Guides
Guides for venue owners
Short, plain-English guides for people who run UK bars, pubs, clubs, restaurants and cafés. Each one answers a common question from venue owners. We check the rules and figures against official sources and say when we last did.
Last checked
Which guide do you need?
- How can my bar or restaurant lower its costs?
The UK guide to where venues overpay and how to fix it: card fees, energy, rates, insurance and staff. - Opening a bar in the UK: the checklist
Premises and personal licences, DPS, music licence, food registration, insurance, staff, health and safety, fire and budget. - Card machine fees in the UK: how they work
What makes up a card fee, the extras to check, terminal contracts, surcharging and switching. - Dojo vs SumUp vs Square: which suits your venue?
Rates, plans, card machines, contracts, payouts and table-service features, from each provider's own pricing. - How much do door staff cost?
Our hourly rate, worked examples, what drives the total, and the SIA licensing rules. - How much does hospitality insurance cost?
What decides the price, the cover that's a legal must, and how to check who you're dealing with.
Need door staff near you?
- Door staff in Grimsby and Cleethorpes
Our rate, North East Lincolnshire's licensing zones, and the seafront season. - Door staff in Hull
Our rate, Hull's licensing policy, the Safer Entertainment Zone and the big dates. - Door staff in Lincoln
Our rate, the City of Lincoln Council's policy, two universities and the city's safety schemes.
What else do people ask?
Are the guides free?
Yes. They cost nothing to read, and you don't need to sign up for anything.
Is this legal or financial advice?
No. The guides explain how things work in general. For your own venue, check with the licensing authority, a solicitor or an FCA-authorised adviser. We can point you to the right people.
How do you keep them up to date?
Every guide shows when we last checked it and links to the sources we used. Prices and rules change, so check the source before you decide.
See if we can help
Free, no obligation. Pick whatever's easiest for you.