Offers

So I have offers on the table from both the previous tenants and the Pubco involved in the pub that we want to show an interest in.

Both options are inviting but there is so much to consider. Thankfully there are some free resources out there to get you on the right track.

This one is particulally helpful as it's been created by people who have been there and either failed, telling you why or succeeded again telling you how.

Of course each business should be taken on it's own merits and what might work for one may not work for another but far better it is to heed the advice than it is to go in feet first only to end up bankrupt, jobless and homeless.

It also depends on how we really want to view this opportunity. Are we intending to stay here for quite a while, building up a good trade and basing our future on it? Or should we use it as a learning curve to see if we can adapt to life in the licensed trade, a stepping stone to bigger things.

I think I'm leaning towards the latter but then we have a 7 year old so would the thought of potential upheaval for her be too much for her to cope with? Seeing that big school beckons next term and from what I remember this is when her lasting lifetime friendships will probably be formed.

Lots of people quite rightly warning of the pitfalls of signing up with a Pubco which of course shows caring for our future but also getting tremendous encouragement from not only friends but from many of the pub regulars who think it'd be the best thing to happen for it, even given our intention (should we get it) to completely change the emphasis from a currently completely wet trade to a predominantly food trade.

Even changing that trading ethos has it's challenges. Firstly the overheads will be much higher which will have to be taken into account when going over the figures. Extra staff will be required. Kitchen equipment will need to be blast cleaned and serviced not forgetting all the extra table and table furniture that will be required.

How do you respectfully and politely tell people that a suitable standard of dress must be adhered to at all times? i.e. no dirty or dusty work clothes shaking debris into lovingly prepared homecooked meals. This would instantly outcast the majority of the previous regulars whom lets be honest ain't gonna be too happy about it.

Previous regulars can actually have a very damaging effect on the new business plans, especially as it was previously a drinkers pub. Yes it's very nice to have regulars but at a Pubco run establishment the profit margin is very low on beers so relying on these customers is not going to be a great business move considering the changes we want to make.

They can also feel like their local actually belongs to them rather than anybody else and that they have some devine right to choose the path that the business takes which is of course wrong.

I think this sums up how a relationship between tenant/landlord and customer should be - You should should be friendly with all your best customers but none of your customers should be your best friends.

Now the only other thing I can thing of at the moment is what I'm going to have on the menu......

Answer below please :-)