Is it your dream to create the hippest spot in town? Yes, setting up a beach bar or restaurant with entertainment options can be one of the smartest decisions you’ll make. You’ll be able to help people relax while they socialise, giving your eatery an important role to play for your local community.
It will be challenging with LOTS of decisions to make while setting it up. Should you invest more in décor, or get an air hockey tableyou’ll love playing yourself? What are the legal ramifications? We’re here with some handy tips, so you can help everyone live the life they want—at your beach bar.
Get Financial Backing
The first step in the plan is to get financial backing. You will need finances for initial startup costs, such as:
- Premises
- Furniture
- Initial food and drinks costs
- Licences
- Wages for staff for 6 months
- Utility bills for at least 6 months
- Any computer or tech equipment for the office
- Sound and music systems
- Equipment for the bar, such as coffee machines
In order toget the capital, you’ll need a solid business plan, and to learn how to present your idea confidently. There are many templates online to help you get started with the plan, and friends can help you with perfecting your presentation by giving feedback.
Draw up a Menu
The next item to tick off your list is that of the menu. This is important to do first so that you can obtain licences for whatever alcohol you wish to sell. Aim for simple, healthy meals that can be made easily, and that can be rotated so that regular customers don’t get bored. You could try curries, burgers and chips, fish, seafood and simple meat barbeque meals.
For the drinks menu, make sure you have a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available. Cocktails are beach favourites, as well as fresh juices and fizzy drinks.
Always make sure your menu suits a variety of diets, and include gluten-free meal and drinks items, sugar-free and egg-free options, as well as vegetarian.
Obtain the Licences
Now it’s time to obtain your various licences and permits. You will do this at the same time as obtaining premises. You’ll need a licence to operate a restaurant-bar-cum-entertainment venue.
Furthermore, you’ll require a licence to serve alcohol, and you need to purchase a licence to play music. There may be more than one licence to obtain for each area, but you’ll have all the assistance you need from the local authorities.
Purchase or Lease Premises
When looking for premises, you can either seek out a section of unoccupied beach or get a venue that has already been built.
You may have to ensure that it’s cyclone-proof, depending on your location. Ideally, it should be a place where people congregate regularly, and where you are sure to get custom day or night. It could of course be in a very remote area where people don’t regularly travel, but you would have to have a drawcard in order toattract the crowds. For example, you could be the only food retailer in a remote location where hikers and backpackers regularly frequent.
Select a Theme for Décor and Music
Your theme is likely to be beach and sea themed. The venue could be a place where swimmers can pop in and out at will. You don’t even need a solid structure so you can have an open-walled wooden structure built in Caribbean style, with blinds to pull down in case of wind or rain. Just make sure you have plenty of shade, and some fans for the really hot days.
A hut with a sandy or wooden floor, with ambient lights, and small office that is securely lockable will function well. Decorate with sea-themed ornaments on walls and tables, such as starfish menu-holders, or whale-shaped plates. Why not get your local potter to make you some to order?
You should also set a theme for your music. Ensure that you have a playlist that includes hundreds of songs in that theme. You don’t want your customers or your staff to become bored with the audio. Naturally, a Caribbean flavour suits this theme, along with jazz, lounge, or some light classical music.
Set up an Entertainment Area
Setting up an entertainment area may be a lot of fun. People enjoy the beach, but need to have a break fromthe sun, or perhaps rain and the need to socialise will draw them in.
If you have an area where people can hang out and play games, you’ll win them over. So, if you’re looking at pinball machines for sale, or foosball, you can also consider shuffleboard, beach volleyball or tennis.
You also want an area where people can dance, or listen to live music. This can be on the beach, or a special area of your restaurant-cum-bar. You can have themed parties, pub quizzes, or pirate nights.
Conclusion
A beach bar draws many people, day and night, for entertainment and relaxation. It’s worth the hard work to open and run one, and will be sure to run at a profit, providing your pricing is right. Is it time to bring this dream of yours to life on the beach?