So, you’ve decided it’s time for a revamp! But how do you choose your pub refurbishment contractor? In this week’s article, we thought we’d help you out by sharing some of the questions you should be asking your potential contractors?
Five questions to ask when you’re looking for pub refurbishment contractor:
How long have you been in the business?
Experience counts in this business, so you want to be sure that your potential pub refurbishment contractor has plenty. Experience can be the difference between a successful project that comes in on time and within budget or a delayed project that costs more than you expect.
Fairland has been around since 1990, but Jim Sutherland (our Founder, Owner and Managing Director) ran a carpentry and joinery company before this which specialised in public house and hotel refurbishment. So, his experience and that of his Contracts Managers and staff are vast. We are very proud of the fact that most of our team stay with us for many years. At heart, we’re a family business employing several close family members. Our staff are counted as friends as well as colleagues. All this means that you can trust in our experience.
Who have you worked with before?
The client portfolio of a pub refurbishment contractor will give you a solid clue of their standing in the industry. We are proud to be established partners with EI Group and Mitchell’s and Butler, working also with Fullers, Novus Leisure, Craft Union, Beer + Burger Store, Old Spot Pubs, Belushi Bars and Pub Love.
We also carry out fit out refurbishments for smaller, independent clients.
View some of our recent projects HERE.
Will I have a dedicated contact?
When you engage your pub refurbishment contractor you want to be sure that you have a dedicated point of contact who oversees your job.
At Fairland, our Contracts Managers see your project through from beginning to end. Their role is to liaise between you and the operatives on site. They will deal with the original costing of your job. They regularly attend site meetings to deal with the day to day progression of your job, liaising with designers and subcontractors. Where necessary, they may also deal with local councils or listed building officials on your behalf. They ensure that your project is Health and Safety compliant and that all operatives on site are suitably qualified. They will attend your site for handover and often attend a post-contract review meeting to ensure you are satisfied for sign off.
Will you work out of hours?
It’s important to establish that your pub refurbishment contractor is happy to supply services out of hours. At Fairland, we know how important it is to be flexible. Our clients want their projects handed over on time so they can carry on trading. Out of hours working applies to most of our projects because they are fast-track refurbishments for the hospitality industry. In some instances, the pubs are trading well and our clients, understandably don’t want to lose custom through closing for lengthy periods, so out of hours and overnight trading is essential.
Additionally, we sometimes work in an environment where security is critical, such as the O2 Arena in London or shopping centres and stations. In these instances, we have to adhere to strict delivery times that may be ‘out of hours’.
Who is my contact after the project is complete?
Aftercare is very important on a pub refurbishment contract. In our business, reputation is everything. So, at Fairland, we believe it’s vital that we complete works to your satisfaction as quickly as possible. Jim’s mantra is that our projects should always aim for ‘zero snagging’, but inevitably there are occasional issues or small snags. Your Contract Manager remains your first point of contact, although our admin staff are always at the end of the phone, providing essential backup, where necessary.
If you’re looking for a pub refurbishment contractor, contact us about your project.
Pub Refurbishment – Design Trends 2019