lady
Junior Member
Believe in urself,
Posts: 133
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Post by lady on Mar 9, 2012 15:16:27 GMT
tumb what day did you go up. I went up monday and it was lovely great atmosphere etc. The reception area is extended and Im sure they had a fantastic crowd there last night for dancing etc. I hate the way the people of Monastrevin criticise and moan all the time. The silken is no great shakes at times either. If you want more info about who leased it its on this weeks Leinster Leader.. thats how I know. and it has given employment to the area.
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Post by thebetterhalf on Mar 9, 2012 19:22:47 GMT
FROM LEINSTER LEADER PAPER.............
Monasterevin’s Hazel Hotel is back in business
Pat Lawlor, New Owner Hazel Hotel Monasterevin. Opening Monday 5th March. Official Opening Thursday 8th March Jimmy Buckley Band Performing on the Night. Photo. Jimmy Fullam.
Published on Friday 9 March 2012 12:29
The Hazel Hotel was abuzz with business and well wishers last Monday morning as it reopened its doors for business for the first time since its sudden closure in November 2010.
The new manager Pat Lawlor, who has leased the premises for a year, has admitted he is “taking a chance” with the hotel but he is hopeful it will all work out.
“What can I do but take a chance?,” he asked, amid the hustle and bustle and first signs of life around the landmark showband venue in over a year.
“I always had a love for the Hazel and it was a shame that it was idle. I hope to make it bigger and better than what it was. I’ve put a lot of money into it but this is the best venue in the country for music, food, accommodation and weddings. I’ve already booked some weddings. All previous debt has nothing to do with me. I have 15 full time staff and between 15 and 20 part time.”
There will be live music on Mondays and Thursdays with popular crooner Jimmy Buckley kicking off the opening celebrations this Thursday night.
“The phone is hopping with well wishers and everyone is delighted the dancing is back,” added Pat who originally hails from Castledermot but lives in Monasterevin. “All the dancing crew had gone to Carlow, Athy and Kildare for their county and western dances.
“They missed the venue and they wanted to get back to the Hazel. People need to get out and about and this town was very dead without this place and somebody had to do something about it. I used to socialise here myself and I just fell in love with it.”
Pat, who used to be in the building trade and who built on an extension for the hotel a few years ago, had a big job airing the place for the opening.
“It was damp,” he said. “I’ve had the heating on here for the last two months and today (Monday) you would never guess it had ever been closed.
“My family are behind me, nervous, but behind me and I have had lots of well wishers. It’s unbelievable. I am expecting a big crowd tonight.”
If Pat has one complaint in the midst of all the buzz and excitement of the opening it is the amount he has to pay in rates to Kildare County Council for the year.
“I’d like to see the rates brought down,” he added. “It will cost me €20,000 a year for the place -it’s way too high.
“There is no business could afford to pay that - it is a hell of a lot of money. If the rates don’t come down I’ll probably have to close after a year.”
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Post by thebetterhalf on Mar 9, 2012 19:31:43 GMT
lady ! " I went up monday and it was lovely great atmosphere etc The reception area is extended and Im sure they had a fantastic crowd there last night for dancing etc. I hate the way the people of Monastrevin criticise and moan all the time....." Lovely atmosphere -  ? no atmosphere nobody there to greet me r tumb!!!! "The reception area is extended"...... wat were u in the Hazel??? Nothing different in reception. "Fantastic crowd".............. or full car park??? The people of monstvn just want a decent place to go. Clean tidy and above-all welcoming. lady maybe u shud go 4 job as PRO there if u not already employed by em coz u see things v v different to us as customers. 
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lady
Junior Member
Believe in urself,
Posts: 133
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Post by lady on Mar 9, 2012 21:43:58 GMT
lady ! " I went up monday and it was lovely great atmosphere etc The reception area is extended and Im sure they had a fantastic crowd there last night for dancing etc. I hate the way the people of Monastrevin criticise and moan all the time....." Lovely atmosphere - ? no atmosphere nobody there to greet me r tumb!!!! "The reception area is extended"...... wat were u in the Hazel??? Nothing different in reception. "Fantastic crowd".............. or full car park??? The people of monstvn just want a decent place to go. Clean tidy and above-all welcoming. lady maybe u shud go 4 job as PRO there if u not already employed by em coz u see things v v different to us as customers. Angry !! Stop giving out and give the place a chance. I believe it was jammed last night for Jimmy Buckley. |
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Post by rightsoted on Mar 9, 2012 21:43:59 GMT
..jayses betterhalf yer sure fired up about this topic...btw the on my post was to indicate i was joking...of course the spelling on the menu should always be correct.....not sure what you mean by "cloak and dagger stuff",there were loads of stories doing the rounds over the past few weeks,as is the norm in a small town,as someone said on another thread here,"if a mouse escaped from the church,it would be an elephant by the time it got to the Nags" ;D....regarding the piece from the local paper, ah well press releases can sometimes be a bit like cv's....but hey let's give the guy a chance......see how things go over the next few weeks or so...... |
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tumb
New Member
Posts: 67
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Post by tumb on Mar 9, 2012 22:52:31 GMT
I am all for supporting local business but if people don't get the services that they pay for they have every right to complain,for the price i paid i was expecting a lot better service and quality.I do think they should stick to the dances and not waste money opening during the day,its a fine function room and the gigs are run well so stick to what they know best.
As for saying people should support it because its local and brings employment yes but its up to them to make sure people want to frequent there business,its not that hard to do a good lunch menu.So what i am saying is this,if the hotel cant even manage to run a decent lunch its not going to inspire people to book a wedding or any other function there is it?
I do hope it was just first week trial and error and that things improve because the town needs a hotel and some where decent to get a bit of grub at lunch,until they sort out the problems above i don't see why i should spend my hard earned money on below standard food and service.
Surely you must see the point i am trying to make Lady.
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Post by thebetterhalf on Mar 10, 2012 9:43:45 GMT
lady - I have given it a chance and just said what my experience was like. and in my eyes theres plenty of room for improvement. And I hope it does improve, just very disappointed that he has started out on wrong foot already. And until I see a vast improvement he wont have my business.
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Post by rightsoted on Mar 10, 2012 22:21:48 GMT
.yeah tumb,i see exactly where you're coming from,i agree with most of what you say....i would be inclined to go along with the first line of you're third paragraph.........but as i said before....lets give the place a chance.....
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Post by archie on Mar 20, 2012 14:16:26 GMT
Lovely bit grub there on Paddys Day and very generous portions and very very friendly staff.. keep up the good work.
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tumb
New Member
Posts: 67
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Post by tumb on May 15, 2012 8:20:27 GMT
What are peoples views on the new nightclub opening in the hazel?There was already trouble there 2 weeks ago..I don't think it is the beat place for a nightclub. www.facebook.com/events/407099969329938/ |
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ros
Junior Member
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Post by ros on May 15, 2012 8:30:51 GMT
Don't know, I wouldn't want to be living across from it. I hope it is controlled well, with proper bouncers etc. It has stiff competition from the Nightclubs in Kildare Newbridge and Portlaoise and the Green Bus.
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Post by mareseatoats on May 15, 2012 13:30:45 GMT
Plenty of bouncers and very strict, checking bags etc.
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soiam
New Member
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Post by soiam on May 16, 2012 9:51:24 GMT
Friends that live across from Hazel have had to clear their garden of bottles the last two sunday mornings before letting kids out to play also a lot of noise at clearing out time. They are not too happy about it!!
Paddywagon was there last sat night so I suppose you could say it gives a Garda presence in the town at the weekends which has been lacking.
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dolly
New Member
Posts: 16
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Post by dolly on May 16, 2012 10:46:19 GMT
I am so disappointed that the re-opening of the hotel has not helped un-employment in the town. I have been in there several times to be waited on by staff that worked with the bar manager or friends of the bar manager. Its very unfair to expect the people of the town to support with parties, christenings, communions etc. The Kelly family always took on local teenagers to serve at weddings and other functions and it was pocket money for them. To me there is too many chiefs there going around in suits (which doesnt fit in with the surroundings). Mr Lalor take note !!
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Post by olegunner on May 17, 2012 10:49:28 GMT
Dont know if its been posted by someone else here but i cant believe that some of the people that were running the Hazel before it closed are back at the helm now. How many young couples were screwed with their deposits right up to the week of it closing and how galling is it for those people be there running it as if they done nothing wrong at all.
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? no atmosphere nobody there to greet me r tumb!!!!
