Running a pub

[Decca]

Running a pub
Is it easy or hard, I'm looking for somehwere to show off my culinary skills and we've looked at takeaway places, cafes and restaurants but nothing coming in that would be suitable so started looking at pubs, i know they are a dying trade for wet sales but with the right food and ambience it should be reasonably easy to turn a good profit, especially with the likes of social and internet advertising. something i see little of from existing pubs. !!!
Any pointers or links to good training courses would be great, or just constructive advice would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

LOL

 

[Octa]

Fairly difficult I'd imagine, importantly there's decent premises & alcohol licensing - easy enough to get but pretty much deciders of what you can do. Then there's getting a good reputation and keeping it. That's hard to do in that industry because people are quick to talk about bad service in a food/drink establishment.

Obviously not impossible - but must be hard, pub management changes seem frequent near me.

 

[Decca]

Getting and keeping business would be the easy bit i would think. If you produce quality and charge a fair price then people will keep coming back, and if you market it right then should be relatively easy, ive been to a few pubs for a meal and not one has ever asked for an email, not once have i seen there facebook page advertised and dont think ive ever received an email aprt from our local up the road who to be fair, do try, its just done half heartedly. , i was more concerned about getting a license and what the law entails, health and safety aspects and food hygiene, etc..... seen a few 1 week courses on pub management, health and safety issues and food hygiene but not sure if they are rip offs or not, Probably best contacting my local business advice centre rather than asking on here. i know you can get free courses from certain pub chains but not sure i want to be tied to a chain, or do i? these are the sort of questions i need answering, could do with talking to a few that are all ready running pubs and how they got started.
Thanks Octa for the reply, really appreciate your time.

 

[Sacha]

You can get an alcohol license from a day course aslong as you don't have a criminal record or something. Then you can sell alcohol in a license premises. As for food hygiene all you need is to be inspected by EHO who will advise you what you need to improve and check you have done it. A food hygiene certificate won't hurt but you don't NEED it and it's pretty common sense stuff really. As for health and safety: be properly insured, public liability and building insurance as well as a fire and gas safety certificate. This stuff is all easy to sort out once you have the premises or just before you sign. You already know how to cook so all you need to learn about is beer kegs and cleaning pipes, that sort of stuff.

 

[Decca]

Thanks Sacha, brilliant reply, When you google food hygiene courses they make it out like its the law to have them in place before you serve or cook food so very interesting that you actually dont. To be honest though i will be doing some food hygiene courses and health and safety etc... i do like a good course or 20 You can learn so much quicker than on the job making mistakes.
Don't suppose anyone could recommend some good food hygiene courses, health and safety or even pub management.
I've had a nosey at NCASS but as someone not in the industry, its hard to tell if they are well recognised or not.

 

[Funding for Communities]

Nearly all the busy pubs we have lent to have a couple of things in common.

1, Location
2, Friendly and welcoming barstaff

I know speaking to landlords it's a difficult way to earn good money and you have to be cut out for the life. Good luck if you do go ahead.

Mike
Funding for Communities

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Many publicans have been on top of their trade looking at what they can do to make more sales yet still many go bust

There are no simple answers or ways to make pub pay just great skill in there proffession so please dont insult them by making out its a simple thing to fix, thousands have tried and failed

 

[Decca]

Thanks for the reply Mike, when you say location, would you say country or busy town centre is best when it comes to best location?

 

[ethical PR]

Either can work. It depends on what brand you are developing for your pub concept and who you see as your target audience.

Your question would be better framed - what sort of location would my target audience prefer to be in?

I don't agree 'that getting and keeping a business is the easy bit'. Or that if you charge a fair price along with good quality people will come.

 

[Decca]

Be a boring place if we all agreed, Its just my thoughts and the way i look at things. not saying i'm right.

 

[patientlady]

Pubs - It's the easiest trade to get into and the hardest to get out of! Do not sign any leases and only take on a short term tenancy to begin with! For your first dip into the trade you will be on a sharp learning curve, invest as little money as possible Into your first venture . Be prepared to lose it!

 

[ethical PR]

It certainly would but many business have failed by thinking if they have a good fairly priced product or service then they will be successful .

 

[Decca]

Ethical, Many businesses have failed full stop for lots of reasons and some have succeeded for lots of reasons. i still think if you know how to market, can identify your market and then give that market a great product at a reasonable price you are half way there. its the other half that i think will be the hardest.

Patient lady, thanks for the heads up on the leases, sounds like you've had experience before and i must admit, i will not be signing any long lease without an easy get out clause in say the first year. Will make sure i spend wisely as well.
Still could do with some links to courses in pub management, health and safety and food hygiene. Ive found loads on the internet but haven't a clue if they are good or not. "HELP"

 

[Twinkle Toes]

If you need a course in pub management then you are years off being even 10% there. Get a job in a pub/resturant and learn the trade first. I'll bet within six months you've changed your mind.

There is a good reason pubs are closing on a daily basis, and it's not because they don't know what they are doing, as Chris said, many a experienced landlord has gone under.

The most successful publican, without a doubt, and he certainly doesn't go for quality or service, is JD Weatherspoon. Maybe compare his model and your's? He has made a mint on cheap 'n' cheerful though!

 

[Decca]

Lol

 

[Twinkle Toes]

There is defiantly a market for high quality pubs/restaurants. But without experience you won't know how to achieve that, and even then it takes months/years of losses before you turn a profit. If you have the cash to see you through the first years, while you build a reputation, then you may stand a chance.

 

[Decca]

Okay, well thank you for your input Richard. Appreciate you taking the time to warn me, If its okay with you i will still pursue the chance and opportunity all though i will tread carefully and not rush into anything.
And just to add, i am only looking into this profession hence the original question. Its not a definite, i just fancy a business in catering, whether it be a unique cafe/grill or restaurant, takeaway or pub. I'm going to research every avenue and then decide if its for me or not.
And i'm a good delegator so there is nothing stopping me getting in an experienced manager while i focus on the restaurant and cooking side which is my passion. And i'm not bad at marketing either.
Personally i think if you have an idea and a passion then research research research and if you still think its a go'er then you just have to go for it or you'll forever wonder what if.
Better to fail trying than fail to try.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

If you're confident then go for it. Just ask yourself what you know that experienced landlords don't?

It's not as easy as you seem to think, that is a fact. You'll be entering a over saturated market, and that's not easy for a newbee to make a success off.

I wish you well in whatever you do, just proceed with caution and take on board the replies on here that you asked for.

 

[Decca]

Thanks Richard, i know you mean well, i'm just not a fan of negativity. caution yes, but saying no before i even look into it is not an option for me. yes some great advice so far, just need some advice on courses now so i can test the water, a good course will give me an insight into the world of pub management (only a small look but a start) and if along the way i get bad vibes i will not proceed. promise.
not getting anywhere on here for links to good courses so i think i'll search for pub landlord forums, must be one out there, i will brace myself for some more "LOL's" shall i?

 

[patientlady]

Morning advertiser, sign up
Morning advertiser forum
Www.buyingapub.com
Www.usenumberone.com
LinkedIn group Pubs
Camera.org.uk
https://www.gov.uk/alcohol-licensing
cask-marque.co.uk/info-for-pubs/training/
www.help-entering-licensed-pub-trade.co.uk/advice.html

 

[Decca]

Thanks for that patientlady, making pizza dough and cakes all day with my little girl today but will do some research on that info later on tonight, Thanks again.