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Thread: Review of Hoxton Pony by E the U

  1. #1
    Between pubs sheffield hatter's Avatar
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    Default Review of Hoxton Pony by E the U

    See this thread from a subforum in which only Snow White has the right to reply to posts: http://forums.pubsgalore.co.uk/showt...0158#post90158
    (Although the Organ Grinder has given the monkeys the power to hide "reviews" that do not abide by the guidelines of the site, he has neglected to let us reply to those who report them. Probably an oversight.)

    For future reference/discussion, this is the text of the submission by Ethelred, referred to by the OP, and which I am now going to hide:

    "Ethelred The Unsteady left this review about Hoxton Pony
    Following the release of the "Paradise Papers" on offshore tax avoidance, the Guardian writes of one "James Mellon and his London bar". It says:

    "The arch-Brexiteer and Isle of Man tax exile is a proprietor of a cocktail bar in one of London’s hippest neighbourhoods – the Hoxton Pony in Shoreditch.

    In 2007, he teamed up with his longstanding business partner, the Canadian billionaire Stephen Dattels, to become a co-partner in the venture.

    Rather than invest directly in a British business, Mellon created a layered structure. The bar was run by a UK-registered company, Calabrese House Ltd, which was entirely owned by an Isle of Man company, Calabrese Holdings Ltd, which had four equal shareholders.

    Mellon and Dattels provided the funds, investing £500,000 each. They each held 25% via the Isle of Man. And it was the Manx vehicle that would pay out any dividends. If the bar was ever sold at a profit by its Manx parent, there would be no corporation tax to pay – because the Isle of Man does not tax company profits.

    The leaked files show Appleby suggesting various ways this structure could help minimise tax. Mellon’s representative said the recommendations had not been acted on. The financier told the Guardian the bar had never made a profit, and that “the Calabrese investment has not been a good one”.

    There are no tax advantages to holding the business outside the UK, according to Denham Eke, managing director of Mellon’s Isle of Man based Burnbrae Group. He added: “The reason we used an Isle of Man holding company is that we operate from the Isle of Man. It is our domicile and it is where we have our accounting and support infrastructure.”

    Gerardo Calabrese, who runs the bar and holds a quarter share, said the dual Manx and UK structure was for convenience, for “minimising any cost duplication”, and had nothing to do with avoiding tax. Dattels did not respond to an emailed request for comment..."

    So there you go, boys and girls.

    No, I know this isn't a regular review, but neither are the ones which just say "Wasn't open when I called" etc., but which remain. Some people also might like to know something about the ownership and management of a place, before deciding to give it their custom.

    On 13th November 2017 - no rating submitted
    [User has posted 114 recommendations about 112 pubs]"

    If Ethelred is reading this, he should note that reviews that state simply "wasn't open when I called" are also likely to be hidden if that's really all they say. If they say "wasn't open when I called although their website says it should have been", this is information that might well be useful to potential users of the pub.

    "As is the information in my review", no doubt Mr Unsteady would reply. OK, but it would be better supplied by a link to the original article from which he obtained the information, either in the body of the review thus: "Information about the ownership structure of this bar was included in the Paradise Papers. Those interested can find it at www.guardian.com/insert page reference here" or simply by adding the link to the page (in the appropriate box). It will then be up to one of the Seven Dwarfs to either approve it or refer it to His Majesty for a decision. Personally, I would approve it as I don't see that it's any different to adding a link to the heritage pubs website, for example; it's information not polemic. Other dwarfs might think differently. Either of the above courses of action would be better than writing the "review" which has now been hidden.

    I welcome comments on this subject, as some might feel I am being too high handed.
    Come On You Hatters!

  2. #2
    It wasn't me Quinno's Avatar
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    It appears to have reappeared. I've hidden it again.

  3. #3
    Between pubs sheffield hatter's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Quinno View Post
    It appears to have reappeared. I've hidden it again.
    Thanks. According to https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/core/pubaudit.php?id=64562 he amended it at 19:25. Not sure how you amend a review that's hidden, so perhaps he just kept a copy and resubmitted it.
    Come On You Hatters!

  4. #4
    Still about Mobyduck's Avatar
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    What ever who's done what, It wasn't a pub review.
    "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
    -W.C.Fields

  5. #5
    This Space For Hire Aqualung's Avatar
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    I remember seeing this review and rather like the Bolsover one thinking "what the hell is all this about?".BF sums it up nicely.
    Tim Martin is stinking rich and may well use tax havens but a pub review site isn't the place to raise these sort of issues. If I discovered he did use them it wouldn't stop me from going to JDWs, it's not his fault these places exist.
    The pub is in Central London so is off limits for me!

  6. #6
    Roving RAT ROBCamra's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by sheffield hatter View Post
    Thanks. According to https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/core/pubaudit.php?id=64562 he amended it at 19:25. Not sure how you amend a review that's hidden, so perhaps he just kept a copy and resubmitted it.
    A hidden review can only be seen by senior admin AND the author.

    He may not even know it's been hidden as he constantly edits reviews anyway.
    A pub is for life not just for Christmas

  7. #7
    Fully paid up beer belly Farway's Avatar
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    It is back again, with a bit of details bout the venue, no price of drinks

    In my view it is OK as is, but then I am not a dwarf
    I drink to make others more interesting

  8. #8
    Waterborne Beer Inspector Bucking Fastard's Avatar
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    Having reported the original review,just wanted to say that the current iteration is a lot more informative about the bar itself,and I would presume it now to be within guidelines.Having said that,for my money a link to the Guardian article would have been a neater solution than simply lifting the prose and inserting it into the review.
    "Good people drink good beer" Hunter S Thompson

  9. #9
    This Space For Hire Aqualung's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bucking Fastard View Post
    Having reported the original review,just wanted to say that the current iteration is a lot more informative about the bar itself,and I would presume it now to be within guidelines.Having said that,for my money a link to the Guardian article would have been a neater solution than simply lifting the prose and inserting it into the review.
    Agreed but he admits he has never been to it. I think Brewdog pubs are crap but have never actually been in one so wouldn't dream of adding a review.

  10. #10
    Between pubs sheffield hatter's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bucking Fastard View Post
    Having reported the original review,just wanted to say that the current iteration is a lot more informative about the bar itself,and I would presume it now to be within guidelines.Having said that,for my money a link to the Guardian article would have been a neater solution than simply lifting the prose and inserting it into the review.
    I have added a link to the Guardian article and hidden the "review". For anyone who hasn't read the latest version (there have been several today):

    "My proxy tells me that this a cocktails, wine and champagne bar, and that a drink will typically cost you about a tenner. It has live stuff on Fridays and on Saturdays, which tends to be anything, which might have a claim to be cool, i.e. grime, hip-hop, EDM etc. It doesn't seem to sell beer, but then there are other venues on this site which don't either. The décor and furnishings are exactly as you would expect to find in a self-consciously trendy place like this. Oh, and "you wouldn't like it, dad".

    If you're looking for real ale and history, then it would score nought, but on the other hand, if you want to flare off a few smackers on the above, among others doing alike, then it's ten-out-of-ten. I suppose that if you have money and are looking to begin a Mixed Attractiveness Relationship, then you could do worse than to come here too.

    For those without an enquiring mind, stop here. Otherwise, read on (dot, dot, dot.)

    Following the release of the "Paradise Papers" on offshore tax avoidance (and we can't post working links here, understandably), the Guardian writes of one "James Mellon and his London bar". It says:

    "The arch-Brexiteer and Isle of Man tax exile is a proprietor of a cocktail bar in one of London’s hippest neighbourhoods – the Hoxton Pony in Shoreditch.

    In 2007, he teamed up with his longstanding business partner, the Canadian billionaire Stephen Dattels, to become a co-partner in the venture.

    Rather than invest directly in a British business, Mellon created a layered structure. The bar was run by a UK-registered company, Calabrese House Ltd, which was entirely owned by an Isle of Man company, Calabrese Holdings Ltd, which had four equal shareholders.

    Mellon and Dattels provided the funds, investing £500,000 each. They each held 25% via the Isle of Man. And it was the Manx vehicle that would pay out any dividends. If the bar was ever sold at a profit by its Manx parent, there would be no corporation tax to pay – because the Isle of Man does not tax company profits.

    The leaked files show Appleby suggesting various ways this structure could help minimise tax. Mellon’s representative said the recommendations had not been acted on. The financier told the Guardian the bar had never made a profit, and that “the Calabrese investment has not been a good one”.

    There are no tax advantages to holding the business outside the UK, according to Denham Eke, managing director of Mellon’s Isle of Man based Burnbrae Group. He added: “The reason we used an Isle of Man holding company is that we operate from the Isle of Man. It is our domicile and it is where we have our accounting and support infrastructure.”

    Gerardo Calabrese, who runs the bar and holds a quarter share, said the dual Manx and UK structure was for convenience, for “minimising any cost duplication”, and had nothing to do with avoiding tax. Dattels did not respond to an emailed request for comment..."

    So there you have it, good gentlefolk.

    "Never made a profit". At ten quid a drink.
    "

    "Good gentlefolk", indeed. I don't disagree with the point he's trying to make, just the way he's going about making it.
    Come On You Hatters!

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