Any publicans/landlords on the forum?

[Pangolin]

A pub, within walking distance of my home, has gone up for sale. It seems an odd time to sell it, because there is a big new housing estate being built right next to it. The pub is freehold and, as far as I'm aware, has never been tied to a particular brewery.

It may be a daydream, but I'm wondering if I could give up my job and run this pub successfully. I've no experience of running a pub and I'm not so naive that I think that, just because I drink in them, I know the business. I have a fair amount of savings and plenty of enthusiasm for a change of career.

What I need to know is, if I bought the pub, who would I be buying the drinks from? Is it easier to be a free-house, or to sign up with a company (who might also help with decor and fittings)? In the past, the pub has been a pub-restaurant, although not very big. What are the pifalls of running a restaurant, or even B&B accommodation, along with the pub?

Any helpful advice would be appreciated.

[chesters1]

had it been a brewery pub then you would have been ideal to lose all your money and the excuse for the brewery to flog the pub for housing ,as for a freehold pub ,think why the owners are selling up when good times appear to be on the horizon

as far as i know (and pubs are known to me) unlike bookies i have rarely come across any with rich land lords and that was before the prices we see today and the governments ever increasing tax hikes under the excuse drinking is bad for you

Edited December 10, 2010 by chesters1

[ayjay]

I can't help with your specific questions other than to say that as a free house you can buy your stock from wherever you choose.

 

Pubs are closing at a rate of 39 per week in 2010, this is down from the 2009 rate of 52 per week , the rate of closure has to slow down some time, it doesn't mean that things are getting better. (In my opinion the only thing that will reverse the trend is to end the smoking ban.)

 

The real money in pubs these days is in food sales.

 

Good luck, whatever you decide.

[Ken L]

Lot's and lots of people have lost their life savings, redundancy money or pension pot trying to live the dream of running a pup.

With the financial risks, the grief from drunken customers, the "interestst" from local crims and the obscenely long hours and late nights, I wouldn't even contemplate it without a very well reasearched business plan to get in, work my arse off for ten years and get out.