nick_karkie Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Hi all, I have been in the "fish and chip" industry since I was 10 years old and we opened a very successful restaurant in Marbella. I left Marbella because of family arguments etc...I moved back to the UK in December after 3 years in Marbella and I went to work for a guy who wanted someone experienced in the "fish and chips" industry. This guy has literally offered me the chance to open a fish restaurant in the best site in Tenerife and will give me 10% of the restaurant every year until I own 50%. I will have total control because he will remain in England. I have had the Spanish experience before and it was not so great, their relaxed attitude to work and the corruption delayed everything. I have nothing keeping me in the UK to be honest and I do speak Spanish. Now my question is, would you guys do it if you were in my shoes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 go for it if it all goes wrong you can always come back, or stay here with sh*tty weather and ponder what could have been Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicky Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 If i had nothing to really stay for then i would go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 where abouts in Tenerife by the way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snooze Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 I have been in the "fish and chip" industry since I was 10 years old and we opened a very successful restaurant in Marbella. I left Marbella because of family arguments etc...I moved back to the UK in December after 3 years in Marbella......... ...... if you were in my shoes? If I were you, I'd move back with my parents because, by my calculations, you're only 13 years old!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick_karkie Posted July 6, 2009 Author Share Posted July 6, 2009 go for it if it all goes wrong you can always come back, or stay here with sh*tty weather and ponder what could have been If i had nothing to really stay for then i would go for it! It is kinda how I am thinking, I am still young, I could always come back if things dont go well for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick_karkie Posted July 6, 2009 Author Share Posted July 6, 2009 haha, we didnt move to Marbella when I was 10 , when I was 26 actually Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heather1mee Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 I'd defo go!! Your experienced at what you do, lovely climate, and country!! as ya said you have no ties!! life is for living!! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozz Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Are you a mad person? Why wouldn't you?! Sounds like a brilliant opportunity and as you haven't listed any negatives in your post you should be packing now... I think I'd be 25stone if I worked in a fish and chip shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick_karkie Posted July 6, 2009 Author Share Posted July 6, 2009 yeah life is certainly for living and I hate monotony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick_karkie Posted July 6, 2009 Author Share Posted July 6, 2009 I think I'd be 25stone if I worked in a fish and chip shop. It is a constant battle, I have to go to the gym everyday and play football because I eat non-stop haha. It is true I have not listed many negatives, and I hear that the people in Tenerife are much nicer than their spanish counterparts in the Costa Del Sol who have very little time for the English and are real Gypsies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 I wouldn't do it because I hate to go overseas and end up being surrounded by the same stuff I see in the UK, fish & chips for example. I guess the market is there though and it has to beat selling in the UK, go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicky Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Perhaps take a holiday to the area that you would be working in and find out if you could see yourself being happy there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Id go for it any day of the week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Raven Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Are you married? Kids? I guess what im trying to say is what would keep you here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick_karkie Posted July 6, 2009 Author Share Posted July 6, 2009 Good idea Vicky, my boss actually suggested it, he wants me to fly over there next month with him to see the place. Michael, I know what you mean but the weird thing is that most of our customers in Marbella were English, both holiday-makers and residents, the residents tend to come because they miss good fish and chips and the holiday makers come because their kids want to eat fish and chips haha. The weird thing is that you actually take 5 times more money than you do in England because unless you have the contacts it is very difficult to get all the products you need to do it right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick_karkie Posted July 6, 2009 Author Share Posted July 6, 2009 I am divorced from a Russian girl I married in Spain and we have no children, so I dont have any commitments here apart from my family, but I would see them every now and then, I can handle that. The other good thing is that my girlfriend is Mexican and she would probably love it there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbloodyturbo Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 I would probably think twice about it right now. My sister works for barclays in the canary islands and she tells me that the islands are dead at the moment. Business's are closing all the time and she has noticed a lot of her clients folding and moving back to the UK. I was in Fuerteventura last month and it was very quiet, even the locals are struggling for work. I can't see a fish & chip shop doing well in the canary islands anytime soon, especially as established vendors are struggling as it is. Just my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike3.0 Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Go for it mate ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick_karkie Posted July 6, 2009 Author Share Posted July 6, 2009 I would probably think twice about it right now. My sister works for barclays in the canary islands and she tells me that the islands are dead at the moment. Business's are closing all the time and she has noticed a lot of her clients folding and moving back to the UK. I was in Fuerteventura last month and it was very quiet, even the locals are struggling for work. I can't see a fish & chip shop doing well in the canary islands anytime soon, especially as established vendors are struggling as it is. Just my opinion. I agree, it is a hard market but luckily I have been through that experience in Marbella and we were one of the fortunate few to not get affected by it because we do it properly in our family, no half-measures. Certainly one of the major things putting me off but if I think about it I guess the risk is not mine, my boss will buy the freehold and will give me half the restaurant over 5 years. He lived there for many years and has a contact who has been there for 20 years and I dont think he would have reccomended him the site if he thought if would be dificult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Nick, Do you know people there? Without going into alot of detail, but if you are planning opening up in the more popular areas, as easy as its sounds, you cant. Well you can but there are a few that will disapprove. The place is corrupt to say the least. I was going to scoot off about 5 years ago, open a compooter shop and be done with it. I decided against it all in the end, the corruption being a primary issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick_karkie Posted July 6, 2009 Author Share Posted July 6, 2009 Hi Daman, I am very fortunate that my boss and his friend who has lived there for 20 years are very well connected, will be no issue at all. But I know exactly what you mean having seen it in the costa del sol, it was a nightmare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 I would go for it, sounds like you have nothing to lose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurgen-Jm-Imports Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 if you answer this then go for it.. cuanto vas canar y mas importante como son las mujeros de tenrifie son guapas or feas ?? si dices que si , tu tienes que ir a este citio.. adios Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lbm Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 if you answer this then go for it.. cuanto vas canar y mas importante como son las mujeros de tenrifie son guapas or feas ?? si dices que si , tu tienes que ir a este citio.. adios "What's more important, opening a chippy in Tenerife, or giving me some lovely cash to buy one of my splendid cars? Good day!" On the one hand your experience and relative lack of commitments back in Blighty screams yes - On the other hand, a bloke who'll buy a business then systematically give you half of it, and in a recession? Interesting proposition. No matter what you decide, the very best of luck to you sir Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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