Small neighbourhood gastropub-style venue
Open a compact, food-led pub-style venue with craft beer and good wine in a suburb or town centre.
- A$100k-400k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A smaller venue of around 40 to 60 seats in a leased shopfront or corner site, with a pub-style menu, a short tap list and local wines. Smaller than a traditional pub, so lower rent and fit-out.
Your first three steps
- Research your suburb: look at what venues already exist, their prices, and gaps for a food-led pub
- Talk to your state liquor licensing body and local council about which licence type and planning approval a small venue would need
- Cost a trial menu and fit-out with a kitchen designer or accountant, then shortlist possible sites
Who pays
Local residents, office workers and groups after a relaxed meal and drinks.
How it makes money
Food and drink sales, with extra from lunch trade, weekday specials, group bookings and small events.
Skills that help
- Cooking or kitchen management
- Running a bar and serving customers
- Costing menus and controlling waste
- Local marketing and social media
Watch out for
- Check which liquor licence suits a small venue in your state, and how long approval takes
- Council planning approval and food business registration, plus kitchen fit-out standards
- Responsible Service of Alcohol certificates for staff and a food safety supervisor
- Public liability and workers compensation insurance once you hire
- High upfront fit-out costs and a long lease commitment, so get legal advice before signing
- Late nights, weekend work and dependence on a few key staff such as the chef
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: small neighbourhood gastropub-style venue
Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to open a small gastropub-style venue?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $100,000 to $400,000, depending on the site, kitchen and bar fit-out, licensing and opening stock. Treat this as a rough estimate and get legal advice on the lease before signing.
What licences and approvals should I check for a small pub-style venue?
Check which liquor licence suits a small venue in your state and how long approval takes. Also check council planning approval, food business registration, kitchen fit-out standards, Responsible Service of Alcohol certificates for staff and a food safety supervisor.
How much can a small gastropub-style venue earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $40,000 to $120,000, depending on seats, location, opening hours and menu pricing. The estimate assumes from about 45 hours a week, and revenue is not the same as profit.
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