Category Archives: Business ideas/analysis
Licence to spill
We spoke today to the licencing team at our local council who confirmed that no objections had been made during the consultation period and that our premises licence has been granted. That leaves building regulations approval and planning permission to sort which … Continue reading
Beer’s the thing
One of the first questions a business adviser wants answering is why? Hundreds of pubs are closing every year, so why do we want to open a micropub? Our response is that the micropub business model seems to be the best way … Continue reading
The smoking ban
The number of pubs in Britain has been declining consistently since 1980, when there were 69,000 pubs in the country; thirty years later and the number of pubs stood at 52,000. Of all the threats to pubs, one of the … Continue reading
A race to the bottom: thoughts on pricing
There are dozens of websites, Facebook pages and publications which we follow in order to stay on top of trends in the pub trade. Recently we joined an online licensees support group, the members of which have been invited by … Continue reading
On-the-job training
For all the beer we’ve drank, until fairly recently we had never worked behind a bar or pulled any pints. Our lack of cellar experience is the number one gap in our business plan and something we’ve started to address through … Continue reading
The property search
We’re asked again and again, where and when are we opening?? A few weeks ago we found premises which, although not perfect, would have been perfectly adequate. Unfortunately the landlord decided to sell the property instead of taking us on … Continue reading
Sisters are brewing it for themselves
Many micropubs open in a converted high street shop. With most high street shopping done by women, what can micropubs do to make them feel welcome? Dr Gloria Moss of Buckinghamshire New University says women are responsible for 83 per … Continue reading
Creating opportunity out of crisis
Between 2008 to 2012, between four to five thousand pubs in Britain called last orders and closed their doors for good. So why do we think now is the best time to open a new venture in these uncertain economic … Continue reading
What makes a micropub unique?
With small premises, certain things have to go because there’s no room, while in order to keep things simple it’s important to focus on the beer. While other pubs might provide overnight accommodation and adventure playgrounds or billiards and pub … Continue reading
Essential elements of a micropub
Remember all the headlines a few years ago warning us about the scourges of ’24-hour drinking’ in Britain? One thing about the liberalised licencing laws which escaped most people’s attention was how much easier it had become to open a … Continue reading