Spring is on its way!
As the days grow longer and the first hints of spring fill the air, now is the perfect time to give your pub or restaurant a seasonal refresh. With outdoor spaces becoming more inviting and customers keen to embrace the sunshine, ensuring your venue is fresh, welcoming, and ready to make the most of spring’s promise can help drive revenue and attract new patrons.
The design and style of any pub are crucial to keeping customers coming back. While a strong menu will always be a draw, peeling paintwork, tired interiors, and overlooked outdoor spaces can quickly put potential visitors off. A well-maintained and inviting space is key to staying ahead of the competition and maximising revenue, especially as people start looking for places to enjoy the longer evenings and better weather.
Refurbishments don’t have to be costly. Many landlords have transformed their pubs with limited budgets. The golden rule is to allocate capital carefully and work with a seasoned expert who can help manage all contractors efficiently, ensuring every space is being used to its full potential.
At CIC, working with pubs and restaurants is our ‘bread and butter.’ We partner with many pub companies throughout the year to refurbish their sites and bring their plans to fruition. Keeping a fresh look encourages returning customers, and independent pubs can also make a big impact with minimal investment.
Here are some of our top tips for simple updates that can keep a pub or restaurant looking fresh, along with examples of how we’ve supported our customers:
- Make the most of outdoor spaces – As the days lengthen, an inviting exterior can boost foot traffic and revenue. At The Punch Hotel in Hull, we transformed an underused back garden into a thriving social space. By repainting walls, removing overgrown vegetation, overhauling guttering, and restoring exterior timber, we created an appealing outdoor area that now seats up to 100 people—perfect for spring and summer trade.
- Prioritise essential maintenance – While it’s tempting to focus on decorative changes, infrastructure matters. Wiring, roofing, and ventilation repairs may not immediately drive revenue, but keeping them in good condition can prevent costly disruptions down the line. Strategic planning helps balance investment in visible upgrades with essential behind-the-scenes maintenance.
- Enhance curb appeal – First impressions count! Clean windows, bright signage, stylish outdoor furniture, and simple touches like hanging baskets and flowerpots can create an inviting entrance without a big price tag. With The Harrow, in West Isley we carried out full exterior work and the building’s colour became a talking point!
- Prioritise comfort and ambiance – Small tweaks can make a big difference. Introducing new soft furnishings, installing warmer lighting, or updating seating arrangements can refresh the space while maintaining its familiar charm. For example, at The Bricklayers Pub in Hitchin, we worked with Wells & Co to deliver a high-impact refurbishment on a small budget, resulting in a fantastic return on investment.
- Appeal to the right audience – If your pub is struggling to attract footfall, consider whether a design update could help. The Dragoon Pub in Cambridgeshire, for example, had a strong sports bar identity that wasn’t aligning with the growing local community. With thousands of new homes being built nearby, we helped reposition it as a welcoming country pub serving home-cooked meals, broadening its appeal and boosting business.
- Don’t forget the toilets! – Unglamorous but essential, fresh and well-maintained toilets can leave a lasting impression. Bright, clean spaces with subtle lighting upgrades can elevate the overall experience for your customers.
