Choosing The Right Pub Location

What Makes A Great Pub Location?

So you’re thinking about running your own pub? Before you start planning your perfect quiz night, or designing your signature menu, there’s one big decision that will shape everything that comes after: location. It’s easy to be swayed by a beautiful building, a charming interior or a stunning vista, but the real key to choosing a pub location is understanding your customer, their habits and what makes the area tick. This means looking beyond the aesthetics and thinking about footfall trends, the behaviours of locals and visitors, surrounding competition and the overall health of the local economy. These considerations can have a huge bearing on your long-term success and should be carefully thought through when choosing a pub location.

What Is Footfall Analysis?

Footfall analysis for pubs basically means understanding how many people pass by your potential pub location and when. If your pub is off the beaten track and hidden by trees in a lane nobody uses, it’s likely to be fairly quiet. By contrast, if your pub is located in a busy market town that’s popular with tourists, this could keep the tills ringing with a steady stream of thirsty customers.

But footfall analysis is not just about how many people visit your premises. It’s about who they are and the patterns they follow. Are they young families looking for food at lunchtime? Office professionals seeking an after-work wind-down? Or weekend hikers exploring local trails? Analysing and understanding this information will help you shape your offering and increase footfall.

Does The Local Economy Make A Difference?

Most definitely! The local economy plays a significant role in location-driven pub success. If the area you are considering setting up shop has growing employment, new housing developments under construction or coach loads of tourists arriving daily, that’s a great sign. A thriving local economy will usually signify people with a bit more to spend, and that means more pints poured and plates cleared.

 

Should I Go For The Town, City Or Countryside When Choosing A Pub Location?

This is the million-dollar question and the answer largely depends on your fit and lifestyle preference. Do you see yourself as a city landlord, where no two nights are the same and there’s always a new, transient crowd to welcome through the door or a local village character who knows every customer’s name, drink order and even the name of their dog? Pubs in large towns and cities are perfect if you enjoy a vibrant atmosphere and fast-paced trade. The downside? Increased competition. Take Liverpool, for example, with 8.1 pubs per square mile*, it’s clear that city venues operate in a densely crowded market. That means a city pub must work harder to stand out and attract loyal customers.

Defining a clear USP will certainly help - whether it’s offering craft beer, themed nights, live entertainment or outstanding food. But success also means staying agile, keeping your offer fresh and adapting to your customers’ changing needs.  

If you’re thinking more along the lines of The Woolpack than the Queen Vic and a slower pace is more appealing, a village or rural pub could be just the fit. A good village pub often becomes the heart of community life. Locals are likely to become regulars, and you’ll have the chance to make your pub a true destination. Success will rely on a strong food offering, well-pitched events and a solid local reputation - but the loyalty can be deeply rewarding.

 

What About A Tourist Hot Spot?

Opening a pub in a tourist hotspot offers a great opportunity to tap into the flow of potential customers. Areas on the tourist trail will bring a diverse mix of visitors, but their expectations can be trickier to predict. Some will be looking for a quick pint after exploring an area’s key landmarks, while others will be seeking an authentic local experience. Understanding the demographic will be pivotal to tailoring your offering. Areas with high levels of tourism also see fierce competition. Your venue will need to offer something distinctive to stand out from the crowd.

A further consideration is the impact of seasonal customer fluctuations and how you will manage during quieter times. Adaptation will be key here - learning to diversify your offering off-season will help keep trade steady.

 

Should I Think Ahead About Growth Potential Before Choosing A Premises?

They say that plans are the blueprints of success, and this is especially true in the pub trade. A well-considered plan can transform a premises from simply functional into a thriving business. If a pub has the potential to evolve - whether that means adding more seating, creating usable outdoor space, or incorporating facilities such as bed-and-breakfast or glamping accommodation - it opens the door to greater opportunities. This kind of planning gives the business long-term resilience.

Can Greene King Pub Partners Help Me With All This?

Absolutely! If you've spotted a specific Greene King pub that has caught your eye and you’re excited about the possibility of running it, your first step is to get in touch with our Pub Partners Recruitment Team. We’re here to talk through your ambitions, answer your questions and guide you on the next steps.

We also recommend reading our recruitment brochure which gives a clear, comprehensive overview of everything you need to know,  from any necessary qualifications to the different operating models we offer and a transparent look at who covers which costs. When you’re ready to take the next step, you can contact us directly by calling 01284 843200 or emailing pubpartnersrecruitment@greeneking.co.uk.

Sources:

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/map-shows-merseyside-area-most-30207006