When taking on such a huge project like refurbishing a pub, there are many factors you need to consider before the construction takes place. In this article, we are going to explore what you need to prepare before inviting in a new space for your customers and your employees to enjoy.
Budgeting
When creating a budget for your refurbishment, you should consider what it is that you want from the fit, in whatever the scale of your pub or the project you are undertaking, you should have a clear picture in your mind to reference in terms of what the final outcome should look like. This helps give you an idea of what sort of budget you will be looking at, and how much you should allocate for unexpected costs.
For instance, a new coat of paint on the walls and new furniture can go a long way in attracting new customers in and keeping your current customers happy. But if you want to have a complete interior overhaul, you need to consider how you’re going to invest the money, how long the process will take and whether it’s worthwhile losing money in the present, to make more profit and attract new customers six weeks down the line.
If you are not in the position to close down for a long period of time, maybe consider doing some relatively small decorating to keep the pub fresh and attracting a few new customers in the meantime.
What your customers want
In this case, the customer is always right! Having a strong idea for what you want your pub to look like is great, however, getting as many ideas you can from people who frequently visit your pub will help you utilize your budget much more effectively, as well as building up a good relationship between you and your customers.
You can have a lot more peace of mind through the process when consulting others, as the more you base your refurbishment around what the customers want, you are less likely to alienate your long standing customers, as well as still enticing new people to come in and have a drink.
Interior Design
Focusing on your interior design for your refurbished pub is essential, as customers will spend a lot-possibly all of their time inside your establishment. Therefore it goes without saying that they should be in a relaxed, inviting and warm environment to unwind and enjoy themselves.
This doesn’t necessarily involve completely redesigning the whole plan of your pub, rather focus more on furnishings and decorating to achieve what you want for your pub. You can also use what you already have, such as quirky windows or fireplaces as a talking point, and to enhance the character of your pub.
Also keep in mind that not everyone wants the same environment so, for instance, having a dedicated restaurant area with big comfortable booths creates a great intimate and relaxed setting for families with children or couples to spend their evenings.
Having a well-balanced a thought out interior is key to keeping customers happy, and to keep things running smoothly for the staff working.
Have a new menu to go along with your new pub
This is a great feature to really bring the exciting atmosphere of a newly refurbished pub directly to your customer’s palette, which will make the impact of your new pub really stick with them. There doesn’t even have to be major changes to what you already serving, perhaps just a few new cask ales and IPA’s for the bar, whilst offering a set menu or brunch to those coming in for food, which adds another detail for the customers to remember when telling their friends about your new fit in.
These factors really help contribute to getting your refurbishment right, and after investing in a big project, you should feel secure knowing that the choices and decisions you make are the right ones for your audience. This is not to say there aren’t other things to consider, after all every refurbishment is different and targets different audiences.
But as a general rule, you should always do what’s in your customer’s interests and find an ideal balance of atmosphere to cater to the spectrum of your customers.
If you’re considering a pub refurbishment or fit out for your business then visit our dedicated page to discover what we can do for you.