General Chat

Good post, interesting topic, I can't help other than giving you good advice on being a customer............lol

Can tell me about running a pub , is there someone who runs a pub , who is a manager, or owns a pub, what i'd like to know is what qualifications do you have to have . where would you go for training . thanks hazelx

mommeylonglegs used to she might be able to help

Thanks Dawn . i 'll see if i can find her on the boards hazelx Paul you and me both. i only know what this side of the bar is like . lol hazelx

Don't forget your friends on opening night

hi hazel you need to go on a brewery course, have you a pub in mind if so contact the brewery and they will advise there are day courses or week ones either is good enough. for a brewery i worked for that is all i needed. good luck x

Hi Puss, it's not for me [i'd only drink the profets] lol no my daughter is intrested but neither of us know where to start hazelx

Ist thing you must have is your National Licensee Cert You can not get a licence without one . Depending on whether you wish to buy or manager depends on how you will go about this. If you go and manage via a brewery they will put you thro all your courses but it means you have to do in house training and a relief circuit. Buying your own you miss that but have to put yourself thro the courses. I came out of the trade 3yrs ago after 30yrs. I have managed for small chains, Large ones like Bass and finally bought a lease on one. If you wish you can PM me Jac

Paul , your welcome anytime lol hazelx

Should have said I have friends aswell who are just going into the trade, but they are looking at buying. (next month) so the are doing everything by themselves and I can always tap their brains for you .........What brains I ask myself???????LOL Jac

Hi Hazel, I too used to run pubs. With ex husband, then on my own. My major piece of advice would be work in a pub first. it really is a 24/7 job. Also depends on whether you are going to do it on your own, with partner and if you have a young family. There really is more to it than meets the eye. If you would like to know more please pm me. Also I still have contacts in the trade. Lin x

Save me a seat by the bar Hazel......x

Paul ONLY if i can have a seat as well lol hazelx

Hazel, Jacqui in Spain is absolutley correct. Only other thing I can add is, that you have to be 'Vetted by the Police' If you have a criminal record, it is very doubtful that you will be granted a Licence to 'serve alcohol. You will have to go to the local Magistrates Court for what they call a 'Protection Order' Then again for your 'Full Licence' it is a little nerve racking, but as long as you have all your training to back you up all should do well. I personally would not recommend it if you have small children, like I had when I took my first pub on way back in 1988. I came out of 'the trade' in 1999. But it all does depend on whether you are going into 'the trade' as a manager, or Tennant. A Manager gets paid a very good 'set' wage, no matter how well the pub is doing, and you dont usually have to pay any staff wages out of your wages, the brewery pay them. You also get plenty of time off for holidays etc. A tennant, or Lease Owner has to work a lot harder and can work 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, rather than pay wages for someone to do the work for you. This is fine if you have a well established pub that is raking the money in. i actually went 15 months without a full 48 hour off. DO NOT ever work for a Leasing Company that is looking after a pub for a brewery because it is a run down pub and nobody wants to take it on. You will be run ragged and never earn a penny, no matter how much you think you can build the trade up, I ran one pub like this once ond once only. It was horrendous. Also, when deciding, you must think about whether the you are expected to provide food. This is fine if you like cooking, like I did, and it is a nice little earner as long as you are prepared to get up even earlier than normal, to prepare food. EG. Sunday lunches need someone, to get up at 6am to prepare veggies etc. especially if you are doing 150-200 lunches in 4 or 5 hours. Please get back to me if you need any more advice. Good Luck. Jenny.

Some good advice there. Jenny I forgot the nerve wrecking of police vetting and then the courts for my 1st license, I was that wound up I was sick just before I had to go to court, then had to run around to find toothbrush and mouthwash .......... Jac