Frequently Asked Questions

You’ll need to complete the British Institute of Innkeepers online Pre-Entry Awareness Training, which provides you with an overview of the obligations placed on you when entering into a tenancy or lease agreement in the UK. You’ll need to hold a Personal Licence too. Call our training team to find out more on 01284 843055.

Previous experience of running a pub will help you along but it’s not essential. Any experience of running your own business and managing accounts, profit and loss and stock control will also help too. However, it’s all about the right attitude and your personal attributes – you’ll bring your energy and commitment, along with a determination to succeed, pride and passion for hospitality, good people management skills and your business-focus.

Running your own pub is a challenge, but with your determination alongside our support, we will help you achieve your goals.

Yes, we do. We want to make sure your business is a success, and therefore we believe that training and development of you and your team is crucial to this. We expect you to attend our Welcome Induction Programme, as it’s here that you’ll be introduced to Greene King’s ways of working and the support you can rely on in your partnership with us.

We also offer a comprehensive range of ongoing training for you and your team.

Usually, a tenancy is for a shorter period of time with limited property repairing obligations and you can’t sell on the goodwill of the business. A lease is a much longer agreement with full property repairing obligations, and you have the ability to sell on the goodwill of the business when you leave.

A franchise will see you run a pub set up by Greene King using one of our proven business concepts, where you will employ the staff and take care of the day-to-day responsibilities for running the pub business, whilst Greene King will take care of everything else.

Discover our Hive Pubs franchises Discover our Nest Pubs franchises

Your agreement will tell you which products you have to buy from Greene King. This is called the ‘tie’, and the majority of our pubs are tied. As a pub company we supply a wide range of beers, ciders, wines, spirits and more from various brands and businesses across the UK and internationally, meaning you will always have access to a great range.

You’ll need to budget for costs such as a deposit, the fixtures and fittings of the pub, legal fees as well as broker and stocktaking fees to name a few. You may also need to consider Stamp Duty Land Tax, which your advisors can help with. Costs can vary depending on the type, size and location of the pub and the terms of the Agreement.

View the entry costs for our available pubs

If you have a tenancy agreement, your repairing liabilities are more limited than a lease agreement. A maintenance and service agreement will cover areas of statutory compliance including testing, repairs, servicing, and maintenance of major equipment. If you have a lease agreement, you’ll be responsible for all repairs and maintenance. Details of your repairing obligations will be provided in the Schedule 1 information we provide you.

Greene King insures all its pubs through a group block insurance policy, which is recharged to you depending on the size and style of the pub. This cover will include for property damage to our buildings and/or our fixtures & fittings, also loss of Greene King’s income through any insurable business interruption event. You’ll be required to insure other areas of the business that you’re responsible for, including public and product liability, employee liability, fixtures and fittings and loss of income.

Our tenancy agreements include for break clauses which you can exercise at any time. If you have a lease, you’ll need to arrange to sell on the agreement. Breaking an agreement early can be a big decision, for more information see our Guide to Running a Pub (England/Wales) or our Guide to Running a Pub (Scotland).

Taking on a pub and becoming your own boss is not without risk. Being self-employed is very different to receiving a regular salary, but there’s the prospect of even greater reward. The style of pub and how you choose to run your business will affect your profit. It’s important that you enter the business with a realistic view of potential performance. Using the information we provide you, and your independent professional advice, will help you in the preparation of your business plan to ensure it’s realistic and sustainable.

This can vary according to individual applications, however if you’ve found the right Greene King pub, you can expect the process to take a minimum of 8 weeks. This will be subject to you receiving all the relevant information you need from us, obtaining your independent professional advice and preparing your business plan, and your availability to attend meetings with us. We know you’ll be excited about taking on your new pub business, however we’ll want to ensure you’re making the right decision and that your business plan is realistic and sustainable.

The Pubs Code is legislation in England and Wales that regulates the relationship between pub-owning businesses, operating over 500 tied pubs, and their tenants. It’s based on two core principles; fair and lawful dealing between the pub-owning business and their tenants; and, that a tenant should be no-worse off than a free-of-tie tenant. A Pubs Code Adjudicator oversees the enforcement of the Pubs Code, and Greene King employs a Code Compliance Officer to verify its compliance with the code.

Learn more about the Pubs Code

No, you would be fully self-employed. You will need to set up a Limited Company and become VAT registered to operate this type of agreement.

Experience makes the difference, and that’s why we are looking to create the perfect partnerships with excellent operators who have pub management experience.

We are looking to partner with franchisees who are energised, approachable and genuine to create a community led pub experience through a branded concept.

We pay all running costs including utilities and Sky/TNT Sport (where applicable). You will need to pay for the following:

• Staff (including employee national insurance and any other statutory deductions),
• Insurances (such as public liability and contents insurance for private accommodation),
• TV Licence and Council Tax for private accommodation.

No, you will need to set up a Limited Company to operate this type of agreement.

Yes, before you start the business, we will provide relevant training in the standards, procedures, techniques and methods which make up the franchise system and in all aspects of the business. Initial training will cover the following:

• Safestart
• BII Cellar Training
• Food Safety Level 2 Additional training may be provided as we deem appropriate. We will also loan you copies of all relevant manuals.
• Systems Training
• Pre-opening on site training at the property
• Additional training may be provided as we deem appropriate. We will also loan you copies of all relevant manuals.

The ingoing cost is £5,000. This includes the agreement fees and the induction and on-site training. You will also be required to pay for independent financial and legal advice before you take on the agreement. We also recommend around a further £3,000 in working capital to ensure that you have enough money for set up as you will not get paid your guaranteed or additional income immediately.

This is to ensure that you have enough money for set up as you will not get paid your guaranteed or additional income immediately.

The minimum guaranteed annual income is £20,000 with additional income coming from a percentage of weekly turnover, a quarterly profit share and the ability to earn an additional bonus by meeting compliance audits. Taking on a pub and becoming your own boss is not without risk. Being self-employed is very different to receiving a regular salary, but there’s the prospect of even greater reward. It’s important that you enter the business with a realistic view of potential performance.

This will be paid in equal weekly payments two weeks in arrears.

All drinks, food and accommodation (if applicable) and excludes machines income. Turnover is calculated weekly and paid weekly in arrears.

Yes, using the information we provide you, and your independent professional advice, you will need to prepare a business plan that is realistic and sustainable. We will provide you with a business plan template to assist you.

No, the franchise system includes Greene King food and drink menus. We will provide all allergen information, food specification books and food order guides.

Yes, where applicable this is paid for by Greene King.

Our pub franchise agreement includes a break clause of not less than 3 months written notice. This break clause can be exercised at any time.

No, you would be fully self-employed. You will need to set up a Limited Company and become VAT registered to operate this type of agreement.

Experience makes the difference, and that’s why we are looking to create the perfect partnerships with excellent operators who have pub management experience.

We are looking to partner with franchisees who are energised, approachable and genuine to create a community led pub experience through a branded concept.

We pay all running costs including utilities and Sky/TNT Sport (where applicable). You will need to pay for the following:

• Staff (including employee national insurance and any other statutory deductions),
• Insurances (such as public liability and contents insurance for private accommodation),
• TV Licence and Council Tax for private accommodation.

No, you will need to set up a Limited Company to operate this type of agreement.

Yes, before you start the business, we will provide relevant training in the standards, procedures, techniques and methods which make up the franchise system and in all aspects of the business. Initial training will cover the following:

• Safestart
• BII Cellar Training
• Food Safety Level 2 Additional training may be provided as we deem appropriate. We will also loan you copies of all relevant manuals.
• Systems Training
• Pre-opening on site training at the property
• Additional training may be provided as we deem appropriate. We will also loan you copies of all relevant manuals.

The ingoing cost is £3,000. This includes the agreement fees and the induction and on-site training. You will also be required to pay for independent financial and legal advice before you take on the agreement. £2,000 in working capital is required to ensure you have enough money to set your business up and float the tills before we start paying you your percentage of net turnover.

This is to ensure you have enough money to set up your business and float your tills before we start paying you your percentage of net turnover.

All drinks, food and accommodation (if applicable) and excludes machines income. Turnover is calculated weekly and paid weekly in arrears.

Yes, using the information we provide you, and your independent professional advice, you will need to prepare a business plan that is realistic and sustainable. We will provide you with a business plan template to assist you.

No, the franchise system includes Greene King food and drink menus. We will provide all allergen information, food specification books and food order guides.

This cost is covered by Greene King.

Yes, where applicable this is paid for by Greene King.

Our pub franchise agreement includes a break clause of not less than 3 months written notice. This break clause can be exercised at any time.