Running costs for BWE London 2023

[Comte Flaneur]

I haven’t really gotten around to thinking about the best way to do this but is should be quite simple.

The only expenses I have incurred are the deposits I put down for the private dining facilities at two of the restaurants - Cafe Murano (£500) La Cabotte (£250) for a total of £750. Noize I know well and they did not ask for a deposit.

What I suggest is that when we go to these restaurants we divide the residual bill up equally, and I can work out how much each person/couple owes me from the deposit depending on their attendance on the Thursday (Cafe Murano) and the Friday (La Cabotte).

It is important to note that the bills need to be paid by card rather than in cash.

It is also worth noting that there is no obligation to add tips above and beyond the service charge, which is typically 12.5%.

I would suggest that we stick to this principle at Murano and Cabotte but maybe add on a tip at Noize as the sommelier there will be organising the blind tasting.

[SF Ed]

I think that all sounds fine.

I would focus on how you actually get funds from us. I've been the treasurer for multiple BWE events and what I have found worked best was to be very clear on process for both determining the bill and for paying the bill.

Technology for paying bills is a lot better now that it was in the early days of BWE, but since we have folks from many different countries and many different payment mechanisms, there might be choices to make (like some form of online payment/transfer vs. cash).

SF Ed

[JoelD]

Sounds good, Ian. Whatever works best for you. The only thing I don't plan to have with me is actual checks. But I can pay any of the usual electronic ways (zelle, venmo, paypal) or cash if needed as well.

[Nicklasss]

I'm ok with that Ian.

So we are 13 for Thursday, so 500/13 = 38.50 each for your deposit.

And 14 fo Friday, so 250/14 = 17.85 each for your deposit.

So I need to transfer 56.35 to you. Do i have that right? I can do international fund transfer but i need bank account info, or cash on Thursday to you.

[Comte Flaneur]

I'm ok with that Ian.

So we are 13 for Thursday, so 500/13 = 38.50 each for your deposit.

And 14 fo Friday, so 250/14 = 17.85 each for your deposit.

So I need to transfer 56.35 to you. Do i have that right? I can do international fund transfer but i need bank account info, or cash on Thursday to you.

.

Yes Nic you got that pretty right only we will be 15 not 14 for La Cabotte as my half American friend Peter Radford will be joining us

Here are my back if the envelope calculations

1) Cafe Murano on Thursday

13 people taking the four course a la carte menu at £65 a head = £845
Corkage at £25 per 75cl bottle with 22 bottles including champagne = £550
Glass hire - they are hiring large Pinot glasses for us - estimate £50
Total ex service = £1445
Total ex deposit of £500 = £945
Service: depends whether it is applied to the 945 or 1445 number - let’s assume the worst at 12.5% that would be an extra £181

Total £1126 which would be £86.60 per head on the night
In addition the per head share of the service charge is £38.46 (500/13)

So the total per head cost I would estimate at approx £125

Note this number is boosted by assuming we open 22 bottles which I think is heroic for the first night

For example I don’t think we need four bottles of champagne between 13 to start? Maybe we only need two?

2) La Cabottle on Friday

15 people taking the £55 per head three course menu = £825
Canapés assume £15 per head = £225
Corkage at £25 per bottle and assuming 22 bottles = £550
Total = £1600
Minus £250 deposit =
£1350
Plus service = 1600 x 0.125 = £200
Total = £1550 = £103 per head before allocation of deposit
Deposit allocation per head = £250/16 = £16.67
All in estimated per head cost £120

3) Noize on Saturday

Without going into too much detail I suspect they will charge us approx £125 per head all in including service charge and corkage

I did not need to put down a deposit

At this restaurant where we will have the downstairs space and where Mathieu the sommelier will be conducting the blind tasting I would suggest adding a tip of £10 or £15 ahead taking the total up to £135-140 per head

[Comte Flaneur]

Allocation of the deposits (£38.46 for Murano and £16.67 for Cabotte = £55.13 for both)

Jim £55.13
Patrick £55.13 - we have plenty of other calculations to make as Patrick is bringing some of my wine over!
Tim £16.67
Michael & Nalan £110.26
Ed & Lisa = £33.33 plus buy ins
Tom & Gail £110.26 - Tom is also incurring expenses by bringing my wines over so need to makes offsets
Alex £38.46
Howard £55.13
Joel & Danilella - £110.26
Stefan (Michael P’s nephew) £38.46
Peter Radford £16.67

[JimHow]

Looks good, thank you Mr. Flaneur!

[Comte Flaneur]

I have sent out some individual emails to people, to tie up loose ends.

When we left Noize two people had not paid and I had to cover for them to the tune of £300.

Jim kindly offered to pay for my dinner and kindly did so.

So whoever didn’t pay could you let me know? You can email me.

If not I can find out who didn’t pay from the restaurant.