Pub trade - Any prospects?

[43034]

Hello all,

I'm 18 and currently work in a local pub. I've been there for a few months and have been offered to go full time, as a supervisor. My boss has said he is willing to put me through to get my own license, which I am happy with.

Now, all is well and good until I told my folks. And whilst they aren't stopping me from getting the job, they are worried that it won't lead to anything. So what I am after is some info from people who have been in this field, past or present. Where can a job like this lead too?

It's a village pub, so there is no pension plan (a big thing my dad is worried about, rightly so). After a few years experience is it worth going to a Wetherspoons pub as a manager or something? That was just a random example I had in my head. What types of jobs is there to go to?

Evidently I'm not looking to jump ship straight away, if I were to take the job, but I need something to give my folks some peace of mind.

I hope people realise what I am trying to say here,

Thanks in Advance,

43034.

[rog007]

I wouldn't narrow it down to you just becoming a publican. If you enjoy your current role then do it and soak up the valuable experiences you will get whilst gaining hard won competencies such as customer care, financial planning, general management, purchasing, planning, food retail etc, etc, etc. These are eminently transferable in to other sectors should you decide to leave the pub trade at any time in the future. Good luck!

[Bibbs]

I have three friends who had/have licences and have run pubs and clubs (all over the UK).

Currently one repairs industrial vacuume cleaners, another moves posh furniture and the last is a project manager.

[Jimmy No Hands]

I grew up in a pub. Spent four years as a bar manager in a four star hotel and subsequently ran a high street pub for 7 months until we had major financial difficulties thus resulting in my redundancy. Personally, like others have said, take as much as you can from it, customer service, communication, organisation, etc, and as much as the financial side as possible. I progressed relatively quickly in the hospitality trade, into a supervisor position like yourself and within 18 months I was in line for a managerial position. It is a very poorly paid industry, or was in my experience. But I enjoyed it thoroughly.

As for pubs, well a disturbing amount are shutting every week and it seems to be getting tougher. Rising prices at the brewery mean drink prices are going up and less people are venturing out. Even pubs backed by a brewery these days are not doing as well. A lot of the still busy pubs are the pubs who can do food, and do it well. Even the ones who didn't are starting to do meals and go in that direction, ala Sizzling/Wetherspoons.

Theres potential out there, but it might mean moving around a bit and figuring out where you want to end up. Once you know this, you can progress very quickly.

Edit: A lot of companies like Sizzling, Mitchel & Butlers etc do offer fairly decent salaries, and some times live in accomodation. They also offer extra training courses etc but the applications are quite tough. I've failed for a M&B position twice now, even given my experience. But get in, and it's worth it! Hope this helps.

Edited by Jimmy No Hands on Tuesday 31st January 13:06

[Landlord]

What is "full time" - just be aware that with pubs customer's leisure time is your working time. Your social time may well be out of sync with your mates. I only mention that because of your age.

Is the pub freehold or PubCo/brewery owned?

To be honest, the experience you'll get will definitely be valuable - especially if you can show that, at an early age, you were given and succeeded with a lot of responsibility. We have a chap at our place who's 23 and he's brilliant. A real gem. Not least becuase of his customer care skills but also because he's always trying to do better - for us. Whilst I'd hate to lose him I aniticpate that he'll get a few more years experience and then go on to run something busier in the City... and he'll excel at it.

So - I don't think it's a dead-end opportunity by any means. Plus, a pension being your major concern at 18 is a bit premature. Sure, start a pension as soon as possible (it'll end up cheaper) but I still think you'll find the experience valuable.

One thing though is not to let yourself get in a rut... you'd probably hate to be approaching 30 and still at the same pub, doing the same stuff for not much money. Treat it as an opportunity to get skills with a view to moving on with them and I can't see a problem.

Also, what's the general job market like for someone of your profile? This sounds like a sure-thing rather than a hope there's something better.