JgFc wrote:

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Si

The base of any future events must be to get people going in the bar.

Happy Hours, Raffles, Open Weekends, Sunday Lunch

Then a regular stream of events with some diversity.

People arent used to the bar being open or events (Other than the occasional rock gig) being on.

Get people using the place , then have flyers on tables in those plastic menu holders, posters on the walls. sell tickets in the bar and over the bar for events, obviously helps if people are using the gaff.

Diverse and well stocked bar helps aswell, cant have people going to events being restricted on what they want. This is where a manager or someone in charge has to run the bar seperate to the club so stock levels can stay acceptable, entertainment committee can report to the bar manager. Takes work away from Barrie too.

I strongly believe this should come about when the new supporters association is up and running and growing in numbers, theres a far bigger foundation if this is the case.

-- Edited by JgFc on Wednesday 29th of December 2010 10:17:59 PM

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I'm not sure we'll get the people turning out for events in our current set up. We have a pretty rundown/small clubhouse compared to Dartford, Chelmsford, Dover, even Erith & B. Word of mouth with people saying 'you ought to see Welling's clubhouse - great place to have a night out' - is just not going to happen. Advertise like mad but will people really fancy going to PVR? I think not unless it's a unique event you maybe can't get elsewhere or a quiz night that are popular across the country. Throw in the cost of a night out during a recession, the ground not that near a station, limited parking, low attendances and no official marketing/commercial department what can we do? To rely on the home fans attending events is also wrong to some degree - how many home fans will be into darts or a band night on top of already attending home games? If you get 10% of our home fans, that's still only 50 people. Like JGFC said Erith get outsiders to attend their clubhouse. That's the key - 10% of interested local people would be much higher than 50.

How do we attract people to our clubhouse? Advertise is one thing but the bar needs a complete overhaul to make it attractive and I mean complete redesign and structural work. With our current financial situation that's not going to happen. Catch 22 at the moment. Perhaps a loan with a business plan of return investment might work but who would lend us money at the moment? In my opinion the very least would be to level the bar if possible, run the bar along the left hand snug area, modernise the place (get rid of the wallpaper and carpet), install modern lighting to suit the various functions, new tables/chairs (just how old are the bench seats?), improve access (do we need double doors where they are?), improve the entrance lighting (when you turn up to evening functions it looks like an illegal drinking den), install disabled access/toilets and possibly extend the front section of the clubhouse - there must be 10 metres we could claim there. The current tea bar should be in the Erith corner freeing up space rather than have queues right next to the bar entrance. Shift the cars as well if we can get space in the pub or car front.

This isn't a pop at anyone who runs the events (you have my admiration) but after low attendances we need to ask why. If you took a wife, work colleague or someone who had never been to PVR to our clubhouse and ask them what they thought of it, I doubt it would be complementary.