Robert Sayles: So, you're thinking about running a pub! Part 1

"How many have you had Brian?" I asked - on reflection probably not the most encouraging thing to say to an aspiring publican. "I'm not drunk" he assured me "I want to run a pub. Have you got any advice for me?".

The first thought that came into my mind was "Yes don't even think about it." However he was looking at me with a degree of expectation that in truth I found a little disconcerting, he was no doubt anticipating that pearls of wisdom would flow from my mouth which would validate his vision of the future.

I thought "no, I'm not going to trample on his dream just yet". So I asked him one question "Why do you want to run a pub?" His response? "It looks like fun." Fun? Mmmm. Now there's an interesting concept.

It's often easy to be dismissive of such encounters but it got me thinking back to when I first started and recalling that I was Brian once. Just like him I wanted to take on a pub, be my own boss and unsure about what to do or who to ask.

At that stage it seemed like what it was - a dream. A one-week course with Enterprise Inns changed all that. After completing it, there wasn't anything I didn't know about chalkboard design!

I recall the day the course finished. Everybody saying their goodbyes, clutching their certificates and rightly feeling very pleased with themselves, about to be set loose into the harsh reality of the outside world. Not a care in the world. We all had no doubts our pubs were going to be different and that we would all live the dream.

Looking back on it now, the extent of my naivety was beyond belief. In truth I knew nothing. OK, I could work out my VAT and gross profit margin and of course make a beautiful chalkboard, but precious little else. I was about to enter a cutthroat business and deal with people who possessed the sort of scruples that would make a second-hand car salesman look positively saintly. Talk about lambs to the slaughter.

I am sure that there are a few of you out there, even in the current climate, thinking about taking on a pub for the first time and to all of you I would say this. These are challenging times, the most challenging the industry has ever faced, that is undeniable and let no-one tell you otherwise. However what is also clear is that people get themselves into agreements that are, in all honesty, not viable from the outset.

As publicans, we need to work together, pool our knowledge and expertise - the fact that we have no body or organisation to represent, advise or look after our interests is, as Chris Maclean points out, nothing short of scandalous. The old cliché 'united we stand divided we fall' has never seemed more applicable given our current plight.

So to all you aspiring first timers who possess the dreams and aspirations to run a pub but lack two essential qualities - knowledge and experience I humbly offer the following advice:

• Do your homework.

• Visit the pub you intend to take over as often as you can before you make a decision.

• Talk to customers, find out what's really going on - remember if it's up for grabs there's usually a good reason for it. Many pubs I see on the market appear to be available because the tenants are either "retiring" or "leaving for health reasons." Odd but nobody seems to leave because the pub isn't making any money, I wonder why that is?

• Avoid getting tied into a substantive agreement at the outset. Find a pub where you can learn the ropes, (plenty of tenancies and TAW options available at the moment) and, just as importantly, find out whether you actually want to run a pub. You won't really know for sure until you try, trust me! (I have no idea of what the drop-out rate is although I suspect it's high).

• Remember the rent is always negotiable (unless you are taking on an existing lease). If the BDM insists it isn't just get up and walk away.

• You've got to have passion and love what you do.

• Trust nobody.

• Get a good accountant - they will always save you money.

• Talk to as many people as you can.

I acknowledge that I have barely scratched the surface - there is after all so much to say but it is at the very least a start, a move in the right direction.

Let me finish with this. Running a pub is hard work but it will give you a buzz like nothing else and to be honest I can't think of anything I would rather do. At the end of the evening when everybody has drifted away and a calm and peace descend, I pour myself a cold one, chill out and enjoy it with a smile on my face because I know I'm doing what I love. That really is what it's all about!