Opening A Bar some advice needed

[Scousejock]

We are deep into negotiations for taking over premises to open a Bar. The premises have been used previously as a licensed restaurant and has a premises license in place and we went on the course for a personal license yesterday.

Where I need some advice is regarding what we wish to do to change the layout of the building.

At present the Bar is not in the right location on the premises for our intentions therefore I believe before moving this we need to apply for a minor variation to the premises license. Is this a straightforward request and what would be the main things they would consider when looking at accepting or declining this request.

At the moment the whole of the ground floor was used as licensed premises but it is out intention to change this. The main Bar area is at the rear of the building (no rear access) and there is rooms at the front that were used as separate areas for the premises, 3 rooms. What we would like to do is to change these 3 front rooms (which all have independant access at the front) 1 would be changed to a computer shop (Obviously change of use would be needed) and the other 2 would be used as a financial services office (again change of use needed). My concern is more that these rooms have access to the front which are currently shown on the premises license as fire escapes. If they are separated with different businesses this would leave only one main entrance with no other fire escapes from the bar. I have tried to look for more information on this but cant find anything conclusive. Would this be allowed with only one fire escape (I know of 2 other cellar bars locally that only have one fire escape). By removing the front rooms from the bar it significantly reduces its size and would only leave a bar of approx 1,000sq ft so would have a small capacity so hopefully this would mean that the small capacity would allow it to only have one exit.

If this would be allowed would I apply for this change on the same premises license variation as moving the location of the bar. Do I need to have a fire saftey inspection carried out and submitted with the application as I cant see that this is a requirement on the website of the local authority.

I have only received the actual copy of the premises license today and the opening hours are shorter than I had expected. Again I would look to change these on the same application to vary the premises license but is there an easy way to find the openin hours permitted by other local bars & pubs.

Sorry to make this such a long post but wanted to put as much detail as possible so that I could fully explain my questions.

Hope someone out there can help.

 

[Pete.wilson6466]

It sounds like you are going to need a complete new license. John Gaunt Solicitors in Sheffield specialise in licensing. Where is this bar, is it a town centre location? Watch for restriction with local authorities, they can vary town to town.

 

[Scousejock]

The bar is just off the town centre in a small town.

I was hoping to avoid having to apply for a totally new license but I think you could be right and that we might have to go down that route.

 

[Pete.wilson6466]

What experience do you have? Things can go drastically wrong fast within this business, get proffessional advice before it costs you thousands. There is a lot of help out there! You also need to learn how to play companies off against each other to get major amounts of freebies such as stock, fridges, coffee machines, cellar equipment, etc... Also breweries offer help sometimes where banks don't or won't.

Also don't forget the other licenses you will need:

• Entertainment
• Premises use
• AWP/SWP
• SIA
• etc....

The building may also need updating such as fire, cameras,alrams, hygiene, disablity act, etc.... it's a mine field.

I have worked in the industry 15 years and have quite a few contacts, if you need to know suppliers or where you can get help, just ask.

 

[Pete.wilson6466]

Also forgot to say before you go any further check the restrictions on the licence, just because it was a restaurant that served alcohol does not mean it can be automatically be used as a bar!

 

[Scousejock]

We have experience of working in pubs in the past and have run other businesses since. Thankfully there will be another person involved with the running of the bar who ran his own pub for many years.

All of the Licenses are in hand and being processed.

I have made some contacts with regards to suppliers but if you have any contacts and can help point me in the right direction of more this would always be helpful. The more options the better deal that can possibly be found. Freebies are always good and have no problems negotiation good deals.

When I say it was a restaurant it was more of a bar that served food, it was also a bar that specialised in live music and I have hade the license and planning checked and there is no problems with what I am looking to do.

 

[tomforex]

If you want some seriously good stock control systems check out measurescount.com, email me and we could even arrange a free system for trial

 

[Scousejock]

What do you think of the name SHOOTERS for the bar.

The bar will be very much a pool bar so this name ties in with that and it also has other connections with the name of another business I am involved with.

Just wondered what everyone thought as although it will be mainly a pool bar I dont want to drive away the non pool trade by people thinking thats all it is.

 

[Forum Retail]

What do you think of the name SHOOTERS for the bar.

The bar will be very much a pool bar so this name ties in with that and it also has other connections with the name of another business I am involved with.

Just wondered what everyone thought as although it will be mainly a pool bar I dont want to drive away the non pool trade by people thinking thats all it is.

I dont see why, it will depend how its marketed and decorated, rather than the name, it could just as easily have a picture of a man shooting ducks as shooting pool, and the dog and duck is not a euphemism for a brothel!
good luck with the venture

 

[behind the sticks]

with regards to relocating your bar there is no easy answer for this, the biggest factor is really your local licensing department/police, your first step should always be to simply ask, your local council licensing should be happy to visit you and discuss a proposed variation before you submit an application.

only having one fire exit will drastically reduce your capacity from a fire safety standpoint (capacitys from a fire safety point of view can be totally different to licencing). If i recall correctly one exit means a maximum capacity of 60 persons regarless of size of venue. Again, probably best to contact your local fire officer.

A fire safety inspection is not a requirement of a minor variation but may be a condition on your premises licence dependant on premises licence conditions.

A minor variation can be used to extend your opening hours but NOT to extend hours for the sale of alcohol, this would need a major variation. Most councils have an online licensing register on their website with details of every licence under their control.

 

[Scousejock]

What experience do you have? Things can go drastically wrong fast within this business, get proffessional advice before it costs you thousands. There is a lot of help out there! You also need to learn how to play companies off against each other to get major amounts of freebies such as stock, fridges, coffee machines, cellar equipment, etc... Also breweries offer help sometimes where banks don't or won't.

Also don't forget the other licenses you will need:

• Entertainment
• Premises use
• AWP/SWP
• SIA
• etc....

The building may also need updating such as fire, cameras,alrams, hygiene, disablity act, etc.... it's a mine field.

I have worked in the industry 15 years and have quite a few contacts, if you need to know suppliers or where you can get help, just ask.

Any input on getting freebies would be gratefully received likewise on contacts and suppliers. I have been in touch with a few suppliers and so far St Austells Brewery seem the most helpful but I am yet to have a formal meeting with them a I am still waiting to finalise the legal and pick up the keys to the premises.