Post 338310 by Dangerous Dave on 2010-10-14 23:05:45
After a big think about life and stuff, I'm seriously considering getting a pub/restaurant. Anybody have any tips or experiences to share?
After a big think about life and stuff, I'm seriously considering getting a pub/restaurant. Anybody have any tips or experiences to share?
One of my good friends has worked in the pub trade, as have her parents - she's a pretty old hand and will give you all the dirty inside info. She currently runs a coffee shop. PM me your name + phone number if you want me to swap your details for you - she will be more than happy to tell you all about it I'm sure.
Not really, only to do your research properly and buy in a good location. I'm recalling statistics about the number of pubs that close each week, so you need to know what you're in for and plan it accordingly. But ... you've got to do what you've got to do. Just do it right :)
a couple of friends of mine of run/had pubs, & its bloody hard work. One currently runs a nice little pub in the sticks & even that is a 24/7 job, very little time to rest
my brother runs a very busy pub which he bought, his third and he started by managing a beefeater, learn't the trade then went on his own. he also worked as a night porter in a small hotel and worked his way up to manage it which in long run paid for the pub. he runs / owns ashes bar in maidstone and can be found on facebook where he advertises events etc at the pub. his is a dedicated sports bar and best place in uk at new year for me and wifey as its all free :-) he can tell you everything you need to know if it goes that far
Friend owned a pub in Kelso and a hotel in Perth until a few years ago, and I agree with the comments above. It is 24/7 and you have to be willing to take on virtually all the work, especially in the early stages. And according to Punch Taverns, pubs are closing at their highest rate ever, admittedly not helped by the smoking ban, but crippled by the economic situation which sees many people deciding to have a drink at home (made worse by the supermarkets continued cheap booze offers, whilst at the same time promoting sensible drinking....) Advice to anyone contemplating this would be to find somewhere that is currently open and with a solid base, proven turnover, and if there is an existing bar manager, trust their input (they must be doing something right). And don't just make sweeping changes to what you think is wanted. And finally, be in it for the longer term. Most successful pubs evolve and need to change with the times. And good luck!
Friends run a small country pub/restaurant it really is a Vocation/Lifestyle not a job. I don't think I could have done it even in my prime (probably end up locked in the wine cellar) I liked to be able to lock the office and walk away at the end of the day. They live it, love it, and with the help of a good chef have a very successful business. They just had to get used to working when others were socialising and doing it with a smile on their faces whatever. When they told us what they were going to do I thought they were nuts but 10 years on they are very happy so it does suit them. Do your research, (try it if you can, they both worked part time in pubs restaurant's before they brought) If you decide to do it I think all on here will wish you Good Luck
My mum inherited a hotel about 20 years ago and I helped her run it whilst is was being wound up. It was losing money hand over fist. Even then, trade was collapsing. With a pub you get no holidays, no social life to speak of, you will be up until 1pm every night and you will get to know the local alcoholics very well. Even a gastropub will struggle - business is REALLY thin at the moment and getting thinner. Apart from that, it's great. Buy a McDonald's franchise, at least you will make some money cos chavs need to feed and they will still be flush from all their scally dealings.
:yikes: ya gotta be joking
Freehold is the only way if you want to make £££, brewery's offering leases are a rip off they charge massive rents and then overcharge you for the beer! My local pub has been run by the same folk for 30 yrs, they pay £50k per year in rent and have to buy the beer from the brewary which cost conciderably more, to give you an idea it cost me £2.90 a pint yet in a free house £2.30plus a buy 8 get 1 free card! So nearly £10 cheaper on a gallon of ale! I know a landlord and he bought an old flourist that was previously a bank for £100k turned it into a pub and sold for £750k, he then bought an old motorbike shop (previously a church hall) for £30k speant £20k on it and sold for £350K. (This was over a 3 or 4 year period) He now owns another pub (I think he got for around £150k it was run down but he runs a tight ship wont take assholes in his pub and he has a reputation for serving fine real ales along with the best cobs around.
[quote=bomb192uk;338310]After a big think about life and stuff, I'm seriously considering getting a pub/restaurant. Anybody have any tips or experiences to share?[/quote] Unless you have experience in either trade I would say dont bother.
no experience in the trade but just looking round the amount of pubs closing down specially since the nanny state brought in the smoking ban? but would've thought some kind of good eatery could be an option?
[quote=bomb192uk;338310]After a big think about life and stuff, I'm seriously considering getting a pub/restaurant. Anybody have any tips or experiences to share?[/quote] I have worked in / managed and been involved in bars, pubs. restaurants, cafes, hotels and takeaways. The hardest slog of the lot were pubs, from bottling up in the morning to clearing up at night it's a long long day. And has been mention earlier, it's a seven day a week one. One place I worked I had one day off a week and even that was ruined as I had to get up early to sign for the beer and wine delivery! It's not a job if you're not fit and you have to be willing to work everyday including Christmas and Bank Holidays, after all, unless you find a pub with customers who don't want a Christmas Day drink, it's all part of the joys of being a Landlord :) If you want to start in the restaurant trade then get hold of the Health & Safety and Food Safety regulations, you have to fill in a log book everyday with all the details of everything that has happened relating to the everyday food production. Your staff and yourself have have to get Food Hygiene Certificates, and then there's the STAFF! Don't forget you will need to employ someone to fill in for you. Not everyone is a thief, but when the opportunity presents itself some will not think twice about helping themselves to food, drink and a few quid from the takings. Or even clear you out, it happened to MR PA and I quite a few years ago. It's best if you have family you can call on, but even then they will need to get the Food Hygiene Certificates as well. Running a restaurant is hard work, and you need to make sure that you have good staff both front and back of house. If you intend to cook yourself, make sure you have a menu that will make people want to come back for. This is one we went to recently and the food was outstanding http://murraysofclevedon.co.uk/main.html If you do go into the trade, have fun, but remember, the hours are long and unless you land up with a TV series you will never be a millionaire.
Just don't! There's less risk in gun-running . . .
How about a brothel?
Its a tough game but you can make good money if your in the right place with the right attitude. I'm sure I'll be shot down in flames... but... being an analyst for Greene King i get to see it from the inside. Free hold is probably the best way forward if you can finance it. Leases are OK but unless it works out it'll be really hard! Comments on high rents and high beer prices are a bit naf really, granted current rent needs to come down but just to explain the beer prices are higher than what you can get it for in the free maket to make up for a cheaper rent (although I'm sure lots of people will dispute this!) A good thing about leases is that you don't have to fork out say £350K for a business!!! some of the longer term leases are sellable as well so you can make money on that. Experiance is essential, esp if you go free hold, if you go with a pubco (rented) most will give you all the training you need to get to grips with every thing. Have a look around the various pubco's (greene king, punch, enterprise, marstons etc) and see what they have to offer. Some pubcos are selling off pubs at the moment so it might be a good time to buy one as a freehold. Lots of variables - its a personal choice but hopefully mine, an the other guys waffle will help you along your way :) Love 'n all that...
i like the brothel idea! ;)
lap danceing bar..defo..thats the way 2 go...
[quote=PHIL V70R;338359]lap danceing bar..defo..thats the way 2 go...[/quote] Yes, forget Spearmint Rhino, we could open up the VPCUKs very own [COLOR="Magenta"]Horny Moose[/COLOR] franchise - with Wobbly Dave on bongos.
If you can't get 'em to drink beer how are you going to get 'em to drink broth . . . ? ;)
Some excellent advice there. On the balance of probability your best bet is a no. You might like drinking in a pub but working in one is a totally different experience. The end of the pub as we know them is nigh - formulaic chains will win out. Just like the supermarket v's corner shops and petrol stations. The big boys always win...
Wow, some fantastic advice from all here. Thanks guys and gals. Just currently weighing up all the options. I currently work in a frontline job, and have various customer service and management skills (I know that only helps a little, but its better than nothing), as well as a food hygiene cert too. The place I'm looking at is currently a profitable business (still gotta look at accounts) in a country village. I've got a mate who's owns a pub, so he's gonna give me some insight into what goes on, etc. Still got a lot of research to do (as I like to know as much as possible before doing things) so theres a long way to go yet. Cheers (excuse the pun)
Well like phil says... if you do go ahead at least we can have an official VPC pub! Provide a base for group meets... ;)
[quote=V70ETS;338434]Well like phil says... if you do go ahead at least we can have an official VPC pub! Provide a base for group meets... ;)[/quote] The thought had crossed my mind, and there is a large car park and some nice scenery around
A decent friendly bed and breakfast will always do business and would be the way I would go if thinking alog those lines, or a small campsite. All the rest has been said. Forget breweries and restaurants are very high risk indeed. ( thats a free weekend for four you owe me :smirk: ) Regards Mas