Right guys. I'm trying to put together some research to open a bar. SO I wanna know what you want so I can provide and be the best bar in SHeffield!!!!!!!!!

Good seating, a range of drinks to suit everyone's taste but ther should definately be some good quality wine.
Attentive bar staff is a must. Also the music should be chilled out for instance house classics in the background. Alternatively, Bai Hoi has it nearly spot on for people with a good mix of music. I think Muse and Menzels are a good start. There will be plenty more, plus everyone's taste will differ.

Free nuts

:thumbsup:

An "over 25" only rule

Music to be played at a reasonable level - I like a bit of background music, but I don't like having to shout to be heard :)

I dig pubs with an interesting layout and a few different features, like the Sheaf View, The Vine and The Lescar. Different rooms for different levels of noise and different activities...

Originally posted by HouseyHousey
Right guys. I'm trying to put together some research to open a bar. SO I wanna know what you want so I can provide and be the best bar in SHeffield!!!!!!!!!

You need:
A location in nether edge

Plenty of space

A variety of seating and standing room, from barstools to chesterfields.

An open fire in the winter

Newspapers and periodicals

Good Ale, Continental Plzner on tap, Good range of malt and blended, Good coffee & Tea.

To open for Breakfast, so I can have a snifter of brandy with my coffee and wienerbröd in the morning.

A smoking area with suitable air treatment eqpt
--

Avoid --
Music
Fruit Machines (in fact any SWP or LWP machines)
Video Games
Naff 'Antique' Pub nicknacks (real or contrived)
Monet - anywhere even the toilets
Televisions (large or small).

Avoid:

Chavs

Originally posted by Rich
Avoid:

Chavs

But what if you want to make money :hihi:


Anyway

The thing that I look for at drinking establishments is the price for drinks. I avoid some places in town due to the cost of some drinks.

Originally posted by sugarnspice
Free nuts

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: i've started a campain to free nuts from prison free nuts free nuts

Free drinks to people named Jon and i like to see women dressed in school uniform while they jump up and down on trampolines ermmm free food and a free taxi home :thumbsup:

Thanks Jon.

Also - big comfy sofas.

1 - Quiet background music or live music
2 - Playstation
3 - A glass of juice or coke that doesn't cost more than 50p
4 - Choclate
5 - A TV room
6 - No dress code
7 - No chavs

I like pubs with cheap pool tables and cheap juke boxes. Or is it duke boxes?

Also a nice beer garden and friendly staff, and comfortable seats.

Originally posted by thestruggle

6 - No dress code
7 - No chavs

Aren't these two policies self-contradictory?

Cheap drinks,
Live music but not duo's, think working mens clubs and you'll know what I mean ;)
Free nuts as suggested by sugarnspice, hence the need for cheap drinks, all that salts gotta make you extra thirsty :thumbsup:
Plenty of tables and comfy chairs that aren't too heavy to be moved around to accommodate extra friends that show up.
Not high stools, god fall off them enough when I'm p**sed, the foot rung that's only 6 inches from the floor suddenly turns into an 8 foot death drop.
Bandits that pay out when you have just put a fiver in, not just pay out when the stranger next to you only put a quid in.
And last but not least, the ability to have lock-in's when I don't feel like going home after last orders :thumbsup:

Decent music but at a level where you can still hold a conversation with people

Beer garden with parasols and heaters

Half decent booze

Smoking allowed (though not necessaryily throughout)

On tram route

No arrogant doorstaff

A variety of interesting beers, lagers and real ciders. There is absolutely no need for Fosters, Boddingtons & Strongbow anymore.

Wine by the glass or bottle. Bottle price ~£5

Double spirits price £2

Erdinger and/or Hoegaarden

Give the customer what they want: Arriving at the pub after some hard excercise or on a hot day what you most want is say: a small fruit juice in a pint glass, topped up with soda water and ice. Or a pint of beer and a pint of water. Please dont moan about it/charge stupid money.

Fast bar service.

General knowledge / music quiz on a quieter night. Not a sports quiz, kareoke or bingo ever.

Lighters & rizlas for sale.

Seabrook crisps, nuts, samosas, chip butties

Quality papers and local mags (Showroom guide, Sandman etc.)

Your normal lagers, whiskys, alcopops, with maybe some local ale specials on.

Serves food.

Some background music, but as I say 'background' so not very loud so you can have a chat.

Plenty of tables, and chairs to sit down at.

Pool table.

Local friendly atmosphere.

Does live gigs in the evening, and maybe jamming sessions occasionally.

Has an outside beer garden area to sit in when hot.

An interesting layout, with little cubby holes with tables in, so you can feel secluded.

Originally posted by Bully_Beef
Aren't these two policies self-contradictory?

'Chav' is not a dress code....

Originally posted by IanMitchell
'Chav' is not a dress code....

Yes, but wouldn't excluding chavs involve implementing a dress code?

Originally posted by Bully_Beef
Yes, but wouldn't excluding chavs involve implementing a dress code?

Well people can act like chavs and not necessarily dress like them

relaxed music.

Reasonably priced drinks

Nice tasteful decor.

a chav free policy

Interesting and comfortable decor (def not the same old wooden floorboards/bar etc.) - somewhere relaxing where you feel you could stay all night.
I personally think that quality of drink and service is much more important than price, then again you can't take the p*ss with the £.
Decent music probably more acoustic,funk and alternative (I'm into my house, D&B and hip hop but think that should be left for the clubs that we're going onto) at a decent level...whereby you can hear the person on the other side of the table.
Maybe some visuals, but def. no Sky TV!!! (I'd rather go and watch Wednesday at a 'mans' pub and would never enter a 'sports bar' unless the world cup is on)....having said that no TV screens full stop.
If you serve food it should only be until 8pm.
Location is important, you need somewhere that has a good mix of the 'right' type of locals and students.
Maybe a live-night would be good too.
I think that all of the above attracts more of a 'sophisticated' crowd which will in turn give the place a better reputation which will in turn attract more demand. It really depends on what you want, a quick buck or something with a bit of - clichéd word alert - 'class' that will last.

Have a look at the Old Monk in town, near the Town Hall, thats how NOT to do a bar.

lets see.

quiet music - seems to be a popular requirement
interesting beers, good selection of spirits and wines.
price - not too concerned, not too cheap, attracts the wrong sorts.
decent amount of comfortable seating, not all hard chairs and short stools.
snugs
Non smoking at least in majority and completely seperate from smoking area.
maybe a members only policy, with cheap and quick membership. Makes it possible to stay open later and discourages bad behaviour (as that would revoke membership).

Nobody suggested top less bar maids??

a room for live bands
good juke box
cheap bool
tasty ales on offer
ciggarettes n smoking stuff behind the bar
interesting layout
beer garden
no bouncers

Drinks - Varied , reasonably priced selection of alcohol and soft drinks other than coke / orange juice. And Tea / Coffee. Imported/Local brewed beers are good , I'm thoroughly bored of pubs where the only lager is Stella/Carling.
Food - A nice range of hot food plus a varied selection of easy food - decent crisps , nuts etc and maybe something more filling such as sandwiches prepared in the morning and put in the fridge... .and chocolate :)
Layout/Decor - intimate but spacious , no trendy gimmicks. Maybe showcase some local art . Nice seating and a relaxed feel. No sports events on TV.
Smoking - Allowed but with good ventilation and seperate part for non smokers.
Music - Good varied selection and loud enough so you can hear it but not overpowering. Maybe bands/themed nights on occasionaly but generally if i'm in a pub i want a nice quiet drink, not particularly live music.
Beer Garden - Not totally nescessary but nice on a hot day .
Toilets - With tampon/condom etc machines. Nothing worse than being caught unawares in a pub with no machines.

Think that just about covers it although i haven't really said anything that hasn't already been covered.

Only thing with free nuts - when people go to the toilet and dont wash their hands theyre spreading their germs all over. Then when you grab a big handfull, you could be giving oral to 30 people all at once! Not bad for a nights work. Nice :gag:

For me, I want somewhere clean and tidy, with friendly helpful staff.

Plenty of choice of drinks at reasonable prices.

Most of all though - music that is not too loud! When I meet up with friends I want to be able to talk to them, not have to shout and then not be able to hear what they are saying.

Im with you on that one. Im not really into music in pubs. If i want to hear loud music I will go to a club. A bit of music in the background is alright, but not over the top.

Originally posted by Hels
Most of all though - music that is not too loud! When I meet up with friends I want to be able to talk to them, not have to shout and then not be able to hear what they are saying.

Unfortunately it would seem that most city centre bars assume that customers are deaf and therefore need the music at max. (Believe me, I work in one).

Hels, this is why so many folk are now going round to each other's houses on Friday and Saturday night, where you can control the music, telly content, and drink prices.

Ive always enjoyed pubs like the Howard across from the train station. decent atmosphere, and on most nights the music is turned down low

I found the perfect bar------in of all places , Ankara ! The centre of Ankara has a pedestrianised area with dozens of bars , more or less next door to each other but this one had something special about it.
All the drinks were cheap and they sold coffee , tea .....etc....too.My favourite was a draught lager they sold------lovely in hot weather.
There was an indoor and outdoor area ; I only ever sat outside as I ,"discovered " it in March and left Ankara in September [nineteen ninety four ].The terrace outside was L shaped and bordered onto a busy street ----always plenty of nice views ! Actually you had to look through a wall of vine leaves as the whole terrace was covered in vine to keep the sun off.
They sold food and you could just hear the music playing from inside-----truly background music !
The staff were great ; attentive ,without being a nuisance.
The customers were of every age-----families would often come in , especially in the afternoons.
There was naturally table serviceand the whole place was clean and well-run.
I went back with a Turkish friend three years later but it wasn't the same at all and shortly after that they changed it into a club. Oh , well , still got the memories !
Forgot to mention this place was two minutes , "stagger" from my flat and what could be better than that !

Sounds blissfully idea fareast!

I can't count the number of times me and my friends have been in a bar/pub early evening and then the music gets turned up so loud we can no longer talk. We've asked them to turn it down a bit, but they say 'sorry, we can't do that' :loopy: So we just say 'fine, we'll leave'. Lots of people seem to have the same viewpoint as us. We were once in the Showroom when the music was turned up and the place virtually emptied.

If a bar/pub was to open up in Sheffield playing 'background music' i'm sure it'd be packed most of the time.

Mabes perfect pub:

- Definately have to agree on the no loud music front - I can't stand having to stand and shout at the people you are with and still not be able to hear each other!
- smoke free
- friendly bar staff
- not too busy, so you can actually get somewhere to sit and get served at the bar pretty quickly
- but also not too quiet either!
- A lovely beergarden that is nice to sit in in summer (something Sheffield is severely lacking!)
- It keeps serving until the last person leaves and not at 11pm! I'd love to be able to sit and chill out in a nice relaxed pub all night rather than having to go onto a club
- Nice comfy sofas/big chairs and a nice open fire in winter
- A pub that doesn't try to be too trendy!
- They serve cocktails - and not to a limited menu - but whatever cocktail you want and not too expensive! Cosmopolitans all around!!

Originally posted by Hels
If a bar/pub was to open up in Sheffield playing 'background music' i'm sure it'd be packed most of the time.

But then people would complain that they can't hear the music over the noise of other people talking!:hihi:

It's a no win situation. Trouble with most bars is that people working there tend to think that what they enjoy is what every one else will. Very often the music gets turned up because a member of staff's favourite song comes on!

Originally posted by Hels
If a bar/pub was to open up in Sheffield playing 'background music' i'm sure it'd be packed most of the time.

i agree with you mate but how do you define 'background music' for some people they would say it was dead???

i like to go into a bar that has some nice tunes in the background, pretty current tunes at a level that isn't too loud but its loud enough to get you dancing just a little (you know when you just sway your hips a little!!!!)

Thank goodness I thought I was getting more sensitive and grouchy in my old age but from the previous posts this obviously is not the case. When I was a hardened drinker I often frequented the rock pubs that could be found and although the music was loud you could usually find one bit where it was bearable. I used to hate it when bands were on as they usually had sound systems that wouldn't of looked out of place in the city hall [slight exageration] does anyone remember the Penguin at Shiregreen and the Thursday night band nights?
So a pub for me would, if i had my way, be a decent size [White Lion at Heeley] with more than one room.
They'd sell acceptable booze but most important would be Strongbow cider draught. [The Nelson late 70's early 80's]
Door policy, no lager louts, no tracksuits and no prats, I'd decide who the prats were.[I can dream]
Music would be a live DJ [Bob Maltby from Rebels]with an extensive range of 60's, 70's and early 80's rock with a smattering of more recent stuff for it's fun value, Scissor Sisters for example. The volume would be loud enough to be heard but not so loud that the customers had to shout to make themselves heard. [Classic Rock Bar on a Saturday afternoon]

Originally posted by WallBuilder
The volume would be loud enough to be heard but not so loud that the customers had to shout to make themselves heard. [Classic Rock Bar on a Saturday afternoon]

Yeah, we did get a bit too loud for conversation at times thru the day/early evening. It depended who was on the bar at the time, policy was to keep it down until later on but you'd always get a customer asking to turn it up for a certain song. It didn't always get turned down again tho!..............My apologies to you if it was me!

If you weren't a regular (or if you were trolleyed) I was the mature but stunningly gorgeous petite brunette with the silvery laugh.......ahem!

At the end o' the day tho, we were a rock bar. I had a great time and I'd do it all over again but I have to agree, sometimes you want to be able to go for a quiet drink and a chat. I can't think of too many pubs now where you can do that. At least none where it's convenient to meet up with friends.

We'll get to a forum meet eventually! Just tell me it ain't as loud as we were..........

OOOOH!!!! I forgot!


My ideal pub would be......


Wait for it!


Classic Rock Bar 2 :headbang: :headbang: :shocked: :wow: :headbang: :nod:

Originally posted by Splodge_CRB
OOOOH!!!! I forgot!


My ideal pub would be......


Wait for it!


Classic Rock Bar 2 :headbang: :headbang: :shocked: :wow: :headbang: :nod:

Not the Horse and Jockey splodge???? :hihi:

Originally posted by Hels
For me, I want somewhere clean and tidy, with friendly helpful staff.
Plenty of choice of drinks at reasonable prices.
Most of all though - music that is not too loud! When I meet up with friends I want to be able to talk to them, not have to shout and then not be able to hear what they are saying. Thanks for describing my pub ;)

spyro2000: The Howard is kind of expensive, and the staff rather rude ;) and they have this annoying habit of turning the lights down at 5.

Describe your ideal bar/pub

Well where the drinks are free of course!

My ideal bar would:


Be cosmopolitan
Inclusive of different ages of client
Have agood variety of reasonably priced drinks
Have an outside drinking area
Serve a good range of snacks
Have staff that were friendly
Offer table service
Be comfortable
Open late
Be within easy staggering distance of home ;)


If anyone knows a place like this that I missed, drop me a PM! :D

K x

I really love the Moorlands, carry on out of Dore and you will come to it. I think people say in Owler bar, Im not from round here originally so Im not sure. Its clean , friendly staff, nice lay out of the pub. Lovely, and i mean lovely food, its so nice. And they offer a wide range of drinks. I recommed it to anybody. A meal for 2 will set you back about £20 which I think is maybe just a little too expensive but not compared to anywhere else because that's like alot of places.

A perfect pub:

Claen and tidy.

Plenty of squashy sofa's to relax on

A selection of newspapers if you're on your own

Wine that is at least palatable

Polite and friendly bar staff

Someone in the corner playing relaxing tunes on a guitar!

Plenty of lady's toilets that never run out of loo roll.

To top it all this establishment would be within a ten minute walk of my house.

likes bin said, a place 2 wind down and relax with friends..

I'd agree with most.

A place that looks cosy and welcoming, polite and friendly door staff. Attentive bar staff who know who to serve next. Decent prices and a wide selection of lagers, beers, bottles and cocktails. The people in there would be chatty, having a laugh and not looking to spoil others fun. The music would be a wide mixed from 60's to todays chart but focusing on 80's and upbeat rather than ballads. The toilets would be very clean and actaully have a toilet you can use with locks!

Bar meals at decent prices woudl also be great.

And plenty of women helps for us guys!! :D

Originally posted by IanMitchell
Not the Horse and Jockey splodge???? :hihi:

Ayup Hanson!

I love the Horse & Jockey :love:

Now if we do it dead quiet like while Ross n' Jackie are asleep I reckon we could get a few big strong boys and move it nearer town or even better move it to Herries rd.
It's just that Buffys got a new saddle on the trike an it's reet slippy......now call me nesh if you like but for some reason that worries me!

very minimalist with light colours and chilled out music in the background. Lava lamps round the side and art around the walls.

I think my ideal pub would be a mixture between an English pub and a German bar.

*Great beer at a good price
*Guiness on draught (now on at my local :thumbsup: )
*jukebox with a wide range of musical taste
*No smoking area
*Beer garden
*good bar staff who serve you at your table and are able to spot when someone has an empty glass
*Staff that empty ash trays and clear empty glasses.
*Able to pay for my drinks when I leave the pub so I don't have a purse full of change!
*German opening hours: 1am in the week and till whenever at the weekends.

Originally posted by Splodge_CRB
Ayup Hanson!


Watch it you!

You'll be barred! :hihi:

Perfect Pub would be

§ Bar staff that are attentive and as soon as you finish your drink ask if you’d like another, or better still waiter service. Also pre-order your drinks before you get there so they’re waiting as you come through the door.
§ Playing good quality rock, punk and Indy music but not too loud.
§ Two nights per week live music
§ Sky Sports football available and horse racing on TV
§ Decent food that’s sensibly priced, served all day of course
§ Late opening, later the better
§ A pub where you can take the kids in because it’s very difficult to find ones where you can these days
§ Perhaps a crèche so you can leave the kids for an hour while you have a drink
§ Free newspapers supplied
§ No fruit machines the noise of them p**ses me off but either an ‘in pub’ bookies or adjacent to a bookies
§ Free peanuts and similar snacks on request, I hate paying 50p for a small bag of nuts, rip-off
§ Chav free zone, Burberry would be banned totally
§ A loyalty bonus scheme where the more you drink, the more you earn in points that can be redeemed for more beer
§ Gentleman’s evening once a month, obviously then the pub would be closed to children
§ Free internet access, this would facilitate use of Sheff Forum, Everton website & Forum and online bookies if extra bets required.
§ Landlord lays on a small coach at the end of the night to take customers home and drop them right outside their doors. This could also be used for brewery trips on a monthly basis or trips to the races.
§ Marriage guidance and financial counselling caused by overuse of the pub facilities leading to relationship strains and money worries!
§ I think I’m starting to carried away now better stop!:loopy:

Perfect pub for a Yorkshireman like me would be one with free ale.

A good chippy just down the road would be the icing on the cake.

Originally posted by daverity
§ I think I’m starting to carried away now better stop!:loopy:

Anything else your majesty? :hihi: ;)

I agree with all of those though :thumbsup:

Could describe my perfect bar, but it will be easier to just direct you to :- http://www.grd.be
There is an english version if you scroll down.
We usually make this our last port of call on the way home from foreign jaunts, its not far from the ferry.
You ride your bikes into reception, then park them outside your room.
The bar has everything you would expect; pool tables,sofas, long dining tables, more different drinks than you can shake a stick at, bar open 'til the last person is standing, juke box full of rock, live bands, the front of the bar opens like a fire station onto the bbq area/garden, surrounded by fields, I could go on for ages about this place. All this and then you're only a few feet away from your bed.
The only drawback with this place is that it smells of Belgium.

If the booze is cheap i'm happy

Hello splodge, I was by no means a regular at the CRB and was using it as an example of a pub with a correct volume for it's music on at least Saturday afternoons which is when i came in on a few occasions. I did come to see the David Bowie tribute which as I expected was loud but that didn't bother me as I was there to listen not to chat. I think I may of spoken to you one saturday I'm the guy who hates and detests van halen.
With regard to CRB new premises does anyone know who to ask to find out who owns empty buildings that don't have any signs on them?

Originally posted by zombiekillah
Drinks - Varied , reasonably priced selection of alcohol and soft drinks other than coke / orange juice. And Tea / Coffee. Imported/Local brewed beers are good , I'm thoroughly bored of pubs where the only lager is Stella/Carling.
Food - A nice range of hot food plus a varied selection of easy food - decent crisps , nuts etc and maybe something more filling such as sandwiches prepared in the morning and put in the fridge... .and chocolate :)
Layout/Decor - intimate but spacious , no trendy gimmicks. Maybe showcase some local art . Nice seating and a relaxed feel. No sports events on TV.
Smoking - Allowed but with good ventilation and seperate part for non smokers.
Music - Good varied selection and loud enough so you can hear it but not overpowering. Maybe bands/themed nights on occasionaly but generally if i'm in a pub i want a nice quiet drink, not particularly live music.
Beer Garden - Not totally nescessary but nice on a hot day .
Toilets - With tampon/condom etc machines. Nothing worse than being caught unawares in a pub with no machines.

Think that just about covers it although i haven't really said anything that hasn't already been covered.
That means you won't want The Sports Cafe (http://www.thesportscafe.net/) sports bar to open in Sheffield - the one in Leeds has around 120 TVs, plasma screens and a massive screen in the lower bar, 13 pool tables, basketball court etc.

High priorities...

1. Quiet music
2. No chavs

other things...

plenty of Comfy seating
Decent size / well staffed bar
Real Ale
Cheap soft drinks
A reasonable selection of drinks <£2
Plants and trees.
beer garden
big no smoking area and good ventilation

If you want to keep chavs out then make the alcopops expensive and don't sell lager, especially carling

Originally posted by JonScaife
High priorities...

1. Quiet music
2. No chavs

other things...

plenty of Comfy seating
Decent size / well staffed bar
Real Ale
Cheap soft drinks
A reasonable selection of drinks <£2
Plants and trees.
beer garden
big no smoking area and good ventilation

If you want to keep chavs out then make the alcopops expensive and don't sell lager, especially carling

Have pm`d you

Mod: Similar threads merged.