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A CHARLTON UPDATE FROM LARRY’S MOBILE BAR
LarrysMobileBar
Posts: 164
We know many of you have been asking when Larry’s will be back in the Fans’ Bar, and we feel you deserve an honest update.
We want to return — and we’re grateful to the Charlton fans who spoke up for us.
We’re passionate, lifelong Charlton fans ourselves. For the last three seasons, we’ve even given up our season tickets so we could spend matchdays behind the bar serving you — our fellow supporters. We’ve missed watching the games, but being part of your matchday experience has meant a huge amount to us.
We’re also incredibly proud of the part Larry’s has played in bringing cocktails into football stadiums. We’ve worked hard to build something different at The Valley, and supporters have come to know us for it.
We were initially told that Larry’s would not be returning to the Fans’ Bar this season. We were not given a reason for that decision. Following feedback from supporters asking for us back, KERB contacted us and offered us the opportunity to return. To everyone who made their voice heard: thank you.
Unfortunately, the proposed terms included a 28% commission on our sales, up from the 10% we previously paid. Based on our understanding of the arrangements for other established vendors at Charlton, we believe some are being charged considerably less. We asked KERB to explain how our rate had been determined and whether a more commercially workable arrangement could be agreed.
We also asked to keep our usual position by the window. That’s where we’ve traded for several seasons and where our customers know to find us. The proposal was to move us elsewhere in the Fans’ Bar, while also restricting promotional material to our own unit.
There is another issue that makes the proposed commission particularly difficult for us to understand. The main Fans’ Bar is now selling pre-made canned cocktails, advertised at £11.95. Cocktails are Larry’s specialist offering — the product we’ve built our business and our following around. We’re being asked to pay 28% of our sales while the main bar is also selling a directly competing product.
We’ve also asked on several occasions in previous seasons for permission to sell bottles of lager alongside our cocktails, partly so we could help take pressure off the main-bar queues. Those requests were declined. We respected that decision, but it’s difficult to reconcile with the main bar now offering cocktails of its own.
We believe supporters should have a choice of drinks at reasonable prices. Increasing our commission from 10% to 28% would put significant pressure on us to raise our prices, and we don’t believe fans should have to pay more to make that commission viable for Larry’s.
We raised these points because we genuinely wanted to find a way back. Since then, we’ve sent three follow-up emails without a reply. We also called and left a voicemail, which has not been returned. After weeks of trying to get an answer, it’s difficult not to feel that our enquiries are being ignored.
We’ve now decided that we won’t keep chasing. That does not mean we’ve stopped wanting to return.
Charlton is our club too. If Larry’s isn’t in the Fans’ Bar, it isn’t because we’ve chosen to walk away from Charlton or its supporters. Our door remains open if a commercially workable agreement can be reached.
Thank you again to everyone who asked for Larry’s back and continues to support us. We hope we’ll be serving you at The Valley again. ❤️
Scott & the Larry’s Mobile Bar team
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Comments
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Sounds like the club are treating you like chite, and their alternative is to sell overpriced chite from untrained staff.5
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So basically, they’ll settle for 28% of nothing as opposed to 10% of steady sales and less grief from those fans that want a pint without having to queue too much ?11
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From reading the above update it’s very clear that whoever it concerns does not want Larry’s Mobile bar back in the Fans bar by putting more obstacles in the way than the Army assault course on the Krypton Factor.
Maybe this will change one day but as it stands it won’t happen anytime soon in my opinion.
What was the agreement when the Club appointed the Current catering company? Do the club now have a say in it? Is that why emails sent into the club complaining about the poor service have been forwarded onto the current catering company to answer?0 -
I'm not taking sides but the club can charge whatever they want.
I can't imagine many pubs agreeing to let you sell cocktails on their premises.
Maybe they would, have you asked any of the local pubs if you can sell cocktails?6 -
More profit seeking from book-keepers instead of the right decision. The strategy if there was one, might include diversification of suppliers and working with local firms to keep the cub locally branded. Instead we get a Levy/Gather and Gather sole offering. Who is doing the 'negotiation' here for the Fans Bar- have we outsourced that to Gather and Gather too?
Edit- so we have- KERB/Levy/ G&G being the same outfit. In the name of 'good business' eh!?2 -
I suspect most pubs don’t have a problem in pouring drinks and serving their customers quickly and efficiently. Larry’s Mobile cocktail bar took away some of the wait to get served for those fans that wanted a pint. TBF, the queues didn’t seem too bad after the last game though that may have been because there seemed to be fewer people in there than usual.Covered End said:I'm not taking sides but the club can charge whatever they want.
I can't imagine many pubs agreeing to let you sell cocktails on their premises.
Maybe they would, have you asked any of the local pubs if you can sell cocktails?1 -
The Fans Bar isn’t a pub though, and we offered something incredibly popular that the main bar doesn’t.Covered End said:I'm not taking sides but the club can charge whatever they want.
I can't imagine many pubs agreeing to let you sell cocktails on their premises.
Maybe they would, have you asked any of the local pubs if you can sell cocktails?Plus, we have no issues with being charged a commission. We do many music festivals, community events etc where we pay a fair price.
But to be asked to pay 28% from 10% when we know for a fact other vendors are paying considerably less is not on.
Also just for clarity Charlton do not set the commission - LEVY or KERB do3 -
Must say, my view is that contract talks are a personal matter between you and the club that doesn't need airing publicly.
Still, it's a shame Larry's won't be back in the Fans' Bar this season.5 -
Not really talks when we was doing the talking and being ignored_uptheaddicks said:Must say, my view is that contract talks are a personal matter between you and the club that doesn't need airing publicly.
Still, it's a shame Larry's won't be back in the Fans' Bar this season.6 -
The club seem to have no power over the fan's bar, so I'm not sure they are the ones to be criticised. As reported by Gavin Carter previously, if they want to use the space for a function, they need to request Gather & Gather's permission... To use their own space inside their own stadium.
This was all agreed in a contract by Thomas Sandgaard.2 -
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Quite clearly fan pressure can help Larry out here._uptheaddicks said:Must say, my view is that contract talks are a personal matter between you and the club that doesn't need airing publicly.
Still, it's a shame Larry's won't be back in the Fans' Bar this season.
Seems the exact move to play right now.3 -
Things may have changed in the last 3/4 years but the club did overrule Gather & Gather when we first enquired about doing the fans bar.Chunes said:The club seem to have no power over the fan's bar, so I'm not sure they are the ones to be criticised. As reported by Gavin Carter previously, if they want to use the space for a function, they need to request Gather & Gather's permission... To use their own space inside their own stadium.
This was all agreed in a contract by Thomas Sandgaard.G & G initially said no, but with the help of Charltons Her Game Too, and to her credit Rayleen Maloney I got in.1 -
The 28% commission figure must have come from an exchange. It is a shame as I enjoyed the offering, but the long AI write up is quite a painful read. A personal one would have been more powerful than artificial intelligence.LarrysMobileBar said:
Not really talks when we was doing the talking and being ignored_uptheaddicks said:Must say, my view is that contract talks are a personal matter between you and the club that doesn't need airing publicly.
Still, it's a shame Larry's won't be back in the Fans' Bar this season.3 -
To Charlton fans_uptheaddicks said:
The 28% commission figure must have come from an exchange. It is a shame as I enjoyed the offering, but the long AI write up is quite a painful read. A personal one would have been more powerful than artificial intelligence.LarrysMobileBar said:
Not really talks when we was doing the talking and being ignored_uptheaddicks said:Must say, my view is that contract talks are a personal matter between you and the club that doesn't need airing publicly.
Still, it's a shame Larry's won't be back in the Fans' Bar this season.
We not coming back cos we refuse to charge the earth?
sincerly LMB 😂
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The Bar offering is pretty much what a pub offers, drink and food.LarrysMobileBar said:
The Fans Bar isn’t a pub though, and we offered something incredibly popular that the main bar doesn’t.Covered End said:I'm not taking sides but the club can charge whatever they want.
I can't imagine many pubs agreeing to let you sell cocktails on their premises.
Maybe they would, have you asked any of the local pubs if you can sell cocktails?Plus, we have no issues with being charged a commission. We do many music festivals, community events etc where we pay a fair price.
But to be asked to pay 28% from 10% when we know for a fact other vendors are paying considerably less is not on.
Also just for clarity Charlton do not set the commission - LEVY or KERB do
I don't know if the Fans Bar sell or want to sell coffee, but if they don't, it would explain why they perhaps charge Perkilicious less commission, if they are offering a service to fans that they do not want to offer.
If LEVY/KERB now want to sell canned cocktails because you've shown them there is a demand it's their prerogative, which is awful for you.
But it's similar to a corkage fee, if you want to bring your drinks onto a licensed premises selling the same product, they will make it prohibitive to do so.
Sorry about that, but that's business and I've no doubt you already understand this.
I suppose if they've offered you terms and you've declined, it's their choice to not negotiate further.
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Ah forgot to say - when KERB said about the 28% they used the wording “To be fair and consistent with all traders”Covered End said:
The Bar offering is pretty much what a pub offers, drink and food.LarrysMobileBar said:
The Fans Bar isn’t a pub though, and we offered something incredibly popular that the main bar doesn’t.Covered End said:I'm not taking sides but the club can charge whatever they want.
I can't imagine many pubs agreeing to let you sell cocktails on their premises.
Maybe they would, have you asked any of the local pubs if you can sell cocktails?Plus, we have no issues with being charged a commission. We do many music festivals, community events etc where we pay a fair price.
But to be asked to pay 28% from 10% when we know for a fact other vendors are paying considerably less is not on.
Also just for clarity Charlton do not set the commission - LEVY or KERB do
I don't know if the Fans Bar sell or want to sell coffee, but if they don't, it would explain why they perhaps charge Perkilicious less commission, if they are offering a service to fans that they do not want to offer.
If LEVY/KERB now want to sell canned cocktails because you've shown them a demand it's there prerogative, which is awful for you.
But it's similar to a corkage fee, if you want to bring your drinks onto a licensed premises selling the same product, they will make it prohibitive to do so.
Sorry about that, but that's business and I've no doubt you already understand this.
I suppose if they've offered you terms and you've declined, it's their choice to not negotiate further.2 -
LarrysMobileBar said:
Ah forgot to say - when KERB said about the 28% they used the wording “To be fair and consistent with all traders”Covered End said:
The Bar offering is pretty much what a pub offers, drink and food.LarrysMobileBar said:
The Fans Bar isn’t a pub though, and we offered something incredibly popular that the main bar doesn’t.Covered End said:I'm not taking sides but the club can charge whatever they want.
I can't imagine many pubs agreeing to let you sell cocktails on their premises.
Maybe they would, have you asked any of the local pubs if you can sell cocktails?Plus, we have no issues with being charged a commission. We do many music festivals, community events etc where we pay a fair price.
But to be asked to pay 28% from 10% when we know for a fact other vendors are paying considerably less is not on.
Also just for clarity Charlton do not set the commission - LEVY or KERB do
I don't know if the Fans Bar sell or want to sell coffee, but if they don't, it would explain why they perhaps charge Perkilicious less commission, if they are offering a service to fans that they do not want to offer.
If LEVY/KERB now want to sell canned cocktails because you've shown them a demand it's there prerogative, which is awful for you.
But it's similar to a corkage fee, if you want to bring your drinks onto a licensed premises selling the same product, they will make it prohibitive to do so.
Sorry about that, but that's business and I've no doubt you already understand this.
I suppose if they've offered you terms and you've declined, it's their choice to not negotiate further.F*** 'em then, they are liars as well.I hope that the loss of business from not working at Charlton can be replaced elsewhere, and be more profitable for you.4 -
Fortunately we have a lot of work on throughout our businessElfsborgAddick said:LarrysMobileBar said:
Ah forgot to say - when KERB said about the 28% they used the wording “To be fair and consistent with all traders”Covered End said:
The Bar offering is pretty much what a pub offers, drink and food.LarrysMobileBar said:
The Fans Bar isn’t a pub though, and we offered something incredibly popular that the main bar doesn’t.Covered End said:I'm not taking sides but the club can charge whatever they want.
I can't imagine many pubs agreeing to let you sell cocktails on their premises.
Maybe they would, have you asked any of the local pubs if you can sell cocktails?Plus, we have no issues with being charged a commission. We do many music festivals, community events etc where we pay a fair price.
But to be asked to pay 28% from 10% when we know for a fact other vendors are paying considerably less is not on.
Also just for clarity Charlton do not set the commission - LEVY or KERB do
I don't know if the Fans Bar sell or want to sell coffee, but if they don't, it would explain why they perhaps charge Perkilicious less commission, if they are offering a service to fans that they do not want to offer.
If LEVY/KERB now want to sell canned cocktails because you've shown them a demand it's there prerogative, which is awful for you.
But it's similar to a corkage fee, if you want to bring your drinks onto a licensed premises selling the same product, they will make it prohibitive to do so.
Sorry about that, but that's business and I've no doubt you already understand this.
I suppose if they've offered you terms and you've declined, it's their choice to not negotiate further.F*** 'em then, they are liars as well.I hope that the loss of business from not working at Charlton can be replaced elsewhere, and be more profitable for you.5 -
The situation in which Charlton don’t control their own lounges goes back a long way. It was already a problem when I was working there and that was 14 years ago.Chunes said:The club seem to have no power over the fan's bar, so I'm not sure they are the ones to be criticised. As reported by Gavin Carter previously, if they want to use the space for a function, they need to request Gather & Gather's permission... To use their own space inside their own stadium.
This was all agreed in a contract by Thomas Sandgaard.6 -
I think it’s all sad to be honest.Corporate companies will NEVER be able to replicate the genuine knowledge and customer service a business like ours can produce.7
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Utter garbage!
Your gin fizz was the ONLY drinkable thing I’ve had in my last two visits to the Fans Bar.
I won’t be returning.
Good luck with everything you do going forward 🍸2 -
It sounds like a set of commercial terms that are set out to offset any loss of sale from the catering suppliers own offering. I’m afraid that’s business, whether it feels right or wrong given your position as a fan.
I am sure you have worked through the numbers to understand whether the new terms are commercially viable - if they aren’t, and the operator is not willing to negotiate, then it’s plan b or nothing.
What I would say to many on here is that the complaints about the current provision of food and drink are well established, and yet as consumers you continue to put money into the operators till. There is no better way for a company to understand the issue in its service than to see sales plummet.
And yet many of the complainers will still be in the “Fan’s Bar” at the next match, eager to secure their table.
Bite the bullet and stop.5 -
I think the club has the same problem tbh.LarrysMobileBar said:I think it’s all sad to be honest.Corporate companies will NEVER be able to replicate the genuine knowledge and customer service a business like ours can produce.2 -
That is so true. Only issue is that there is so few local options. The Oak or the Rose of Denmark are both 10-15 minutes walk away so the onsite options are all there is - especially for an aging fanbase. Bit like bars in an airport - they have a captive audience and are exploiting that.SporadicAddick said:It sounds like a set of commercial terms that are set out to offset any loss of sale from the catering suppliers own offering. I’m afraid that’s business, whether it feels right or wrong given your position as a fan.
I am sure you have worked through the numbers to understand whether the new terms are commercially viable - if they aren’t, and the operator is not willing to negotiate, then it’s plan b or nothing.
What I would say to many on here is that the complaints about the current provision of food and drink are well established, and yet as consumers you continue to put money into the operators till. There is no better way for a company to understand the issue in its service than to see sales plummet.
And yet many of the complainers will still be in the “Fan’s Bar” at the next match, eager to secure their table.
Bite the bullet and stop.3 -
I agree and there will always be many that, for very good reasons, won’t or can’t change.CafcWest said:
That is so true. Only issue is that there is so few local options. The Oak or the Rose of Denmark are both 10-15 minutes walk away so the onsite options are all there is - especially for an aging fanbase. Bit like bars in an airport - they have a captive audience and are exploiting that.SporadicAddick said:It sounds like a set of commercial terms that are set out to offset any loss of sale from the catering suppliers own offering. I’m afraid that’s business, whether it feels right or wrong given your position as a fan.
I am sure you have worked through the numbers to understand whether the new terms are commercially viable - if they aren’t, and the operator is not willing to negotiate, then it’s plan b or nothing.
What I would say to many on here is that the complaints about the current provision of food and drink are well established, and yet as consumers you continue to put money into the operators till. There is no better way for a company to understand the issue in its service than to see sales plummet.
And yet many of the complainers will still be in the “Fan’s Bar” at the next match, eager to secure their table.
Bite the bullet and stop.
but the 20% that could would make the difference.
Or if you do go, reduce your consumption.
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The Oak was only 3 minutes away the last time I went.CafcWest said:
That is so true. Only issue is that there is so few local options. The Oak or the Rose of Denmark are both 10-15 minutes walk away so the onsite options are all there is - especially for an aging fanbase. Bit like bars in an airport - they have a captive audience and are exploiting that.SporadicAddick said:It sounds like a set of commercial terms that are set out to offset any loss of sale from the catering suppliers own offering. I’m afraid that’s business, whether it feels right or wrong given your position as a fan.
I am sure you have worked through the numbers to understand whether the new terms are commercially viable - if they aren’t, and the operator is not willing to negotiate, then it’s plan b or nothing.
What I would say to many on here is that the complaints about the current provision of food and drink are well established, and yet as consumers you continue to put money into the operators till. There is no better way for a company to understand the issue in its service than to see sales plummet.
And yet many of the complainers will still be in the “Fan’s Bar” at the next match, eager to secure their table.
Bite the bullet and stop.6 -
You’ve hit the nail on the head there. I’m guilty myself of going to pubs furtherCafcWest said:
That is so true. Only issue is that there is so few local options. The Oak or the Rose of Denmark are both 10-15 minutes walk away so the onsite options are all there is - especially for an aging fanbase. Bit like bars in an airport - they have a captive audience and are exploiting that.SporadicAddick said:It sounds like a set of commercial terms that are set out to offset any loss of sale from the catering suppliers own offering. I’m afraid that’s business, whether it feels right or wrong given your position as a fan.
I am sure you have worked through the numbers to understand whether the new terms are commercially viable - if they aren’t, and the operator is not willing to negotiate, then it’s plan b or nothing.
What I would say to many on here is that the complaints about the current provision of food and drink are well established, and yet as consumers you continue to put money into the operators till. There is no better way for a company to understand the issue in its service than to see sales plummet.
And yet many of the complainers will still be in the “Fan’s Bar” at the next match, eager to secure their table.
Bite the bullet and stop.
away from the ground on match day. Get in the ground 20 mins before kick off, already have the flavour, so get a beer in the ground. Then another one 20 mins in (this is Nathan Jones’s fault - not mine!) and then a couple at half time. Ease more often than not wins the day - especially after a few light ales.2 -
My mate once suggested meeting at Oliver's Wine Bar in Greenwich. Let me tell you, if you want to soak up the pre-match atmosphere, you'd be better off going to a library in Penzance.5
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Are there still such things as “wine bars” run by people called Oliver?Chunes said:My mate once suggested meeting at Oliver's Wine Bar in Greenwich. Let me tell you, if you want to soak up the pre-match atmosphere, you'd be better off going to a library in Penzance.
Or was this suggestion made in about 1988?2 -
Oh yes, certainly. I saw they've just put a posh bowling alley in there now as well.SporadicAddick said:
Are there still such things as “wine bars” run by people called Oliver?Chunes said:My mate once suggested meeting at Oliver's Wine Bar in Greenwich. Let me tell you, if you want to soak up the pre-match atmosphere, you'd be better off going to a library in Penzance.
Or was this suggestion made in about 1988?
Sorry, it was Davy's Wine Bar. I'm getting it confused with Oliver's Jazz Bar, which is also in Greenwich.
Anyone up for some pre-match jazz?3
