Opening a bar

Waccamacca3 wrote: »

Well in August bats reopen and alot of bars up for rent. Obviously a bar with a big space and kitchen. What are people's opinions no need for horrible answers

This is second time this week I've seen a bat-related typo on an internet forum.
This is Wuhan bat issue is (understandably) must be playing a lot on peoples' subconscious.

Great. Surely your family would be the people to ask? They know the business and they know you.

Waccamacca3 wrote: »

Well in August bars reopen and alot of bars up for rent. Obviously a bar with a big space and kitchen. What are people's opinions no need for horrible answers

I would wait till winter maybe? U would be liable for rent if something went wrong with social distancing etc.
But if u have the spare dosh maybe ease into it and focus on takeaway food or family food deals etc. And get good coffee and non alcoholic beers in stock and veggie food options advised by a veggie. So many gastro pub menus are same same these days.

Waccamacca3 wrote: »

Unfortunately both have died

I’m sorry to hear that. Do you have Aunts/Uncles in the trade, don’t pubs run in families?

There will always be room for a good pub, if the location is right. Good time for the return of the snug?

denartha wrote: »

If you make any long term plans right now, you are beyond help. I was watching that program Burnt by the Sun last night. The deals people signed up for and got burnt by.

Read my lips, no-one knows what will happen 6 months from now.

OP, you've come to the right place if you're looking for people to p1ss on your dreams.

Denartha, you've come to the wrong place if you want people to read your lips :pac:

It's a massive risk obviously, but when is opening a pub/bar not a massive risk??

At least now rents will be down, space and options won't be at such a premium, set-up costs will be much lower than usual...etc.

And you have the advantage of going into the venture with open eyes in terms of what the future might look like for the pub going experience (distancing, snugs, take-out options...etc).

We should also keep in mind; Pubs aren't closing, their current owners are going out of business (mostly). The pubs/bars themselves will reopen, just under new ownership.

Best of luck op. I currently work in the trade and have been toying with the idea myself

silver2020 wrote: »

Forget it for the moment.

Cheap rent will make no difference unless you have a business. Rent is only one cost.

You may find people less willing to go to the pub. Evidence from retail trade in Germany & Austria has shown that after and initial rush, retail sales are down by huge numbers - 50%+ in many cases especially where close contact is required such as clothing boutiques.

If anything similar happened on pubs/restaurants, there would be devastation.

Literally is best to wait and see how this all pans out.

Oh it will be after Christmas at the earliest now before I even look. Was in the process of looking at areas and bars available before all this hit. Was even due to look at one that now if I had gone and looked and did something would have crippled me with the shut down etc

davindub wrote: »

There are obviously profitable bars out there and assuming that Ireland recovers economically, there will be again.

Like any business, you need to research the opportunity and the past performance to see if it would be worthwhile.

But just to be cautious if renting, some will be available because the business hasn't performed well or the owner knows the performance will dip in the near future.

Short term rental agreements give you flexibility but equally may result in the owner ending the agreement and benefiting from your efforts.

I would try to speak to a couple of accountants in the local area to help with a business plan, they may do accounts for the local pubs and have insights into the local trade.

Oh I will be doing lots of re search I currently work in a bar near enough to areas il be looking so know the areas quiet well

Waccamacca3 wrote: »

Well in August bars reopen and alot of bars up for rent. Obviously a bar with a big space and kitchen. What are people's opinions no need for horrible answers

I think there are huge opportunities, but not in the "traditional" space.

Where in the country are you?

Trends that have been around and accentuated if anything by the pandemic:

- valuing local businesses with strong community links
- move to hybrid cafe/bar (still very new in this country, but a strong trend in the UK)
- continued success of quality food offerings (the busy places are the ones serving good food, in a very competitive market)
- ongoing popularity of craft beers and specialist gins and the like

Add to that, the reduced costs and greater ease of getting staff that is very likely if a true recession arrives and it could be the very best time to open.

There's a place I know that was very much a traditional pub, that was pretty much moribund: declining business and showing it. It was taken over towards the end of last year and completely changed (though not with a huge spend on the physical space). A café area doing brunch in the daytime, a bar with radically different offerings, targeted at a much younger crowd and a small kitchen offering pizzas. The place packed out, with the cafe re-opening recently (take-away only) and still very busy.

Anyway, my opinion:

- huge opportunities if following the right trends
- pretty much doomed if just trying to carry on what worked 20, 30 or 40 years ago