Love a great pub? Love the idea of running one? If you’re as passionate as we are then we should talk.

Be your own boss

Shape your own destiny and lead your own business, with the reassurance that you’ve got the support of a trusted partner in Butcombe.

Training

Training is at the heart of every successful business, and as we’ve continued to invest in our estate we’ve also continued to invest in our partners.

• Our online learning management system allows you and your teams to grow and develop.
• We are a Centre for Excellence in Cask Marque training, providing cellar management training to all tenants.
• Working with Bibendum we run regular sessions on tasting, serving and marketing wine.
• We offer ongoing marketing support ranging from social media best practice to producing point of sale.

Award-winning business

We have our own award-winning brewery in Wrington, Bristol producing over 250,000 pints a week. Ranging from our gold medal-winning Original cask ale to our Bohemia craft lager and gold medal-winning Goram IPA.

Our pub business has won the much coveted Publican Award of Best Food Offer two years in a row.

Support

Our team are on hand 24-7 for you. Whether it’s just a quick call, or a face-to-face meeting, we are here for you to help make sure your business is a roaring success.

It's a big decision so remember to take a step and ask yourself a few questions...

Running your own pub doesn’t suit everybody

Some of our tenancy pubs are complex and would not suit someone with little or no industry experience, but a number of our pubs would be ideal for people with the rights skills looking to take their first step. What’s most important is having well-rounded business skills, a focus on the customer experience and a can-do attitude. Running a pub really is hard work and requires a lot of commitment, but, the rewards can be great too!

So maybe you’re an experienced pub licensee looking for a new opportunity, a business person looking for a first venture in hospitality, or chef seeking a venue to showcase your talents. We’re confident we’ve got a venue that will suit you.

Before you apply to run your own pub business , here are some factors that you need to be aware of and to take into consideration:

• Taking on a tenancy business involves a significant financial outlay.  You need to be conscious of the amount of capital you will have to invest from the start.
•  Take lots of advice and read up as much as you can on the law, how the agreement works, what you can expect from us and what we will expect from you.
•  You will need training. Our pre-entry awareness training is compulsory.

If you are interested in finding out more about us and taking on one of our pubs please get in touch. We can then grab a coffee (or a pint) and have an initial chat about how it all works. Please email tenancy@butcombe.com

FAQ's

HERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE YOU TAKE THE PLUNGE…

FUNDING?

The first thing to consider is if you have the sufficient funds to run a pub tenancy. Just having enough money to buy the stock and pay the deposit may not be enough, and you may find yourself running out of available cash as most businesses lose money in the first few months of trading, so be prepared and make sure you have the necessary funds to see you through. Don’t forget the wages of your employees and your manager’s cost if you have one. It is always advisable to consult an accountant on these matters.

HOW WILL RUNNING A PUB AFFECT MY LIFESTYLE?

Running a pub is a way of life, with long working hours and never really being ‘off duty’, the stamina needed can put a strain on personal relationships. You will live and breathe the pub, within the community you will be seen as the figurehead and host, able to deal with difficult situations as well as being able to recognise locals by name and remember what they drink. Mental gymnastics, excellent customer service and management skills are what’s needed along with charisma and a flair for the job.

I’M READY TO TAKE ON A PUB TENANCY, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO BEFORE I MOVE IN?

The first few days of any pub tenancy and the lead up to moving will be extremely busy and exciting. The more planning you have done before you open your doors to paying customers, the smoother the change over should be. You should have set up a business bank account, registered for VAT, decided upon your menu, arranged a stock taker and an accountant, made arrangements for the initial beer delivery and set up any suppliers that are not part of your tie, for example food suppliers or utility companies. The first day and night of your tenancy will be a real test. Make sure that the first experience the local customers have is a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. This will stand you in good stead for the future.