The Application Process & What to Expect
First Steps
View the current properties to let in the Business Opportunities section and sign-up to receive email updates of all the latest vacancies.
Personal Licence
If you are planning to run a pub you will need a Personal Licence. If you do not already have one, you should start obtaining one now to avoid delays. You can find out how to obtain a Personal Licence here.
Application Form
Once you have decided that you wish to apply for a tenancy or lease, you can either apply for a particular pub online or call our Help Desk on 0500 003308 for an application form. Please complete and return the application form as soon as possible as without it, we will be unable to process your enquiry any further.
Initial Interview
Once we have had a chance to consider your application, you may be invited to attend an initial interview. This will enable both you and Charles Wells to learn more about each other and for you to ask any questions you may have.
Confirmation
After the initial interview, you will be advised by letter of the outcome. You may be ready to take on a business opportunity straight away in which case you will need to formally view the property; or we may suggest some training that should assist you in any subsequent applications you make. If we do not have a suitable business opportunity available immediately we will put you on to our mailing list and notify you as soon as one comes up.
Business Plan
We may ask you to prepare a business plan for a particular business opportunity. If we do, you will need to identify your proposals for developing the potential of the property and the source of the funds for purchasing the business and for any developments. We will then ask you to present the business plan and your proposals to the Retail Development Manager responsible for the pub in question.
If you need guidance, please download our sample business and marketing plan format to help you focus on the areas you'll need to consider when putting your style and operational plans together. If you need further advice on preparing the plan, please let us know.
Appointment
If you are successful in your application for the particular business opportunity, an offer will be made and confirmed in writing. This will include the Heads of Terms of the appropriate Agreement. It is essential at this stage that you take professional advice concerning the Agreement and your obligations in taking over a business. If you need any training before taking the pub, we will arrange this with you prior to the changeover.
Our Code of Practice is available to anyone who wants to know what they can expect if they sign an agreement with us, and how we work together. It also clarifies the commitment to quality and service that we expect of our licensees in return. The document has approval from the BIIBAS Benchmarking and Accreditation Services, meaning that it is judged to be a clear statement of our code of practice for lessees and tenants and we recommend that anyone considering taking a Charles Wells Brewery Pub on a tenancy or lease agreement should study it carefully. A copy is available from Charles Wells, or for download here.
Countdown to changeover day
You may find it helpful to refer to our checklists to help you plan for running your own pub business. These tools are a helpful reminder of all the business and trading elements you need to have in place before your tenancy or lease agreement takes effect.
When you've completed all these stages, you're then ready to take over your own pub. Congratulations!
