Neighbourhood beer hall

Local groups of friends, after-work crowds, families at weekends, sports fans, and organisers of birthdays and team events.

Sales of beer and other drinks, plus food. Extra income can come from private bookings, quiz or music nights, and hosting street-food vendors.

• Customer service and hosting
• Managing stock, cash and rotas
• Leading a small team
• Local marketing and community building

• A premises licence and a designated premises supervisor with a personal licence are normally needed to sell alcohol in England and Wales, so check your council; Scotland and Northern Ireland have different systems
• Planning permission or change of use for the unit, check with the local planning team before signing a lease
• Register your food business with the council in good time before you start serving food, and plan for food hygiene training
• Public liability, employer's liability and contents insurance, plus a fire risk assessment
• Music licences if you play recorded or live music, and business rates on the premises
• High fixed costs and thin cash margins in the early months, so build in a cash buffer

Startup costs are estimated at typically around £60,000 to £250,000, depending on the unit, lease and fit-out. High fixed costs and thin cash margins in the early months mean it is worth building in a cash buffer.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £20,000 to £80,000, depending on size, location and how busy you are. That is revenue before rent, business rates, stock, wages and other costs.

Check premises licence and personal licence requirements for selling alcohol with your council, as Scotland and Northern Ireland differ. Also check planning or change of use, food business registration, insurance, a fire risk assessment, music licences and business rates.