Black Swan, Wakefield

Wakefield is a cathedral city in West Yorkshire located on the River Calder. This industrial, market town is steeped in history and has many tourist attractions around the city. With a population of 325,837 and serviced by excellent transport links via car (M62 &M1), regular bus and train services it is easy accessible to locals and tourists visiting the area. The Black Swan is a town centre, late night venue, centrally located in the town. Surrounded by shops, bars and restaurants it truly is the hub of the night time circuit and is attractive to people of all ages.

Pub Layout

Entrance to the pub is located between a shop and a bar/restaurant. A small courtyard passage leads to the main entrance. Once inside the lobby area, you can take the door to your left or the door straight ahead; both doors lead into the one-room, open-plan, galley-style operation. To the left, you’ll see the bar and DJ booth. The bar, with its complete mirrored wall, is stocked with premium drinks and cocktails, perfect for this late-night venue. A few steps down to a lower level, you’ll find a raised stage to the right, a dance floor, and two booth areas with high-backed bench seating and mood lighting to enhance the atmosphere. The main area opposite the bar features a mix of bench seating areas and low-level tables and chairs. The combination of the mirrored bar, tiled walls, and wooden floor, balanced with wallpaper and dark paint, is designed to give the venue a trendy, chic late-night feel. At the end of the room, patio doors lead to a small enclosed paved courtyard with tables and chairs, perfect for alfresco drinking.

The Black Swan is a popular town centre local offering an excellent range of  premium products and an extensive range of spirits and minerals. A wet led, late night establishment, the Black Swan has a strong customer base with a core of regular late night drinkers where trade is dictated by activity such as DJ’s, karaoke, open mic evenings and drink offers which have proven successful within the community. It has scope to develop these events further by introducing team sports, promote televised sports and possible live music events increasing weekly trade with marketing and social media essential in maximising the footfall.

Private Accommodation

The private accommodation, accessed via a separate entrance is of a good size. It consists of three bedrooms, open plan living room, kitchen, bathroom and office over two floors.

Annual Rent: £TBC

Security Deposit: £5,000

Working Capital: £3,000

Stock: £3,000

Fixtures and Fittings: To be confirmed upon valuation –  funding options may be available for the right licensee.

Tie: All drinks categories are tied.  For fully funded licensees on long term agreements, we offer free-of-tie options for certain drinks categories in exchange for an annual fee.

Training: £325 plus VAT

For a breakdown on financial information, please refer to the ‘Additional Info’ tab.

Admiral Taverns are looking for an experienced licensee who have local knowledge and have run town centre establishments previously. The applicants must have the passion and knowledge of running a successful business and who are cheerful and sociable and are willing to build a great rapport with the local community. The ability to cater for different groups of people from different age groups and background, continuing to support the current customer base whilst attracting other less frequent users is essential. Marketing and a better and more profitable bar line up alongside excellent retail standards, a calendar of regular sport and entertainment with a good knowledge of the local area will be helpful as the pub is much loved by the regulars and has the scope and location to be the hub of the community and increase footfall.

Annual Rent – This is our lowest rent figure associated with a Full Tie.  If the tie is reduced the effective rent (via Tie Release Fees) will increase.  Rent is billed and paid for weekly in advance depending on the payment terms agreed). On occasion, our Business Development Manager will discuss a start up rent which is discretionary to an individual pub and can be discussed.

Security Deposit – This sum of money will be held on your account and will be returned to you on exiting of the pub based on your final account balance and the condition of the property.  Our standard deposit is 25% of the headline rent.  On occasion, we can negotiate a lower security deposit with the aim to build up to our full deposit on a long term agreement.

Working Capital – This is a recommend amount required which will be used in the day-to-day running of the business.

Stock – This will be valued by an independent valuer on the day you take over the pub. This includes unbranded glassware, unopened bottles, wines, spirits, any unopened / opened kegs and cask ale providing the container is unopened.

Fixtures & Fittings – This includes any item that is bolted to the floor or walls, and a fitting to be any item that is free standing or hung by a nail or hook. This will also include furniture.

Tie: All drinks categories are tied.  For fully funded licensees on long term agreements, we offer free-of-tie options for certain drinks categories in exchange for an annual fee.

Training – Before signing a long term agreement, you will be required to attend our 7 Steps to Sales Success training programme.  Held online over three days, you will learn marketing and business strategies that will help you to grow sales in your pub – step-by-step.

Service Charge Cost – £60.89 per week – The Admiral Taverns Premium Maintenance Package will help take care of your compliance and statutory obligations with one simple fee, whilst giving you piece of mind about your boiler and cellar cooling repair and replacement.  This also includes full access to e-learning for you and your staff.

*Zero Business Rates – Based on the April 2023 rating list, the Nil Rates Payable is based on small business rates relief being applied and the licensee only occupying one property for commercial purposes.  Please note, this only applies to pubs marked with an Asterix *