Finance Assets arranges asset finance for pubs and bars, helping UK pub and bar operators fund cellar and bar equipment, kitchens, EPOS, sports screens, beer garden upgrades and refurbishments.
Asset finance for pubs and bars spreads the cost of that equipment over 2 to 5 years, so takings pay for the kit as it earns. It suits freehouse owners refurbishing, tenants and leaseholders adding food or a beer garden, and multi-site operators rolling out upgrades across their estate.
Written by Marcus Wright, founder of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, in financial services since 2008 and a commercial finance broker since 2019. Last reviewed October 2026.
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The short version
- Asset finance lets pubs and bars spread the cost of equipment over 2 to 5 years.
- Kitchen, bar, cellar, EPOS, screens and beer garden equipment from different suppliers can go on one agreement.
- Beer dispense and gaming machines are often owned by the brewer or supplier, so check before including them.
- Tenants and leaseholders can get finance, but lenders check the lease or tenancy has long enough left to run.
- Finance Assets arranges asset finance for pubs and bars trading as limited companies and LLPs, and for sole traders and partnerships on agreements over £25,000.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Equipment covered | Cellar cooling, glasswashers, bar fridges, ice machines, coffee machines, kitchens, EPOS, sports screens, sound systems, beer garden heaters and canopies |
| Terms | Usually 2 to 5 years, matched to how long the equipment stays in use |
| Paid upfront | Hire purchase: often a 10% deposit plus VAT. Leases: usually 1 to 3 rentals in advance |
| New or used | Both, including reconditioned catering and refrigeration equipment from established dealers |
| Extras | Installation and some furniture and fit-out can often be included alongside harder equipment |
| Who we help | Limited companies and LLPs, plus sole traders and partnerships on business agreements over £25,000 |
Equipment we finance for pubs and bars
Lenders will fund most of the equipment a pub or bar owns, from the cellar to the beer garden. Each group links to our detailed guide where we have one.
| Equipment group | Examples |
|---|---|
| Cellar and refrigeration | Cellar cooling, bottle fridges, back bar chillers and ice machines. See commercial refrigeration finance |
| Bar equipment | Glasswashers, bar units, coffee machines and cocktail stations |
| Kitchen | Ovens, fryers, grills, extraction, dishwashers and prep equipment. See catering equipment finance |
| Tills and payments | EPOS terminals, order-at-table systems, kitchen screens and card machines. See point of sale finance |
| Screens and sound | Sports screens, projectors, sound systems and lighting. See audio-visual finance |
| Beer garden | Patio heaters, canopies, pergolas, outdoor bars and garden furniture |
| Furniture and fit-out | Seating, tables and bar fit-out, usually alongside harder equipment |
| Brewing | Brewpub and microbrewery kit. See brewery equipment finance |
| Energy | Heat pumps, boilers and solar PV to cut running costs |
Equipment you may not own
Some of the equipment in a pub belongs to someone else, so it cannot be used as security for your finance.
- Beer dispense. Fonts, lines, coolers and sometimes cellar equipment are often installed and owned by the brewer or drinks supplier under a supply agreement.
- Gaming machines. These are usually supplied by an operator on a profit-share basis and stay theirs.
- Landlord’s fixtures. On a tenancy, some fixtures may belong to the pub company or landlord.
If you want to buy your own dispense equipment, for example to go free of a supply deal, that can be funded. Check your supply agreement first.
Finance for freehouses, tenancies and leases
How you hold the pub changes what lenders look at.
- Freehouses. Owners of the freehold usually find approval easiest. Larger projects can sometimes be funded against the property instead, with a commercial mortgage.
- Tenancies and leases. Tenants of pub companies and leaseholders can use asset finance. Lenders want the tenancy or lease to run beyond the finance term, and may check whether you are tied for drinks.
- Multi-site operators. Groups can fund upgrades across several pubs on one facility, with each site’s equipment listed.
- Taking on a pub. New operators with experience in the trade and a clear plan stand a better chance. A larger deposit or a director’s guarantee may be needed.
Finance for pub refurbishments and fit-outs
A refurbishment usually mixes equipment with furniture and decoration, and lenders treat these differently.
- Hard and soft assets. Kitchens, refrigeration and screens are easy to fund. Furniture, bar fit-out and decoration have little resale value, so lenders often cap how much they will include.
- Bundle them. Putting soft items on the same agreement as harder equipment usually gets more of the project funded.
- Adding food. A new kitchen can be funded with extraction and installation. Compare the payment with the extra margin from food sales.
- Beer gardens. Heaters, canopies and outdoor bars extend the season. Building work and structures fixed to the property are usually funded another way.
Finance options for pubs and bars
Pubs usually buy long-life equipment on hire purchase and lease technology they will upgrade. Our types of asset finance guide covers each option in more depth.
| Type | How it works | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Hire purchase | A deposit, then fixed monthly payments. You own the equipment after the last one | Kitchens, cellar cooling and refrigeration you will keep |
| Finance lease | Rentals with VAT added to each one. The lender owns the equipment | Spreading the VAT on a full refurbishment |
| Operating lease | Lower rentals priced around the expected resale value. You hand it back at the end | EPOS, screens and coffee machines you will upgrade |
| Contract hire | A fixed rental for an agreed term and mileage, often with maintenance included | Delivery vans for multi-site operators |
Hire purchase for pubs and bars
Hire purchase for pubs and bars is the usual way to buy kitchens, cellar cooling and refrigeration. You pay a deposit, often around 10% plus the VAT, then fixed monthly payments, and the equipment is yours after the last one. You are treated as the owner for tax from the start, so you may be able to claim capital allowances.
Finance lease for pubs and bars
A finance lease for pubs and bars suits a full refurbishment, because VAT is added to each rental instead of being paid upfront. The lender keeps ownership. At the end you can usually keep using the equipment for a small secondary rental, or sell it and receive most of the proceeds.
Operating lease for pubs and bars
An operating lease for pubs and bars works for EPOS, screens and coffee machines that you expect to upgrade. Rentals are set around what the equipment should be worth at the end, and you hand it back or upgrade when the term finishes.
Contract hire for pubs and bars
Contract hire for pubs and bars is used mainly for delivery and maintenance vans run by multi-site operators. You pay a fixed monthly rental for an agreed term and mileage, with servicing often included, and the vehicle goes back at the end.
VAT and tax for pubs and bars
Most pubs and bars are VAT registered and can reclaim VAT on equipment. On hire purchase, VAT on the full price is usually paid at the start and reclaimed on the next return. On a lease, VAT is added to each rental. With hire purchase you may be able to claim capital allowances, and lease rentals are usually an allowable business expense. Check the tax treatment with your accountant.
Pub equipment finance costs: a worked example
A £70,000 pub upgrade, with a new kitchen, glasswashers, bar fridges, EPOS and beer garden heaters and canopy, costs about £1,568 a month on a 4-year hire purchase, or about £1,308 a month over 5 years.
| Item | 4 years | 5 years |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment price (excl. VAT) | £70,000 | £70,000 |
| Deposit (10%) | £7,000 | £7,000 |
| VAT paid upfront | £14,000 | £14,000 |
| Monthly payment | £1,567.76 | £1,307.78 |
| Total interest | £12,252 | £15,467 |
The longer term lowers the monthly payment by about £260 but adds around £3,214 of interest. If the pub is on a tenancy or lease, it will need to run beyond the end of the term you choose.
Illustration calculated in October 2026, assuming an interest rate of 9% a year. It is not a quote. Your rate depends on your trading history, credit profile and the equipment.
What lenders look for in pubs and bars
Lenders look at the usual financial documents, plus how the pub is held and how steady trade is through the year.
- Your last 2 years of filed accounts, or management accounts and a forecast for newer businesses
- Your last 3 to 6 months of business bank statements
- Weekly takings, and the split between drink, food and other income
- Your freehold, tenancy or lease, how long it has left and any supply tie
- Supplier quotes, plus photo ID and address history for each director, member or partner
Related guides
Who we can help
We arrange asset finance for pubs and bars that trade as UK limited companies and LLPs, and for sole traders and partnerships on agreements over £25,000 that are for business purposes. We are not authorised by the FCA, so we cannot arrange agreements of £25,000 or less for sole traders or partnerships of two or three partners, or finance for personal use.
Asset finance for pubs and bars FAQs
Can a pub tenant get equipment finance?
Yes. Lenders will want to see the tenancy or lease, and it usually needs to run beyond the end of the finance term. They may also check any supply tie.
Can I finance beer lines and dispense equipment?
Only if you will own it. Dispense equipment is often installed and owned by the brewer or drinks supplier. If you are buying your own, it can be funded.
Can a pub refurbishment be financed?
Yes. Kitchens, refrigeration, EPOS and screens are easy to fund. Furniture and fit-out are usually capped by lenders, so bundling them with harder equipment helps. Building work is usually funded with a commercial mortgage.
How much does pub equipment finance cost?
It depends on the equipment, the term and your business. As an illustration, a £70,000 pub upgrade costs about £1,568 a month over 4 years on hire purchase at 9%, after a 10% deposit and the VAT paid upfront, or about £1,308 a month over 5 years.
Can I finance a beer garden?
Heaters, canopies, outdoor bars and garden furniture can be funded, usually alongside harder equipment. Structures built into the property are normally funded another way.
Can someone taking on their first pub get finance?
Sometimes. Experience in the trade, a clear business plan and the pub’s past takings all help. A larger deposit or a director’s guarantee may be needed.
Get an asset finance quote for your pub or bar
Tell us what you want to finance
Send us the equipment, the prices and a few details about your pub or bar. We will come back with the options that are realistic and what they are likely to cost.
About the author
Marcus Wright is the owner and founder of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, which trades as Finance Assets. He has worked in financial services since 2008, beginning his career at Santander, and has been a commercial finance broker since March 2019.
He founded Bolton Business Finance in 2020 to give businesses access to the whole lending market rather than one bank’s own product range. The firm is a member of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers and works with a panel of 135+ lenders. Call 0161 546 9128.
Finance Assets is a trading name of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, an independent commercial finance brokerage, not a lender. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and can only complete non-regulated introductions. All lending is for business purposes only. Registered address: Westgate House, 1 Westgate Avenue, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL1 4RF. Company number 12495909.