how do you make a pub successful

Here are our top 7 ideas for running a successful community pub:

1. Establish connections with nearby establishments like bars.
2. Coworking spaces and Internet cafes.
3. Create a welcoming environment.
4. Plan community gatherings.
5. provide vital services to the community.
6. Engage families.
7. live music

Full Answer

How to start a successful bar?

Startup costs aside, running a successful bar takes a lot of money, and you want to be prepared. Business funding can cover a variety of other aspects of your bar like inventory, marketing, and building renovations. Find the right investors and select a business loan that works for you. 3. Optimize your bar layout.

How can I boost profits in my bar?

A great way to boost profits in your bar is to train your staff to upsell customers. Upselling involves your bartenders or wait staff suggesting that customers try a specific high-value item or add it onto their order. Upselling is beneficial for both your business and your staff, because bigger checks mean bigger tips.

What are the best ways to promote a bar online?

Social media sites like Facebook and Youtube are free and can be effective in driving traffic to your bar if used properly. Look into other sites like Craigslist, Foursquare and Groupon.

What is success in the bar industry?

Success in the bar industry often doesn’t come down to a single big thing. It’s usually a combination of little things that take a bar from the red to the black. If you’re not the owner of the bar or it isn’t your money that was used to finance the bar, start acting like it was.

Is advertising for a pub hard?

Is running a pub easy?

How can I improve my pub business?

How to increase pub sales:Enhance your mobile presence.Nail your review strategy.Advertise your pub on Bloc.Think about your location.Promotions and happy hours.Get involved with the community.Turn up the music.Know when and why your busy.More items...

What makes a good pub?

Whether it's an ancient rural inn or a newly refurbished city-centre boozer, a pub should feel like a pub: woody, welcoming, warm and muted in its decor. We're thinking crackling open fires along with flagstone or wooden floors and an emphasis on original features.

How do you attract customers to your pub?

Top Bar Marketing IdeasFocus On Your Online Experience. For many prospective customers, their first impression of your bar will be your website. ... Find Your Personal Touch. ... Games, Discounts and Themed Nights. ... Generate Referrals. ... Utilize Social Media. ... Form Partnerships with Local Businesses. ... Consult the Data. ... Upsell Products.More items...•

How can I make my pub stand out?

In-Bar IdeasCreate Loyalty Using a Reward System.Creat Huge Posters For Your Business.Allow Your Bartenders To Show Their Skills And Stand Out.Run Happy Hours.Include Your Bar In A Bar Crawl.Make Use Of Delivery Service.Bring In A Sports Theme.Host Mixers.More items...•

What every pub needs?

Pubs and bars need dispensers and measures, drink and cocktail accessories, mats, liners and drip trays not to mention the other bar essentials which all aid in the smooth-running.

Is there money in running a pub?

The pub is a core part of British cultural life, so it is absolutely a viable business – yes, even in this day and age. Especially with a brewery like Marston's – we have over 180 years' experience of running a profitable company!

Why do most bars fail?

Lack of funds is one of the big reasons bars fail. There are many operators who only have enough cash in their account to handle last week's bills. This is a mistake. You should always have at least 6 months' worth of rent as cash in your account.

How can I make a small bar successful?

How To Run A Successful BarVisit Other Bars To Get Ideas. Make a list of local bars that you've had great and awful experiences in. ... Provide Great Hospitality. ... Train Your Staff To Upsell. ... Keep Your Drink Menu Simple. ... Create A Signature Drink. ... Measure Your Liquor. ... Host Happy Hour And Special Events. ... Keep Track Of Transactions.More items...•

Can you run a pub with no experience?

Can you run a pub with no experience? The simple answer is yes. If you've had experience of working in or running a pub before that's great, but don't worry it's not a requirement. The most important qualities you need are dedication, determination and a passion to make your business succeed.

How do you make the best bar?

From distinctive glassware to a truly showcase-worthy bar menu, here's a look at several ways to transform a good bar into a great bar.Create Instagram-worthy décor. ... Highlight your artisanal cocktails with an attention-getting drinks menu. ... Serve customers in distinctive glassware. ... Create a signature drink or cocktail.More items...

How do you increase sales in a club?

How to increase nightclub sales:Benefit from your existing customers.Amplify the online buzz of your nightclub.Advertise your pub on Bloc.Make your social-media pages pulsating and vibrant.Work out the monthly number of visits to see when you're busy.Place, time and convenience matters.More items...

What are the strategies of selling beer in bars?

With that in mind, here's a brief guide to selling more drinks in a bar.#1: Understand the value of good timing. ... #2: Identify the person who is most likely to order a premium drink. ... #3: Use chalkboards and other signs to advertise premium specials. ... #4: Use a little branding to make even simple cocktails sound special.More items...

What makes a pub a pub?

The Oxford English Dictionary defines a pub as “An establishment for the sale of beer and other drinks, and sometimes also food, to be consumed on the premises”, while a bar is defined as “An establishment where alcohol and sometimes other refreshments are served”.

What do you look for in a good bar?

7 Qualities to Look For In A BarEfficient Service. Good service makes a good bar. ... Delicious Food. Many people underestimate the availability of food in bars. ... Good Beer Collection. ... Reasonable Price. ... A Good Ambiance and Interior. ... Live Music.

What makes a bar attractive?

Service, décor, atmosphere, drinks selection and food, or at least bar snacks, all contribute to make a good bar but within those broad headings it is numerous small things that contribute to make a truly great bar.

What is the difference between a bar and a pub?

Pubs mostly have a large selection of just different kinds of beer, some wines, and cider. Because of its full menu, a pub generally allows minors if accompanied by an adult. Bars specialize in liquor rather than food and tend to offer a wide selection of cocktails, in addition to usual alcoholic beverages.

25 Ways To Improve The Pub Industry - Morning Advertiser

Service standards. One of the pub trade's weakest points but also the easiest to solve. You don't have to talk to customers at length, but a pleasant demeanour is crucial.

11 things pubs can do to attract a new generation of drinkers

An increasing number of Millennials are going alcohol-free, or opting for drinking in the comfort of their own home. A concerning prospect, especially with around 21 pubs and bars closing down every week.. According to the figures, released in Multiply's whitepaper titled The Millennial Hangover, Millennials – particularly younger ones – don’t have as close of a relationship to alcohol ...

Why do pubs work?

The reason they work is because when a customer goes on your site, they may not be ready to attend your pub i.e. they land on your site from your other marketing efforts on a Tuesday morning. Obviously, most people don’t want to go to a pub on a Tuesday morning. They then forget your pub ever existed.

How many pub marketing ideas are there?

That concludes our 60 pub marketing ideas.

Why do pubs have themed nights?

Themed nights can give your pub marketing a purpose as you can target specific crowds who will be interested in specific themes.

What is the best platform to search for pubs?

A huge percentage of people are searching for pubs to attend on their mobile and desktop. Google, of course, is the platform most customers are using to search for pubs. It’s one of the most effective mediums for pub marketing there is. Google Adwords is Google’s answer to geo-targeted ads.

How many pubs are closing each week?

You’ve probably seen in the news by now that around 28 pubs are closing each week. To avoid being part of that disappointing statistic, pub owners and managers need a robust marketing plan ...

What is a super pub?

A super pub is a pub that has distinct areas, such as a food area for families, a back bar that shows sports, for sports fans, and a quieter bar for those looking to enjoy a quiet drink. By having different areas, you can target specific audiences which makes marketing your pub easier and could lead to better results. 2.

Why is location important in pubs?

Location is incredibly important for a pub and for all your pub marketing efforts. If your location isn’t accessible then it doesn’t matter how perfectly you execute other marketing mediums, you will struggle. Foot traffic, first of all, is an easy way to get customers.

What is the best way to manage a bar?

When managing a bar, it's also important to keep on top of current drink trends and offer customers something new, like spiced or fruity vodka infusions. You can also up your cocktail game by adding unique garnishes to your drinks, like fruit kabobs in daiquiris.

How to keep your bar stocked?

1. Keep Your Bar Stocked. Keeping your bar stocked goes far beyond just filling your back bar cooler or refrigerator with beer, liquor, and wine. You will want to track what drinks your customers are drinking and which types of alcohol you're using more often than others.

How to use jiggers in cocktails?

Teach bartenders to use jiggers when crafting cocktails. Using jiggers when crafting cocktails not only prevents overpouring, it also ensures that your customers get a consistent drink each time. Choose the right glassware. Using the right glassware can also help reduce your liquor costs.

Why is upselling important?

Upselling is beneficial for both your business and your staff because bigger checks mean bigger tips. The key to upselling is to frame it as a personal suggestion.

How to prevent overpouring in a bar?

Here are a few examples of how your bar can prevent overpouring and waste: Use measured pourers. Measure d liquor pourers make it easy to approximate portions and help prevent spillage to eliminate the risk of wasted product. Teach bartenders to use jiggers when crafting cocktails. Using jiggers when crafting cocktails not only prevents overpouring, ...

Why do you host a happy hour?

Hosting a happy hour is a great way to draw customers in with low prices. You can then let your delicious cocktails and excellent service convince the customers to stay past happy hour and pay full price for your items. Your happy hour menu should feature discounts on items with a high-profit margin, group specials, snacks, and designated driver discounts to maximize your profits.

What is the advantage of creating your own drinks?

Additionally, if you create your own craft cocktails, you can price them higher than traditional beverages, helping to increase your profit margin.

How to advertise a bar?

There aren’t too many bars around nowadays that don’t have to spend some money on advertising. Put aside money for advertising each month and monitor what works and what doesn’t. If you’re on a shoestring budget, look for cheaper or free ways to advertise – but make sure that you still do advertise. Social media sites like Facebook and Youtube are free and can be effective in driving traffic to your bar if used properly. Look into other sites like Craigslist, Foursquare and Groupon. Otherwise you may want to try to trade off gift certificates for advertising – that way you don’t have to pay cash and you’ll get advertising at 1/3 of the regular price (assuming that your food costs don’t run higher than 30%).

How to be competitive in the bar industry?

It’s not enough to just open the doors these days. People want an experience when they go out for a drink – else they’ll go somewhere else to find it. Always be on the lookout for new ideas and bar promotions. Work with your liquor reps to come up with new promos that you can offer. Run specialty parties and events – try to run a new event at least once a month. And run food and drink specials and other promos regularly.

What do bartenders need to do?

Bartenders need to be doing opening and closing daily inventories of the bottles behind the bar and made responsible for any missing inventory on their shift. If you don’t have a computerized inventory system, get a scale and have your bartenders weigh each bottle before and after each shift. And, if not a scale, even using a point system is better than doing no inventory at all. Have the bartenders eye the bottles and guesstimate how much is in them – from 0.1 (point 1) to 0.95 (point 9 5), where 1.0 is a full bottle.

How to keep staff motivated?

Now that you have extremely knowledgeable, outgoing and personable staff, make sure to keep them motivated so that they continually put forth 110%. Complacency will kill your business, slowly but surely. Keep your staff motivated with staff contests, employee of the month programs and fun staff outings. This gives them a feeling of satisfaction and achievement as well as building a family-like relationship which makes it less likely that they will leave when the next big bar job opens up somewhere else.

Why should menu items be portioned?

In the kitchen, menu items should be portioned so that every dish is the same and cooks aren’t left to their discretion to determine how much of an ingredient is to be added. Pre-portion everything from the cheese to the french fries. In the front of the house, you need to control the pour.

How to train staff for a restaurant?

All staff should get continual, ongoing training. Training in job skills as well as areas such as customer service and product knowledge. If you, as the owner or manager, don’t have these skill sets yourself, then look to your suppliers and reps for a cheap solution. Bring in your wine rep to train your staff on the differences between the wines you serve and which wines pair best with which dishes. Bring in your beer rep to show your staff how to pour draught properly and teach them the difference between a lager and an ale. As well as training your staff so that they can better represent your establishment, this will also reduce staff turnover as the staff are continually learning and growing.

What to do if you are not the owner of a bar?

If you’re not the owner of the bar or it isn’t your money that was used to finance the bar, start acting like it was. Pay attention to all the areas where you’re losing unnecessary money.

How to make a list of your favorite bars?

Make a list of your favorite bars and decide why you like them. Look for commonalities and take note of anything that stands out. Then visit them. Chat with the owner or take a seat at the bar to watch the service. Make sure to take notes.

How to generate buzz in the community?

An easy way to generate buzz in the community and intrigue new visitors is to create a signature drink exclusive to your bar. Once you’ve settled on your signature drink, make sure you promote it in your bar and via social.

What are the issues with running a bar?

A big issue for a lot of owners is lack of funding when they are learning how to run a bar. Startup costs aside, running a successful bar takes a lot of money, and you want to be prepared. Business funding can cover a variety of other aspects of your bar like inventory, marketing, and building renovations.

Can you keep a bar open on Saturday night?

While crowds tend to be the heaviest on the weekends, you can’t keep your bar in business if you rely solely on Saturday night. To encourage customers to come in during the week, most bar owners have a schedule of regular promotions and events like happy hour, game night, and karaoke.

Is advertising for a pub hard?

Advertising for a pub is a hard one. A dedicated website is often expensive and of little benefit, but you should encourage customers to rate you on sites such as:

Is running a pub easy?

Kris Goddard (author) from Reading, England on June 02, 2015: Running a Pub (or similar hospitality business) is not easy and certainly not for those looking for fun. Running a pub can be rewarding and enjoyable at times but for the most part it's long hours, potentially very boring and repetitive.