Any publicans out there?

[Pete B]

Am thinking of a career change and a lovely little pub in the town is becoming available soon and I'd appreciate any advice from people with experience of the pub trade.
It's a Free House, owned by the daughter of the current landlord who is retiring. I appreciate that it is a huge commitment running a pub, but just how much work/hours are involved?
This place is roughly 200 years old, very small (more than 60 people and it's like sardines!) and is not suited to serving food on a regular basis. It's a 'locals drinking pub', no juke box, no fruit machines, just lots of friendly banter and 5 real ales plus the usual Guinness, lager etc.
The set-up now seems to work very well and current landlord doesn't appear to spend too much time there, he has some really good staff.

Sssoooooooo, my rather tenuous connection for posting this on the forum is to ask the question, 'Landlords, does running a pub leave time to enjoy your Early Bay?'

Cheers folks, would appreciate any advice, comments etc.

Pete.

 

[magoo]

I'm not a landlord, but how will you make money without food to serve? Since it's for locals, you'll have difficulties putting your prices up on the beer.

I've seen a few local pubs really struggle because they have to pay the brewery their high prices for beer. A brewery bought one of our local pubs and appear to be doing well, but serving a good Sunday lunch helps.

But to answer your question , no business runs itself. Every self employed person works all of the hours!

 

[Trikky2]

I don't know what it is you do currently or what hours you work, so its hard to give you a comparison. As Magoo said though, having your own business normally means less free time, not more.

I had a business for ten years that included a bar and, although running the bar was fun and very social, the hours were much longer than I had originally anticipated, plus going off for weekends or holidays became very difficult indeed and impossible during the season.

This kind of occupation is not a job. It's a way of life.

I would recommend asking the owners if you could work with them for free for a bit so you can better judge what your getting into before making any decisions.

 

[bubba dubba]

Hi,
like tricky said ask if you can work a few shifts and get an idea about how it runs etc, (my dad worked for free for a year at a local near to us so he knew exactly what it would be like),... im not a publican but my parents were and I can tell you its bloody hard work, the dream of running a pub doesn't really match up to the reality, weekends are normally your busy days, so shows may be difficult unless you have staff you can rely on and trust,..my brother and I didn't really have much family time growing up as they were always working downstairs as staff cost money, that reads like I had a terrible childhood but that wasn't the case :lol: .....food is where you make money in pubs these days, sounds like that's not an option, the last pub my parents had was freehold but they were still tied to a brewery for a bit and almost held to ransom with the sky high beer prices , at least they didn't have the silly rent prices of being a tenant anymore though, but they did food and that's where they made cash, I can still remember my dad getting up at 6 and peeling enough spuds for around 100 roast dinners on a sunday :shock: .....he offered to set me up with a pub on my 18th birthday but I politely declined, it can be a nice life its just not for me, I never did like hard work :lol: :lol:

sorry if that sounds negative it wasn't meant to be, just go in with your eyes wide open

regards............kev

 

[Pickles]

Pete

Hope those windows you bought from me have been fitted as you'll have no time once you've got a pub.

I'm not a publican but a chartered surveyor who specialises in the licensed and leisure sectors.

For my contact details http://www.voyseyltd.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Please give me a ring or email me direct and be happy to discuss.

Barry

 

[Marvel]

Which pub you looking at Pete?

 

[mister]

Hi Pete. Give me a call. I've PMd you my mobile.
http://Www.thepelhamarms.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[Bigbear]

My parents have run pubs all their lives (until recently) and I believe there's a difference between being a landlord and a licensee, I might be wrong but I think the licensee has to be on the premises at all times (or within the area?) whereas the landlord is merely the owner. Get yourself a decent licensee and let them deal with it all, then jump in the van and get out to enjoy the little sunshine that we get! 8)

Don't take the above as gospel though as things do change over the years , it might be more relaxed now. :msn4: