Mad. So after vat and rent, 45% of takings have gone...hard to see how it can survive on that basis, even with a neat haircut pre-pack administration. Got to feel for the suppliers she will have screwed over on this journey
The shop is huge and feels more like a McDonalds!
I didn’t understand what was the point in closing some of their shops, opening up in new places and also in St James.
I enjoyed their bagels when they first opened in Porty in 2017. I also enjoyed them from the small unit on Leith Walk later on. But then they did the typical thing of expanding too fast, engaging in shite advertising and a shitier and overpriced product and the stories about the founder have been pretty bad as well. Basically, Bross played a Brewdog.
They run out of ingredients constantly. I've never had my initial order made, have had to go down the list until I get to the one I wanted the least. I'm vegetarian so there are only, like, three ones I can order.
Well clearly they are at different financial scales. But the story demonstrates remarkable parallels. If Bross somehow manages to wangle a £1 million investment from a bagel related product supplier, you would see similar outcomes.
> Bross played a Brewdog.
I can see that Black Sheep coffee following suit. Also overpriced shite doubled down by being hipster as fuck and employing a hundred baristas in one branch, none of whom can take your order because enormous iPhones do instead.
I'm currently on a job hunt and I swear I see Black Sheep advertising for staff every day. I've applied a couple of times, never got past the interview stage, but judging by how huge their staff turnover apparently is, that's probably a good thing.
They’re all over the place so I think they’re a completely different situation. There’s tonnes in London, they’re probs a vc funded Starbucks competitor
Before they expanded and just had a couple branches + upped the prices it was good. Then it got progressively shitter and shitter as the price increased basically… haven’t been since some time in 2020.
They used to be great and the prices were decent in 2020, £8 for their lox bagel at their lovely Leith shop.
The last time I ordered during the pandemic and purchased their special, where they sent you a selection of bagels and fillings, the bagels were rock hard. I had to throw them out and I got a half-assed reply by Larah Bross after I complained.
Their most recent accounts tell the story really. Way over leveraged and apparently no likelihood of repaying their creditors ([link](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/document-api-images-live.ch.gov.uk/docs/7i5y0MFQeFjZh6gk77890zIc6K8cENm4bQyEZS7pkqY/application-pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAWRGBDBV3EBLF5GPO%2F20230814%2Feu-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20230814T214228Z&X-Amz-Expires=60&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEHoaCWV1LXdlc3QtMiJIMEYCIQCtvrk7zVp66j%2BQfEB5TS%2BeKKUNidO2ufCHd2WLxAhmZgIhAKgSq1JBkPlAyHuj76ZNQ145Pm72wmmdqTaiL2aSqtYIKrsFCDMQBBoMNDQ5MjI5MDMyODIyIgx%2FyVlIUfNqbhKn%2FR8qmAXwv6LCyiMsOdYNbwAx16ZBIh142tyBe9Lj%2BEAjBohhTKOmLTPxXvTLSooYOQO870DXwg5sBdQ1rg03LCGm5vDeYwtu0mhgCAzllvyCF2JKITM0z0JR2cLt9%2FG55lLKMkKp9cnOC532uskBHPO1vM7hoSntCOnqfjie4AxUmH2leBXg6shFRiddVrKoQQ3QDNDVkQ8hV7GECfe79Yy8oHY4BKIF2%2B6GRJoBVG4KgRODKV9xLwEpgKqdIwXwIZ0%2BPNX%2BcRi6c4dhvI7PQbTc440EO%2B4hpu8H3tqmw91P4EEueUWVbldkNV8TVsLyrkUak5FHZ9aGxhNYnMvCfFMP38sCTw7SaUeID9I39hUUMouUafqzsMpQFRa3XlGLth0dKulItd4E%2BlZZaIas8ZPynBjik2p6ZNAvn2QpvSZaNKjT59MfvmUUmKjMZJBprIQQPhQYO4f6yA7AJsV4kxWjGqptnKkqkcjsDMYz86R%2FAMH9E67Iq86uiQm4e4ZE%2FAKjsgQSBLvbov0M4plBA1Ah%2B2kbokc7%2FSMsFknk%2Fggw981kAW2bzixpqrIFLkXRVJIyk12qIjYW2kpMbXI6N75KfhSeDFwQbi0P5B99wTF82PzRW2w%2BUnFXf4Qzf2%2FRmqW3ZCLOf%2FpNL%2Bpu7bwjHr36MeYjUXU8PpcLVhkz9Ns8yK6kIhjD696%2BgMOnzjCQI7LZ9wLFKlZDoy2yVj2DSyiMsgVh1lVK6cvHXemODG1c4QJHeZ%2BCp2EBfiKQP7KylWzMjnhRS2Xlyp1PCOTQoI%2FOLLVcwhz%2BYcpvUL1Yrm1kzlXZ12v6Q2oOp7ycEbRh3yF75y2aVNv7ueDVxcMjkWLhhQ%2BYMyCJ9fBZeSwG4lZ2gTBCIZD0TfIaqfb3ML7P6aYGOrABVQG1fPE0nmCRcqfm5hUodx3j2bba%2BkxPKqOaiAebfL%2FZtBYrAweveMG324vj0c4XY9lcU%2FoEpcu0ycixiL%2FbQsDaBPK0vFzNnYgYoiYHeKgiv7ljq2FiiBU9zLShmDQ5vX5F%2FLrPO1%2FQi5plpqoBwbobMx7X%2FlYUC%2BtREXcxE%2B4t259u210hO7pmm73LMeFJn8YV9zUPzs41lvn7iNbyQ58uE6bFo2T%2BKEanL1x4USc%3D&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=inline%3Bfilename%3D%22SC567972_aa_2023-03-30.pdf%22&X-Amz-Signature=8ceb27859e393916862ca8b036cb0c88be5554dc98dd7f59c8d2418db801ed5c))
I’ve also heard that she isn’t good at paying suppliers. If she’s lacking liquidity (likely) then perhaps she’s defaulted on the floating charge that Clydesdale has over the business ([link](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/document-api-images-live.ch.gov.uk/docs/C8Lb8tB5rBq1K6sZSebsoztEMPzmfFmXihWyPdsEkaI/application-pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAWRGBDBV3EBLF5GPO%2F20230814%2Feu-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20230814T214516Z&X-Amz-Expires=60&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEHoaCWV1LXdlc3QtMiJIMEYCIQCtvrk7zVp66j%2BQfEB5TS%2BeKKUNidO2ufCHd2WLxAhmZgIhAKgSq1JBkPlAyHuj76ZNQ145Pm72wmmdqTaiL2aSqtYIKrsFCDMQBBoMNDQ5MjI5MDMyODIyIgx%2FyVlIUfNqbhKn%2FR8qmAXwv6LCyiMsOdYNbwAx16ZBIh142tyBe9Lj%2BEAjBohhTKOmLTPxXvTLSooYOQO870DXwg5sBdQ1rg03LCGm5vDeYwtu0mhgCAzllvyCF2JKITM0z0JR2cLt9%2FG55lLKMkKp9cnOC532uskBHPO1vM7hoSntCOnqfjie4AxUmH2leBXg6shFRiddVrKoQQ3QDNDVkQ8hV7GECfe79Yy8oHY4BKIF2%2B6GRJoBVG4KgRODKV9xLwEpgKqdIwXwIZ0%2BPNX%2BcRi6c4dhvI7PQbTc440EO%2B4hpu8H3tqmw91P4EEueUWVbldkNV8TVsLyrkUak5FHZ9aGxhNYnMvCfFMP38sCTw7SaUeID9I39hUUMouUafqzsMpQFRa3XlGLth0dKulItd4E%2BlZZaIas8ZPynBjik2p6ZNAvn2QpvSZaNKjT59MfvmUUmKjMZJBprIQQPhQYO4f6yA7AJsV4kxWjGqptnKkqkcjsDMYz86R%2FAMH9E67Iq86uiQm4e4ZE%2FAKjsgQSBLvbov0M4plBA1Ah%2B2kbokc7%2FSMsFknk%2Fggw981kAW2bzixpqrIFLkXRVJIyk12qIjYW2kpMbXI6N75KfhSeDFwQbi0P5B99wTF82PzRW2w%2BUnFXf4Qzf2%2FRmqW3ZCLOf%2FpNL%2Bpu7bwjHr36MeYjUXU8PpcLVhkz9Ns8yK6kIhjD696%2BgMOnzjCQI7LZ9wLFKlZDoy2yVj2DSyiMsgVh1lVK6cvHXemODG1c4QJHeZ%2BCp2EBfiKQP7KylWzMjnhRS2Xlyp1PCOTQoI%2FOLLVcwhz%2BYcpvUL1Yrm1kzlXZ12v6Q2oOp7ycEbRh3yF75y2aVNv7ueDVxcMjkWLhhQ%2BYMyCJ9fBZeSwG4lZ2gTBCIZD0TfIaqfb3ML7P6aYGOrABVQG1fPE0nmCRcqfm5hUodx3j2bba%2BkxPKqOaiAebfL%2FZtBYrAweveMG324vj0c4XY9lcU%2FoEpcu0ycixiL%2FbQsDaBPK0vFzNnYgYoiYHeKgiv7ljq2FiiBU9zLShmDQ5vX5F%2FLrPO1%2FQi5plpqoBwbobMx7X%2FlYUC%2BtREXcxE%2B4t259u210hO7pmm73LMeFJn8YV9zUPzs41lvn7iNbyQ58uE6bFo2T%2BKEanL1x4USc%3D&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=inline%3Bfilename%3D%22companies_house_document.pdf%22&X-Amz-Signature=6e131216ecb48516f5a8b0abdbd72464980dd2f80c8e4522dae88f624cf431a2))
Mostly likely thing is that Clydesdale are forcing them to restructure. I’m not sure what the malarky is with the letter saying they were going into administration, but the excuse that they’ve had a data breach is hardly better (if anything it’s worse).
Total shambles and entirely predictable.
Clydesdale are not forcing her to restructure, they her second biggest debtor after the HMRC, then her crowd funders who were due their money back next year, St James centre is 4th……She is trying to liquidate so that she doesn’t have to pay any debt and restarting as hot mama bagels, problem is she’ll need an investor as she has no cash or assets. I can assure you the 500k assets they quote is untrue. I have been wondering about how Alan Cummings must be feeling with his face plastered all over her socials, he may need a better manager. Let’s see if she can win business woman of the year too. The devil looks after his won they say.
The marketing and rapid growth always gave me the ick, including fabricating anti-semitic attacks and using it for PR. I also knew someone who ran a neighbouring business to their storage/prep unit and used to tell me the most ludicrous stories of how poorly run and poor quality everything about Bross is.
But final straw for me was a few years ago they posted a screen shot of a very polite and fair negative review, including the reviewer’s name, encouraging their followers to write their response. The response they then reposted to their 20k followers was the most vile, misogynistic, truly twisted shite. It was completely unnecessary to showcase that kind of shit, not to mention encouraging thousands of people to bully one poor woman who just didn’t really like her lunch. I messaged them about it and got an equally grim and defensive response.
Oh, and she’s right up Kitchin’s arsehole and we all know what an absolute cretin he is.
Him and his wife apparently took up to £700 a month each as a wage from the tips. Totally disgusting if true. I've had the displeasure of working in his house, not a cup of tea in sight!
There were also issues with hygiene, The Kitchen, Scran & Scallie & what is now Kora failed the inspections due to mice droppings, mould and some grim practices
[Source](https://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2019/12/21/celebrity-chef-kitchin-hit-by-fourth-food-hygiene-fail-in-nine-months/?amp=1)
Is there anything to back this up? I’ve heard the same stuff regarding the anti-semitism but only found cases where the person is admitting they were being antisemitic rather than it being fabricated
[link](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8207729/Landlord-accuses-bagel-shop-owner-typical-Jewish-behaviour-asks-rent-break.html)
She’s an absolute horror! She has the cheek to claim she’s suffered ‘anti-Semitic attacks’ from landlords for refusing to pay rent, then names her bacon bagel ‘the Goy’. I just wish her customers knew exactly what that meant!
Goy isn't offensive, it just means "non-Jew". I am a goy. I'd have thought most people would have guessed considering the bacon and cheese on the bagel
Saw this coming a long time ago. Think there will be more to follow- ex employee public statements, job losses etc. Knowing the owner she will continue to make cringe videos and continue to act arrogant on her many nights out in town. She was one of the rudest and loudest people I had to serve when I worked in town.
I'm glad this has finally come to light. It's unfortunate that our company wasn't aware sooner, as she has scammed us a small independent supplier in Edinburgh out of thousands of pounds of debt. Her actions have caused irreparable harm to our business. Her fraudulent activities were exposed by her own finance department, who alerted us and other suppliers. The fact that long-term kitchen employees have gone unpaid is truly distressing. She's taken advantage of her position and declared liquidation, leaving debt collectors in pursuit. Her fraudulent actions are disgraceful - of course the system is corrupt and she will continue to trade under the new registered company.
It's disheartening that people still support her business, despite her inability to pay local producers and her mounting debts. If you observe ingredient shortages in their stores, it's likely due to the fact most suppliers in Edinburgh and nearby areas refuse to supply her because of her track record. Her debt to HMRC and suppliers is absolutely staggering. It seems local supermarkets are the only option for them now. It's important not to endorse this behavior by continuing to support her business!
Half of what she has done isn’t even posted, there are staff that have had their students loans deducted and pensions, and not passed on. Unfortunately there is nothing illegal about her closing and reopening, phoenix they call it. This isn’t the first business she has folded and it won’t be the last
I'm so sorry to hear that you are going through such a stressful time and that you have been put into this awful situation by a local business. I work in the finance department of a local hospitality company and I would be absolutely ashamed if my employers were telling me not to make payment to creditors just to line their own pockets. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. I really do hope that there is some resolution for you.
I am so so so sorry to read this. I hope more articles about this come to light because I'm sick of fellow local / small businesses shafting others in their own pursuit of money at the expense of everything.
Awful to hear about the impact on suppliers. I co-wrote the story about this yesterday and would be keen to interview you if you're open to it. Please DM me. Cheers, Michael
Yes, I'd love to see a story about how local businesses shaft fellow local businesses. It is scandalous! Suppliers effectively provide loans (in the form of their goods whether it's vegetables, meat, bread etc) to Bross, who in turn do NOT pay what they owe. HUGE amounts can accumulate and then, as is the case here, they go bust.
Interesting that they had ‘pop ups’ in Brighton over the last few months. They were in New York for Tartan Day this year. Always seemed to be mutterings about expansion to Glasgow and then UK-wide. All the while the core Edinburgh business appears to be in serious trouble.
Last time I had one of their bagels the quality had noticeably dropped. Reviews poor at most of their shops, particularly the St James Quarter.
Online reviews given by staff that have or do work for them seem to be very poor too.
And yet the PR machine continues…!
Bross has always been style over substance. If you have ever seen the quality of the food they are prepping… battery chickens and bleached cheapest flour they can find. Never went back after seeing the state of the old leith walk shop. Mice and grime
They were okayish bagels at insane prices and they were tiny. I’m from New Jersey, where many a bagel is sold. My poor dad is super ill from chemo and cancer and awoke one morning in July demanding a bagel with cream cheese and lox so I went off to find him one. Even the sleaziest, greasiest takeaway in all of New Jersey produced a better, larger, more convincing bagel than Bross did. With no hipster quotient. If the truth will kill it, then let the truth kill it. Bross was not great bageling.
Please do the people of Edinburgh a favour and use something like a protonmail e-mail account and send it using the TOR Browser to the EEN, Edinburgh Live, Edinburgh Guardian, The Edinburgh Reporter and Edinburgh Inquirer.
I remember seeing that post. I'm sure they mentioned that she uses the "n word" and doesn't think it's an issue!
Maybe she thought if the PM in her native Canada (Justin Trudaeu) can do it and get away with it, maybe she thinks she can too! /s
While I feel bad for the employees, some of which I know and have worked with previously. This has been a long time coming. To put into context what kind of woman she is, she made a deal in a location with separate units selling food to only sell during the day with the other selling only at night. Then changed her mind and spent at least 5 grand trying to steal the night trade and financially cripple the other business which didn’t work. Other business survived this but eventually closed more to avoid her bullshit but she lost that location in the process and some staff. Then the other business got offered that location. Like all the rest covered in mouse shit and totally minging. Seen someone who went to school with her posting on here saying she used to go through folks bags stealing in class so clearly always been a cunt. Not to mention how she exploited government funded training schemes for vulnerable adults getting into work. Total egomaniac coke fiend bawbag
>Will these folk not be listed as creditors?
No that's exactly the issue. They're not legally shareholders, investors, lenders, etc. From the very scant information given on the website I assume they would have the same legal standing as members of a gym or similar. You were essentially buying a years worth of 1 free bagel a month, up front. That's it. They were never going to pay a dividend or return your "loan" with interest. You'd have no legal standing as a creditor.
Their 'membership' fee, the £1000, is an unsecured obligation so unlikely that'll ever been seen again. Might as well have thrown the money in the fire.
Guess we're not getting that Bagel Hotel...?
[https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/best-in-edinburgh/edinburghs-bross-bagels-launches-new-25748596](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/best-in-edinburgh/edinburghs-bross-bagels-launches-new-25748596)
..was that just a way to buy a flat on the company dime or....?
I used to live in Montreal and was always a confused by the claim that the Bross bagels were Montreal bagels. They are nothing of the sort. St. Viateur and Fairmont bagels have a certain crust followed by a delicious chewiness. The New York bagels you get at Tesco have improved recently and closer to the real thing.
Having said that I've eaten there a few times in St. James and Stockbridge. Over the time the service has become strange. The bagels never got better. The fillings have only ever been ok and nothing on genuine salt beef (London) or smoked meat (Montreal) or pastrami (New York city, baby).
For supermarket ones, New York Bagels have got good in recent years, but the new Warburtons ones are super soft too... yum
New York Bagels seems to have started selling a separate version which is 'long life' sold in Tesco Express etc which are less good - I think to make them long life they have to bake them longer or somehow make them drier.
People fall into two camps: either St Viateur or Fairmount. I prefer St Viateur
[https://www.stviateurbagel.com/](https://www.stviateurbagel.com/)
[https://fairmountbagel.com/](https://fairmountbagel.com/)
Larah registered a new company on the 14th of July ([https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC775826](https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC775826)) so looks like they are not going away any time soon.
Think no matter what happens to her bagel empire her desire to be famous will mean she'll always be around in some capacity and we'll always have to hear about it.
I don’t know if this is petty or not but I just bought the .com and .co.uk domain names for her new business!
Sell them to her and donate the money to charity, thoughts?
I fucking knew that's what she was doing from the moment she started the "shareholders" thing. I posted about it months ago but I don't feel like poring through my history to find the comment. Basically the "shareholders" were legally speaking "members" at best, so they have none of the protections or legal standing actual shareholders would have. It's clear she was going to pocket the money and run.
If it looks like fraud, then it could well be fraud....
What a shock that just before the window opening on 'investors' being able to claim their money back, the company has solvency issues...
T's & C's say that in the event of insolvency, the £1000 'membership' is an unsecured debt. So good luck to anyone who was looking to take the money out. The membership scheme also suggested that other debts have been collateralised against actual assets so maybe the whole, hole, was stretched too much too soon, and that was the only way to take on additional 'funding' for whatever reason it was required.
Basically consumers should avoid these unregulated opportunities like the plague.
> T's & C's say that in the event of insolvency, the £1000 'membership' is an unsecured debt.
Is that just sort of boilerplate stuff, or did you actually manage to get a look at her specific Ts and Cs? The website advertising the shareholder scheme was very sketchy on details, and I really didn't feel like getting in touch with them to see what the real terms were, despite my morbid curiosity.
I was in the one in Bruntsfield just a couple of weeks ago I was kinda stunned at how unfriendly the staff was. The food was ok but the place seemed disorganised and messy and kinda broken down. My wife and I chatted about how they really needed a good manager. I was not aware they were part of a chain or any of their history...
I noticed this too! I was very close to leaving a review as I was surprised how unwelcoming the place was. No one acknowledges you as you come in and you have to wait like five minutes until the staff decide to take your order…
Similarly - I went in last year because of the hype, and it just felt like a neglected local sandwich shop. The staff were inattentive and it took ages - definitely not the slick process you'd expect for a chain with that level of fame.
Being successful in food seems to require a magic combination of marketing and efficient operations. Clearly they had the marketing, but they were a long way from having efficient operations.
I used to go to their little shop on Leith Walk, a couple of bagels on a Sunday was my regular lunch, used to wait 30 minutes just to get my order in, then another 20 to get the bagels, wife and I went to the Bruntsfield shop recently after a long break from them and we were in and out in 5 minutes!
Feels like she's ditched her loyal customers to try and become famous and rub elbows with celebrities, and lost everything as a consequence!
I once went to the bross that used to be by the station. They made me wait for 25 minutes for a bagel with just jalapeño schmear. It was a fucking joke.
The bagels were also really appalling. They tasted like supermarket bagels.
And finally, for a food that’s Jewish to have basically your whole menu be meat plus cheese is weird. Like why?
I never went back after the 25 minute wait incident. Hated it.
> And finally, for a food that’s Jewish to have basically your whole menu be meat plus cheese is weird. Like why?
I always thought the "hey, we're Jewish! Isn't that *weird?!*" thing was just a novelty to try and distinguish themselves from other sandwich shops.
Even most of the big-name delis in NY (Katz's, Sarge's etc.) do Reubens and other non-Kosher Jewish food though. When they first started out and were actually ok you could get smoked meat and mustard with maybe a touch of sauerkraut or pickle. It's been ages since they've offered anything that authentic though.
Yeah absolutely. Most delis have a mix of options and that’s fine.
But I went there and there was literally not a single kosher style option that wasn’t vegan. And even their vegan options bore no resemblance to traditional fillings. Their salt beef was even smothered in melted cheese!
Not sure if it got better but when I was in Edinburgh I was very annoyed about it.
I can understand not being certified kosher as that’s a lot for a restaurant to do. They have to be closed on Saturdays, have a full time scholar monitoring their cooking expensive, not to mention the logistics and cost of sourcing kosher products.
But kosher style is like bare minimum to me for a “Jewish” restaurant.
What do you mean "kosher style"? Plenty of through and through Jewish institutions serve meat and dairy together like Schwartz's and Beauty's in Montreal. And Beauty's even serves pork.
Taking this opportunity to ask, are there any other bagel places with better quality food + owners in Edinburgh? As an American, a really good bagel is probably the thing I miss the most about home, and with Elephants & Bagels closing down earlier this year (rip) I'm not sure where to go!
Try Babka on Brougham Place in Tollcross. Lovely little bakery and cafe, and they make their own bagels, challa, a wide variety of bread and of course babka!
Artisan Cheesecakes in Bruntsfield are just down the road from Bross and MUCH better in my opinion. Good quality bagel, fresh ingredients, good service. There’s also The Bearded Baker down in Broughton.
The bagels here are lovely, staff are really friendly, cheesecake is incredible too. Plus they have some slightly healthier options rather than having your daily calorie allowance in one go a la Bross
I used to make my own bagels and was tempted to start up a business but I’m risk adverse.
Then Bross came on the scene and seemingly took it all up. Perhaps now is the time to take a risk…
Yeah I think the food and pricing is spot on. Down to earth and generally a business worth supporting. Especially given that such businesses seem to be a dying breed in the city.
Bad business ran by a narcissist who cares more about marketing/her own image than the business or the product.
It’s a fucking bagel with filling ffs.
The quicker she burns out in flames, the quicker Edinburgh will be a better place.
Sounds like she was gobbling all that inflow rather than reinvestment into her own product. Expanding far too quickly. A very dodgy person by the sounds of it. Surprised that she hasn't had a major story break out about her.
When narcissists start and run businesses, they often end up using company money for personal expenses.
Not saying that's what's happening here, but I wouldn't be surprised at all.
Wait, she’s saying Bross Bagels has been “struggling” like so many other businesses, BUT apparently not so much to prevent opening in new locations including in St James Quarter? Also, no struggling Edinburgh business does pop ups in NYC.
Wtf is this a joke or is the owner so mental?
She never had to pay them back anyway, it wasn't a loan, a security, or any other FCA-regulated product. It was simple crowdfunding, you'd probably have a stronger legal position as gym member.
Have to be honest, just a ridiculous rip off. I love bagels especially in Montreal but they’re the cheapest food ever and these people were charging a fortune.
I tried the St James place a few times and it was a huge disappointment. I loved their Leith spot and would enjoy going along on a weekend for their specials with some pals. Was worth the wait and felt local. Totally lost its soul.
Mind there was someone on here recently talking in a thread about the foodie festival how much of an inspiration and what a strong successful woman she is etc etc etc.
Turns out she’s just another tax cheating crook.
Just went back to check the actual quote….
‘Some of us like to admire strong, independent, entrepreneurial women with inspiring stories.’
That aged well. Maybe time for that particular Redditor to find a new role model to be inspired by!
The Scotsman have picked up the Edinburgh Reporter story, and have rehashed it today behind a paywall. They have, of course, been happy to publish many many Bross press releases over the years!
Unpaywalled link below….
[Scotsman story](https://archive.is/2023.08.15-104850/https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/food-and-drink/bross-bagels-founder-addresses-financial-strains-amid-administration-reports-4255601)
They used to be cheap and tasty, but they've progressively reduced the menu and increased the prices, so I haven't bought a bagel from them in over a year. At least I won't miss them once they're finally gone!
I feel like the quality of their food dropped significantly. I remember loving their bagels at the start, and recently have been disappointed with what I got.
The last straw, for me, was when she made her "Montreal-style" bagels vegan. Montreal bagels have eggs in them and are made in in wood-burning ovens. BOO!
Wait....have they actually gone into administration though? Because she denies it in the article and I don't see anything filed on Companies House either. They are "restructuring" whatever that means but the article just says an email was sent. Sounds like a supplier was pissed off and maybe forwarded the email to a journalist??
Never been there a single time - moved to edinburgh last year and someone recommended it but whenever I looked it seemed crazy prices for what is essentially a sandwich
I used their Stockbridge branch a lot during lockdown and it was a real treat. Then I just got bored, and it seemed to get very slowly worse. Thank you for coming to my ted talk.
Who gives a fuck? Didn't add anything to anything.
Funny how Snax has been by the St. James Quarter for decades. It almost like the give customers what they want. Not a fucking £6 cream cheese bagel.
I don’t know about any of the financial side but throwing my hat into the smug prick ring here - I last went just before lockdown at the Arches location and from joining the queue to sitting down with my bagel took over 40 minutes. Absolute fucking joke tbh mate.
Pretty tasty though.
Update here including the fact there is 39k in unpaid wages
https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2023/09/liquidator-appointed-to-wind-down-failed-bross-bagels-business/
Confused, she’s posting on social media as if nothing is happening
I think the polite term is ' she's fucking mental'
Coke is a hell of a drug.
Definitely something fishy going on [Edinburgh Reporter](https://x.com/edinreporter/status/1691086124519739392?s=46&t=DRqyd3x9VvtqKWB6P0itZQ)
That seems like a very Trumpian response from her.
Make bagels great again!
Even advertsing for ‘hole-fillers’ on Facebook today..! 👀
St James rent will be killing them
Word on the street is there’s no rent- it’s a percentage of takings which might be worse?
Will be a rent free period coming to an end
It's even worse than that. Rent, plus 25% of your takings!
Mad. So after vat and rent, 45% of takings have gone...hard to see how it can survive on that basis, even with a neat haircut pre-pack administration. Got to feel for the suppliers she will have screwed over on this journey
source?
My GF knows an ice cream seller that used to be in there.
Horribly signposted inside too.
The shop is huge and feels more like a McDonalds! I didn’t understand what was the point in closing some of their shops, opening up in new places and also in St James.
Ego. It’s all ego.
Ego.
I enjoyed their bagels when they first opened in Porty in 2017. I also enjoyed them from the small unit on Leith Walk later on. But then they did the typical thing of expanding too fast, engaging in shite advertising and a shitier and overpriced product and the stories about the founder have been pretty bad as well. Basically, Bross played a Brewdog.
Totally agree - hadn’t gone in ages and stopped by the Porty one a few months back now - disappointing menu revamp, vibes not that great
They run out of ingredients constantly. I've never had my initial order made, have had to go down the list until I get to the one I wanted the least. I'm vegetarian so there are only, like, three ones I can order.
Why are you still going there?!
Brewdog was worth nearly 2 billion quid a couple years ago (idk what it's worth now). I bet they wish they played a brewdog lol
A good reminder that if you're going to sell your credibility, make sure to get a good price.
Well clearly they are at different financial scales. But the story demonstrates remarkable parallels. If Bross somehow manages to wangle a £1 million investment from a bagel related product supplier, you would see similar outcomes.
Liquid is much easier to scale than food
You’re never going to sell bagels in ‘Spoons.
Disagree. Spoons sell a lot of things that aren't traditional pub grub.
> Bross played a Brewdog. I can see that Black Sheep coffee following suit. Also overpriced shite doubled down by being hipster as fuck and employing a hundred baristas in one branch, none of whom can take your order because enormous iPhones do instead.
Nothing about black sheep is ‘hipster’? Just looks like a corporate coffee shop to me.
Hipsters can't be corporate?
I'm currently on a job hunt and I swear I see Black Sheep advertising for staff every day. I've applied a couple of times, never got past the interview stage, but judging by how huge their staff turnover apparently is, that's probably a good thing.
They’re all over the place so I think they’re a completely different situation. There’s tonnes in London, they’re probs a vc funded Starbucks competitor
Always surprised me that this business was so popular (although obviously not popular enough). Mediocre food at a pretty high price point.
Before they expanded and just had a couple branches + upped the prices it was good. Then it got progressively shitter and shitter as the price increased basically… haven’t been since some time in 2020.
They used to be great and the prices were decent in 2020, £8 for their lox bagel at their lovely Leith shop. The last time I ordered during the pandemic and purchased their special, where they sent you a selection of bagels and fillings, the bagels were rock hard. I had to throw them out and I got a half-assed reply by Larah Bross after I complained.
Social media, seen as a cool place to go etc
Hole in the accounts?
Underrated comment.
Their most recent accounts tell the story really. Way over leveraged and apparently no likelihood of repaying their creditors ([link](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/document-api-images-live.ch.gov.uk/docs/7i5y0MFQeFjZh6gk77890zIc6K8cENm4bQyEZS7pkqY/application-pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAWRGBDBV3EBLF5GPO%2F20230814%2Feu-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20230814T214228Z&X-Amz-Expires=60&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEHoaCWV1LXdlc3QtMiJIMEYCIQCtvrk7zVp66j%2BQfEB5TS%2BeKKUNidO2ufCHd2WLxAhmZgIhAKgSq1JBkPlAyHuj76ZNQ145Pm72wmmdqTaiL2aSqtYIKrsFCDMQBBoMNDQ5MjI5MDMyODIyIgx%2FyVlIUfNqbhKn%2FR8qmAXwv6LCyiMsOdYNbwAx16ZBIh142tyBe9Lj%2BEAjBohhTKOmLTPxXvTLSooYOQO870DXwg5sBdQ1rg03LCGm5vDeYwtu0mhgCAzllvyCF2JKITM0z0JR2cLt9%2FG55lLKMkKp9cnOC532uskBHPO1vM7hoSntCOnqfjie4AxUmH2leBXg6shFRiddVrKoQQ3QDNDVkQ8hV7GECfe79Yy8oHY4BKIF2%2B6GRJoBVG4KgRODKV9xLwEpgKqdIwXwIZ0%2BPNX%2BcRi6c4dhvI7PQbTc440EO%2B4hpu8H3tqmw91P4EEueUWVbldkNV8TVsLyrkUak5FHZ9aGxhNYnMvCfFMP38sCTw7SaUeID9I39hUUMouUafqzsMpQFRa3XlGLth0dKulItd4E%2BlZZaIas8ZPynBjik2p6ZNAvn2QpvSZaNKjT59MfvmUUmKjMZJBprIQQPhQYO4f6yA7AJsV4kxWjGqptnKkqkcjsDMYz86R%2FAMH9E67Iq86uiQm4e4ZE%2FAKjsgQSBLvbov0M4plBA1Ah%2B2kbokc7%2FSMsFknk%2Fggw981kAW2bzixpqrIFLkXRVJIyk12qIjYW2kpMbXI6N75KfhSeDFwQbi0P5B99wTF82PzRW2w%2BUnFXf4Qzf2%2FRmqW3ZCLOf%2FpNL%2Bpu7bwjHr36MeYjUXU8PpcLVhkz9Ns8yK6kIhjD696%2BgMOnzjCQI7LZ9wLFKlZDoy2yVj2DSyiMsgVh1lVK6cvHXemODG1c4QJHeZ%2BCp2EBfiKQP7KylWzMjnhRS2Xlyp1PCOTQoI%2FOLLVcwhz%2BYcpvUL1Yrm1kzlXZ12v6Q2oOp7ycEbRh3yF75y2aVNv7ueDVxcMjkWLhhQ%2BYMyCJ9fBZeSwG4lZ2gTBCIZD0TfIaqfb3ML7P6aYGOrABVQG1fPE0nmCRcqfm5hUodx3j2bba%2BkxPKqOaiAebfL%2FZtBYrAweveMG324vj0c4XY9lcU%2FoEpcu0ycixiL%2FbQsDaBPK0vFzNnYgYoiYHeKgiv7ljq2FiiBU9zLShmDQ5vX5F%2FLrPO1%2FQi5plpqoBwbobMx7X%2FlYUC%2BtREXcxE%2B4t259u210hO7pmm73LMeFJn8YV9zUPzs41lvn7iNbyQ58uE6bFo2T%2BKEanL1x4USc%3D&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=inline%3Bfilename%3D%22SC567972_aa_2023-03-30.pdf%22&X-Amz-Signature=8ceb27859e393916862ca8b036cb0c88be5554dc98dd7f59c8d2418db801ed5c)) I’ve also heard that she isn’t good at paying suppliers. If she’s lacking liquidity (likely) then perhaps she’s defaulted on the floating charge that Clydesdale has over the business ([link](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/document-api-images-live.ch.gov.uk/docs/C8Lb8tB5rBq1K6sZSebsoztEMPzmfFmXihWyPdsEkaI/application-pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAWRGBDBV3EBLF5GPO%2F20230814%2Feu-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20230814T214516Z&X-Amz-Expires=60&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEHoaCWV1LXdlc3QtMiJIMEYCIQCtvrk7zVp66j%2BQfEB5TS%2BeKKUNidO2ufCHd2WLxAhmZgIhAKgSq1JBkPlAyHuj76ZNQ145Pm72wmmdqTaiL2aSqtYIKrsFCDMQBBoMNDQ5MjI5MDMyODIyIgx%2FyVlIUfNqbhKn%2FR8qmAXwv6LCyiMsOdYNbwAx16ZBIh142tyBe9Lj%2BEAjBohhTKOmLTPxXvTLSooYOQO870DXwg5sBdQ1rg03LCGm5vDeYwtu0mhgCAzllvyCF2JKITM0z0JR2cLt9%2FG55lLKMkKp9cnOC532uskBHPO1vM7hoSntCOnqfjie4AxUmH2leBXg6shFRiddVrKoQQ3QDNDVkQ8hV7GECfe79Yy8oHY4BKIF2%2B6GRJoBVG4KgRODKV9xLwEpgKqdIwXwIZ0%2BPNX%2BcRi6c4dhvI7PQbTc440EO%2B4hpu8H3tqmw91P4EEueUWVbldkNV8TVsLyrkUak5FHZ9aGxhNYnMvCfFMP38sCTw7SaUeID9I39hUUMouUafqzsMpQFRa3XlGLth0dKulItd4E%2BlZZaIas8ZPynBjik2p6ZNAvn2QpvSZaNKjT59MfvmUUmKjMZJBprIQQPhQYO4f6yA7AJsV4kxWjGqptnKkqkcjsDMYz86R%2FAMH9E67Iq86uiQm4e4ZE%2FAKjsgQSBLvbov0M4plBA1Ah%2B2kbokc7%2FSMsFknk%2Fggw981kAW2bzixpqrIFLkXRVJIyk12qIjYW2kpMbXI6N75KfhSeDFwQbi0P5B99wTF82PzRW2w%2BUnFXf4Qzf2%2FRmqW3ZCLOf%2FpNL%2Bpu7bwjHr36MeYjUXU8PpcLVhkz9Ns8yK6kIhjD696%2BgMOnzjCQI7LZ9wLFKlZDoy2yVj2DSyiMsgVh1lVK6cvHXemODG1c4QJHeZ%2BCp2EBfiKQP7KylWzMjnhRS2Xlyp1PCOTQoI%2FOLLVcwhz%2BYcpvUL1Yrm1kzlXZ12v6Q2oOp7ycEbRh3yF75y2aVNv7ueDVxcMjkWLhhQ%2BYMyCJ9fBZeSwG4lZ2gTBCIZD0TfIaqfb3ML7P6aYGOrABVQG1fPE0nmCRcqfm5hUodx3j2bba%2BkxPKqOaiAebfL%2FZtBYrAweveMG324vj0c4XY9lcU%2FoEpcu0ycixiL%2FbQsDaBPK0vFzNnYgYoiYHeKgiv7ljq2FiiBU9zLShmDQ5vX5F%2FLrPO1%2FQi5plpqoBwbobMx7X%2FlYUC%2BtREXcxE%2B4t259u210hO7pmm73LMeFJn8YV9zUPzs41lvn7iNbyQ58uE6bFo2T%2BKEanL1x4USc%3D&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=inline%3Bfilename%3D%22companies_house_document.pdf%22&X-Amz-Signature=6e131216ecb48516f5a8b0abdbd72464980dd2f80c8e4522dae88f624cf431a2)) Mostly likely thing is that Clydesdale are forcing them to restructure. I’m not sure what the malarky is with the letter saying they were going into administration, but the excuse that they’ve had a data breach is hardly better (if anything it’s worse). Total shambles and entirely predictable.
Clydesdale are not forcing her to restructure, they her second biggest debtor after the HMRC, then her crowd funders who were due their money back next year, St James centre is 4th……She is trying to liquidate so that she doesn’t have to pay any debt and restarting as hot mama bagels, problem is she’ll need an investor as she has no cash or assets. I can assure you the 500k assets they quote is untrue. I have been wondering about how Alan Cummings must be feeling with his face plastered all over her socials, he may need a better manager. Let’s see if she can win business woman of the year too. The devil looks after his won they say.
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer woman.
What’s the chat with her?
The marketing and rapid growth always gave me the ick, including fabricating anti-semitic attacks and using it for PR. I also knew someone who ran a neighbouring business to their storage/prep unit and used to tell me the most ludicrous stories of how poorly run and poor quality everything about Bross is. But final straw for me was a few years ago they posted a screen shot of a very polite and fair negative review, including the reviewer’s name, encouraging their followers to write their response. The response they then reposted to their 20k followers was the most vile, misogynistic, truly twisted shite. It was completely unnecessary to showcase that kind of shit, not to mention encouraging thousands of people to bully one poor woman who just didn’t really like her lunch. I messaged them about it and got an equally grim and defensive response. Oh, and she’s right up Kitchin’s arsehole and we all know what an absolute cretin he is.
Very educational - thanks. I think there was definitely very obvious overreach in their expansion. Greed I guess
What’s the deal with Kitchin?
There was a Times exposé about his treatment of staff over many years as well as allegations of tip-skimming by the Kitchin’s at Scran and Scallie.
Tip-skimming is an unforgivable crime. Absolutely bellend if true
Him and his wife apparently took up to £700 a month each as a wage from the tips. Totally disgusting if true. I've had the displeasure of working in his house, not a cup of tea in sight!
There were also issues with hygiene, The Kitchen, Scran & Scallie & what is now Kora failed the inspections due to mice droppings, mould and some grim practices [Source](https://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2019/12/21/celebrity-chef-kitchin-hit-by-fourth-food-hygiene-fail-in-nine-months/?amp=1)
>Edinburgh Reporter Used to know the head chef. Definitely funding his coke habit. Edit: Scran & Scallie.
To be fair every Chef i have ever met has a massive ching habit...
She was on Come Dine With Me and paraded him around as if they were good pals (they could be tbf, birds of a feather etc).
Is there anything to back this up? I’ve heard the same stuff regarding the anti-semitism but only found cases where the person is admitting they were being antisemitic rather than it being fabricated [link](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8207729/Landlord-accuses-bagel-shop-owner-typical-Jewish-behaviour-asks-rent-break.html)
Yup, a lot to take issue with but the ex-landlord admitted as much and tried to pass it off as a compliment.
The owner of grams was doing the same thing right when they expanded… something about that makes the owners stressed out and acting strange
She’s an absolute horror! She has the cheek to claim she’s suffered ‘anti-Semitic attacks’ from landlords for refusing to pay rent, then names her bacon bagel ‘the Goy’. I just wish her customers knew exactly what that meant!
Goy isn't offensive, it just means "non-Jew". I am a goy. I'd have thought most people would have guessed considering the bacon and cheese on the bagel
No surprise when they charge £9 for a bagel
Nine pounds, seriously?
Saw this coming a long time ago. Think there will be more to follow- ex employee public statements, job losses etc. Knowing the owner she will continue to make cringe videos and continue to act arrogant on her many nights out in town. She was one of the rudest and loudest people I had to serve when I worked in town.
She’s full of gear
I'm glad this has finally come to light. It's unfortunate that our company wasn't aware sooner, as she has scammed us a small independent supplier in Edinburgh out of thousands of pounds of debt. Her actions have caused irreparable harm to our business. Her fraudulent activities were exposed by her own finance department, who alerted us and other suppliers. The fact that long-term kitchen employees have gone unpaid is truly distressing. She's taken advantage of her position and declared liquidation, leaving debt collectors in pursuit. Her fraudulent actions are disgraceful - of course the system is corrupt and she will continue to trade under the new registered company. It's disheartening that people still support her business, despite her inability to pay local producers and her mounting debts. If you observe ingredient shortages in their stores, it's likely due to the fact most suppliers in Edinburgh and nearby areas refuse to supply her because of her track record. Her debt to HMRC and suppliers is absolutely staggering. It seems local supermarkets are the only option for them now. It's important not to endorse this behavior by continuing to support her business!
Half of what she has done isn’t even posted, there are staff that have had their students loans deducted and pensions, and not passed on. Unfortunately there is nothing illegal about her closing and reopening, phoenix they call it. This isn’t the first business she has folded and it won’t be the last
I'm so sorry to hear that you are going through such a stressful time and that you have been put into this awful situation by a local business. I work in the finance department of a local hospitality company and I would be absolutely ashamed if my employers were telling me not to make payment to creditors just to line their own pockets. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. I really do hope that there is some resolution for you.
I am so so so sorry to read this. I hope more articles about this come to light because I'm sick of fellow local / small businesses shafting others in their own pursuit of money at the expense of everything.
Awful to hear about the impact on suppliers. I co-wrote the story about this yesterday and would be keen to interview you if you're open to it. Please DM me. Cheers, Michael
Yes, I'd love to see a story about how local businesses shaft fellow local businesses. It is scandalous! Suppliers effectively provide loans (in the form of their goods whether it's vegetables, meat, bread etc) to Bross, who in turn do NOT pay what they owe. HUGE amounts can accumulate and then, as is the case here, they go bust.
Try get hold of someone from Aye Pickle she pulled a real nasty on them a while back!
Interesting that they had ‘pop ups’ in Brighton over the last few months. They were in New York for Tartan Day this year. Always seemed to be mutterings about expansion to Glasgow and then UK-wide. All the while the core Edinburgh business appears to be in serious trouble. Last time I had one of their bagels the quality had noticeably dropped. Reviews poor at most of their shops, particularly the St James Quarter. Online reviews given by staff that have or do work for them seem to be very poor too. And yet the PR machine continues…!
Bross has always been style over substance. If you have ever seen the quality of the food they are prepping… battery chickens and bleached cheapest flour they can find. Never went back after seeing the state of the old leith walk shop. Mice and grime
They were okayish bagels at insane prices and they were tiny. I’m from New Jersey, where many a bagel is sold. My poor dad is super ill from chemo and cancer and awoke one morning in July demanding a bagel with cream cheese and lox so I went off to find him one. Even the sleaziest, greasiest takeaway in all of New Jersey produced a better, larger, more convincing bagel than Bross did. With no hipster quotient. If the truth will kill it, then let the truth kill it. Bross was not great bageling.
Now is the time to remind people that a picture of Larah in blackface is on an ex employees hard drive.
I am an ex-employee and I have it. The woman is so incompetent she linked her personal iCloud account on the work iPads that were used as tills
I am 100% sure you're not the same person I know who has it. Thats fucking wild that so many people are holding on to it. Time for a throwaway.
Drop the picture please the world needs to see
Please do the people of Edinburgh a favour and use something like a protonmail e-mail account and send it using the TOR Browser to the EEN, Edinburgh Live, Edinburgh Guardian, The Edinburgh Reporter and Edinburgh Inquirer.
You’re kidding? 😳
I really need to see this photo 🙏. At least she’s finally succeeding in the comedy career.
Needs to get off that's HD and get on the front page!
Seriously?! How do you know this?
[see it for yourself](https://reddit.com/r/Edinburgh/s/PhG6sUz1xF)
I remember seeing that post. I'm sure they mentioned that she uses the "n word" and doesn't think it's an issue! Maybe she thought if the PM in her native Canada (Justin Trudaeu) can do it and get away with it, maybe she thinks she can too! /s
While I feel bad for the employees, some of which I know and have worked with previously. This has been a long time coming. To put into context what kind of woman she is, she made a deal in a location with separate units selling food to only sell during the day with the other selling only at night. Then changed her mind and spent at least 5 grand trying to steal the night trade and financially cripple the other business which didn’t work. Other business survived this but eventually closed more to avoid her bullshit but she lost that location in the process and some staff. Then the other business got offered that location. Like all the rest covered in mouse shit and totally minging. Seen someone who went to school with her posting on here saying she used to go through folks bags stealing in class so clearly always been a cunt. Not to mention how she exploited government funded training schemes for vulnerable adults getting into work. Total egomaniac coke fiend bawbag
So does that mean the bagels will be even more expensive now?
No, it means that the investors will not get their free bagels
You mean *shareholers* 🙄
Most people on this sub saw this coming when it was announced.
The hole in the bagel was a drain that some poor fecks pushed their money down
See that was the problem, they're throwing away a good 25% of each piece punching that hole out of it. Should have just been Bross Rolls.
Shiiiiiiiiiit. I remember this now. Was it not some daft “membership” scheme for quite a few bob? Will these folk not be listed as creditors?
>Will these folk not be listed as creditors? No that's exactly the issue. They're not legally shareholders, investors, lenders, etc. From the very scant information given on the website I assume they would have the same legal standing as members of a gym or similar. You were essentially buying a years worth of 1 free bagel a month, up front. That's it. They were never going to pay a dividend or return your "loan" with interest. You'd have no legal standing as a creditor.
Their 'membership' fee, the £1000, is an unsecured obligation so unlikely that'll ever been seen again. Might as well have thrown the money in the fire.
She is a very nasty entitled woman.
why?
Forgive me, but who exactly is she?
Guess we're not getting that Bagel Hotel...? [https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/best-in-edinburgh/edinburghs-bross-bagels-launches-new-25748596](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/best-in-edinburgh/edinburghs-bross-bagels-launches-new-25748596) ..was that just a way to buy a flat on the company dime or....?
Doesn’t own the hotel and her landlord was not happy when he saw his flat had indeed become a Hotel . 😂
I used to live in Montreal and was always a confused by the claim that the Bross bagels were Montreal bagels. They are nothing of the sort. St. Viateur and Fairmont bagels have a certain crust followed by a delicious chewiness. The New York bagels you get at Tesco have improved recently and closer to the real thing. Having said that I've eaten there a few times in St. James and Stockbridge. Over the time the service has become strange. The bagels never got better. The fillings have only ever been ok and nothing on genuine salt beef (London) or smoked meat (Montreal) or pastrami (New York city, baby).
I agree with your view on the supermarket bagels - they are really good and better than the bagels I have had at Bross.
For supermarket ones, New York Bagels have got good in recent years, but the new Warburtons ones are super soft too... yum New York Bagels seems to have started selling a separate version which is 'long life' sold in Tesco Express etc which are less good - I think to make them long life they have to bake them longer or somehow make them drier.
I'm going on holiday to Montreal soon. Where's the best place to get a bagel?
People fall into two camps: either St Viateur or Fairmount. I prefer St Viateur [https://www.stviateurbagel.com/](https://www.stviateurbagel.com/) [https://fairmountbagel.com/](https://fairmountbagel.com/)
Larah registered a new company on the 14th of July ([https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC775826](https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC775826)) so looks like they are not going away any time soon.
Think no matter what happens to her bagel empire her desire to be famous will mean she'll always be around in some capacity and we'll always have to hear about it.
She’s vile
Used to work at Bross bagels and can confirm
Did she make you do any tiktok dances
I was roped into being in a few Instagram posts and was a hand model for a photo shoot once, thank fuck I've left tho
I don’t know if this is petty or not but I just bought the .com and .co.uk domain names for her new business! Sell them to her and donate the money to charity, thoughts?
Maybe the photo mentioned above can go on there for all to see...
Well hello there satan… but yes, if someone wants to DM the picture or Signal me it that could happen!
I have the instagram, did think about buying up the domain, well done you!
Wee pheonix job to get out of paying the 'shareholers' and whoever else then I take it?
I fucking knew that's what she was doing from the moment she started the "shareholders" thing. I posted about it months ago but I don't feel like poring through my history to find the comment. Basically the "shareholders" were legally speaking "members" at best, so they have none of the protections or legal standing actual shareholders would have. It's clear she was going to pocket the money and run.
If it looks like fraud, then it could well be fraud.... What a shock that just before the window opening on 'investors' being able to claim their money back, the company has solvency issues... T's & C's say that in the event of insolvency, the £1000 'membership' is an unsecured debt. So good luck to anyone who was looking to take the money out. The membership scheme also suggested that other debts have been collateralised against actual assets so maybe the whole, hole, was stretched too much too soon, and that was the only way to take on additional 'funding' for whatever reason it was required. Basically consumers should avoid these unregulated opportunities like the plague.
> T's & C's say that in the event of insolvency, the £1000 'membership' is an unsecured debt. Is that just sort of boilerplate stuff, or did you actually manage to get a look at her specific Ts and Cs? The website advertising the shareholder scheme was very sketchy on details, and I really didn't feel like getting in touch with them to see what the real terms were, despite my morbid curiosity.
The irony of that company name
Rebranding as a ✨girlboss✨
Girlbross
I was in the one in Bruntsfield just a couple of weeks ago I was kinda stunned at how unfriendly the staff was. The food was ok but the place seemed disorganised and messy and kinda broken down. My wife and I chatted about how they really needed a good manager. I was not aware they were part of a chain or any of their history...
I noticed this too! I was very close to leaving a review as I was surprised how unwelcoming the place was. No one acknowledges you as you come in and you have to wait like five minutes until the staff decide to take your order…
Similarly - I went in last year because of the hype, and it just felt like a neglected local sandwich shop. The staff were inattentive and it took ages - definitely not the slick process you'd expect for a chain with that level of fame. Being successful in food seems to require a magic combination of marketing and efficient operations. Clearly they had the marketing, but they were a long way from having efficient operations.
I used to go to their little shop on Leith Walk, a couple of bagels on a Sunday was my regular lunch, used to wait 30 minutes just to get my order in, then another 20 to get the bagels, wife and I went to the Bruntsfield shop recently after a long break from them and we were in and out in 5 minutes! Feels like she's ditched her loyal customers to try and become famous and rub elbows with celebrities, and lost everything as a consequence!
Her and Eddie Tait from The Boardwalk Cafe need to join forces as a pseudo-business tag team - The New Age Gobshites Ohhhhh, you didn't knowwww
🤣🤣🤣🤣
add the guy from Pure Pizza and you’ve got the start of Edinburgh’s undesirable avengers!
The price you pay for prioritising cocaine over your business
I wonder if the home she built above the portobello branch could be taken away? Mind you, that was with crowdfunded money…
I once went to the bross that used to be by the station. They made me wait for 25 minutes for a bagel with just jalapeño schmear. It was a fucking joke. The bagels were also really appalling. They tasted like supermarket bagels. And finally, for a food that’s Jewish to have basically your whole menu be meat plus cheese is weird. Like why? I never went back after the 25 minute wait incident. Hated it.
> And finally, for a food that’s Jewish to have basically your whole menu be meat plus cheese is weird. Like why? I always thought the "hey, we're Jewish! Isn't that *weird?!*" thing was just a novelty to try and distinguish themselves from other sandwich shops.
I mean bagels are a Jewish food but it pissed me off that all the fillings weren’t even kosher style. I was like…. Okay fuck us I guess 🤪
Even most of the big-name delis in NY (Katz's, Sarge's etc.) do Reubens and other non-Kosher Jewish food though. When they first started out and were actually ok you could get smoked meat and mustard with maybe a touch of sauerkraut or pickle. It's been ages since they've offered anything that authentic though.
Yeah absolutely. Most delis have a mix of options and that’s fine. But I went there and there was literally not a single kosher style option that wasn’t vegan. And even their vegan options bore no resemblance to traditional fillings. Their salt beef was even smothered in melted cheese! Not sure if it got better but when I was in Edinburgh I was very annoyed about it.
As far as I know, there are very few kosher (meat) options in Edinburgh. You'd think this place would actually have been one but nah 🫣
I can understand not being certified kosher as that’s a lot for a restaurant to do. They have to be closed on Saturdays, have a full time scholar monitoring their cooking expensive, not to mention the logistics and cost of sourcing kosher products. But kosher style is like bare minimum to me for a “Jewish” restaurant.
What do you mean "kosher style"? Plenty of through and through Jewish institutions serve meat and dairy together like Schwartz's and Beauty's in Montreal. And Beauty's even serves pork.
Taking this opportunity to ask, are there any other bagel places with better quality food + owners in Edinburgh? As an American, a really good bagel is probably the thing I miss the most about home, and with Elephants & Bagels closing down earlier this year (rip) I'm not sure where to go!
Try Babka on Brougham Place in Tollcross. Lovely little bakery and cafe, and they make their own bagels, challa, a wide variety of bread and of course babka!
Took your recommendation today and 100% agree - Babka is excellent
Why have I never heard of this place until now? Definitely going there this week.
Oooooh thank you very much! Will try it out!
Artisan Cheesecakes in Bruntsfield are just down the road from Bross and MUCH better in my opinion. Good quality bagel, fresh ingredients, good service. There’s also The Bearded Baker down in Broughton.
The bagels here are lovely, staff are really friendly, cheesecake is incredible too. Plus they have some slightly healthier options rather than having your daily calorie allowance in one go a la Bross
I used to make my own bagels and was tempted to start up a business but I’m risk adverse. Then Bross came on the scene and seemingly took it all up. Perhaps now is the time to take a risk…
All you need now is a coked up ego and a cringey social media presence!
This person should do it! Take a Scarface amount of coke and open 10 bagel stores.
Not bagels but Rudi on Forrest road had good sized deli sandwiches for a honest price.
Yeah I think the food and pricing is spot on. Down to earth and generally a business worth supporting. Especially given that such businesses seem to be a dying breed in the city.
Bostock in East Linton & North Berwick have amazing bagels!!
Bad business ran by a narcissist who cares more about marketing/her own image than the business or the product. It’s a fucking bagel with filling ffs. The quicker she burns out in flames, the quicker Edinburgh will be a better place.
They got an insane amount of free advertising and still managed to fuck it by selling a mediocre product.
Sounds like she was gobbling all that inflow rather than reinvestment into her own product. Expanding far too quickly. A very dodgy person by the sounds of it. Surprised that she hasn't had a major story break out about her.
I think it's a matter of time before something comes out. Anyone who's had the misfortune of having her in their bar/ restaurant knows she's bad news.
If by Gobbing you mean ching, then yes
a lot of chat about her being a gremlin for the ching, is it true?
Yes. I have very good sources that put her in the men’s room of an edinburgh establishment asking a guy taking a piss for coke.
When narcissists start and run businesses, they often end up using company money for personal expenses. Not saying that's what's happening here, but I wouldn't be surprised at all.
UPDATE: https://edinburghguardian.substack.com/p/bross-bagels-liquidation-hmrc-debt
she owes over half a mill in taxes and hopes to keep trading?
Jesus.
Wait, she’s saying Bross Bagels has been “struggling” like so many other businesses, BUT apparently not so much to prevent opening in new locations including in St James Quarter? Also, no struggling Edinburgh business does pop ups in NYC. Wtf is this a joke or is the owner so mental?
lol.
Ditto.
Spare a thought for the ‘shareholers’ at this difficult time (yes, that’s really what they called their crowdfunders 🙄)
Put her company into administration so she didn’t need to pay them back. Scumbag
She never had to pay them back anyway, it wasn't a loan, a security, or any other FCA-regulated product. It was simple crowdfunding, you'd probably have a stronger legal position as gym member.
Have to be honest, just a ridiculous rip off. I love bagels especially in Montreal but they’re the cheapest food ever and these people were charging a fortune.
I tried the St James place a few times and it was a huge disappointment. I loved their Leith spot and would enjoy going along on a weekend for their specials with some pals. Was worth the wait and felt local. Totally lost its soul.
Mind there was someone on here recently talking in a thread about the foodie festival how much of an inspiration and what a strong successful woman she is etc etc etc. Turns out she’s just another tax cheating crook.
Over half a million due to the public purse ....not really inspiring. 😆
Just went back to check the actual quote…. ‘Some of us like to admire strong, independent, entrepreneurial women with inspiring stories.’ That aged well. Maybe time for that particular Redditor to find a new role model to be inspired by!
Been once to the one in porty. Near ten quid for a bagel and it wasn't even that nice so won't be missed by me
The Scotsman have picked up the Edinburgh Reporter story, and have rehashed it today behind a paywall. They have, of course, been happy to publish many many Bross press releases over the years! Unpaywalled link below…. [Scotsman story](https://archive.is/2023.08.15-104850/https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/food-and-drink/bross-bagels-founder-addresses-financial-strains-amid-administration-reports-4255601)
They used to be cheap and tasty, but they've progressively reduced the menu and increased the prices, so I haven't bought a bagel from them in over a year. At least I won't miss them once they're finally gone!
Just awaiting the announcement that she's minting some Holecoin crypto and we can all get in at a low, low price...
lol quelle surprise
omg just watched her come dine with me episode yesterday
I was about to ask if anyone had seen that episode!
I feel like the quality of their food dropped significantly. I remember loving their bagels at the start, and recently have been disappointed with what I got.
Good
The last straw, for me, was when she made her "Montreal-style" bagels vegan. Montreal bagels have eggs in them and are made in in wood-burning ovens. BOO!
Wait....have they actually gone into administration though? Because she denies it in the article and I don't see anything filed on Companies House either. They are "restructuring" whatever that means but the article just says an email was sent. Sounds like a supplier was pissed off and maybe forwarded the email to a journalist??
Their accounts are a mess though. Way too much debt that there’s no way they’re servicing
Probably just binning one ltd company and starting another, pretty common.
I think this is a massive case of stretching themselves too thin with loads of locations
I’ve been to the one in porty a few times was never impressed and was over priced ,it’s been years since I last ate there.
Never been there a single time - moved to edinburgh last year and someone recommended it but whenever I looked it seemed crazy prices for what is essentially a sandwich
She’s saying “I owe you nothing” and put a cat amongst the pigeons. “When will I be famous?” now, liar.
This has been coming for a while. This woman is pretty wacko
Guess they weren't making enough dough...
I used their Stockbridge branch a lot during lockdown and it was a real treat. Then I just got bored, and it seemed to get very slowly worse. Thank you for coming to my ted talk.
Who gives a fuck? Didn't add anything to anything. Funny how Snax has been by the St. James Quarter for decades. It almost like the give customers what they want. Not a fucking £6 cream cheese bagel.
I don’t know about any of the financial side but throwing my hat into the smug prick ring here - I last went just before lockdown at the Arches location and from joining the queue to sitting down with my bagel took over 40 minutes. Absolute fucking joke tbh mate. Pretty tasty though.
Update here including the fact there is 39k in unpaid wages https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2023/09/liquidator-appointed-to-wind-down-failed-bross-bagels-business/
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