Working in the pub business

Be your own boss?
Whether you're new to pubs or just know you could do it better?

Taking on a lease?
Tenancy, Buying Club Lease or Franchise? Which is best for you?

How can we help?
What support will you get from Punch?

Latest business opportunities

Is it for you?

Running a pub with Punch Taverns offers a unique opportunity for you to set up your own business with all the expertise and support of a leading pub company on your side. Still, running a pub is not for everyone, and you need to be sure you are making the right choice.

Running your own pub is a unique lifestyle. You often live where you work, you are your own boss, you make a difference to the community and have flexibility to be creative and innovative and reap rewards from your hard work. With the right pub, the right pub company and the right lease agreement, you can build yourself a very rewarding business.

Before you make any big decisions, you need to be clear what your options are and realistic about the level of commitment you want to make. We always recommend you get independent legal advice before signing any agreement.

What kind of partnership is right for you?

It’s very important to choose the right kind of partnership agreement for you. You need to consider the following questions carefully:

How much experience do you have in pubs, leisure, hospitality or other business?

Whatever experience you have already, Punch can help you get the right qualifications, including your personal licence to run a pub. We offer a wide range of training & development opportunities which are open to all our partners.

If you know how the pub trade works, but want more support and flexibility, then our unique Punch Punch Buying Club Lease could be the right choice, whereas if you have little or no previous experience, then a Punch Punch Franchise Tenancy might be better, as it offers a proven business model and the maximum levels of support. If you are looking for a short-term commitment, then perhaps a simple Punch Tenancy would work for you.

What level of financial investment and risk can you afford?

Our partnership agreements offer different ways to balance the costs and risks of starting your own pub business, so it is important to choose the one that fits your pocket and supports your business plan.

The Punch Buying Club Lease allows you to balance your rental costs against what you pay for your products. This is attractive to our entrepreneurial partners, as it offers a longer term and more flexible agreement, with greater rewards in return for taking on more of the trading risk. You can balance your rental costs against what you pay for your tied products, and there is broader scope for you to explore free of tie options, machines and other revenue streams. You may also sell on or transfer your business before the end of your 10-year lease.

If you are looking for a shorter term commitment, then a 5-year Punch Tenancy can be a good way to secure great premises in which to try out your pub business model, and find out if the pub lifestyle really is right for you. You effectively share the trading risk with Punch, as you pay a lower fixed rent but higher tied prices for the products you buy.

The latest Punch Franchise Tenancy agreement offers a proven business model for you to follow. The costs are a bit higher, as you will be paying for maximum levels of support. We think this is a great option for people without pub experience, but it is equally suited to those that have worked in the trade for a while.

What kind of pub is right for you?

Not all pubs are the same! It is important that you choose a pub that suits you and your business plan. Punch Taverns has a large and diverse portfolio of pub properties all over the UK, ranging from great value high street pubs, to premium country inns that are destinations in their own right.

For a summary of the types of pubs we have, click here.

To see all our available pubs, search here.

What makes a good pub is a good match between the location, the pub itself, and the personalities behind the business, and behind the bar. We recommend that you visit ‘under cover’ any pub you are considering - without letting the team know you are checking it out - and form your own opinion of the pub and its potential.

Do you want to run a good value pub at the heart of a community of regular customers? Or a music venue with a reputation for a good night out, attracting people from far and wide? Do you need accommodation for a growing family, along with a family-friendly pub? Or are you purely looking for a business investment, with a manager’s flat above the bar? Take time to explore your options, browse the Punch portfolio and search for the right pub.