Profitable Off Licence for Sale in Central Brighton (St James Street)

OFF LICENCE FOR SALE – EXCLUSIVE ZONE IN CENTRAL BRIGHTON (ST. JAMES STREET)

A rare opportunity to take over a well-established, high-margin, zero-competition, fully licensed Off Licence located in the heart of Brighton’s vibrant St. James Street. The business is ideal for an owner-operator who understands value, simplicity, and profit.

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KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

• Annual turnover (if run full-time): £300,000
• Net profit (if run full-time): £85,000 – £90,000
• Brighton Pride Weekend (once per year): Up to £20,000 net profit in a single weekend – proof via 7 years of bank statements available
• Currently only run part-time, generating just enough to cover living costs
• Entirely managed by the owner – no staff employed
• No price-marked products sold, only high-margin items
• No cigarettes sold, even though cigarette license is active
• No lottery, PayPoint, electric/gas top-ups, or mobile credit services – intentionally kept lean and profitable

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STRATEGIC ADVANTAGES:

✅ Exclusive Licensing Protection – Brighton & Hove Council has placed an official restriction on St. James Street:

No new Off Licence can open on this street.

This guarantees permanent exclusivity and zero competition in the same street.

✅ Alcohol licence:

07:00 AM – 12:00 AM, with possible extension to 03:00 AM through Temporary Event Notices (approved regularly by the council)

✅ Current rent: £1,000/month (expected to slightly increase to £1,100–£1,150 after renewal)

✅ Business Rates: £0 – Business Rate Free

✅ Brighton Pride Festival:

Takes place right in front of the shop – tens of thousands pass by.

One weekend alone can generate £20,000 in net profit annually.

✅ Fully equipped, turnkey operation – no extra investment needed.

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REASON FOR SALE:

The shop has been operated part-time for the last 1.5 years due to family and childcare responsibilities. No staff is hired due to the legal risks associated with alcohol sales.

This means the current income reflects part-time, low-traffic operation — but historical full-time records show very strong profit margins and high performance.

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IMPORTANT NOTE – PLEASE READ BEFORE ENQUIRING:

This business runs on a high-margin, low-volume model.

• No cigarettes are sold, even though the license exists. Cigarettes generate large turnover but very little profit, so they are intentionally excluded.
• No price-marked items, no lottery or utility services.
• Many Off Licences show higher income because they include low-margin, high-volume items – which often result in lower net profits.

This shop is built to be profitable, not flashy. Please do not judge it solely by turnover numbers.

👉 Serious buyers only.

Please do not make any price offers without first visiting the shop in person.

Only face-to-face viewings will be considered valid for price discussions.

📍 Location: St. James Street, Brighton – a high-footfall zone at the heart of the city’s cafe and nightlife area.

💷 Asking Price: reduced £65,000

📂 Full financials including verified Pride weekend bank statements (7 years) available for serious inquiries.