QUICK VERDICT
Opportunity Type Amber Taverns Tied Tenancy Pubco Amber Taverns Google Rating 4.2 stars (838 reviews) Ingoing Cost £5,000–£15,000 estimated Working Capital Needed £18,000–£25,000 minimum Trade Character Westgate Wakefield WF1, midnight Sun–Thu, 1am Friday/Saturday, 838 reviews, Wakefield city centre Best Suited To West Yorkshire city centre operator; Wakefield WF1 Westgate is the city\’s main entertainment street with a strong late-night economy Shaun\’s Rating \[ \] Watch Out For Midnight close seven nights with 1am Friday/Saturday. The seven-night late operation requires door management every single session. Budget for seven late-finish staffing costs, not just two weekend nights. Wakefield Westgate\’s night-time economy is competitive — Hogarths needs to be earning its 838 reviews through consistent quality rather than just footfall.
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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
Hogarths is at 61–63 Westgate, Wakefield WF1 1BW. Westgate is Wakefield\’s main commercial and entertainment street, running from the cathedral area through the city centre. Wakefield is a West Yorkshire city of approximately 100,000 people with a strong cultural investment — the Hepworth Wakefield gallery (one of England\’s finest contemporary art spaces) and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (approximately 8 miles) have both raised the city\’s cultural profile significantly.
Key employers: NHS Wakefield, Wakefield Council, and the Yorkshire and Humber public and private sector economy. Wakefield has a competitive city centre hospitality market on Westgate. Wetherspoons has a Wakefield city centre presence. 838 reviews at 4.2 stars on Westgate is functional for a city centre pub with significant late-night competition.
The Hogarths name references William Hogarth, the 18th-century English painter and social critic famous for works like \’Beer Street\’ and \’Gin Lane\’ — his commentary on drinking culture is an unusual but interesting identity for a pub.
WHAT THE PUB IS
Hogarths opens at 11am and closes at midnight Monday to Thursday and Sunday, with 1am closes Friday and Saturday. Seven-night late operation. At 838 reviews and 4.2 stars on Wakefield\’s main entertainment street, the pub handles significant city centre volume.
The Hogarth identity — the painter of Beer Street and Gin Lane — is a culturally rich name for a city with the Hepworth Gallery\’s contemporary art credentials. An operator who connects the pub\’s identity with Wakefield\’s growing cultural confidence builds something more distinctive than a generic city centre late-night venue.
THE AMBER TAVERNS DEAL
Amber Taverns tied tenancy. Wakefield city centre market with Wetherspoons competition requires careful pricing analysis. Request the full price list. Seven-night late operation means door supervision, management cover, and late-shift staffing costs apply every night.
FINANCIAL REALITY
Metric Estimate Ingoing Cost £5,000–£15,000 estimated Working Capital Required £18,000–£25,000 (seven-night late; Wakefield city centre) Agreement Type Amber Taverns Tied Tenancy Tied Supplies Yes — request full price list; Wetherspoons competition on Westgate Break-Even Timeline 12–18 months Midnight Seven Nights Door and late-shift costs every session — model honestly Hogarths Identity Beer Street and Gin Lane painter — a culturally interesting identity for Wakefield\’s arts city
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 West Yorkshire city centre operator with Wakefield Westgate knowledge and late-night management experience. Someone who can serve the evening economy consistently seven nights while using Hogarths\’ cultural identity against the generic city centre competition. Minimum £18,000 liquid capital.
WHAT WORKS / WHAT DOESN\’T
WHAT WORKS
- Wakefield\’s growing cultural identity — Hepworth Gallery and Yorkshire Sculpture Park raising the city\’s confidence
- 838 reviews providing established Westgate presence to build on
- The Hogarths name — Beer Street painter in a city investing in arts and culture
WHAT DOESN\’T WORK
- Seven late nights without seven nights\’ door and management cost budgeted honestly
WHAT YOU NEED ON DAY ONE
Seven-night door supervision plan. EPOS with late-shift reporting. Professional stocktaking from week two.
GET YOUR NUMBERS RIGHT BEFORE YOU SIGN
Before you sign anything, know your numbers.
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