RUNNING A PUB
What do I need to know before I get my first pub?
Taking on your first pub is a huge undertaking and you need to know as much information as possible before signing any agreement. Joining the BII gives you access to independent, professional advice as well as offering a wide range of information about where to find your pub, what the opportunities and challenges can be and much more. See our "Run a Pub" page for our Top 5 Essential Steps before you take the plunge.
How do I find available pubs to run?
Whether you are looking for a tenancy or lease, finding out about Turnover Partnership Agreements or buying a pub outright, we can help. Check out our
Industry Advice pages for all the information you need no matter the business model, and see our
Find a Pub page for more information.
What are the different ways of running a pub (L&T, Turnover, Freehouse etc)
The pub sector has a variety of different ways for you to get involved in running a pub. You can be a manager of a venue, a tenant or lessee, running your own business from a site owned by a pub company, a franchise operator, or a freetrader - either owning a pub outright or renting from a commercial landlord. If you are looking to run a pub, there are a number of resources available on the BII website, but the best place to start is our Run a Pub page.
Where can I advertise for staff?
Depending on your venue and the staff requirements you have, advertising locally can work well with signs in the window, on local Facebook groups, asking customers etc. For more specific roles such as chefs, you may need to look a little further afield. Hospitality Jobs UK offer BII members special rates to advertise for team members. Taking on an apprentice is also a great way to get raw talent into your business to train and develop. Our sister company, BIIAB are an End Point Assessment organisation who award successful apprentices, and HIT Training, our Trusted Partners can help you with setting up an apprenticeship.
Community owned pubs – how does it work, what support is available?
Running a pub as a Community Owned venue can be very challenging. You need to remember that it is still a business and needs to be run as such - volunteer led organisations need structure and commitment so it is always advisable to have support from organisations that can help. The BII can help with all aspects of running a pub, but check out Pub is the Hub and the Plunkett Foundation for more information about specifically running a Community owned pub.
I have a rent review coming up, can you help me?
Rent reviews and other life-cycle events can be complex. We offer all members support via our Landlord and Pubco Helpline. In the first instance, contact our team on 01276 684449 and they can put you in touch with the helpline. We also have our Accredited Advisors - Accountants, Solicitors and Chartered Surveyors - who are independently verified and accredited to the highest standards and can help you with professional services, vital to your business.
I am looking for a supplier/have a problem with a supplier.
We run our Trusted Partner programme, giving members access to trusted professionals offering relevant products and services. You can find out more by visiting our Trusted Partners page.
How long does the PEAT course take? Do I have to do it one go?
PEAT takes on average 2 hours to complete. You do not need to complete it in one sitting, your course progress will be saved if you decide to pause and come back to it later.