With pubs re-opening to customers this weekend after months of inactivity due to the coronavirus lockdown, now might be a good time for potential landlords who are thinking of taking on a new challenge.
The Find My Pub site lists an enormous variety of venues around Merseyside and further afield that are crying out for someone to take them over.
As this list demonstrates, they range from basic "wet-led" community boozers to grander food and drink offerings in historic listed buildings.
In nearly all cases, private accommodation is included - sometimes very spacious - so if you take it on, you're getting a home as well as a business.
You'll need a bit of money behind you, though.
First, there will be ' ingoing costs' to pay. This is the minimum amount needed to take on the pub, and usually includes the security deposit, the first stock and glassware order, and some fixtures and fittings.
In the list below, this ranges from £3,000 to just short of £48,000, depending on the pub.
There will also be annual rent to pay, which includes any rent for private accommodation, along with bills and staff costs.
Again there are wide variations in the amount you will pay, depending on the size and scale of the operation.
Here are the pubs currently available.
Eastham Ferry
Address: Ferry Road, Eastham, Wirral CH62 0AU
Ingoing cost: £15,000
Rent: £31,500
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Seven bedrooms
Details: "The Eastham Ferry is an extremely well-known outlet with a great historical presence in the local area. The tenant should be well funded and be excited about working with the landlords in bringing this sleeping giant back to life and restore local community faith in this once great establishment."
The Horseshoe
Address: Southport Road, Ormskirk L39 3AP
Ingoing cost: £9,000
Rent: £18,500
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Three bedrooms
Details: "Currently, the pub serves both locals and students from Edge Hill University. It does not have a food offer, but there is potential to provide snacks etc."
Clarence Hotel
Address: Albion Street, Wallasey, CH45 9JQ
Ingoing cost: £12,000
Rent: £18,000
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Four bedrooms
Details: "The Clarence Hotel has a loyal customer base comprising mostly of locals and cask ale drinkers, who come back time and time again for the laid back, friendly atmosphere. There is scope to build on existing trade given that the New Brighton Promenade is less than a mile away."
Rake Hotel
Address: Mill Park Drive, Eastham, Wirral, CH62 9AY
Ingoing cost: £7,800
Rent: £10,000
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Three bedrooms
Details: "The customer base will come mostly from within the heart of the neighbourhood. It is a 'home from home' local where the vast majority meet with friends for a regular pint. It is very much geared for sports and games."
Ring O Bells
Address: Pit Lane, Widnes, WA8 9HU
Ingoing cost: £20,500
Rent: £40,000
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Three bedrooms
Details: "Very well presented trading areas, an established customer base and quality retail offer make this an exciting proposition... it is essential that those who apply are experienced food operators with a good track record of running a similar type of pub."
The Ship Inn
Address: Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 3BB
Ingoing cost: £19,250
Rent: £45,000
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Four bedrooms
Details: "The Ship Inn really is the heart of the local community and is considered as a home from home for many of the regulars. It has a great reputation and often supports the local lifeboats."
Spitfire Pub & Kitchen
Address: Kenilworth Road, Ainsdale, Southport PR8 3PH
Ingoing cost: £24,750
Rent: £49,000
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Three bedrooms
Details: "The Spitfire has the potential to expand its current customer base by introducing a great food offer that can target different consumers at different times of the week. This property is ideal for a catering professional."
Derby Arms
Address: Knowsley Lane, Prescot, L34 9EA
Ingoing cost: £30,850
Rent: £26,500
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Two bedrooms
Details: "The landlords are looking for an operator who is experienced in food and can extend and improve the current offer. They must have an interest in sport, and the promotion of sport in the pub is key."
Liver Hotel
Address: South Road, Waterloo, Sefton L22 0LT
Ingoing cost: £47,562
Rent: £46,750
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Four bedrooms
Details: "The landlords are seeking an experienced publican with experience of a high volume food offer, within a busy pub. You'll need to be an exceptional host and demonstrate high standards."
Queens Head
Address: Moor Street, Ormskirk, L39 2AQ
Ingoing cost: £25,875
Rent: £10,000
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Three bedrooms
Details: "The landlords are seeking an operator with experience of running and controlling a wet-led, late licence town centre pub."
The Reverend Plummer
Address: Church Road, Halewood Village, L26 6LB
Ingoing cost: £26,188
Rent: £29,750
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Two bedrooms
Details: "The Reverend Plummer needs a new operator with a passion for great food, to take this already solid business and take it to new heights."
The Wellington
Address: Picton Road, Wavertree, L15 4LP
Ingoing cost: £8,750
Rent: £8,500
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Three bedrooms
Details: "The Wellington is very much a community pub and appeals to both daytime and evening drinkers. The licensee will need to be able to provide a friendly face behind the bar, in a busy and vibrant pub."
The Old House at Home
Address: Queen Street, Birkenhead, CH41 9AS
Ingoing cost: £3,000
Rent: £10,000
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Five bedrooms
Details: "This site currently trades as a predominantly wet-led 'boozer'. In the summer months, it does attract more families due to the large beer garden... with little competition and lots of residential housing around the pub this should be an easy win."
The Castle
Address: Warrington Road, Widnes, WA8 0AX
Ingoing cost: £5,000
Rent: £20,000
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Five bedrooms
Details: "The trading style is a typical community local incorporating live sports, bar games, karaoke, live music and local charity events. The site is wet only."
Castle Hotel
Address: Castle Road, Runcorn, WA7 2BE
Ingoing cost: £3,000
Rent: £12,000
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Three bedrooms
Details: "What is now the pub dates back to 1737 and was originally the courthouse of the nearby castle, as such it has significant historical interest and has full Grade 2 listed status... The current trading style is predominantly wet-led and is maximised via the utilisation of the games on site and sports viewing in the lounge. "
Jubilee Inn
Address: Hatton Hill Road, Litherland, Sefton L21 9JH
Ingoing cost: £12,008
Rent: £20,500
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Four bedrooms
Details: "The ideal operator will have the enthusiasm to build a business and will develop well-established links with the local university and regulars. They will be happy to work late nights of a weekend and have the skills to operate a wet-led pub."
The Railway
Address: Derby Street, Ormskirk, L39 2BJ
Ingoing cost: £9,185
Rent: £12,000
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: To be confirmed
Details: "As this is a 100% drinks led business, we are looking for a team who can create a fun atmosphere for your guests. As there is a pool table and darts board the local has plenty of potential to pull in residents, offering a programme of weekly events."
The Royal Oak
Address: Lambsickle Lane, Weston, Runcorn, WA7 4RP
Ingoing cost: £5,000
Rent: £22,000
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Three bedrooms
Details: "The site is a community local frequented predominantly by regulars living in the village. It is a real community pub with bar games, live sport, regular entertainment, charity events etc."
The Wheatsheaf
Address: Neston Road, Neston, CH64 4AP
Ingoing cost: £10,000
Rent: £35,774
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Vast, including a large hallway with an office, and three large double bedrooms
Details: "Located close to Ness Botanic Gardens and Burton Mere wetlands, the pub attracts tourists and walkers, along with those from the local towns and villages. It's a popular destination pub, serving a great value offer which appeals to people of all ages."
The Lord Nelson
Address: Trafalgar Road, Wallasey, CH44 0EA
Ingoing cost: £8,000
Rent: £12,000
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Five bedrooms
Details: "The Lord Nelson is a true community pub. The previous licensee has previously had a good social calendar of events. Music is popular at the weekends, as is weekly quiz nights and community activities. The darts team is a welcome addition with home matches and a strong following providing additional income on those quieter nights."
Stork Hotel
Address: Price Street, Birkenhead, CH41 6JN
Ingoing cost: £5,000
Rent: £16,000
Type: Tenancy
Accommodation: Four bedrooms
Details: "The pub currently specialises in a wide variety of cask ales and homemade food. It has a core customer base, including mid-week sports teams. It is often visited by local historians who are keen to admire the Edwardian tile-work throughout the property."
A previous version of this article listed the Montgomery in Eastham Village, which remained listed on findmypub at the time of publication. We are happy to confirm the pub has landlords in place, who signed a lease earlier this year.
