CHAT ROOM

From my experience charging an extra 3 pounds on the door so as to provide the customer with a token which they exchange for a drink behind the bar does not make an awful lot of difference to bar take but does make a negative difference to people through the door.

Here's the reason.

It's not a problem getting people to buy their first drink. The problem is in getting the customer of buy their 2nd, 3rd or 4th.

Although we have managed to pretty much stop the tap water problem we are finding it more difficult increase per head spend behind the bar.

With the credit crunch and customers more strapped for cash than ever before this might be a more difficult one to ammend.

The bars we use are about to launch a range of thirst quenching non-alcoholic cocktails pre-prepared in jugs in order to give salsa customers a wider range of drink options.

As bce has pointed out, it is also up to the promoter to PROMOTE (ie market) their event so that enough people turn up. Simple maths. A bar spend of 4-5 pounds x 100 is better for the bar than 4-5 pounds x 60.

Where we come from 500 quid on a dead night for a bar is worth opening, I appreciate that this wont work in London.