Open with clarity, not hope.
The Pre-Opening Diagnostic is a paid, structured second opinion for independent hospitality operators who have committed capital but have not opened yet.
£497. Written report delivered within five working days.
Prefer to start with a conversation first?
Book a free 30-minute consultation
The honest version
Opening a venue is not a creative project. It is a capital decision.
Most openings do not fail because the operator is lazy or the idea is bad. They fail because the plan contains a few quiet assumptions that only become visible once cash is leaving the account every day.
The Pre-Opening Diagnostic exists to surface those assumptions while they are still changeable.
Who this is for
You have signed a lease, secured a site, or committed material capital
You are 3 to 18 months from opening, and the plan is real rather than hypothetical
You want a calm, experienced view on what is at risk, and what matters most in the next 90 days
Who this is not for
You are still at the early idea stage and have not committed capital yet
If that is you, start with the Pre-Opening Checklist and a free consultation. The Diagnostic will still be there if and when it becomes the right next step.
The post-opening follow-up is the difference.
Most diagnostics end at the report. This one does not, because the first month of trading is where the plan meets reality. The follow-up is a calm checkpoint once you have enough real data to see what is true.
What the Diagnostic focuses on
The report is structured around four pre-opening risk categories.
Concept clarity
Can you describe the venue in one sentence without using three "ands"
Is it genuinely distinct in its local market
Do the brand, the menu, and the physical experience tell the same story
Location and setup
The site is right for the concept, rather than the concept being bent to fit the site
Kitchen and bar layout implications for the menu and service model
Supplier and logistics reality
Licensing and compliance assumptions
Financial viability
A working model with assumptions written down
Break-even, and what it actually depends on
Working capital for first 90 days, stress-tested against revenue below forecast
Salary plan for the operator
The opening sequence
The last 90 days' plan
Recruitment and training timeline that is actually realistic
Soft opening strategy
Decision rights, responsibilities, and escalation paths
What the report contains
Diagnosis: one paragraph capturing the central observation
Top three risks: ranked, with mitigations
Top three opportunities: what is already strong, and how to reinforce it
Sequenced action plan: next 7 days, next 30 days, before opening, after opening
Decision log: decisions worth formalising now
Post-opening watchpoints: what to monitor in the first 4 to 6 weeks
Reports are written, not slides.
Pricing
£497. Written report delivered within five working days.
Opening a hospitality business in the UK or Spain can run upwards of £150,000 to £500,000 in committed capital before you have sold a single cover.
At £497, this is a fraction of one percent of the opening budget.
Commonly Asked Questions
-
The session is 60 to 90 minutes. The questionnaire takes about 30 minutes. The report is delivered within five working days.
-
Yes. Atelier Sawyer works across the United Kingdom and Spain, with a particular focus on London and the Costa del Sol. As a lot of our work is remote, we can work with clients almost anywhere.
-
No. The Diagnostic is a one-off. Some operators choose ongoing support afterwards. Many do not.
-
That is normal. The Diagnostic is designed to strengthen decision making, regardless of whether the opening date shifts.
Atelier Sawyer is a boutique hospitality consultancy supporting independent restaurants, bars, and cafés in the UK and Spain. Direct, hands-on support from thirty years of earned operating experience.
Questions before you book?