{"id":5326,"date":"2018-08-16T16:55:07","date_gmt":"2018-08-16T15:55:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sagestaging.wpengine.com\/en-gb\/blog\/?p=5203"},"modified":"2026-01-29T10:33:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T10:33:25","slug":"opening-a-bar-or-club","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/opening-a-bar-or-club\/","title":{"rendered":"5 things you need to know about opening a bar or club"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/category\/strategy-legal-operations\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Strategy, Legal &amp; Operations<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t5 things you need to know about opening a bar or club\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2018-08-16T16:55:07+01:00\">16 August, 2018<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"5 things you need to know about opening a bar or club\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/opening-a-bar-or-club\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/author\/keirthomasbryant\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/keir-short-hair-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/keir-short-hair-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/keir-short-hair.jpg 760w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 40px) 100vw, 40px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Keir Thomas-Bryant<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Thinking about opening a bar or club?&nbsp;For many people in the UK, owning their own pub, bar or nightclub is a lifelong dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Happy evenings in the company of friends enjoying a sociable drink inspire entrepreneurs to want to provide that same experience to customers of their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This guide is for you if you\u2019re thinking of opening your own venue, and presupposes a level of expertise within the hospitality industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have little to no experience working in this environment, it\u2019s strongly recommended that you spend time learning the fundamentals of the trade before you take your first steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-soak-up-advice\"><strong>1. Soak up advice<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have some years of experience in hospitality under your belt, talk to your managers and those of nearby venues to assess demand in your area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take what you hear with a pinch of salt; few landlords will welcome extra competition in their area so combine their advice with what you\u2019ve observed yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Get chatting with the regulars in various bars to find out why they visit, what they like and don\u2019t like. <mark class=\"highlight-and-share\">It\u2019s very possible you might spot a gap in the market for a certain type of venue at this early stage<\/mark>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Industry magazines and trade shows are a good way of getting the big picture of the industry as a whole, and sites such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bighospitality.co.uk\/\">Big Hospitality<\/a>&nbsp;provide updated information on the state of the pub sector in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-mix-up-your-big-idea\"><strong>2. Mix up your big idea<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s possible you\u2019ve already got your heart set on a certain type of place. A quiet country pub perhaps, or a themed sports bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be very careful about sticking to your guns if your research suggests no particularly strong demand for this type of venue in your area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally speaking you\u2019re better off tailoring your idea to the demand rather than going all out on a whim. Some level of compromise is recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you know the general theme you\u2019re going for, break your plan down to the finest details:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What drinks or food are you going to serve?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Who are your intended customers?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What facilities will you offer?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What kind of footfall do you anticipate?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>All of these and more (depending on your specific idea) will go towards making the most important choice of all&#8230; choosing the right location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Business plan template for food and drink companies<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Want to create a business plan for your food or drink company but not sure how to do it? Download our free and easy-to-use business plan template and you can get started.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-095f98a9-13e8-4820-94ae-c38ec3cadf17\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download your free business plan template<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__downloads\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t2,429 readers have downloaded this guide\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1064\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/12\/GettyImages-170882611_super-1064x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Want to set up your own food or drink company? Don&#039;t forget your business plan\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/12\/GettyImages-170882611_super-1064x810.jpg 1064w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-picking-your-location\"><strong>3. Picking your location<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><mark class=\"highlight-and-share\">Bars live and die based on their location<\/mark>. Customers will go out of their way for fine craft ales and delicious food but if you\u2019re opening a sports bar, you need to be where the action is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a general rule, sit outside a prospective property for an hour at what you\u2019d consider peak time. If fewer than 100 people pass by in that time, it\u2019s going to be a risky location to set up in, unless you\u2019re giving customers something really special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your prospective location will also need to easily comply with all hygiene, health and safety regulations from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.food.gov.uk\/\">Food Standards Agency<\/a>. Cosy, small venues are fine but if they become cramped and difficult to clean, then you\u2019ll end up in hot water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-licensing-and-accounts\"><strong>4. Licensing and accounts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The type of licensing you\u2019ll need differs depending on your local council and the service you\u2019ll offer. In general you will need to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Register with HMRC at least 28 days prior to opening<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Register yourself as self-employed (if you aren\u2019t already)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Get a vendor licence from your local authority<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.food.gov.uk\/business-industry\/hygieneratings\/food-law-inspections\">Book a health and safety appointment<\/a>, especially if you serve food.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll also want to invest in a good <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/accounting-software\/\">cloud accounting software<\/a> package. Cloud-based software has several advantages over paper accounting and a mix of spreadsheets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It lets you access and report on your finances from any compatible device without allocating time at the office computer (adding more hours to your shift).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll know from experience how important it is to keep a careful track of your inventory, so being able to check up on this from anywhere you need to is a big plus point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By keeping all your records in one system, you eliminate time spent searching through old records, and making things digital streamlines this searching process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also send any information you need to accountants, bookkeepers or other finance professionals quickly and easily, without needing to go on an accountancy training course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thirdly, digitising your records from day one means they can scale up with your business. Hiring more staff, expanding services or even opening a second location further down the line is made much easier without having to go back and re-record your accounts from scratch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-hiring-the-right-staff\"><strong>5. Hiring the right staff<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>High staff turnover is the bane of pubs and restaurants. Turnover in the hospitality industry is estimated to be 20% higher than the rest of the private sector, but you can beat that statistic by sticking to a few principles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Draw up a detailed person specification for each role and stick to it<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Offer your staff ways to develop and progress beyond an entry-level role<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pay your staff fairly and on time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/sage-business-cloud\/payroll\/\">Payroll software<\/a> can help you track hours, wages and bonuses to ensure all your staff are paid the right amount at the right time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All the advice for general accounting is true for payroll. It\u2019s vital to ensure accuracy here, both to keep HMRC happy and to keep your staff around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The consistency that comes with long-term staff is probably the most important aspect of your venue\u2019s atmosphere and, by extension, of how you keep customers coming back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">How to start a business &#8211; your free guide<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Starting a business? Our essential guide is packed with straightforward advice on everything from planning to launch.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-b2dc6a92-9314-4c38-a26d-dc03e43f3f84\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Get your free guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1288428995-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Working on team tasks and supporting employees\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1288428995-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Join more than 500,000 UK readers and get the best business admin strategies and tactics, as well as actionable advice to help your company thrive, in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-b1a63862-3fa0-4a5e-bb67-c76b88bbc6b8\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For many people in the UK, owning their own pub, bar or nightclub is a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":280,"featured_media":9509,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[12],"business_type":[4],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[60],"persona":[73,74],"imagine_tag":[109,113],"coauthors":[369],"class_list":["post-5326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-strategy-legal-operations","tag-start-business","business_type-small-business","industry-food-beverage"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-gb","author_name":"Keir Thomas-Bryant","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2018\/08\/patrick-tomasso-GXXYkSwndP4-unsplash-1.jpg","imagine_tags":{"109":"Small business","113":"Travel &amp; hospitality"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice UK","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/280"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5326"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5326\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/9509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5326"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=5326"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=5326"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=5326"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=5326"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=5326"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=5326"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=5326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}