QUICK VERDICT
Opportunity Type Amber Taverns Tied Tenancy Pubco Amber Taverns Google Rating 4.0 stars (70 reviews) Ingoing Cost £5,000–£15,000 estimated Working Capital Needed £15,000–£22,000 minimum Trade Character Walpole Road Gosport PO12, 11am opening, midnight six nights, 11pm Sunday, Royal Navy community Best Suited To Hampshire coastal community operator; Gosport PO12 is a Royal Navy and defence town across Portsmouth Harbour Shaun\’s Rating \[ \] Watch Out For Midnight close six nights per week from Walpole Road, Gosport is an unusual profile. 70 reviews at 4.0 stars means this pub is relatively new or hasn\’t built its review base. The name \’Erasmus Wolfe\’ is distinctive — Erasmus (the Renaissance humanist scholar) combined with Wolfe (likely General James Wolfe, who was associated with Gosport\’s Fort Brockhurst and trained troops in Hampshire). The combination gives the name a specific military-intellectual character appropriate for a garrison town.
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This independent assessment was prepared by SmartPubTools using the following publicly available sources:
- Pub listing data: Amber Taverns published listings — availability, agreement type and rent figures sourced directly from the pub company's own website
- Google rating & reviews: Google Places API — ratings and review counts retrieved programmatically from Google Maps data
- Local population & demographics: ONS Census 2021 — population figures, age profiles and household data
- Local employment data: NOMIS Official Labour Market Statistics — employment rates and major local employer data
- Pubs Code information: Pubs Code Adjudicator (UK Government) — tied tenant rights and MRO entitlements
- Operator perspective: SmartPubTools is operated by a working pub landlord under a Marston's Community Retail Partnership at Teal Farm Pub, Washington NE38 — assessments reflect genuine first-hand operator experience
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THE LOCAL PICTURE
Erasmus Wolfe is at 2 Walpole Road, Gosport PO12 1NG. Walpole Road is in Gosport town centre. Gosport is a Hampshire coastal town of approximately 85,000 people on a peninsula directly across Portsmouth Harbour from Portsmouth. Gosport is defined by its Royal Navy and defence connections — HMS Sultan (Navy\’s engineering training establishment), Fort Brockhurst, and the Gosport waterfront are all key to the town\’s identity.
The ferry crossing to Portsmouth (approximately 3 minutes) makes Gosport accessible to Portsmouth\’s commercial economy while retaining its distinct community character. Key employers: the Ministry of Defence, NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, and the Solent defence and maritime economy.
WHAT THE PUB IS
Erasmus Wolfe opens at 11am and closes at midnight Monday to Saturday, with an 11pm Sunday close. Six midnight closes per week require staffing management for consistent late finishes. At 70 reviews, the online profile needs building from day one.
THE AMBER TAVERNS DEAL
Amber Taverns tied tenancy. Gosport\’s community market is price-sensitive. Request the full price list. Six late nights per week — confirm whether door supervision is required under the licence conditions.
FINANCIAL REALITY
Metric Estimate Ingoing Cost £5,000–£15,000 estimated Working Capital Required £15,000–£22,000 (liquid, not borrowed) Agreement Type Amber Taverns Tied Tenancy Tied Supplies Yes — request full price list Break-Even Timeline 12–18 months Six Midnight Nights Staffing cost every night Mon–Sat; confirm door supervision requirements Erasmus Wolfe Name Renaissance scholar + General Wolfe — military-intellectual identity for a garrison town
PUBS CODE RIGHTS — KNOW BEFORE YOU SIGN
PUBS CODE RIGHTS — KNOW BEFORE YOU SIGN
- Independent rent assessment — exercise your Pubs Code right before signing
- Request full P&L projections from Amber Taverns before committing
- Obtain Schedule of Condition at entry — protects you on dilapidations
- Get the full tied product price list before you agree terms
- Complete Amber Taverns pre-entry training (required)
- Right to a free Market Rent Only option assessment
- Right to independent legal and financial advice before signing
WHO THIS SUITS
A Hampshire coastal community operator with Gosport knowledge and the management model to sustain six midnight closes per week consistently. Minimum £15,000 liquid capital.
WHAT WORKS / WHAT DOESN\’T
WHAT WORKS
- Royal Navy and defence community providing consistent weekday trade
- Gosport ferry connection to Portsmouth extending the catchment
- Erasmus Wolfe name — distinctive and specific identity for a garrison town
WHAT DOESN\’T WORK
- Six midnight closes without the staffing model to sustain them
WHAT YOU NEED ON DAY ONE
Six-night staffing pattern planned. Door supervision requirements confirmed. EPOS configured. Professional stocktaking from week two.
GET YOUR NUMBERS RIGHT BEFORE YOU SIGN
Before you sign anything, know your numbers.
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