably spent a considerable amount of money doing the place up.

Their prices seem to be fairly reasonable.

Certainly a lot more reasonable than the prices for the pizza at The Actress.

All their outlets seem to have the same pricing policy.

They are going to have to sell an awful lot of Pizzas to get their money back.

Perhaps they will need to up the price in East Dulwich to attract the element of discerning diners

that are only content if their bill means maxing out on their credit cards..

I do not eat Pizza. I find it boring. After all it really IS mostly Cheese on Toast.

Foxy

[edcam]

Wish they'd hurry up, I'm starving.

[jomou]

I'm sure they will make all of this money back come November, when I commence throwing a lot of pizza down my cakehole.

[MrBen]

They are spending a fortune - major reconstructive surgery to get the space right and level it all. But good that they realised it was needed as many others wouldn't have...even if they underestimated the task in hand. Also a sure sign that private equity money is at play.

They'll be busy enough to turn a profit I'm sure but will also regain some back when selling on the lease in future as it will likely command higher rents.

[jimmyraj]

The problems of the Draft House and Black Cherry - ie. low front section, up then down again (lack of atmosphere) show it's probably worth them getting it right. Probably a ?150k job, but worth it in the end if they get a decent space to serve people in. Good luck to them - look forward to trying it.

[stingray]

From chatting to someone involved in the pub..:

No different pricing,

Don't have private equity - same people for years.

Time taken has all been about getting structural steel right so the building didn't fall down when levelling the floor.

Still looking at mid to late Nov.

[sean dillion]

HAHAHAHAH HAHAHAHAAH HAHAHAHAHAH

[sean dillion]

Why on Earth does anyone think you are Richard Brenson

[DaveR]

"Don't have private equity - same people for years."

The original guy is still involved but put together an investor group to fund the expansion

http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Business/Former-Clapham-House-boss-in-new-venture

http://www.fulhamshore.com/background/

[titch juicy]

Am i right in thinking the picturehouse will be opening at a similar time?

Great if so- will save going to Brixton for our pizza and pictures nights.

[maxxi]

Passed by this evening and got a peek - white tiles on the walls and a large mound-like structure covered in polythene (wood fired pizza oven presumably), big fridges at the back, must be getting near to opening?

[swquiz]

Various photos of the work-in-progress on their Twitter feed.

They are hiring front-of-house staff and a week ago they posted that they're still aiming for mid-November. Sounding good!

[Tanday]

looks like they are opening 14th Nov

[James Barber]

Small amendment to their alcolhol license being processed by the council - described as small internal layout change.

[Dopamine1979]

When the moon hits your eye....

[DulwichFox]

Can't wait. No doubt will bump into Louisa on opening night. Lol.

Foxy.