Guides
Operations.
Day-to-day management, systems, compliance and licensing.
23 articles, newest first.
- OperationsWet-Led vs Food-Led Pubs: Understanding Your Revenue ModelWhat wet-led and food-led actually mean, the economics of each model, and how to work out which approach is right for your pub.22 December 2025 · 16 min read
- OperationsFood Allergies and GDPR: The Compliance Nightmares That Could Close You DownNavigate the compliance minefield without hiring expensive consultants. Simple systems that keep you legal and let you focus on running your pub.12 December 2025 · 10 min read
- OperationsHow Much Profit Does a Pub Make? Realistic Numbers for 2026Honest pub profit benchmarks for 2026. Wet GP, food GP, labour costs, rent, and what is actually left. From a working licensee who grew food revenue by 98% in three months.8 December 2025 · 16 min read
- OperationsPub Toilet Refurbishment: Make a Great Impression on a BudgetBudget-friendly pub toilet refurbishment ideas that make a real impression. What to prioritise, realistic costs, and a maintenance schedule from a working licensee.17 November 2025 · 13 min read
- OperationsPub VAT and Accounting: The Landlord's Plain-English GuideA plain-English primer on pub VAT, bookkeeping, and tax mistakes. Know what to ask your accountant before they have to ask you.10 November 2025 · 13 min read
- OperationsPub Accessibility: Making Your Venue Welcoming for EveryoneHow to make your pub accessible, dog friendly, and family friendly. Legal requirements, practical improvements, and the business case for welcoming everyone.3 November 2025 · 16 min read
- OperationsCellar Management: How to Keep Your Beer Perfect and Your Waste LowA practical cellar management guide for pub landlords. Temperature control, line cleaning, stock rotation, and wastage tracking to protect your GP.20 October 2025 · 17 min read
- OperationsHarnessing Delivery and Click & Collect Without Killing ServiceLayer takeaway revenue on top of pub trade without wrecking the guest experience on-site.17 October 2025 · 10 min read
- OperationsPub Wages and Labour Costs: What to Pay and How to Control CostsA working licensee's guide to pub wages, realistic pay rates by role, labour cost benchmarks, and practical strategies to control staffing costs without losing good people.13 October 2025 · 14 min read
- OperationsPub Health and Safety: The Licensee's Practical ChecklistA practical health and safety checklist for pub licensees. Fire safety, risk assessments, COSHH, cellar safety, and inspection prep. No legal jargon.6 October 2025 · 16 min read
- OperationsZero-Waste Stock Management for Pubs in Survival ModeUse disciplined stock processes to protect every pound of GP when cash is tight and bins are overflowing.25 September 2025 · 10 min read
- OperationsThe Complete Guide to Pub EPOS Systems in 2026What to look for in a pub EPOS system, which features actually matter, and how to use your till data to grow revenue. Written by a working licensee.25 August 2025 · 12 min read
- OperationsPRS and PPL Music Licensing for Pubs: What You Actually PayTheMusicLicence explained for pub landlords. What it costs, how fees are calculated by venue size, what is covered, and the penalties for playing music without one.18 August 2025 · 9 min read
- OperationsHow to Get (and Keep) a 5-Star Food Hygiene RatingA practical guide to scoring 5 on your food hygiene rating. What inspectors assess, how to prepare, common failures, and the routines that keep your stars.11 August 2025 · 18 min read
- OperationsPub Insurance: What Cover You Need and What It CostsA practical guide to the insurance every pub needs. Public liability, employers liability, buildings, contents, business interruption, and realistic cost ranges.4 August 2025 · 14 min read
- OperationsPub Licensing Explained: Premises Licences, Personal Licences & TENsPlain-English guide to every licence a pub landlord needs. Premises licences, personal licences, TENs, and how to avoid costly mistakes.28 July 2025 · 19 min read
- OperationsPub Business Plan: Free Template & Step-by-Step GuideA step-by-step guide to writing a pub business plan that banks, breweries, and landlords actually approve. Free template included.9 June 2025 · 14 min read
- OperationsBuying a Pub: The Complete UK Guide for First-Time BuyersEverything you need to know about buying a pub in the UK. From finding the right site to surviving your first 90 days, written by a working licensee.2 June 2025 · 16 min read
- OperationsFrom Quiet to Buzzing: Rebooting Your Pub's Atmosphere on a BudgetAtmosphere is a controllable asset. Use music, lighting, scent, pacing, and host energy to make the room feel alive without ripping out the bar.8 May 2025 · 10 min read
- OperationsHow to Run a Pub: The Licensee's Essential GuideThe definitive guide to running a pub in the UK. Covers licensing, daily operations, finances, marketing, staffing, compliance, and growing revenue (from a working licensee).10 April 2025 · 24 min read
- OperationsThe Complete Guide to Pub Leases, Tenancies and Brewery TiesEverything you need to know about pub leases, tenancies and brewery ties. Types of agreement, negotiation tactics, your legal rights, and a week-by-week action plan.24 March 2025 · 19 min read
- OperationsNobody Books Tables Anymore? Master the Art of Walk-ins vs ReservationsFind the perfect balance between guaranteed bookings and spontaneous trade. Learn the system that increased our covers without turning anyone away.24 March 2025 · 7 min read
- OperationsLow-Cost Decor Refreshes that Signal 'New and Improved'Give guests visible proof of change with affordable decor moves that scream fresh energy without touching structural work.30 January 2025 · 8 min read
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