hi,

does anyone own a bar in Portugal?? how do you find the pub business in the Algarve? , do you find your at a disadvantage being english?

does anyone have any opinions advise on owning a bar

thanks

I'm sure there are many bar owners in Carvoeiro who speak English, but don't expect them to respond as they are working solidly 7 days a week, non-stop right now.

does that mean tourism is good this year?? lots of people are saying its quiet?

Not necessarily, the hours as an owner of a bar are very long and hard, anyone who thinks it is an easy way to make a living, when there are so many other bars in your area, is a nutcase.

You work hard and long for a portion of the money spent by tourists, after all there is only so much money being spent at any one time.

If you are serious about looking at a bar then you need to come up with something that is different to the norm or to the bars in your area.

But be warned many have come and many have gone.

Thanks for the advise

dont worry, i know how hard it is to run a bar but you dont mind that if its a successful one. you can add your own ideas but the basis of a good bar needs to be in place. what do you think the slam bar has going for it?

Going 4 it, well small and cute.
The circle is great but only when in season cos its empty the rest of the time.
In April/May the circle was extremely quiet as was the village.
How about you buying Botega. I know its not up 4 sale, but you never know. Think it would make a far better bar/restuarant etc than many others around and the views are to die 4.
Another place I know is not 4 sale, but again 1 can always have a word with the owners is 'The Pink Flamingo'. Fantastic setting, superb location, wonderful huge place, a swimming pool with seating around it. To me it would make the perfect setting 4 a bar/ restuarant brought in 2 days gambit. I have seriously been looking at getting it to turn it into an upmarket afternoon tea place and (like tea at the Ritz or Hyde Park Hotel in London) and in the evenings and sunday lunches as an upmarket Carvery. The one in Lagos is dreadful , wherby a really good 1 in CVO would work well. Only problem is I do not have that kind of cash. But I know both of those suggestions were they to come to fruition would be a money spinner.

Hi, if I could throw in my tupenseworth .I have friends in the trade in a seaside town here in Ireland and what most of them will tell you is the problem of getting thru the off season.
Theres only so much profit you can make in 6 or 7 months and the other 4 to 5 months tend to be a big black hole moneywise.I reckon if you can pay your way thru these then the good times will kook after themselves.
Possibly another point worth considering is the subject of what you reckon is a good return.Here in ireland 40 odd% is a fair return on a small family pub so if your doin between three and a half and five grand a week your on a fair good return.Also i,ts worth asking yourself when you see a bar that seems to be flying what its costing him to do it .Is he paying for a band ,a chef,lots of staff or a high rent for the right spot.
Sorry i,m twittering on and probably not giving you any real advise.
Look one last nugget of inspired brillence and then i,ll leave ye alone,most people on holiday will go to half a dozen different places and they don,t have to be that dissimiler,so if you can make a bit of a fuss of folks ,take a bit of an interest in where there from etc,then they may not use only your place but they will put you in on the circuit and give you a turn.
Anyway best of luck.

hi Guys,

do any of you know the Slam Bar?? HOw do you rate it?

It has been up 4 sale 4 sum time.

I know 4 different people who looked at buying it. Probs explained 2 me were.

1. 2 expensive & would not budge much on price.
2. Very small inside 4 numbers 2 make it worth while.
3. Location.
4. Location re out of season. Dead as a dodo.
5. Problems with certificates etc!!!!!
6. Probs with their equiv - fire/ health n safety/env health depts etc.

Me, myself, I, I enjoyed the place when it was opened & liked the cuteness of the place.
Thought it could make money but not enuf 2 see you thru the out of season.
(I grew up in the Licence trade & later went in2 Env Health 4 my sins. So understand the trade sumwhat)