Number Nine restaurant closes again (From Gazette)
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Number Nine restaurant closes again
12:46pm Tuesday 8th January 2013 in News By James Cox
Troubled restaurant closes for second time in six-months
A RESTAURANT, with Michelin star ambitions, has closed for the second time in six months.
Number Nine, on North Hill, Colchester, has shut for an undisclosed amount of time with management blaming the sudden loss of its head chef.
A poster in the window reads: “Unfortunately, due to unforeseen personal reasons, we regretfully announce our head chef's sudden departure."
Comments(14)
historyman22
says...
1:15pm Tue 8 Jan 13
Many will be unsurprised by this news, particularly given the timing after the festive period.
He will no doubt re-open in early March.
Perhaps this is a warning to other 'wanabee' Restaurateurs that there is not sufficient demand in Colchester for such expensive dining venues as this?
sandgronun64
says...
1:27pm Tue 8 Jan 13
Evidently his custom (and it seems staff) voted with their feet.
irememberwhen
says...
1:33pm Tue 8 Jan 13
Boris
says...
1:36pm Tue 8 Jan 13
irememberwhen wrote:The picture is from a few months ago, when he re-opened the restaurant after having welshed on his previous suppliers.
Judging by the tightness of that lovely pink shirt, maybe Mr. Cole had eaten all the chefs stock over the Christmas period?
Bert_Stimpson
says...
1:43pm Tue 8 Jan 13
romantic
says...
2:36pm Tue 8 Jan 13
I´m afraid it all has a terrible predictability about it. I know a couple of people who ate there and were far from impressed at spending well over 100 pounds for a meal for two which left them still hungry at the end. There are enough decent eating places in town where you can eat good food and have an excellent night for markedly less than that.
I hope we will also hear from LB Group, the accountants who looked after the change of name a few months ago. It´s all there if you Google it, guys! Your name is now also linked to this rather dodgy character.
comeonyouirons
says...
2:48pm Tue 8 Jan 13
Citizen 139
says...
3:18pm Tue 8 Jan 13
He's also a a director of REKCIN LIMITED which lists the trading address of 82c East Hill, Colchester, Essex, Co1 2qw but no accounts have been filed yet as it was only setup in August last year
So there you have it. No need to delete this post as all the information I've just posted is publicly available on the companies house website for everyone to see.
Bert_Stimpson
says...
3:45pm Tue 8 Jan 13
JCoe1980
says...
4:18pm Tue 8 Jan 13
I am all for good restaurants in Colchester but this guy had bad cash flow and clearly has no idea how to run a business!
Say It As It Is OK?
says...
6:57pm Tue 8 Jan 13
romantic wrote:Totally agree, but I suspect the LB group will keep a low profile and as Tony Cole is linked to them his taint is bound to rub off.
Astonished if anybody gave him credit this time around, but I do hope he has not left anybody owed money again. The story last time was that the profits this time around would be used to pay off the creditors from the previous incarnation. Can we safely assume this has not happened?
I´m afraid it all has a terrible predictability about it. I know a couple of people who ate there and were far from impressed at spending well over 100 pounds for a meal for two which left them still hungry at the end. There are enough decent eating places in town where you can eat good food and have an excellent night for markedly less than that.
I hope we will also hear from LB Group, the accountants who looked after the change of name a few months ago. It´s all there if you Google it, guys! Your name is now also linked to this rather dodgy character.
Tony Cole has demonstrated, time and time again, that he is a downright dishonest businessman. I'm only surprised so many people have been taken in by him! Lets hope all ex staff are able to get work with reputable companies.
Grabber
says...
7:40pm Tue 8 Jan 13
He also has the misfortune to be a Gary Glitter look a like ......
sandgronun64
says...
2:18pm Wed 9 Jan 13
JCoe1980 wrote:Personally I would be wary of parting with any money prior to dining in a restaurant; particularly one with a poor track record, and so am completely with you on this point.
No surprise here! I booked for NYE 2012 and they requested 50% upfront plus a small booking fee - I dont think so!
I am all for good restaurants in Colchester but this guy had bad cash flow and clearly has no idea how to run a business!
I believe that you should only part with money as a refundable deposit. To be fair, this could of course include limitations such as if you do not turn up without informing them. Simply saying non-returnable though, seems to betray a lack of confidence though.
If the establishment does not provide a service (e.g., if it closes down prior to your booked date) how do you get it (your money) back? Small claims courts are hardly worth it for small amounts (once court fees etc., have been paid) and even if a CCJ is issued, they might not pay up. Sadly, as there is no real (legal) alternative to these it is a case of caveat emptor.
Other restaurants in town are taking bookings, some with and some without booking charges for upcoming events like Mother’s day and St Valentine’s Day. One (purportedly fine dining establishment) in the Dutch Quarter is a long way from being completed (from what I saw today) but is asking for "non-returnable" booking fees for 14 February. It doesn’t even look like the building is finished on the outside yet.
Save your money and go somewhere that offers a guarantee of a level of service; not promises, and certainly not one that you cannot even be sure will be trading when you arrive.
Boris says...
1:08pm Tue 8 Jan 13