GAK gone bust...

[Jackroadkill]

18 hours ago, Russ said:

Plus, that "thwop" of wood on rubber is not a pleasant sound!

 

Ooooh, Matron!

[tauzero]

19 hours ago, Russ said:

Plus, that "thwop" of wood on rubber is not a pleasant sound!

 

This is why you should never play slap on an Ashbory.

[SuperSeagull]

As a local I'm really sad to hear this news. I was only chatting with them a couple of weeks ago about buying some pa gear online but being able to return to the store if I needed to - they couldn't have been more helpful. It's also where I saw Nathan East do a workshop some years back - that will live long in the memory. Hope they find a way to resolve whatever the issues are - North Laine won't be the same without the big yellow of GAK. 

[Wombat]

I was at that Nathan East clinic! I remember Rhino Edwards was there and quite a few people pointed out that he might actually learn something 😂

[SuperSeagull]

7 minutes ago, Wombat said:

I was at that Nathan East clinic! I remember Rhino Edwards was there and quite a few people pointed out that he might actually learn something 😂

As a huge Quo fan I can't believe I didn't know that - and it was such a small audience as well. I asked him of all his shows was there one that stood out and he said playing for the Obama inauguration - always remember that.  

[Wombat]

Nathan or Rhino?

 

I’ve always been a Quo fan so I thought it was cruel. Funny. But cruel…

[SuperSeagull]

10 minutes ago, Wombat said:

Nathan or Rhino?

 

I’ve always been a Quo fan so I thought it was cruel. Funny. But cruel…

The question was for Nathan, funny about Rhino though (also another lovely guy). 

[paulmcnamara]

What’s happened to GAK Brighton? Shop has been closed for several days, website taken down; doesn’t look good!

Edited Friday at 17:26 by paulmcnamara

[Woodinblack]

 

[Killerfridge]

[Woodinblack]

Need to plug your phone in

[Killerfridge]

3 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

Need to plug your phone in

Psh, 32% is loads! We're not in danger until we hit single digits...

[Steve Browning]

32% would last me days if it wasn't for Basschat!

[rmorris]

On 26/03/2025 at 13:49, Mudpup said:

A friend in the biz just told me that GAK in Brighton has just gone pop......

Sad times 

 

seems to be the case. Notice on door simply states "Closed for maintenance" or similar and website / online is unavailable.

Now if you know the buildings this seems implausible. Large two floor store. Seems unlikely you would need to completely close the premises for maintenace unless it were about to fall down or explode ! The adjacent buildings and businesses seem fine. And the website down so ...

Suggest look to the ownership since changing hands a few years back.

 

[rmorris]

For clarity on what I mean by looking to the current ownership / investors:

not my words but...

"There may be other investors, but one appears to be Risk capital partners , aka Luke Johnson. He owns the Pier, invests in Gails and Revolution bars, and previously Laine Pub Co, Small batch coffee, and various others. Bit of a weird guy, extremely right wing and lost a lot of credibility while chair of Patisserie Valerie when it collapsed with a £100m black hole, and a fraud investigation"

[rmorris]

fwiw wrt Brighton music shops - I'd recommend giving Badlands Guitars in Preston Road (and Online) a look.

Nice stock and Graham and Suzy are very god at looking after their customers.

(No personal involvement - just bought the odd small item there but mainly used for guitar fret levels / setups)

[PainInTheBass]

I was in Badlands recently trying out a used but mint Squire 40th Jazz. The owner and I sat and chatted about the whole Fender standard move. Nice chap, great shop. But please someone go buy that Jazz and save me from my GAS.

[BabyBlueSound]

23 minutes ago, rmorris said:

For clarity on what I mean by looking to the current ownership / investors:

not my words but...

"There may be other investors, but one appears to be Risk capital partners , aka Luke Johnson. He owns the Pier, invests in Gails and Revolution bars, and previously Laine Pub Co, Small batch coffee, and various others. Bit of a weird guy, extremely right wing and lost a lot of credibility while chair of Patisserie Valerie when it collapsed with a £100m black hole, and a fraud investigation"

 

I am sure his intentions are much better this time, it's not like guys like him have a form 🙄🙄🙄

[SuperSeagull]

1 hour ago, rmorris said:

fwiw wrt Brighton music shops - I'd recommend giving Badlands Guitars in Preston Road (and Online) a look.

Nice stock and Graham and Suzy are very god at looking after their customers.

(No personal involvement - just bought the odd small item there but mainly used for guitar fret levels / setups)

Another fan of Badlands here, always interesting stock and Ed is a great tech. 

[rmorris]

1 hour ago, BabyBlueSound said:

 

I am sure his intentions are much better this time, it's not like guys like him have a form 🙄🙄🙄

 

Indeed - and IIRC he was the guy calling for the sacking of train drivers during a Thameslink dispute.

Also investor in the failed "Dirty Blonde" bar in East Street ?

How he ever headed up C4 is a disgrace tbh.

[rmorris]

To round this out in context - I do, of course, have much sympathy with staff who may lose their jobs.

Been there. Done that.

Particularly for those who qualify for only the legally minimum compensation.

[tauzero]

3 hours ago, PainInTheBass said:

I was in Badlands recently trying out a used but mint Squire 40th Jazz. The owner and I sat and chatted about the whole Fender standard move. Nice chap, great shop. But please someone go buy that Jazz and save me from my GAS.

 

You never know, their stock levels may suddenly and unexpectedly increase enormously.

[iamtheelvy]

Not looking good there is it? I'm heading over to Brighton in a couple of weeks and was hoping to have a browse. The website's always been super useful for ordering a variety of bits and bobs.

[BabyBlueSound]

8 hours ago, rmorris said:

 

Indeed - and IIRC he was the guy calling for the sacking of train drivers during a Thameslink dispute.

Also investor in the failed "Dirty Blonde" bar in East Street ?

How he ever headed up C4 is a disgrace tbh.

 

I'm sure Mr Corrupt Multimillionaire Tax Evader doesn't use those trains that much that it would bother him if they weren't even running due to the lack of staff. But workers setting a precedent by demanding a living wage... that's scary 🙄

[rmorris]

2 hours ago, BabyBlueSound said:

 

I'm sure Mr Corrupt Multimillionaire Tax Evader doesn't use those trains that much that it would bother him if they weren't even running due to the lack of staff. But workers setting a precedent by demanding a living wage... that's scary 🙄

He owns the (remaining) pier in Brighton as well as some other bits (including some now failed businesses) and was complaining around people not visiting due to industrial action by ASLEF on Thameslink trains from London.