Golf simulator bays inside a pub, bar or club
Install one or two simulator bays in a space owned by someone else and share the takings, with far lower costs than a full venue.
- £12k-50k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
9,502 UK companies in this field, 31% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 93110 “Operation of sports facilities”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
Instead of leasing your own unit, you agree a deal with a pub, bar, hotel, golf club or leisure venue that has spare space. You supply and run the simulator bays and bookings while they provide the room and often the drinks and food.
Your first three steps
- Make a shortlist of local pubs, bars, hotels and golf clubs with unused space and approach the owners with a simple proposal
- Get quotes for one or two simulator bays that fit the space, including netting, screen, projector and installation
- Agree the commercial terms in writing, including revenue share, opening hours, who handles bookings and what happens if it does not work out
Who pays
Customers booking bays by the hour, plus the host venue if you agree a fee or revenue share for running the bays. Corporate groups and social groups often book for events.
How it makes money
Hourly bay bookings, with an agreed split or rent paid to the host. You can add coaching, leagues and group nights to fill quieter slots.
Skills that help
- Negotiating a fair deal with a business owner
- Customer service and booking management
- Promoting events and leagues
- Basic technical troubleshooting
Watch out for
- Get a written agreement covering rent or revenue share, length of the deal, and who owns the equipment
- Public liability insurance for your activity and equipment, and check the host venue's own insurance and lease allow it
- Planning, fire safety and landlord permission may apply, check with the host and their council
- Alcohol is the host's responsibility under their premises licence, so check how that works with your bays
- Your income depends on the host venue staying open and footfall being good
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: golf simulator bays inside a pub, bar or club
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: 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 start a golf simulator business in a host venue?
Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £12,000 to £50,000, depending on the number of bays and the equipment you choose. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £1,500 to £7,000, depending on the host venue's footfall and how well bookings and events do.
What should I check before placing simulator bays in a pub or club?
Get a written agreement covering rent or revenue share, deal length and equipment ownership. Check public liability insurance, the host's insurance and lease, and planning, fire safety and landlord permission. Alcohol falls under the host's premises licence, so check how that works.
What skills and time does running simulator bays need?
Typically you need to negotiate a fair deal with the host, manage bookings and customers, promote events and leagues, and do basic technical troubleshooting. Estimates suggest at least around 10 hours a week, and your income depends on the host venue staying busy.
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