Hi...

[Sharon]

Hi all,

I'm in Cumbria, and I... oh, feel like I'm at an AA meeting now!

I'm too old to get a Prince's Trust Grant, but I'm trying desparately to set up a new company as my current employment is drying up.

Looking forward to getting help from you really! I'm a bit lost and feeling quite isolated as my partner is still working full-time until we can afford for him to work on it with me.

It's a website, we're having is developed at the moment, but it should go live around May time.

Thank you!

[clairemackaness]

Whats your business Sharon?

Welcome on board

[Alpha]

Hi Sharon and welcome

Don't hold back....just tell us about your business, ask any questions you have and join in with any discussions :D

[coxadmin]

Welcome - you've come to a great place for advice and support.

[Sharon]

Thank you!

Er, this is where I start rambling... feel free to skip to the bottom if I go on for too long... 8)

It's a website I hope you'll all use in the future :wink: if you're ever planning on eating out... we're listing the 23,500 pubs that serve food, and if pubs register, they can upload photos, descriptions, menus, and happy eaters can submit recommendations. There're loads of features on it, for example, if you're already out, you'll be able to access a stripped down version of it from your phone, and get directions to the pub of your choice.

I know there are some sites doing this already, but, I like ours better! :D

There are tonnes of great pubs in the Lake District, that tourists just don't find out about, as they're off the beaten track. The ones in the honey pot areas, just feed the masses, but not the locals! So we're aiming to help out those guys really, like our local, great food, empty on a weekend! It's in a beautiful area, within driving distance of A'side, Windermere and Bowness, and sooo much better to eat at than most of the pubs round there. I'm sure it's the same in most areas of Britain... we want to help spread word of mouth for the hidden gems.

We're having trouble getting grants at the moment, we live in a regeneration area, millions being pumped into it, but they all want to know what machinery/plant we aim to buy, and we're not getting any! We've big start-up costs, we're buying the database, mapping services etc., but round here, they're just interested in farming and manufacturing really!

There, you've reached the end, thanks for sticking with me, and I feel much better now I've 'shared' with you :wink: (wondering when the next AA meeting is!)

Sharon

[Ravenfire]

Hi Sharon

Welcome to the site, sure you will find lots of useful information here

Toni

[webit]

Hi Sharon

You say your buying the database, mapping services - what exactly are you buying and from who (and based on what advice).

Also:
a. Do you have any design/Database/Web skills?
b. How will you market

[Sharon]

Hi,

So many questions webit for a wet Thursday afternoon!

We're looking into mapping services at the moment.. MultiMap seems to be the most popular, but we're seriously thinking of StreetMap, as there are no start up costs...

The database, was pretty much a foregone conclusion in that industry...

We've a company working on the website at the moment, they're a fantastic group of people, and the website is looking great so far... Personally, I'm an ICT teacher and have done school websites, plus sites for friends/local small companies etc. before. This one I couldn't do myself, it had to be right, and the technology was way above me!

Marketing, well, getting publicans to sign up in this area won't be too much of a problem, as my partner is in the trade already, and we know many landlords round here through other avenues. When we can show it works in this area, then we'll move across to the Dales and Moors etc.
We're planning on a mail shot to the area, with visits/phone calls etc. to follow, constantly reviewing what works and what doesn't as we go along.

We're hoping to exchange links with online accommodation companies to begin trafficking the site. Our family has been in the hotel/holiday home industry for over 50 years, and we've seen a dramatic rise in the number of guests booking online, and the first question they ask, either when they arrive, or even before by email, is where can we go to eat. We've started to make a few inroads with this already...

When the pubs register with us, they will receive a 'welcome' pack, including certificate to display, and 'business cards'. If they know someone has enjoyed their meal, they can hand out this card with the receipt, inviting them to recommend them to others via the webiste. Pubs will benefit from this 'self-promotion' as reviewers can rate the pubs, pushing them higher up the list.

We'd also like to sell space to others, for example, trade suppliers may like to sponsor the publican's registration page, and Walker's crisps may want to add a banner ad on our message boards, under a 'bar snacks' discussion!

Phew... we've tonnes of other ideas... but I need to work on them rather than surfing here a little more!

Any advice welcome!

Sharon

[Hotelexpert]

Thank you!

Er, this is where I start rambling... feel free to skip to the bottom if I go on for too long... 8)

It's a website I hope you'll all use in the future :wink: if you're ever planning on eating out... we're listing the 23,500 pubs that serve food, and if pubs register, they can upload photos, descriptions, menus, and happy eaters can submit recommendations. There're loads of features on it, for example, if you're already out, you'll be able to access a stripped down version of it from your phone, and get directions to the pub of your choice.

I know there are some sites doing this already, but, I like ours better! :D

There are tonnes of great pubs in the Lake District, that tourists just don't find out about, as they're off the beaten track. The ones in the honey pot areas, just feed the masses, but not the locals! So we're aiming to help out those guys really, like our local, great food, empty on a weekend! It's in a beautiful area, within driving distance of A'side, Windermere and Bowness, and sooo much better to eat at than most of the pubs round there. I'm sure it's the same in most areas of Britain... we want to help spread word of mouth for the hidden gems.

We're having trouble getting grants at the moment, we live in a regeneration area, millions being pumped into it, but they all want to know what machinery/plant we aim to buy, and we're not getting any! We've big start-up costs, we're buying the database, mapping services etc., but round here, they're just interested in farming and manufacturing really!

There, you've reached the end, thanks for sticking with me, and I feel much better now I've 'shared' with you :wink: (wondering when the next AA meeting is!)

Sharon

Hi Sharon, what you're doing sounds great! When you have a website let me know and I'll happy to exchange links with you as it will be very useful for people visiting my travel sites.

Cheers
Lawrence Biren

[Sharon]

Lawrence... Will PM you!

[Jayne]

Hi Sharon,

Welcome to the forum :D

I love the Lakes, lucky you!

Jayne :D

[ebonybailey]

Too old for a grant with PT than i suggest Fredricks Foundation they do grants for people outside that age group.

and Welcome. We will help where we can.

Michael

[Urban Space]

Welcome Sharon :D!

I see you've already met a few of the locals! :lol:!

If there's anything I or anyone else can do, don't hesitate to ask :)! It's like one big happy family :lol:!

Welcome!

Liam

[Claire B]

Welcome to the UKBF Sharon, you are very lucky to be living in one the most beautiful places in the UK.

My inlaws travel around the Lake District a lot (walking/rambling), so often go off the beaten track, so I'm sure that they would be more than happy to write a few reviews for you!

good luck

Claire

[Sharon]

Hi, thanks everyone...

With forums like this, you could spend more time posting on them, than working! I seem to have spent most of this morning looking at your websites instead of comcentrating on my own :wink:

Will definitely look into the Fredericks Foundation, have just found the website...

The trouble with living in the Lakes, is that you are living there. We don't see it like others do, it's where we work, where we shop, where we cry and where we get bombarded with 'bl**dy littler-louting, slow-driving tourists' every weekend ( :roll: apologies to all!) We do have two border collies though, so that helps us to get out and make the most of it a lot more than many of our friends. :mrgreen:

Claire, just the sort of people I intend to use the site too! As well as writing reviews, they can find their next place to eat too! Hopefully, there'll be a link by each pub, to a walk that takes it in/starts in it's car park!

[Magsite]

Hi Sharon

Wleocme the the forum!

Lisa