Albert Fong’s Post

A pub is rarely just a pub. It’s a microcosm of its time—a reflection of the people, the place, and the culture it serves. Take BrewDog Waterloo. It’s not your traditional pub; it’s something else entirely. A beer library. A co-working space. A mini-dog park, for goodness’ sake. It’s trying to reimagine what a pub can be. And yet, while the design and concept feel forward-thinking, the heart of the place still beats with something timeless: people coming together, sharing stories, and connecting over a drink. It makes me think—what do we hold onto, and what do we change? How do we adapt to shifting expectations while keeping the soul of what we do intact? Because whether it’s landlords or lawyers, the challenge isn’t just about embracing change. It’s about doing so in a way that feels authentic, purposeful, and human. Cheers to that.

🎉 BIG NEWS, CINCY! OUR NEW WEBSITE IS LIVE! 🎉 🚨 Drumroll, please… 🥁 We’re thrilled to announce HalfOffCincinnati.com's launch—your ultimate go-to for budget-friendly fun, delicious eats, and unbeatable happy hour deals across the Queen City! 🍹 Why Did We Create This? When we read a headline about several beloved restaurants closing, it hit home. While grabbing a happy hour deal or shopping a sale won’t singlehandedly save a business, it’s a stepping stone. It invites people to try something new, fall in love with it, and become loyal patrons who bring friends, colleagues, and family. Think of it like finding your own “Central Perk” from Friends or “Cheers,” where everybody knows your name—or maybe even a spot as quirky as Paddy’s Pub in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (minus the chaos)! We’re doing this for fun, championing our local businesses, and keeping Cincinnati the vibrant, exciting city we all know and love. So, let’s get out there and celebrate what makes the Queen City cool! 🥂 🍹 What You’ll Find on HalfOffCincinnati.com: We’ve designed the site to make your local adventures more straightforward, exciting, and affordable! Here’s the scoop: 🔥 Exclusive Deals: Stay updated on the hottest happy hours, dining steals, and weekend specials. 📖 Blog Posts: Fun, themed content featuring insider tips and all the best spots to make your Cincy nights unforgettable. 🏙️ Cincy Must-Visits: Discover hidden gems, iconic haunts, and new local favorites. 🎉 Event Highlights: Find the best happenings in the city, from seasonal events to special promotions. ✨ What’s Trending? Our Recent Blog Posts! 1️⃣ “Escape to Key West (Without Leaving OTR!)” 🌴 Meet Pilar—a rum lover’s paradise with tropical vibes and daily drink specials. 2️⃣ “Global Flavors, Local Charm: Safi OTR” 🌍 Chef José Salazar’s bold creations and wine deals will take your taste buds on a trip around the world. 3️⃣ “Stock Up & Sip: Wine Cellar Outlet Deals” 🍷 Affordable luxury? Yes, please. Premium wines at prices you won’t believe. 4️⃣ “Nicola’s Bolognese: A Monday Game-Changer” 🇮🇹 Comfort food heaven with house-made pasta and legendary bread baskets. 5️⃣ “Fireside Pizza’s Sizzling Happy Hour” 🍕 Half-off pizza, local beer, and a cozy firehouse vibe? Sign us up. 🌟 Why You Need to Check It Out: We’ve done the heavy lifting, so you don’t have to! Whether planning your next happy hour, seeking out Cincy’s hidden gems, or just looking for a deal that won’t break the bank, HalfOffCincinnati.com is your one-stop shop for living your best life in Queen City. 📲 Visit Now: www.halfoffcincinnati.com 👉 Don’t forget to bookmark it, share it with your crew, and stay tuned for even more deals and blog updates! Let us know your favorite feature on the site, or drop a comment with recommendations for where we should spotlight next. Cheers to making the most of Cincinnati—one deal at a time.🥂 #HalfOffCincy #NewWebsiteLaunch #CincyDeals #SupportLocal #CheersCincinnati Libby Coulton

This is your sign to start a Facebook group in your niche. I started this group a little over a year ago and it’s already over 50k! Some tips for starting your group: 1. Title and description should have keywords that represent your niche and have a high search volume (I use Keysearch) 2. Turn on 1 or 2 auto posts that will generate lots of comments. For example I have a post that goes live every Monday asking what people did and ate in St. Louis over the weekend. 3. Turn on auto filters for spam (because there is A LOT. But also monitor your page every couple days. 4. Turn on post approval (but not comment approval) because as I said, there is a lot of spammers out there and if your group is full of junk people will leave. 5. Share your group to other social media to grow even more! Hope this inspired you on your content creation journey. #contentcreator #facebookgroups #digitalmarketing #stlouis #foodblogger #travelblog #foodie

When I joined Breakfast Club a few months back in Brooklyn, I was at the lowest point I'd felt in a long, long time. Isolated in the cold New York weather; lonely; increasingly meh because client work felt like, well, crickets. So, I traveled to Brooklyn, begrudgingly, and joined one of Ben Dietz's breakfasts and, well... Needless to say it totally changed my life. I left feeling so, so much better about work and life afterwards. It was absurd. I used to host these bi-weekly/monthly rooftop shindigs with great steaks, cool people, chill vibes, all that fun stuff. It was a BYOS (bring-your-own-steak) extravaganza. I stopped when I left Denver. And ending Steaknight was one of the saddest things about leaving. Breakfast Club feels like a good replacement for that, and I'm excited to bring it here to the Hamptons. We talked about... What is breakfast club…?👇 - a cool club with chill people where we talk about… - Everything from the food in Bologna to the existential reasoning for being back in the office - or not.  - Religious conversion as a matter of pre-marital negotiation versus self-motivated reasons  - A resason to get out of bed earlier and connect with community  - No clue - A thing I inspired.   - What happens in Breakfast Club stays in Breakfast Club (Every Wednesday / 830 / Tutto Cafe - come hang.) Peeps: - margaret barcohana - julia beynonson - Haim Mizrahi - Kevin Kollenda - Jonathan Shoemaker - Ryan Babenzien - Zach Bliss - Jim Porcarelli - Ross M. Lipson #breakfastclub #breakfast #connection #hamptons

8 Ways to Prepare Your Pub for Summer ☀️ Summer is just around the corner, so it's time for pubs across the country to make sure they are prepped and ready to deal with the influx of business! Read our article on how you can prepare for summer 2024! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ec8dK-Hy #Summer #Pubs #Venues #HospitalityIndustry

New research shows that fun could be the ‘secret sauce’ to help struggling pubs! 🌟 The UK's pub scene has weathered quite the storm—from pandemic disruptions to financial strains due to rising costs and shifting consumer habits. It's more crucial than ever for pubs and bars to maximise their appeal and profitability. Saturn's latest research findings show that pubs offering enjoyable, fun and engaging atmospheres see customers staying longer and spending more. A whopping 41% of participants stated they'd be likely to extend their stay by 30 minutes to over two hours if they were having fun. What transforms a regular bar visit into a memorable outing? Laughter, visual appeal, and an atmosphere buzzing with energy make all the difference. With strategic use of digital signage, any pub can enhance its environment cost-effectively. Digital displays aren't just for showing menus or specials; they can also be used to create engaging experiences that draw patrons in and keep them coming back. Learn more about the research and how digital signage can be used in pubs to create a more fun atmosphere in our latest white paper! >> https://zurl.co/odb5 #HospitalityIndustry #PubMarketing

Brrrrrrr, (Nobody ever does that do they? but we know what it means). There's not just a drop in actual temperature out there, anybody who is trying to trade will tell you that there's a chilly wind blowing down the high street. It's always cold in January obviously, but right now it's as tricky as it's ever been. Nobody will ever convince me that there's anywhere better to be under such circumstances than your local pub, but in order to attract folks we've got to get the basics right. I went to look at a leasehold for a pal yesterday and it was a bit of a study in a beautiful pub not quite having it covered. First thing was that the place was cold, bloody freezing infact. Yes the fire was lit, but the central heating was off. Look I know it's expensive, but you can't effectively trade in a cold pub. If there isn't enough lunchtime trade to warrant putting the heating on for a January Wednesday lunch session, maybe it's best not to open? Failing that (& what I'd do), open a section & heat the beJesus out of THAT bit. I know for the big pub companies such considerations don't apply, but in little country pubs this stuff is make or break. Second thing which struck me was kerb appeal. This pub is in a pretty village but on the main road, not a massively busy road but you get plenty of cars trundling by. That brings me to one of my soap box issues for these situations, A-boards and signage. If you are going to have call to action signage and it's aimed at people in cars, keep the messaging simple! No point whatsoever in writing your menu on the board, no bugger who goes past at 20mph is going to get to read it. "Lovely pub, real fires ⬅️" would do it, "Scrummy pub food ⬅️" that sort of thing. "WOW, great pub" "Brilliant pub fish & chips", you get the picture. And dim the lights a bit, get some of those yellow glow bulb thingies (I'm not sure what they're called, you probably guessed 😂). Have a coffee machine, make yourself a coffee and get that smell going a bit, have some nice jazz with a bit of double bass plodding heavily in the background (seriously, avoid the techno). Get a rug if it's all stone on the floor, light a candle or two, get some bar stools. Bar towels too, country pubs in the Winter should have bar towels. And real beer, great real beer. And local cheese sarnies, with homemade pickle & fresh crusty bread. Perchance some chips, double cooked in goose fat. Scampi fries. Light the fires though, get the heating on. If the punters aren't saying "It's flippin boiling in here!" after ten minutes, you've got it wrong. Anyway the rent was too high. Potentially a lovely pub though.

Tuesday Tips: Play It Cool 🧊 There are so many things to love about summer—but for some restaurants, the warm weather can have a real impact on business during these months. Tap the link below and beat the heat by developing enjoyable, creative experiences to help your guests cool down. https://ow.ly/k0rr50SxnIw

The weather outside might still be frightful, but spring is on the way! The next three months are packed with opportunities for pubs, restaurants, hotels, and sports venues! From Valentine's Day to a late Easter, we've got tips to boost footfall, create memorable experiences, and make this season your best yet. 🌟 Ready to make the most of spring? 🌼 Check out our six simple ideas today! 

You bought a house in a new city and just finished unpacking. All that hard work built up an appetite and you remember seeing a half dozen pizza shops in the neighborhood - so you start calling around for delivery. Shop #1: Doesn't deliver to your street Shop #2: Doesn't deliver to your street Shop #3: Can deliver, but only calzones and a warm salad. Pizza not available here. Shop #4: Won't deliver their own pizza, they're reboxing someone else's and charging extra. Shop #5: Will deliver but it won't be until next week. Needing a break you step out to the front lawn and scream at the sky. 'Why's this gotta be so difficult' you ask yourself in between hangry sobs. You just want dinner and this has wasted an hour. This should be easy. Finally your neighbor steps outside to see what all the noise was about and hears your plight. They inform you they order from Shop #6. Call em up, and you've finally got a hot dinner 30 minutes later. This might sound crazy but it's the exact experience IT & Procurement teams go through daily when trying to source network connectivity. This is why Lightyear exists. We've built the Expedia or Kayak for Network/Telco services to source every available provider in your area. Try it out next time you've got a project to see how much easier life can be. Avoid those hunger pains. PS: If someone wants to build this tech for actual pizza delivery I will be your first registered user.