The kind of person who runs their own pub has a few key characteristics in common. One of them is creativity. A great pub tenant is positively buzzing with ideas—short, medium and long-term alike. That’s why so many publicans come from careers that are creative at their core. But how does the ability to think creatively impact on the success of a pub? Let’s take a look. Contents Creative menu planning Creative events planning Creative staffing Creative customer service Creative menu planning Whether you’re running a wet-led (mainly drinks) or dry-led (mainly food) pub, it’s important to develo ..read more

There are many different qualities great publicans share. Organisational skill is, without doubt, one of the most important ones. A successful pub is a well-oiled machine and, as the person running it, it’s down to the publican to keep everything running smoothly. Here are some of the different areas of pub management for which organisational skills are essential. Contents Maintaining stock Maintaining your events calendar Organising the team rota Getting people paid Keeping your books up to date Maintaining stock Pubs are there to deliver great drinks and food to their guests—above all else ..read more

Today’s pub companies offer all kinds of support to people looking to take on their own establishments—just look at the Marston’s Pillar Partnership, for example. It offers publicans, among other things, rent-free accommodation, paid lighting, heating and water bills, and expert induction training. So why, when there’s all this support on offer, do such pub companies still consider self-sufficiency to be one of the most essential skills needed to run a pub? Let’s take a look. Contents You won’t have a boss You’ll want to make a good living You become more resourceful You won’t have a boss It’s ..read more

There are many different qualities shared by successful publicans. For instance, they’re creative, well-organised and hard-working. When all is said and done, though, these people are business-minded entrepreneurs. So, if they’re passionate enough about making money, does it matter whether or not they’re passionate about pubs? Let’s take a look. Contents Running a pub is a way of life Passion for products is essential You have to love people Running a pub is a way of life It doesn’t matter how passionate you are about developing as a businessperson . If you don’t have a love for the job you’re ..read more

Hats off to everyone who works in the hospitality industry. Whatever their role, keeping guests happy, well-nourished and coming back for more is no mean feat. We’d go as far as to suggest that the people who run their own pubs might just be the hardest workers in the hospitality industry. Why? Because we see the lengths they’ll go to in order to make a success of their pubs. Let’s explore some of them. Contents Getting up early and staying up late Working six or seven days a week Going above and beyond as standard Getting up early and staying up late Great publicans aren’t early birds and the ..read more

Opening your own pub, with your own vision on how to market it, is an exciting dream. You’ll be at the heart of the community, offering a valued service and products to your guests. And it’s the kind of dream more and more people are making come true—according to Statista, there are now 1.1 million more self-employed people in Britain than there were at the beginning of the millennium. Let’s explore how to make running your own pub a reality. Contents Changing career to become a publican Making sure you’re cut out to run a pub Knowing what running a pub is really like Understanding how your li ..read more

Partnering with a pub company, such as a Marston’s, to become a self-employed publican could change your whole life. Before you make the leap, it’s worth considering all the various ways in which your life will be different running a pub. Let’s take a look at a few of them. Contents Leaving your old job behind Moving into a new home Relying on yourself Being other people’s boss Leaving your old job behind Whether you’re working in the hospitality industry currently or are thinking about running a pub as a complete career change, it’s going to mean leaving your old job. That’s likely quite an e ..read more

If you’re dreaming of running your own pub, you’ve probably already got an idea of the perfect pub for you. It might be one that you spent your formative years in as a young adult—either as a guest or behind the bar. Or maybe it’s based more on an idea of what you can bring to running a pub—the type of atmosphere and guest experience someone like you can create. Either way, you’ll need to know what it really involves, so here are some of the essential factors to consider. Contents Will it be wet or dry led? What style of pub will it be? Have you considered the local crowd? Which part of Britai ..read more

To run a successful pub as a self-employed trader, you’ll need lots of relevant knowledge, experience and training. But you don’t necessarily have to have gained that experience in a pub. People from all walks of life become publicans and make a good living doing so. The thing is, pub companies like Marston’s offer comprehensive training and support to ensure that anyone who starts their own pub business has the skills needed to make it a success. Even if they’re from a completely different professional background. What qualifications do you need to be a pub landlord or landlady? How do you ru ..read more

Developing a career within a specialist field offers a rewarding, satisfying life for highly driven people who thrive on achievement. Nevertheless, there comes a point during the careers of many, where they stop, look back and take stock of their achievements, goals, needs and desires in life and think to themselves, ‘I need to stop what I’m doing and run my own pub.’ Are such people driven by the autonomy that comes with self-employment—the freedom to escape from an employer’s restrictive rules and regulations? Or is it the social aspect of being a key figure at the heart of the community—a m ..read more