Business owners in the leisure sector have had a tough few years, with buyers being particularly cautious when it comes to pubs and hotels. However, things could be set to change next year as the pub sector is predicted to make a recovery.
Property agent Fleurets' published an annual review of the market, noting that the sector is in a "much more positive environment" than it has seen in the past few years. In fact, the difficulties bought about by the smoking ban, a decline in consumer spending as a result of the recession and competition between cheaper alcohol from supermarkets as "behind us".
But many of the distressed opportunities that have arisen out of these difficult times are just starting to hit the market. Fleurets predicted that 2013 will see a "steady stream" of distressed pubs coming onto the market after a slowdown in transaction activity over the past year. Some of these business sales could well be towards the higher end of the market as there are "rumours of larger deals in the offing and these are likely to surface in 2013".
However, those looking to buy will need to be savvy. The sector is not out of the woods yet and any acquisition needs to be carefully assessed to determine its chance of success. Furthermore, the report suggested that prospective vendors who are not obliged to sell their business are becoming "more inclined to put off sale decisions and await better market conditions".
Negotiating a sale soon could help pub buyers get a good deal before the market shows clearer signs of recovery next year. 
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