Built In The Borough

Jonathan Platt was fifth generation in the family car dealership until it closed. Then he put his life savings into crazy golf. This is the story behind Clubhouse, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Jonathan grew up working at Platts Garage, the family Fiat dealership in Longton that traded for over 70 years. When it closed, the family sold both sites and kept every member of staff in a job.

With time on his hands and a running joke with his brother that there had to be an easier way to make money, he put his life savings into a crazy golf venue in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Clubhouse had queues out the door on day one. Nine months later, COVID hit.

In the first episode of Built in the Borough, Ayah sits down with Jonathan at Clubhouse to talk about:

• Why consistent footfall is the battle every week
• Losing a fifth generation family business, and keeping everyone employed
• How hard it really is to start a business
• Hiring young people, first jobs and the skills that matter most
• Table tennis, interactive darts and the art of holiday nostalgia
• Why Newcastle-under-Lyme needs more places to eat and drink
• Running two businesses, and why a business is only worth something if it runs without you
• His advice to his 18 year old self

Built in the Borough is a podcast celebrating the people, businesses and organisations driving growth across Newcastle-under-Lyme. Recorded on location, not in a studio.

Guest Speaker: Jonathan Platt
Hosted By: Ayah Burton
Episode Title: Navigating Business Challenges in Hospitality

"What's the hardest thing about running your business right now, today?"

That's where we start. Every time.

Built in the Borough is a new podcast from Newcastle-under-Lyme. No studio. No script. Just honest conversations with the people quietly building something in this town — the highs, the lows, the moments they nearly walked away, and what made them stay.

We're going into their businesses. Sitting in their kitchens, their workshops, their offices. And we're asking the questions most people don't.

Because behind every business in this borough is a story worth hearing.

Episode one is coming soon.