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Insider UK
Bev Lyons & John Glover

Former Sub Club owner reveals Dragons' Den deal fell through off-screen

The former owner of Glasgow's Sub Club, who accepted Deborah Meaden's offer on Dragons' Den has revealed their deal fell through off-screen, but she is still helping him.

Paul Crawford impressed the Dragon with his Panther M*lk cocktail, which is made with vegan-friendly oat milk.

Crawford had initially asked the panel for £50,000 investment in return for a 7.5% stake in his company, but ended up giving her 25%, after she initially asked for 30%.

The drink, which is a favourite at Banana Moon in the West End of Glasgow, has roots in 1920s Spain.

On the show last night, Sara Davies wasn't convinced by the taste of the cocktail, while Steven Bartlett was unimpressed by the lack of marketing strategy.

But Meadon told him: "I think you are spot on... I think the name is great and this is very exciting."

However, Crawford has now revealed what happened after the show.

One venue in Lanarkshire is already selling the product (BBC)

He told The Daily Record: "It was quite difficult, because the business is very young and I have very high aspirations for it.

"I had a figure in my mind which was 7.5% and I knew I'd have to negotiate to get a Dragon on board, but not 25%, which was quite a tough one to try and take.

"We didn't actually move forward with the investment - I realised I was going to have to raise a lot more money and Deborah realised it too, so we never moved forward on it; but she has been really supportive.

"I've got her mobile and she's been giving advice to me and has been really great.

"She emailed me the other day to say she put us forward for a show called Love Your Weekend on ITV for a cocktail section at Easter."

Crawford added that he has been inundated with messages since appearing on the show from people wanting to stock his product.

Also on last night's edition of Dragons' Den were Edinburgh-based entrepreneurs Caroline Kennedy Alexander and Sarah Bell Jones, pitching their post-breast cancer surgery lingerie brand.

However, they failed to convince the panel and left empty handed.

LoveRose Lingerie is aiming to raise £200,000 to grow the business, but were deemed to be too early-stage for investment by the Dragons.

Kennedy Alexander said: “We might not have received investment from the Dragons on Dragons’ Den, but it was amazing to reach so many women who have been through breast cancer to let them know that LoveRose is here for them when they need luxurious lingerie post surgery.⁠

“We are currently halfway through our latest investment raise and the reaction to last night’s show has been very encouraging, with requests for fresh business conversations as well as a surge in customer orders.

“We’re so excited for what’s to come at LoveRose - our essentials line is launching this year, and we’re negotiating listings with some wonderful retail partners that will allow us to reach more women who have experienced breast cancer.”

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