If you have a question, you may find the answer from

the list below:

Applying for a pub

1.   How much capital do I need? 

2.   What experience do I need?

3.   Do I need any formal qualifications to apply for a pub?

4.   I am thinking of going into the pub business; what are the options available to me?
5.   What can I do if I don't have trade experience?

6.   Do you only take couples?
7.   What do I do next?

Starting a business

8.    What training do you provide?

9.    You say you can help with loans; what interest rate do you charge?

10.  How can I get more information, such as the rent for a particular pub?

11.  If I am accepted how long will it take to get a pub?

12.  What is a business plan and do I have to produce one?

About the lease & the legals

13.   Can I take a lease but put in a manager to run the pub?

14.   What if I take a lease but decide that I want to leave before the end of that lease?

15.   Can I set my pub up as a limited company?

16.   Is there an age limit to taking a lease?
17.   What style of agreements do you offer?
18.   What is a “tied lease”?

Running a pub business
19.   What is the average percentage net profit to turnover for a pub within the S&NPC estate?

20.   What support does SNPC provide?
21.   How many pubs does an Area Manager look after?  

 

22.   I live outside the UK and I am interested in arranging supply of your beers.

23.   I am already running a pub or looking to acquire one and I am interested in stocking your beers.

General Questions

24.   I am interested in employment as a pub manager.  How do I apply to S&NPC?

25.   How do I stop text/email updates if I have made an online application?

26.   How do I stop text/email updates if I have not made an online application?

27.   I can’t find my question on this list.  What do I do?

 

 

 

 

 

You would require the minimum investment figure quoted for any particular pub. The total start up costs are likely to be more than this figure but we may be able to assist with a business loan on the difference between the two figures subject to status and an appropriate business plan. We will also be happy to discuss a build-up plan, to help you reach the required deposit.  The minimum cash investment would need to be readily available and from an unborrowed source.

 

The total start-up figure is the total amount you will need to lease that particular business.  This includes stock, fixtures & fittings, EPOS tills, legal & valuation fees, one month’s rent in advance, fidelity deposit and an initial training fee. 

2. What experience do I need?

We are looking for people with motivation, ambition and enthusiasm who have either business experience in a customer facing environment or with the pub retail/restaurant trade. You do not necessarily require pub management experience, although some of our pubs  would require a successful track record in running a pub business.

 

4. I am thinking of going into the pub business; what are the options available to me?
All SNPC pubs are offered on a leased (ie. tenanted) basis.  Essentially, you invest capital and take responsibility for a pub, which you run as your own small business. You would be responsible for most aspects of managing the business including employing staff. As a rough guide you would need to have a minimum of £10,000 in cash to invest in your business, but you should always look at the details of each individual pub and prepare a Business Plan.

S&N Pub Company also offers a franchise that provides you with a significant amount of support.  If you would like further information you can either apply online via the Pub Company website, call our freephone recruitment line on 0500 94 95 96 or email hilary.lilly@s-n.com with your name and address and a full information pack will be sent out. If you were offered a Pub Company pub franchise a comprehensive training course would be provided as part of the package.  For more details, click here...

S&NPC do not operate managed houses and do not, therefore, employ pub managers or staff directly.

We would suggest that it would be beneficial for you to try and secure some part time work within a local pub to gain some hands-on experience. This will help you not only understand how a pub business works, but also the type of pub which might suit you.

 

No. We have all sorts of people running our pubs from single women and men to life partners/business partners/siblings/families etc. The common factor is business awareness and an enthusiasm for the pub trade.

7. What do I do next?
The most important thing, in applying for any pub, is that you should have a least an outline business plan (see Q12)  and have visited the pub at several different times of the day and evening, to make sure it is the right business opportunity for you.  You should also give serious consideration as to how you intend to finance your business start-up 

On practical note, in England & Wales you will need to be, or be able to provide, a Personal Licence holder to be the Designated Premises Supervisor (Premises Manager in Scotland), so you should investigate NCPLH or SCPLH courses (see Q3).

8. What training do you provide?
We offer an initial four-day training programme called Innside Knowledge: Pub Business Skills and we would strongly recommend that this be completed prior to going into the pub. Once you are into your business, we have a range of courses covering retail standards, cellar management and cask ale handling, as well as bespoke support on food development, staff training and pub refurbishment.  Find out more about our training courses...
 

For the majority of our pubs, subject to business plan and personal status, we may be able to offer a business loan to assist with start-up costs.  For further details, please speak to your Business Development Manager.

 

10. How can I get more information, such as the rent for a particular pub?
Both rent and discount will vary according to the particular pub or lease type.

The next step is to complete the online application form. If your initial application is successful you will be invited to an interview with a member of our operations team who will be able to discuss particular opportunities in more detail.

It very much depends on the pub involved. While sometimes we can arrange matters very quickly, some pubs may have refurbishment plans or indeed the existing lessees may be working notice. The time plan to entry for each pub is discussed at the recruitment interview.

 

We would always recommend that you produce a business plan for any business opportunity and also that you take independent financial advice, prior to signing a lease or any other agreement.  For a pdf of our business plan, click here... or click here for an Excel version. 

13. Can I take a lease, but put in a manager to run the pub?

This happens only infrequently and you would need to make a special case for it. You would have to satisfy yourself and us that the pub concerned would support both yourself and the payment of a salary for a suitable manager.

 

SNPC offer a cooling off period with every new lease, which allows you to change your mind within the first three months.  We do ask that you give us three months notice, but, after that, you are free to leave.  Once the cooling off period has lapsed, there is no right to give notice other than at the end of the lease.  All of our short-term leases are for a rolling five year period and, with longer term leases, there is a right to assign after two years.  Norwithstanding the legal position, we would discuss an early exit in exceptional circumstances.

 

Pubs can be run by sole traders, partnerships or limited companies. However before forming a limited company you should take specialist advice from a tax accountant to ensure that the costs do not outweigh the benefits involved. In addition you should discuss this decision with your Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company Business Development Manager to ensure that any paperwork (e.g. offer letters, leases etc.) are produced in the correct name and that suitable guarantors can be provided.

 

You will have to be at least 18 years old in order to obtain a Personal Licence.  Otherwise, S&N Pub Company is an equal opportunity company and, as such, has no limit on the upper age of prospective lessees.

 

17.  What style of agreements do you offer?
All S&NPC pubs are offered on leases (often known as tenancies), which are split into two, main categories:  Short Term Development and Long Term Investment (see Lease Types).  Both categories offer a range of discount options and our Franchise support package is available in conjunction with all lease types.

18.  What is a “tied lease”?
All new S&NPC leases are fully tied for draught and packaged beers, lagers, stouts and ciders, as well as alcopops, premium packaged spirits and all soft drinks.  That is, as part of our lease agreement, the lessee undertakes to purchase all of these products exclusively from Scottish & Newcastle, whilst we, in return, offer a range of discounts which will be confirmed within the agreement.

 

 Every pub is different and much depends on the style of operation, level of control, type of offer, etc.  Details of turnover profitability will be discussed at interview for each individual pub.

 

We always like to work in partnership with our lessees, to ensure that we tailor the level of support to their individual requirements.  Support may take the form of very specific brand promotions, point of sale material, menus, etc. or it may be a more general discussion on the best ways of developing the business.  Whatever the needs of our individual lessees, we will try to match them with a range of mechanics from our expertise in marketing, buildings and refurbishment, licensed retailing and business consultancy.  Our Pub Franchise package offers more specific business support.  Visit the Pub Franchise page to find out more. 

21.  How many pubs does and Area Manager look after?

Our Business Development Managers cover a wide range of territories the length and breadth of the UK, so the number of pubs will often depend on geography.  They are locally based and easily accessible when needed.   We also have a full, back-office support team, dedicated marketing and training support and a helpdesk hotline for buildings repairs and maintenance issues.

 

22. I live outside the UK and I am interested in arranging supply of your beers.
For more information on the best contact for your needs please click here. 

Heineken UK is the leading supplier of beer brands in the UK. For more information please click here.

24. I am interested in employment as a pub manager.  How do I apply to S&NPC?

Scottish & Newcastle no longer operate any Managed Houses, so we do not employ pub staff in any capacity.

 

If you have made a full application on line, you should log on to the “Your Application” section on our website.  Simply enter the email address at which you are receiving updates. This will then bring up your selected choices and a section marked Email Updates. If you click change here then the email updates will no longer be sent. If you also wish to be removed from the database please email hilary.lilly@s-n.com.

 

You will need to select an area of interest and input the email address receiving updates in the "Notify me of future vacancies" section. This will then show your selected criteria and you will have the option to click on "Remove Notification" which will ensure text/email updates will no longer be sent.

 

27.   I can’t find my question on this list.  What do I do?
Simply click on “Contact Us” at the foot of any page on our website and you can email us directly with your question.  We will respond as quickly as possible, but, if we have to check any specific details in order to ensure we give you the correct answer, this may take a day or two.  Please bear with us – we will get back to you!