Making a Profit
People start Irish pub businesses so that they make as much money as possible. These establishments come with plenty of overheads. The staff need to be paid a fair wage. Ordering drink supplies tend to be somewhat expensive. Even the electricity bill will end up eating into the profits over time. The main way to tackle this problem is by getting as many customers in as possible.
It is also vital that managers are good with their finances. The key is to balance the budget so that the pub is making more money than it is spending. Some owners utilise spreadsheets to help them understand where their overheads are coming from. If they know what is losing them money, they can change their business practices.
Another issue is the amount of competition out there. Many people have realised the lucrative nature of Irish pubs. There are news stories on sites such as the BBC that delve into these business successes. Consequently, the pub needs to differentiate itself from others. This may be difficult if it has the same atmosphere as other ones. Before creating the pub, it is wise to come up with a unique selling point.
Marketing is another useful tool. In recent years a lot of Irish pubs have taken advantage of social media. It will connect the drinking establishment with potential customers. The pub could have its own social media page containing video ads and posters. The internet has significantly changed how these places operate. Their success can often be judged by the number of positive reviews they attain from the general public. New customers will often read these before deciding if the pub is worth visiting.
Designing Pub Interiors
Some people may assume that all Irish pubs look the same. This is not necessarily true. On the surface, a lot of them do feature similar design elements. This is because customers associate Ireland with a distinct range of iconography. On the other hand, newer pubs have strived to be more unique by changing perceptions of the traditional Irish décor. If a new pub owner wants to come up with something special, they need to consider a number of interior design factors.
Fans of Irish pubs may have noticed that many of them feature a colour scheme of green, orange and white. There is an important reason for this. They are the colours of the Irish national flag. Green is also associated with the country due to its bucolic landscape. Furthermore, the hue is associated with Catholicism. Meanwhile, white is meant to symbolise peace, and orange has historical links with the Protestant movement.
The issue with focusing so much on the flag is that interior designers have painted themselves into a corner. It has led to the misconception that all Irish pubs are alike. There are two solutions to the problem. The first is to get creative with the scheme. If designers think outside of the box, they can continue to utilise greens, whites and oranges in non-traditional ways.
Another option is to come up with something completely new. Recently created bars are more likely to opt for something modern. They could choose an understated, simplistic palette. This can include wood brown or a black and white combination. If it is a family-focused establishment, then vibrant hues might be chosen so that the design appeals to kids.
The colour scheme is just one factor to consider. The size and shape of the interior space are also important. It will directly affect how much furniture can be placed inside the pub. The dimensions also correlate with the maximum number of potential customers. Larger pubs are able to fit more people in. If there is a dance floor, this also needs to be taken into account. The main goal is to make it easy for people to move around inside the pub and sit down if they need to. Consequently, designers should be careful where they place the furniture.
Creating a Pub
There are some Irish pubs that have existed for many decades. However, this does not mean that modern entrepreneurs are unable to create brand new ones. These businesses have proven to be potentially lucrative if they run the right way. They are essentially the same as a standard bar. The main difference is the décor and ambience. In fact, it is possible to redecorate a regular pub so that it has an Irish theme.
Before committing to this business venture, it is important to be aware of how the current industry is doing. Sometimes the sector is booming. In Northern Ireland, the opening hours of pubs are occasionally extended in order to cater to an influx of customers. The new owner could decide to open the establishment to coincide with these busy seasons.
On the other hand, there are times when it is unwise to create an Irish pub. A good example is the recent lockdown protocols that came into effect across the country. Irish citizens were unable to leave their homes, let alone go out for a drink. As a result, the industry took a big financial hit. It is beginning to recover. However, savvy owners should always prepare for these rules to be put in place once more.
The key to the success of an Irish pub tends to be its location. It should be in close proximity to its customer base. Being within the centre of a town or city is ideal. There will need to be plenty of parking spaces for the clientele to utilise. Drinking establishments that are in the middle of nowhere are less likely to succeed in the long term.
It should also be noted that Irish pubs do not even need to be located in Ireland. The United States is filled with these businesses. The main thing is that the owner creates a space that reflects the spirit of Ireland. Irish people have relocated to countries all over the world. It is essential for them to have a piece of home. Other customers will simply want to experience the culture of Ireland.
Once the location has been picked out, it is time to secure all of the necessary permits. The manager needs to secure a license that authorises them to serve alcohol to the general public. Every country will have its own laws and regulations to abide by. The staff should be trained well so that they know what is and is not permitted of them. For example, all employees have to be aware of the legal drinking age. The most lucrative Irish pubs will be ones that manage to bring in plenty of customers on a regular basis. The best way to achieve this is by providing a very high-quality service.
Christmas
Aside from St. Patrick’s Day, the most important time of the year for Irish pubs is Christmas. Not all drinking establishments will be open on Christmas Day itself. However, the festive build-up and subsequent New Years celebrations will create a high amount of profits for pub owners.
When Christmas approaches, many people are given time off work. Students may return to their hometowns. As a result, a lot of citizens get the chance to socialise with friends. Irish pubs are the ideal venues for this purpose.
Plenty of drinking businesses have begun to serve food as well. Sites including Sky News have explored the reasons for this popular trend. If bars have a food menu, it means customers will not have to leave and go to a rival restaurant business. Furthermore, it can end up being more profitable than focusing solely on an alcohol-related service. Christmas dinners are often highly lucrative for Irish pubs.
One of the biggest mistakes to make is not preparing for the holiday rush. Managers should order plenty of supplies and ensure they have enough staff members ready. It is best to train employees before the festive season starts so that they are prepared.
St. Patrick’s Day
There are times of the year when an Irish pub will see a significant level of customer traffic. It is vital that owners prepare so that they have enough stock ready. One of the most memorable holidays for these businesses is St. Patrick’s Day.
Every year on March 17th, this celebration is held. It was originally a religious feast to honour the patron saint of the Irish nation. However, over the centuries St. Patrick’s Day has been significantly altered. In modern times it is a day to celebrate the Irish culture in general. Fans of it will often drink alcohol such as Guinness and whiskey.
Throughout the day, parades are held, and festivals take place. St. Patrick died in 461. His legacy still has a direct impact on Irish drinking establishments. Historically the Lent based restrictions on alcohol were lifted on this day. This is the main reason why it has become so popular to drink on March 17th.
Eventually, it became a recognised public holiday for the people living within the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated globally and has evolved into something much more widespread. North America has embraced it in particular.
However, there are some who argue that the holiday has lost its original purpose. Opponents state that it has become far too commercialised. Others believe it encourages negative Irish stereotypes. Despite this, every year, Irish pubs continue to see an influx of customers thanks to the popularity of St. Patrick’s Day.
Irish Pub Games
In recent years open-world video games have become very popular. Whilst some of them are set in sci-fi or fantasy settings, others take place within the real world. An excellent example of this is the Grand Theft Auto series. These games present a satirical view of modern America. The GTA games explore numerous aspects of popular culture, including the popularity of Irish pubs.
Several games in the franchise contain references to Irish drinking establishments. The most notable is GTA IV. It is set in an alternate version of New York called Liberty City. Players take control of a character called Niko, who makes friends with an Irish immigrant named Patrick McReary.
Publications including the Guardian have posted stories about the level of freedom in the game. It is possible to move within the city with Patrick and explore Irish pubs. One of them is called the Steinway Beer Garden. It has a décor scheme similar to a classic Irish bar. This is because it is modelled on the real-life Bohemian Beer Garden found in Astoria, Queens. It stands out as one of the best well-known depictions of Irish pubs in video games.
Irish Pub Movies
Fans of movies may have noticed that plenty of genres utilises Irish pub settings. These interior spaces are very popular in real life. People use them to interact with friends on a regular basis. One of the key aims of cinema is to reflect modern society. It, therefore, makes sense that so many films depict scenes inside these establishments.
Since pubs have been popular in Ireland for many centuries, both modern and historical films focus on them. Readers can use the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia to find lists of well-known features made in this country. They may be surprised by how often there will be a scene set within a pub.
New film studios are being constructed in the UK, leading to speculation that upcoming features could focus on British culture. This could include Irish pubs. Even when the stories take place outside of the country, there is still the possibility that Irish pubs could be depicted. These drinking establishments can be found all over the world. It should be noted that numerous American movies utilise these interior settings. This shows just how prevalent Irish pubs are in the world.