Victoria Bar, Hamilton

The Victoria Bar is located in the historical town of Hamilton. Hamilton lies in the heart of Lanarkshire where the Clyde and Avon rivers meet, about 12 miles southeast of Glasgow and is known as the starting point on the Clyde Valley national tourist route heading south. Hamilton has a rich history, with evidence of settlement dating back to the Roman times. It grew significantly during the Industrial Revolution due to its strategic location near coal and iron deposits, becoming a centre for manufacturing and mining industries. Today, Hamilton is a bustling town with a mix of residential areas, retail stores, and green spaces with a population of 55,000 people. The Victoria Bar is located on the outskirts of Hamilton with good thoroughfare with excellent transport links with trains providing direct routes to Glasgow and Edinburgh and is also served by many major roads, including the M74 the main southerly link to England and direct to Glasgow and the M8 to Edinburgh.

Pub Layout

The Victoria Bar is a corner plot with two separate entrances. Upon entrance from the front the bar is to the left of you, however if you enter from the side door the bar is directly in front of you. This one room operation, complete with high ceilings add a sense of space and traditional features like the dark wooden bar contribute to a warm and inviting atmosphere. The mixture of fixed and loose seating alongside the intimate bar set up contributes to the traditional yet quirky ambiance created making this pub charming and extremely sociable. The snug area at the back offers a sense of seclusion, perfect for patrons seeking a more intimate setting.

The Victoria Bar is currently trading as a wet operation providing a welcoming atmosphere, blending community engagement with a well-established base of regular patrons who appreciate the mature ambiance of the bar, especially with its focus on live music and karaoke. Maintaining the pub’s connection with this is important for fostering community spirit and loyalty among regulars. The new licensee will have a good understanding of the pub’s identity and is keen to build upon its existing strengths while adding new elements to enhance the overall offering incorporating some elements that appeal to a younger demographic without alienating the current clientele.

Private Accommodation

There is no private accommodation at this site.

Annual Rent: £24,000

Security Deposit: £5,000

Working Capital: £2,000

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 individual or couple who are not only passionate about interacting with people but also have the drive and skills to run a successful business. Knowledge of the local area would be advantageous, however the desire to make a positive impact on the local community, whether through events, promotions, or simply providing a welcoming environment is key. The ability to enhance the existing offerings and introduce new ideas like an active rhythm of the week to attract more customers and increase revenue whilst honouring the legacy of the current licensees by carrying on their successful initiatives will ensure the success of the business and establish the Victoria Bar as a central hub of the community where people gather to socialize, relax, and enjoy themselves.

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 *