Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

As we emerge from lockdown....

Many years ago whilst holidaying with our children - all around the med we would find bars with a section for kids where they had a VHS/VCR attached to a screen and an advertised list of screenings of bootleg movies for kids... It was very popular as mums and dads could hang-out in the adults' bar area having juvenile conversation whilst the kids could watch popular films and enjoy soft drinks and food all time not having to listen to meaningless drivel from their elders...

You don't see that business model here.... why not?

It promotes profits for very little outlay if any.

Groucho wrote: ↑

Wed 27 May 2020 9:37 am

As we emerge from lockdown....

Many years ago whilst holidaying with our children - all around the med we would find bars with a section for kids where they had a VHS/VCR attached to a screen and an advertised list of screenings of bootleg movies for kids... It was very popular as mums and dads could hang-out in the adults' bar area having juvenile conversation whilst the kids could watch popular films and enjoy soft drinks and food all time not having to listen to meaningless drivel from their elders...

You don't see that business model here.... why not?

It promotes profits for very little outlay if any.

Remember it well and was very popular back in the day and no reason it wouldn't work now if you tie it in with selling some food and refreshments while they get out of the midday sun. But you won't ever see it because that will mean doing something different to the current offer.
As far as I have seen there isn't much entrepreneurship, imagination or vision out here.
At best you'll see an idea copied badly and then the herd will copy the copier with no thought to fine tuning the idea or that there is only so much demand for this.

If you point out that yes that worked in 1986 but it has moved on so try this; "you will get we always did it this way, everyone does it this way."

They do need to freshen it up though and karaoke on a Tuesday and a quiz night on a friday and lamb chops might not be enough.

Probably because local families go out as families and don’t look for places to dump their kids while they go drinking?

I do wish there was still a "like" button, nail on head waddo

waddo wrote: ↑

Wed 27 May 2020 10:03 am

Probably because local families go out as families and don’t look for places to dump their kids while they go drinking?

When we used to take our kids to that kind of thing it was to entertain them while avoiding frying ourselves in the midday sun. Personally I found dozing to ET with the kids for a couple of hours a bit nicer than losing my fifth nose of the week while building a sandcastle.

Thing it does is highlight is the need for businesses and the government to shuffle the deck a bit in these troubling times. If you don’t innovate you slowly wither away. It’s an old idea but would be worth a try if the locals can overcome their reticence on piracy of course!

waddo wrote: ↑

Wed 27 May 2020 10:03 am

Probably because local families go out as families and don’t look for places to dump their kids while they go drinking?

I'm thinking USP for tourists.... I'm not suggesting dumping kids just providing an alternative that caters for the age groups whilst not leaving them unattended... i.e. they are in the same place.

Maybe they don't do it here because they know the kids will run riot...

Obviously when we returned home we continued to all perform works of Shakespeare and read poetry or at least had our Au Pair do it having removed the television like a good Guardianista!

Groucho wrote: ↑

Wed 27 May 2020 10:43 am

I'm thinking USP for tourists.... I'm not suggesting dumping kids just providing an alternative that caters for the age groups whilst not leaving them unattended... i.e. they are in the same place.

What like ordinary people do? Did you not entertain them by reciting the works of Tolstoy?
My kids Oliver and Jemima used to squeal with excitement when I used to pull that from the book shelf. They hated things like Thorpe Park because they realised, with promoting, that it perpetuated American globalisation.

iPads and mobile phones now

waddo wrote: ↑

Wed 27 May 2020 10:03 am

Probably because local families go out as families and don’t look for places to dump their kids while they go drinking?

The proliferation of sports bars hardly supports your idealistic view...

Trigger wrote: ↑

Wed 27 May 2020 11:28 am

iPads and mobile phones now

I'm sure they might look-up from their mobile devices if a good movie was playing on a big screen.

Trigger wrote: ↑

Wed 27 May 2020 11:28 am

iPads and mobile phones now

Yep what happened to all the innocent fun we had as children. Throwing bangers at each other, fighting, tormenting people with knockdown ginger, trespassing and shoplifting?
Asking for a friend.

EnjoyingTheSun wrote: ↑

Wed 27 May 2020 11:47 am

Trigger wrote: ↑

Wed 27 May 2020 11:28 am

iPads and mobile phones now

Yep what happened to all the innocent fun we had as children. Throwing bangers at each other, fighting, tormenting people with knockdown ginger, trespassing and shoplifting?
Asking for a friend.

For me it was 'pug shies' a lump of mud squeezed onto the end of a whippy stick and flung over the house onto the Salvation Army marching band in the road outside.... a message from God.

Groucho wrote: ↑

Wed 27 May 2020 11:53 am

For me it was 'pug shies' a lump of mud squeezed onto the end of a whippy stick and flung over the house onto the Salvation Army marching band in the road outside.... a message from God.

Don’t know that one. Tin tan tommy was massive in our area. All you needed was an old empty can and a drain cover and some good hiding spaces and the hours would fly by.
I envy the kids the technology they have but I doubt whether they have as much fun as I did with an empty can.

"The proliferation of sports bars hardly supports your idealistic view..." Yeah, yeah, yeah! Funny how the proliferation of sports bars occured at the same time as the proliferation of tourists.

I bet the locals were really praying every day that tourists would come to they could have a sports bar to drink in instead of a coffee shop to play cards in.....

Worry not. I knew when I posted my original comment that it would not sit well with the majority - I just love being right and keeping quiet about it - lol.

waddo wrote: ↑

Wed 27 May 2020 12:49 pm

I just love being right and keeping quiet about it - lol.

How I envy you. The burden of being right and not being able to keep quiet about it is not an easy one to bear

waddo wrote: ↑

Wed 27 May 2020 12:49 pm

"The proliferation of sports bars hardly supports your idealistic view..." Yeah, yeah, yeah! Funny how the proliferation of sports bars occured at the same time as the proliferation of tourists.

I bet the locals were really praying every day that tourists would come to they could have a sports bar to drink in instead of a coffee shop to play cards in.....

Worry not. I knew when I posted my original comment that it would not sit well with the majority - I just love being right and keeping quiet about it - lol.

Cyprus has been a tourist destination for a lot longer than TV has existed... The technology is what has brought with it the bar with a screen. I don't frequent such places Rugby and Football world cups notwithstanding.. My preference is when we go out for a meal, I don't want TV, or even music if it means we have to raise our voices to be heard.

But opportunities to make a living for owners of establishments means job opportunities for a sector hit very hard by the lockdown... what's your suggestion? Or are just a naysayer who thinks the locals should think themselves lucky to have a donkey they can ride to the coffee shop for a game of tavla.

While we're at it what's your idea of a majority?

waddo wrote: ↑

Wed 27 May 2020 12:49 pm

I bet the locals were really praying every day that tourists would come to they could have a sports bar to drink in instead of a coffee shop to play cards in.....

You could have just stopped your sentence after “praying every day the tourists will come” to be 100% accurate. Bet they are praying at the moment and who is to say Groucho’s idea wouldn’t help them get (that dirty word) money in the tills because god knows they need it.

I’m sure Chinese restaurants in the U.K. would prefer to serve shark fin soup and chicken feet and remain authentic but then they remember they need to pay the bills and put on Beef Chop Suey.

You aren’t one of those that constantly moans about how a place has lost it’s authenticity when what you really mean is I much preferred this place before EasyJet started flying here and letting the hoi polloi in I hope?

ETS, "You aren’t one of those that constantly moans about how a place has lost it’s authenticity when what you really mean is I much preferred this place before EasyJet started flying here and letting the hoi polloi in I hope?"

Sorry I am not one of those who constantly moan about that, I do moan about the people who constantly moan through! There are only two things you can do with "Progress", embrace it or complain about it! I prefer to embrace it because "Progress" is much bigger than me and I can't change it anyway. When did EasyJet start flying into TRNC, I must have slep through that? Not being a person of Univercity education, nor from a titled family or rich from other endeavours, I guess I must fall into the hoi polloi category of "The Common People" myself and am happy that the locals actually did let me in - lol.

Groucho, I used to frequent a bar in Nicosia (Rosies) in 1966 and it had an old black and white TV in one corner of the bar then - admittedly you could only watch programmes from Italy on it but the football (repeats) were often shown there - technology in motion!

"Or are just a naysayer who thinks the locals should think themselves lucky to have a donkey they can ride to the coffee shop for a game of tavla" Not at all, I am happy for the locals who have eaten their donkey and now moved on to a top of the line Mercedes - If they wish now to spend the rest of their time throwing their money into the Casinos or building houses or just sitting under the lemon tree, it is theirs to do with as they wish, who am I to try to change them?

However, the "Tourist" season is not 12 months long anywhere, tourists come and tourists go again and the owners of establishments then find it hard to survive through the "Lean" periods, perhaps they would be better looking for a longer term solution than a short, albeit very profitable quick fix to the current situation by spending what little money remains on things that are short term themselves?

"While we're at it what's your idea of a majority?" - 1 more than a minority - lol. For instance we have three posters on this thread discussing this proposal, two are for it and one, although not against it, is not supportive, that would be two against one or one more than a minority.

Good fun this - sorry got to go, my daughter is building a Kleftico oven in the UK and keeps asking for advise - from me, wow! Told her to watch a video - technology again - lol.

waddo wrote: ↑

Wed 27 May 2020 3:48 pm

When did EasyJet start flying into TRNC, I must have slep through that? Not being a person of Univercity education, nor from a titled family or rich from other endeavours, I guess I must fall into the hoi polloi category of "The Common People" myself and am happy that the locals actually did let me in - lol.

Easyjet to Larnaca, although I'll be impressed if you can sleep through one of their flights?

I like places that are expensive enough and genteel enough to keep the kiss me quick hat Herberts out but not so expensive and discerning that a ruffian like me can't get in

Waddo,

There's me, you, Erol, ETS and TRIGGER... I make that 5.

There have been tourists here for centuries...

Nobody is suggesting coffee shops should close or that there should be more bars for tourists or locals, I was merely pointing out that a facility that I remember being very popular elsewhere in the Med is not found here.... and I was asking why.

For some reason you seem to got it into your head I am suggesting cultural changes.

Don't forget Cally - "I do wish there was still a "like" button, nail on head waddo" so that makes 6. Sadly it still leaves me in a minority of 2 against a majority of 4 ( that is if you take the posts of Erol & Trigger to be in answer to the subject title?). If not then we have a tied thread with two apparently for and 2 no supportive. Math was never a strong subject of mine - lol.

I can not see where you feel that I think you are suggesting cultural changes at all, I am not even suggesting that coffee shops should close, perish the thought! I simply wish to point out the fragility of trying to bolster an economy with a time dependent practise that relies on tourism for it's major source of income.

If TRNC did not have a border that restricts access and was a much larger country with a corresponding larger population, then I think that by increasing the footfall in establishments that exist for entertainment would be a viable thing to investigate. This country is small and access to it is somewhat restricted and because of that alone I feel that "Children's play areas" are not something that a small establishment can afford to take the chance on, it the hopes it will bring in extra finance sufficient to sustain them through the non tourist times.

waddo wrote: ↑

Wed 27 May 2020 6:30 pm

I simply wish to point out the fragility of trying to bolster an economy with a time dependent practise that relies on tourism for it's major source of income.

You can only sh!t with the @rse you’ve got as my gnarled old Granny used to say.
If they want to move away from tourism they need a lot of time and a lot of money to build an infrastructure. There’s not much money around and I’m not seeing the vision to move into something new tbh.

When my children were younger they liked being able to run around in a safe pub garden with some form of simple play equipment like a swing. Us parents could sit at a table in the garden having a drink and natter and could join in and /or watch our children enjoying themselves running around.
Happy times.

waddo wrote: ↑

Wed 27 May 2020 6:30 pm

Don't forget Cally - "I do wish there was still a "like" button, nail on head waddo" so that makes 6. Sadly it still leaves me in a minority of 2 against a majority of 4 ( that is if you take the posts of Erol & Trigger to be in answer to the subject title?). If not then we have a tied thread with two apparently for and 2 no supportive. Math was never a strong subject of mine - lol.

I can not see where you feel that I think you are suggesting cultural changes at all, I am not even suggesting that coffee shops should close, perish the thought! I simply wish to point out the fragility of trying to bolster an economy with a time dependent practise that relies on tourism for it's major source of income.

If TRNC did not have a border that restricts access and was a much larger country with a corresponding larger population, then I think that by increasing the footfall in establishments that exist for entertainment would be a viable thing to investigate. This country is small and access to it is somewhat restricted and because of that alone I feel that "Children's play areas" are not something that a small establishment can afford to take the chance on, it the hopes it will bring in extra finance sufficient to sustain them through the non tourist times.

Investing in some comfy chairs an HDMI TV to use as a screen and a pc to download and play movies on is a very small investment to make... Only bars with an area that kids could use to keep them out of the sun for the hottest part of the day would suit the notion I guess. The seasonal nature of tourism never seemed to be an issue elsewhere in the med, so why not here ?

Hector wrote: ↑

Wed 27 May 2020 7:27 pm

When my children were younger they liked being able to run around in a safe pub garden with some form of simple play equipment like a swing. Us parents could sit at a table in the garden having a drink and natter and could join in and /or watch our children enjoying themselves running around.
Happy times.

The Wild Duck in Lapta has got exactly this setup, and a gate which is kept 'on the latch' to prevent the little darlings from straying...

Keithcaley wrote: ↑

Thu 28 May 2020 4:18 am

The Wild Duck in Lapta has got exactly this setup, and a gate which is kept 'on the latch' to prevent the little darlings from straying...

And seems a pretty successful business considering it isn’t in a prime location.

Some bars/restaurants have a great location but where you don’t, you need to be more imaginative.

Some go all out for the tourist trade hoping that the money made will sustain them through the year. Downside is that’s very spikey re effort and profits.

Some go all out for the expat trade which will be steadier. Downside is you will have to keep reading Alf’s thank you letter from Ronnie Kray for the biscuits he once sent him or George’s re-enactment of taking Port Stanley single handed.

Most go for both, some more successfully then others.

A lot just seem plonk themselves down copy what other struggling businesses have done badly and expect to take off.

Groucho’s (stolen) idea will cost a minimal amount of money so try it, give it a bit of time to see if it has legs and if it doesn’t take off scrap it at minimal loss.

The Wild Duck like Vene Vici, Jessics and a few others, you can tell have thought carefully about their offer and no doubt learnt from their mistakes and refined it down the years.

EnjoyingTheSun wrote: ↑

Wed 27 May 2020 12:25 pm

Groucho wrote: ↑

Wed 27 May 2020 11:53 am

For me it was 'pug shies' a lump of mud squeezed onto the end of a whippy stick and flung over the house onto the Salvation Army marching band in the road outside.... a message from God.

Don’t know that one. Tin tan tommy was massive in our area. All you needed was an old empty can and a drain cover and some good hiding spaces and the hours would fly by.
I envy the kids the technology they have but I doubt whether they have as much fun as I did with an empty can.

Tin tan Tommy - brings back great memories along with runouts.

Hedge-fund wrote: ↑

Thu 28 May 2020 9:30 am

Tin tan Tommy - brings back great memories along with runouts.

Tin tan tommy was far more sophisticated than runouts it’s like comparing Chess and draughts Hedge
Don’t think my Dad played it as they didn’t even have an empty can back then. No doubt envied us the tech of our day

Probably cos this is a Muslim country where the children are very much integrated in everything families do. So to have a separate area for children would probably seem like a strange idea to them.

If you’re talking about the Brit owned places then I guess it would be down to them. Personally I prefer not to see children in adult establishments, but that’s just my preference.