Plese excuse me here but this thread is purely for some feedback and a bit of harmless banter.

Since we opened in May 2010 (McArthurs Pub Lenzurg) we have been advertising different events aimed at the english speaking people in Switzerland. Most of our ideas have spawned from reading the EF and what people want.

Unfortunately the response we have had from the forum users has been very disappointing. Burns night was the only time we really had a good response and actually had a couple of groups join us in Lenzburg.

Lostinabroad, this does not apply to you, been good to see you here on a few occasions.

Lenzburg is not far from Zurich, around 20 mins by train, meaning you can actually get to lenzburg just as fast as going on the tram from one part to another within zurich. What keeps people away?

We do have a large x-pat customer base due to the international industries in Lenzburg, but why are people not interested from zurich?

I look forward to your feedback

I'm too far away to attend.. but maybe people are just looking for a nice meal, a good drink and not all the kitsch ? ( except for LiB )

To be honest, if you look at our current and past events, all we have advertised on the EF is food events. The St Andrews day 3 course meal is today at only 35.-, the previous was a KFC night starting at 4.- per piece and the next is a christmas turkey dinner.

We do not advertise bands or quiz nights or any of our other events here. Only food which is hard to come by in Switzerland, so no "kitsch".

oh... I may be confusing you then... you're not the one with the hot waitresses given to camp costumes?

penny farthing?

I live in the exact opposite direction. This would make me travel about 1h50 one way just to get there...

looks like not many people are interested in the feedback as well. Sorry, you must me feeling bad. Actually I think following:

1. The choice of menu is very niche and less. Like Turkey is the best and traditional meal but having just one meal choice could be a problem.

2. Most of you events are advertise as in the Pub eat and drink events. Usually crowd from larger town like Zurich are more likely to come to downtown in Zurich. Have you thought of trying the same thing Zurich in a pub on weekdays.

3. 6 to 9 kind of events in Pub don't cater to either the once who would like to come at 6 and eat and go by 9 (because ambience is pub) nor the typical pub goer (he doesn't want to leave at 9).

May be some of these minor tweaks can help and more people give you valid suggestions so that you can improve your offering. I might want to try it in one of the events, just that my partner is strict vegetarian. Let me see how I can ditch her for one of your events..

Tonybhoy, quite a few EFers don't live in the city so the tram doesn't even come into the picture. For example I live in Uster and it would take me almost an hour to get there by train. If you were closer (30 mins tops), I would be there more often.

Nevertheless, I really do hope you get a better response from more of us now that you've told us about the bad turnout. It's nice to know that people like you do make an effort with events for expats and we should support it.

A little personal anecdote: The food, service and atmosphere have always been great...and I will venture out to the Pub more often, as I've seen delicious menu items (curry and a pint for 19Chf or chili con carne for 15Chf) which I don't come across on a regular basis.

It would be nice to see one or the other EFer from the big Z venture out to the pub more frequently....maybe we could even set up a bi-weekly drink night.

Refine the Marketing Mix perhaps ?

I am able to travel, but might not be keen if I can eat out cheaper elsewhere especially while on a low budget.

The CHF 32.40 round trip ticket surely isn't helping to attract EFers from Zurich.

Nah, not us

Thanks, some good feedback there.

1. We know that another menu would make it more interesting but as we dont have a large capacity or a large kitchen its not really possible for us. We are hoping that enough people like turkey to fill the place

2. Unfortunately i do not own a pub in zurich so cant try that

3. Ok, maybe we should word the advertising different in future, we are open till midnight but the food on offer finishes just after 9 then its back to the normal kitchen

Good to know that you open till late ( that bloody Nachtzuschlag ).

Many a time I wanted to sign up myself especially Christmas events held by you, but everything is too dynamic for me, working around schedules of other people. All the best Tony - as for myself, I will keep a look out for your forthcoming events.

I can assure you that we are one of the cheaper options to eat out. Keep an eye on our website which is currently being renewed. we will update the menu page in the coming weeks. www.mcarthurspub.ch

I would hope you have a half tax, most do. If you consume a few beers and eat something i reckon that 15.- you paid on the train would even itself out over the evening as we are far cheaper than zurich.

You can also contact us spontaneously and we will let you know if we have any places left

Grynch, taking "hot waitresses" as a compliment, Now for the camp costumes, for my part this is how I usually dress. Are you attacking my style ???!? :P

my dear, never... never would I attack you or your style..... well... your style anyway
and as for camp .... I've never actually seen you and I rely only on what my good friend LiB has scrawled on the back of bar napkins and sent to me.

must have to talk to Lib in private then haha.

going back to the topic, Good Luck Thony and keep on the good work with Glenda, her food reputation has spread in AG and is arleady knockin on ZH door !
Rome wasnt built in a day.

OP, I'll be brief as I'm on my phone. I think I've seen a few of your events, and forgive me for being blunt, but the ones I remember are quite gimmicky and kitschy... the Spanish night, I'd rather go to a Spanish restaurant, same goes for the Mexican and Indian nights.

These are the sort of theme nights that'd work well in provincial English town back street pubs but you must remember that most expats in CH are quite sophisticated. Speaking as a food pro I really suggest you up your game.... try a proper traditional English food night, and I'm talking serious quality, Rabbit Pie, Lincolnshire Chine, proper Fish pie etc etc, the type of food that Brits should be proud of and spread the word to the locals as well, they will be surprised!


I host ploughmans lunches in Rapperswil which is much further than Zurich than you are, we use very high quality ingredients in a simple English way, no gimmicks and I rarely get less than 100 people, some from afar away as Geneva.

If you'd like me to host one at your pub in the spring get in touch and we can talk. It might help to find out if it is your approach or just location.