Amber Closed

bigneacy

In addition to what the above poster has let you know:

EPjnr wrote: »

Capacity? aprx?

when did dkit change to ridleys? was the halloween ball not planned for amber and then changed to ridleys once the news of amber came to surface?

I'd love to think that the bouncers are partly to blame for the downfall to amber

*****Sorry for the long post******

EPjnr - I am trying to give you as much info as possible because I know from the biz forum why you are asking.

First things first - not a hope is it 2000. That poster obviously has no spatial awareness :pac:

I haven't got an exact capacity figure, but its closer to 1000.

The other businesses in Peter Dixon Ltd were a large 'Londis' mini-market with post office. Very busy place. A small shop below amber that opened late - again a very busy place. A busy limo company and afaik - a well to do funeral home.

I am not aware of any other businesses in the company, and to be honest if you had have asked me two weeks ago would the business fold I would have said "not a chance".

I was aware amber was struggling and I think it only kept open for as long as it did because it was being propped up by cash injections from the other aspects of the company. I meant 'money-pit' in that sense.

In terms of why amber failed:

• The bouncers were very strict.
• The party bar "Good Time Charlies" which is across the street from amber and would have supplied a lot of customers to amber has declined in recent years in both quality and crowd size. (got rid of live music in favour of DJ's)
• No longer seen as new and exciting in comparison to the recently refurbed ridleys
• Failed to find/maintain a proper niche for itself - silence had the "hardcore" crowd, ridleys had the "older" crowd and now its taken ambers student crowd as well.

Reasons why it shouldn't have failed:

• The club itself is in a prime location - in the centre of town, on a pedestrianised street, across the road from two 'party pubs'
• Its within walking distance of almost 50 popular pubs, the other nightclubs, the casino, the strip club (not sure what the strip club is now, or if it is still a strip club), loads of takeaways and loads of taxi companies and the main taxi rank.
• The owners tried to organise comedy clubs, theme nights, drink promotions and plenty of others but it just started to seem desperate
• Its a nice enough place - was always my favourite club when I was inclined to go out.

The only reason I can see for the company going down the tube is mis-management or possibly someone not doing their job right. Either way there was a kink in the chain somewhere.

To answer your other question - Dundalk is 35,000 people. Dundalk serves (in conjunction with Newry and Drogheda) as a nightlife destination for North and Mid Louth, South Down, South Armagh and East Monaghan - a total population of close to 100,000 i'd say. There are two main nightclubs in the town- there is no need for me to tell you what potential it has under the right management, you wouldn't be in here posting if you didn't already know.

BettePorter

bigneacy wrote: »

the strip club (not sure what the strip club is now, or if it is still a strip club),.

LOL ...good save bigneacy.....we believe ye !!!!:p:p

bigneacy

BettePorter wrote: »

LOL ...good save bigneacy.....we believe ye !!!!:p:p

:o:o:o:o:o

Just another note - Club Radius was a club that opened not long ago in an old restaurant beside silence. Strictly over 23's. Haven't heard a thing about it since it opened so I am not sure if it is still even open.

Just heard strip club is now a live venue of some sort called 'D venue' is this correct?

KeithM89_old

bigneacy wrote: »

Just heard strip club is now a live venue of some sort called 'D venue' is this correct?

Yup - D Venue is where Whispers was - i wouldnt set foot in that place without a gun. Iv heard stories of horrific goings on

EPjnr

Thanks for your help bigneacy . Sounds like there is good potential in dundalk if the right person gets their hands on this club and the rest of their businesses.

jonnycakes

KeithM89 wrote: »

Yup - D Venue is where Whispers was - i wouldnt set foot in that place without a gun. Iv heard stories of horrific goings on

yeah i saw this venue open when i was home a month or so ago.whats the story with it?cheap looking posters and some classic dance anthems theme?can only imagine the place.anyone been in there?

KeithM89_old

jonnycakes wrote: »

yeah i saw this venue open when i was home a month or so ago.whats the story with it?cheap looking posters and some classic dance anthems theme?can only imagine the place.anyone been in there?

Its tiny - iv you have ever been in Amber its about half the size - theres hardly any bouncers inside the place - it attracts a very dodgy crowd and there was definitely people doing drugs in it - i left after an hour.

10green bottles

KPMG'S Kieran Wallace insists it's "very much business as usual" at companies owned by local businessmen Peter Dixon and Niall Kehoe.

Peter Dixon Ltd went into receivership last week with an immediate doubt being cast over the company's six businesses, which employ "between 40 to 45 people", including part-timers.

Amber Nite Club in Earl Street closed last week with the DkIT Students' Union's Hallowe'en Ball having to be moved at the last minute to Ridley's while the company's chaffeur and wedding car business has also closed.

However, the other ventures are still operating and receiver Wallace says he is "confident it will continue that way."

Wallace confirmed that the Dixon and Kehoe families would continue to run their funeral business in Bridge Street while KPMG will oversee things in O'Connells Pub in Quay Street, the Londis shop in Quay Street as well as their shop in Earl Street.

Among the company's other assets are the site of the old Cosy Bar, which was demolished in recent years and is now up for sale.

When contacted by The Dundalk Democrat next week, Peter Dixon, a former Chief Scout of Ireland said that he was "trying to cope with the situation".

A subsequent press release from the company said: "Kieran Wallace of KPMG has been appointed receiver and manager of the company by ACC Bank. Amber nightclub has been closed but all other businesses are open and operating as normal."

Peter Dixon Ltd has a long and proud history in Dundalk with their funeral business in operation over 30 years. Many of their other businesses have been acquired in the last decade with their Quay Street shop, which opened in May 2006, winning an award two years ago when manager Andrew Brodigan was runner-up in the Manager of the Year section of the Grocery Retail Awards.

bigneacy

10green bottles wrote: »

KPMG'S Kieran Wallace insists it's "very much business as usual" at companies owned by local businessmen Peter Dixon and Niall Kehoe.

Peter Dixon Ltd went into receivership last week with an immediate doubt being cast over the company's six businesses, which employ "between 40 to 45 people", including part-timers.

Amber Nite Club in Earl Street closed last week with the DkIT Students' Union's Hallowe'en Ball having to be moved at the last minute to Ridley's while the company's chaffeur and wedding car business has also closed.

However, the other ventures are still operating and receiver Wallace says he is "confident it will continue that way."

Wallace confirmed that the Dixon and Kehoe families would continue to run their funeral business in Bridge Street while KPMG will oversee things in O'Connells Pub in Quay Street, the Londis shop in Quay Street as well as their shop in Earl Street.

Among the company's other assets are the site of the old Cosy Bar, which was demolished in recent years and is now up for sale.

When contacted by The Dundalk Democrat next week, Peter Dixon, a former Chief Scout of Ireland said that he was "trying to cope with the situation".

A subsequent press release from the company said: "Kieran Wallace of KPMG has been appointed receiver and manager of the company by ACC Bank. Amber nightclub has been closed but all other businesses are open and operating as normal."

Peter Dixon Ltd has a long and proud history in Dundalk with their funeral business in operation over 30 years. Many of their other businesses have been acquired in the last decade with their Quay Street shop, which opened in May 2006, winning an award two years ago when manager Andrew Brodigan was runner-up in the Manager of the Year section of the Grocery Retail Awards.

I read the identikit story in the Argus. I didn't know they owned O'Connells and the Cosy Site.

shindig-jp

I hope nobody minds me butting in on this conversation !

That big black stretch Humvee we often see around town (Dundalk) is that part of the Dixon and Kehoe outfit ?

bigneacy

shindig-jp wrote: »

I hope nobody minds me butting in on this conversation !

That big black stretch Humvee we often see around town (Dundalk) is that part of the Dixon and Kehoe outfit ?

'Tis