3 Key Considerations For Your Bar Fit Out Costs
A bar fit out or re-fit can provide a wealth of benefits for your business. Whether you need clarity in portraying your brand and/or theme, providing a new lease of life for your premises, or simply wishing to stand out from the crowd, rejuvenating your bar space can be a great place to start.
However, when working on such a large-scale project, many areas need to be taken into consideration to ensure everything runs smoothly. Each step of the process will eat into your bar fit out costs, which is why your budget should be your main focus when planning and executing your project.
That’s where ecsec comes in; With over 50 years of interior fit out experience, we have the expertise to guide you through your project and help you manage your budget, from start to finish. Here are our top priorities when it comes to planning your project, keeping bar fit out costs front of mind:
1. Budgeting your time and money
One of the first, and most obvious, questions you may face is ‘How much time and money do we have?’. Budgeting your bar fit out, both in terms of finances and time, determines how you plan your project; Ultimately time is money, so ensuring you have enough of both is essential.
Each project has its requirements and variables, so costs can vary greatly depending on several points, such as the location of your project. For example, the costs of premises in a city centre are likely to be higher than a project located in a more rural area, where it may also take longer to receive materials.
It is also worth keeping in mind that every decision you make will affect your costs. Choosing one material over another could save you a considerable amount of money, as would choosing a simpler design to save labour time.
As data from the Department for Business & Trade demonstrates, the prices for building materials are ever-fluctuating and cannot be guaranteed year on year. For example, while the cost of material prices for new builds decreased overall by -0.6% from February 2023 to February 2024, it increased by 0.2% between January and February 2024. These recent fluctuations mean material prices may have changed since your initial planning.
The list of factors when budgeting is extensive, from raw material and labour costs to accounting for time hurdles such as regulation tests and material deliveries. Whilst planning is essential, being mindful of the bigger picture and having realistic expectations both for your budget and the timeframe of your project is key.
2. Planning and preparing
To keep your entire project running as smoothly as possible, it’s beneficial to employ a project manager to assist with keeping all the finer details in check. When undertaking a bar fit-out or re-fit, each area of the project requires a breakdown of materials, plans, regulations and companies involved (just to scratch the surface). Keeping on top of every detail is a monumental task, so employing someone with experience is essential.
While hiring a professional may seem like an expensive addition to your bar fit out costs, the benefits hugely outweigh the financial hit. A good project manager can predict any issues before they arise, and subsequently adapt and overcome them if they develop, deviating from the budget and time frame as little as possible.
Another way to reduce the stress of project planning would be to employ a designer. Not only will a designer provide a cohesive vision and objective for your bar project, but they can also brief the contractors and project managers effectively and thoroughly.
Whilst there may already be a brand and theme in place, a designer will have the expertise to consider all of the nuances that pull a design together; With so many aspects to consider, having someone with experience will help to keep the project focused on the purpose of the design, which is ultimately to create a lasting impression on your customers and result in improvements for your business.
3. Rules and regulations
Health and safety, fire and disabled access regulations are all aspects of a project that cannot be overlooked; Failing to meet these standards and requirements could result in a hefty fine or even criminal prosecution.
Seeking out a professional who can guarantee that every correct measure has been put in place when it comes to safety and regulations is essential. Not only will this save you any complications when meeting standards, but it will allow your customers to have the best possible experience in your premises, knowing that they are safe and their needs are catered for.
Another consideration that should be addressed is planning permissions. You most likely will require planning permission for your project, and it is best to get these in place as soon as possible to avoid delays or disappointment if things don’t go as planned.
It’s important to remember that all of these processes take time to be approved and put into effect, so once again, make sure that your budget accounts for and reflects these sometimes hidden costs.
Time to get started
With these basics of bar fit out costs in mind, we highly recommend getting in contact with a specialist interior fit out company as a first port of call. They will not only have industry knowledge but also the connections to help you piece your project together. At ecsec, we have an abundance of both, so for further advice with your bar fit-out / re-fit, take a look at our website and reach out to us if you feel that we can help.
Managing Director
With a robust background in restaurant fit-outs, Mike Swift brings years of expertise to crafting unforgettable dining spaces. Known for blending functionality with style, Mike ensures every project not only meets regulatory standards but also captivates guests.
