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CARR TROUBLE
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| DRAMATIC EFFECTS': Richard Carr admits losing a third of his personal wealth |
FUTURE 3000, Bournemouth's largest nightclub and bar operator, is in the hands of administrators, its chairman Richard Carr has confirmed.
In a frank interview, the entrepreneur confessed that the "dramatic effects" of the credit crunch had cost him a third of his personal wealth and lifetime's achievements.
"The future is very bleak. I have no idea what I am going to do," he admitted. "I'm trying to find my way out of this forest.
"The long and the short of it is that business has not been particularly buoyant for a long time due to falling visitor numbers and rising costs.
"The credit crunch has had a dramatic effect on people's spending and entrepreneurs. All eight of our venues will go up for sale but customers shouldn't notice any difference."
Mr Carr, 49, said Bournemouth venues Bliss, Bent Club, Crank, Jimmys, Mint, Toko and lap-dancing club Wiggle, along with Dundees in Poole, had "officially gone into administration" yesterday.
The businessman added that the companies were worth £10 million this time last year, but now only worth "whatever the administrators will get for them."
His Poole-based property company Ravine Lifestyle is not affected.
He said: "It is obviously very unfortunate and I would like to thank the management and staff for their services. Staffing levels should not be affected.
"The credit crunch has, without doubt, meant a huge reduction in spend per head over the last two months. People are getting drunk before they go out on beer costing 33 pence a bottle in supermarkets. Energy costs are a huge issue."
| "People are getting drunk before they go out on beer costing 33 pence a bottle in supermarkets." | | Entrepreneur Richard Carr explaining one reason why he is feeling the pinch |
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He predicted a winter of "carnage", adding: "There are significant problems heading towards the many people involved in leisure and retail.
"Personally it is a huge blow to my estate and my wealth. It is not a pleasant day. However, I have got many other businesses."
Future 3000 was formed seven years ago. Last year the millionaire businessman called for an "aggressive marketing stance" to enable Bournemouth and Poole to compete with international destinations served by low-cost airlines.
And he slammed money being spent on targeting the 45- to 65-year-old market saying the towns needed to concentrate more on young couples taking weekend breaks.
Mr Carr hit the headlines when he opened lap-dancing club Wiggle on Old Christchurch Road. Earlier this year he said it was ludicrous to blame the industry for any decline in the town's reputation.
He told the Daily Echo: "People might like to blame it on us, but Bournemouth's demise as a family resort is down to the fact that it is now cheaper to fly to Barcelona or Malaga than it is to drive from London to Bournemouth.
"If there wasn't a demand for them, they would not exist. They are good, clean fun."
6:24am Wednesday 23rd July 2008
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Posted by: hoppity, hamworthy on 6:45am Wed 23 Jul 08
oh dear what a shame
Posted by: Liz, Poole on 7:26am Wed 23 Jul 08
Personally it is a huge blow to my estate and my wealth. It is not a pleasant day. However, I have got many other businesses."
Good for you, we were ssssssooooooo worried about your estate and wealth. I am sure somebody will miss you and when I find that person, I will let you all know!!
Welcome to the real world. lol
Personally it is a huge blow to my estate and my wealth. It is not a pleasant day. However, I have got many other businesses."
Good for you, we were ssssssooooooo worried about your estate and wealth. I am sure somebody will miss you and when I find that person, I will let you all know!!
Welcome to the real world. lol
Posted by: 2Much, New Forest on 8:09am Wed 23 Jul 08
He'll have to cut down on his burgers!
He'll have to cut down on his burgers!
Posted by: hoppity, hamworthy on 8:10am Wed 23 Jul 08
no sympathy I was being sarcastic, personally can't stand the man
no sympathy I was being sarcastic, personally can't stand the man
Posted by: sharpy, Southbourne on 8:23am Wed 23 Jul 08
Funny how you all concentrate on slating the guy. Fair enough, from what I have been told he is a pretty roofless business man.
But if anyone can make clubs in Bournemouth profitable he is the man. If they aren't profitable now even when in a chain that big something is wrong.
Also who has thought about how much money those night clubs bring into the town? If all of the Carr empire falls it will halve the number of clubs and lessen drunkenness etc which is a good thing.... in the short term.
The problem inheritantly enters in a year or twos time. Bournemouth much to your annoyance is NOT a cute sea side town. Those haven't existed for years and you should all by now know that. The pier is an eye sore as much as the council love it. The poeple who come to Bournemouth (I mean the majority) are here for the night life. They bring in a lot of cash to Hotels, Restaurants, Shops and the high-street (clubbers seems to like to buy new outfits while they are sobering up or getting ready for the night out).
I think you'll find the impact to be very detrimental to our town.
The loss of income from the clubbing tourists will pretty much ensure a fair few shops close and go out of business. So resulting in job losses.
Of course we are not in a recession and Mr Brown will find some clever tax to make sure we don't worry about entertainment and instead concentrate on just affording to buy enough food.
Oh yeah on the subject.... maybe quite a bit of the high alcohol consumption is down to depressed and upset people trying to cope? Wonder how many of you have a bad day so have a glass of wine or a pint to make it all seems just a tad better. Now apply that theory to someone having a bad few years or no hope of a future and I think I can see why they drink so much and get so upset and agitated at the drop of a hat.
Funny how you all concentrate on slating the guy. Fair enough, from what I have been told he is a pretty roofless business man.
But if anyone can make clubs in Bournemouth profitable he is the man. If they aren't profitable now even when in a chain that big something is wrong.
Also who has thought about how much money those night clubs bring into the town? If all of the Carr empire falls it will halve the number of clubs and lessen drunkenness etc which is a good thing.... in the short term.
The problem inheritantly enters in a year or twos time. Bournemouth much to your annoyance is NOT a cute sea side town. Those haven't existed for years and you should all by now know that. The pier is an eye sore as much as the council love it. The poeple who come to Bournemouth (I mean the majority) are here for the night life. They bring in a lot of cash to Hotels, Restaurants, Shops and the high-street (clubbers seems to like to buy new outfits while they are sobering up or getting ready for the night out).
I think you'll find the impact to be very detrimental to our town.
The loss of income from the clubbing tourists will pretty much ensure a fair few shops close and go out of business. So resulting in job losses.
Of course we are not in a recession and Mr Brown will find some clever tax to make sure we don't worry about entertainment and instead concentrate on just affording to buy enough food.
Oh yeah on the subject.... maybe quite a bit of the high alcohol consumption is down to depressed and upset people trying to cope? Wonder how many of you have a bad day so have a glass of wine or a pint to make it all seems just a tad better. Now apply that theory to someone having a bad few years or no hope of a future and I think I can see why they drink so much and get so upset and agitated at the drop of a hat.
Posted by: Charlie on 8:27am Wed 23 Jul 08
[bold] maybe quite a bit of the high alcohol consumption is down to depressed and upset people trying to cope?[/bold]
How does getting drunk help you cope?
maybe quite a bit of the high alcohol consumption is down to depressed and upset people trying to cope?
How does getting drunk help you cope?
Posted by: sharpy, Sotuhbourne on 8:39am Wed 23 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Charlie[/bold] wrote:
[bold] maybe quite a bit of the high alcohol consumption is down to depressed and upset people trying to cope?[/bold]
How does getting drunk help you cope?[/quote] It doesn't in the long term. It's more a case of if they are drunk they don't have to think about tomorrow for a short while.
It's like most homeless people drink because it takes the edge of a really hard existence
Charlie wrote:
maybe quite a bit of the high alcohol consumption is down to depressed and upset people trying to cope?
How does getting drunk help you cope?
It doesn't in the long term. It's more a case of if they are drunk they don't have to think about tomorrow for a short while.
It's like most homeless people drink because it takes the edge of a really hard existence
Posted by: Phil, Poole on 8:46am Wed 23 Jul 08
We don't need Carr's seedy binge-drinking venues to attract people to Bournemouth. We need classier places to attract an older, more affluent crowd. With Carr out of the picture, there's now a chance for a change for the better.
We don't need Carr's seedy binge-drinking venues to attract people to Bournemouth. We need classier places to attract an older, more affluent crowd. With Carr out of the picture, there's now a chance for a change for the better.
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