Job Title:
Publican / Landlord
Number Of Years Dedicated To This Field Of Work or Lifestyle:
8
Category Of Work:
Employment – Paid Work
Country / Area of Work:
United Kingdom
Industry:
Hospitality/Travel
Type:
Employment
Key Skills For The Job:
Organisation, business mind, hard worker, dedication, people person, tolerant, patience.
Vital Key Skill:
Outgoing personality
Your Personal Experience Of Entering This Role:
Not Relevant
Tips For Undertaking This Work:
It appears to be a great lifestyle on the surface – why wouldn’t anyone want to buy a pub! But the reality is very different. It is very long hours, on your feet, dealing with people who are often under the influence of your trade. If you buy with a partner, be sure you are a strong couple and both completely dedicated as the trade will do its best to break you!
Future Progression Or Developments:
As owner, you are in charge. The possibility that the experience you gain can lead to other opportunities such as being a representative for a brewery or pub letting agent.
It is not as easy as it looks! You invest your own money into a venture and you live, eat, breathe and sleep it. Accommodation is often on site, so even if you are not working, you are never away from it. You need to have a good business head for the financial side, good organisation for the ordering and sales side, you also need to not drink the profits!
What Are The ‘tools of the trade’ Used Daily:
Yourself and skills.
A Typical Day’s Duties:
Start around 8:30 a.m. – set up the bar area and complete daily cleaning tasks. Open at 11 a.m. Serve customers as they arrive, maintaining a smile and a friendly ear. If serving food, this will also require multi tasking. If hosting band nights or pool and darts teams which are obviously good for business, these will need to be prepared for, booked or quizzes to be written etc.
Closing time is 11 p.m. however people often hang around until later, you will then need to fully clean down the bar, leave it ready to operate the following day and may get into bed around 1:00 a.m. ready to do it all again the next day.
Do not forget there is the grounds to maintain, the building to keep in good order, you still need to do your own washing and ironing, the beer order, stock delivery and perhaps logs for the fire etc. The fun never stops!
Is Travelling A Regularly Part Of This Work:
No
Weekly Working Hours:
Full Time
Type Of Hours Arrangement:
Flexible Based On Employers Needs
The Best Thing About The Work You Do:
Being self employed – knowing that you are the one calling the shots and doing it your way.
Your Least Favorite Thing About The Work You Do:
The worry of having to pay the bills at the end of the month if it is quiet.
Being the person to sack people if it isn’t working out.
Not being able to leave the premises as it is your business and its hard to get time out.
Any Duties You Hadn’t Anticipated Prior To Undertaking The Work:
Washing and ironing local teams football kits as we were the sponsor!
Also needing an in-depth knowledge of licencing laws as well as being qualified to hold a licence.
The Top Perks Of The Work:
Self employed and free beer!
Other Work In The Same Sector:
Hospitality has many options – to be an owner operator you can choose the establishment
What Professional Organisations Are Associated With Your Work:
CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale)
Additional Info You Wish To Share:
Living the dream of owning your own pub is not necessarily how you think it will be. You work extremely long hours, in tiring circumstances and even with your partner by your side it can be extremely stressful and change your relationship. No matter how strong you are, it will be tested to its limits.
Be very careful on verifying accounts and business details before you buy. Visit the establishment several times at different times to get a feel for the trade.
Make sure you have experience before you go into it, as often these businesses need owner operators who are working it, not just directing staff as most cannot afford staff these days.
