Discover Hertford Online Forum

Reply ID 20361

Grapevine ... fantastic idea. I for one will be keeping your site in my 'favourites' box...

Reply ID 20368

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Originally posted by grapevine
We are very pleased to see that Hertfordshire Grapevine is being talked about, albeit with some suspicion and misconceptions! So, to set the record straight: Hertfordshire Grapevine is an on-line food and drink magazine incorporating a directory of the best places for food, drink and accommodation in Hertfordshire. To be the 'best', each restaurant, pub and hotel, or any business within the food and drink industry operating in Hertfordshire, must first pass our rigorous selection procedure, before being invited to join. Don't expect to see every restaurant, pub or hotel listed because quite simply not all are good enough! The service is free to anyone who logs on. There will be a membership launched within the coming months (at an annual fee of just £5!) which will enable readers to get involved with product testing for things like gadgets and produce of the month, finding the best locally produced sausage (!) as well as testing recipes, wine tasting events and charity events, we will also introduce a wine club and our Grapevine Awards whre readers will be able to vote for their favourite pub, restaurant, hotel etc. You do not have to join to be able to use the directory. Businesses, naturally, will pay to be included, but we are by far the best value for money directory. For example, pubs choosing our most expensive package will only be paying £11.70 plus VAT per month. It costs over £100 for a one off eighth page insertion into a local newspaper or magazine which is forgotten about within a couple of days. With us, exposure is for 12 months of the year, 24 hours a day! Our site is also backed by a comprehensive advertising and marketing campaign using a variety of media such as radio and local press - no other directory offers this facility. We hope you will find the magazine interesting, informative and entertaining - we are very passionate about food and drink. We care very much for the food and drink industry in Hertfordshire, especially local producers. We are keen to launch campaigns aimed at saving our local traditions such as fishmongers and butchers and to support our local farmers markets. We will also be working closely with our two chosen charities, Hertfordshire Groundwork Trust and Restaurants against Hunger. Our site is a working site and it will evolve over time. Yes, I'm sure we will experience the usual technical difficulties and teething problems as most new businesses do, but we hope you will bear with us and most of all, read, enjoy the site and get involved. This site is for you, so we would love to hear from you through our site once it is launched. Don't forget, the magazine launches on 1st July and the directory launches on 1st August at hertfordshiregrapevine.co.uk

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Reply ID 20370

I think the best reviews are 'Word of Mouth' reviews. From people who actually go to these places on a regular bases. Just like the reviews on hear be it a good review or a bad one.

Reply ID 20375

I saw your advertisement in the post office this lunchtime.

Reply ID 20376

Hello again - thanks for the feedback. Essentially Justin we wouldn't accept people's money for the sake of it. We're not asking for the earth when we've visited somewhere, however we've been all over the county and have had some very bad experiences with regards to quality and service. These are the places that we won't be promoting as we want to push the finest in food and drink and keep our integrity. I must check that post office ad now as it's not meant to be there until Saturday!

Reply ID 20378

It's above the kiosks (to the left)

Reply ID 20379

Sorry to be dense, but I don't understand how your site will work. Places will be listed if you like the experience they offered and they pay a subscription. Places are not listed if they don't pay subscription or you don't like them (in which case we assume you turn their money away) So, question is: If somewhere is not listed, how do we know if you don't like them, or they didn't pay?

Reply ID 20380

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Originally posted by Spotty Dog
Sorry to be dense, but I don't understand how your site will work. Places will be listed if you like the experience they offered and they pay a subscription. Places are not listed if they don't pay subscription or you don't like them (in which case we assume you turn their money away) So, question is: If somewhere is not listed, how do we know if you don't like them, or they didn't pay?

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Reply ID 20381

we're not trying to compete with Michelin or Egon Ronay. - We want to be the most comprehensive internet based directory for Hertfordshire. When we were searching for pubs and restaurants via the internet we found that there was just not enough information out there from the directories that attempt to list nationwide. As far as Hertford is concerned, many still list the Dolphin and The Three Tuns and some still have the Hillside as The Hooden Horse. One even lists the Bell and Crown which I think closed 10 years ago. By being specific to the County we aim to be the most comprehensive and up to date service available and to help our readers make an informed choice about where to eat and drink in Hertfordshire.

Reply ID 20382

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Originally posted by grapevine
As far as Hertford is concerned, many still list the Dolphin and The Three Tuns...

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Reply ID 20384

I'm extremely suspicious of Grapevine and I think Justin has made some valid points. The bottom line is that any business has to pay to be in it and that sucks. I am not suggesting that Grapevine is run by scammers and I am sure the people behind it are honest business folk who just want to make a fair profit for a good service promoting local businesses but I had thought such directories had died out following the rise of truly independent guides, like the ones Justin mentions, as well as websites like this one and beerintheevening.com where you can generally sift through the many views expressed and the out-of-date info to form an impression of what's available. Spotty Dog's question was a good one. Let's say for argument's sake that two of our good local restaurants, The Waterside and The Hillside decide not to pay to be included, because they don't need to be in a tin-pot catchpenny directory to pull in more punters. That directory is going to lack credibility with two important local eateries not included. The press blurb above says, 'Don't expect to see every restaurant, pub or hotel listed because quite simply not all are good enough!' To me, that sounds like a threat to businesses - pay to be included, or everyone will think you're rubbish. Wouldn't it be better to have truly objective reviews, where businesses don't have to pay to be included, but Grapevine could still make money by offering reviewed businesses the option of buying space to place an advert to give more info, tell punters about menus, special offers etc? I think our local food and drink businesses should think carefully and consult with each other before deciding whether to pay for inclusion in Grapevine.

Reply ID 20385

Totally agree, this does not give a fully objective opinion - if it's only The Grapevine that make the comments. This forum is more useful giving first hand experiences. Why be in the guide and pay. As Justin say's there are better guides out there that do not chage to advertise. Reputation & Recommednation are the best qualities.

Reply ID 20386

Blimey people, give them a chance, you haven't even seen the website yet, it's due for launch on 1st August. Seeing as the site is not even online yet how can you be so vitriolic as to slate it as - amongst other things - "a tin-pot catchpenny directory". Does the Mercury fall into this category? Businesses have to pay for advertising with them, too. The B&B Guide is a critical review of businesses but people can also pay to be in that too. This may answer Justin's point of businesses paying for inclusion. The Good Pub Guide go and review places because someone has told them about it; lots of good pubs get missed in the process. Those books had to start somewhere, there was one point when these books didn't have a proven track recor. There are many places that cook/serve food and drink in the county that are very good but are not of the callibre to get into Egon Ronay or Michellin. Does that mean that they are not worthy of mention anywhere other than in town-based review boards? Reading through Grapevine's post it is clear that the reason they decided to start this business venture was down to a lack of concise county-wide information. Grapevine is a local business, too. Why should they pack up before they've even started? If these guys are interested in promoting food and drink in this county - and therefore Hertfordshire based businesses - then I'm all for it.

Reply ID 20394

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Originally posted by Mr P
Blimey people, give them a chance, you haven't even seen the website yet, it's due for launch on 1st August. Seeing as the site is not even online yet how can you be so vitriolic as to slate it as - amongst other things - "a tin-pot catchpenny directory".

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Reply ID 20406

They are running radio adverts on Hertbeat FM.