Otterburns in Sandymoor is temporarily closing due to ongoing problems, hoping a new owner can resolve them.
The owner, Dave, shared some tough news this morning. He said they have faced several ongoing problems and hopes a new owner can solve them. One big issue was unreliable staff members.
Otterburns posted a statement on Facebook about this. Finding a good manager was really difficult, and they had constant issues with their employees. They switched many chefs and managers.
Dave thinks it’s hard to manage restaurants after COVID. Maybe it’s a work ethic thing in younger generations, which caused inconsistent service, lackluster events, and changing menus. Otterburns’s reputation suffered because of this.
People critiqued them severely online, and some comments felt too harsh for Dave. He mentioned some people made young servers cry, even though the business tried hard to please everyone.
They had live music, deals, sports, and parties. Their Google rating is still good, 4.4 out of 5 stars, and they have many social media followers, over 3,500 people. But community support is very important.
Dave isn’t sure they have that support anymore. Customers just wanted good coffee, wine, or beer. They wanted nice meals at fair prices occasionally, and Dave feels a new start could succeed.
Dave hopes the town will support the new owner and give them a chance to prove themselves. He adds running a coffee shop takes effort, and even simple things are hard work.
Dave thinks the UK government, suppliers, and councils make things tough. New owners do it for your happiness. “Please be kind,” Dave said in a message.
They may use the “Otterburns 2 Go” van for food. It will offer breakfast and lunch while waiting, so look for the van out front of the building. Dave ended the statement with “Goodbye.”