Bargain Booze is one of the UK's best-known off-licence fascias, built on a discount-alcohol positioning that has evolved into a wider convenience offer. Today the commercial affiliation programme for anyone wanting to trade under the Bargain Booze name is administered by Bestway Retail, the retail arm of wholesale giant Bestway, rather than through a standalone franchising department.
Franchise · Food & Grocery
Bargain Booze Franchise
A well-known UK off-licence fascia, now run as a Bestway Retail symbol-group affiliation rather than a classic
1981
Year founded
419
Locations
approx. 800 sq ft average store size
Floor space
What you need to get started
Ongoing fees
No recurring percentage: what you take stays with you.
Zero
What it's about
- Founded
- 1981
- Locations
- 419
- Type of business
- Off-licence and convenience retail (symbol group affiliation)
- Company
- Bestway Retail Limited (Bestway Wholesale)
Fact sheet
The right questions before you start
presentation of the concept
Bargain Booze began life in 1981 in Sandbach, Cheshire, as a discount drinks retailer and later grew into a symbol group model, with the trading fascia itself introduced in 1988. Ownership passed through Conviviality plc before Bestway acquired the brand, along with sister fascia Wine Rack, in April 2018. Since then, Bestway has been steadily folding Bargain Booze into a broader symbol-group strategy alongside Best-one, Costcutter and Wine Rack, including the rollout of hybrid "Costcutter featuring Bargain Booze" stores from late 2021 onwards.
why join this network
Retailers joining under the Bestway Retail umbrella gain access to a large wholesale buying operation, giving competitive terms on stock, including a substantial own-label range. The network is positioned as one of the largest independent off-licence and convenience symbol groups in the UK, offering scale advantages that independent single-shop operators cannot easily replicate on their own.
ideal candidate profile
Bestway looks for retailers who combine genuine enthusiasm for customer service and retail with sound commercial judgement. Prospective partners must pass a credit check and demonstrate sufficient working capital to run day-to-day operations. Because the fascia trades in alcohol, operators also need to hold a Personal Licence and complete the relevant Award for Personal Licence Holders qualification, as required for any off-licence in the UK.
access conditions and investment
Bargain Booze does not operate as a classic franchise with a published upfront fee and percentage royalty. Instead, historic industry reporting (2021) referenced a weekly trading charge of around £85.60, tied to a minimum three-year agreement, rather than a one-off entry fee. Bestway Retail's current offer is built around trading rebates of roughly 4–6% on purchases, alongside optional co-investment funding towards store development. No verified figure for total upfront investment or a separate entry fee is published on the official Bestway Retail or Bargain Booze websites, so prospective partners should request a bespoke proposal directly from Bestway Retail.
key points
- Founded in 1981 in Sandbach, Cheshire; fascia launched in 1988
- Acquired by Bestway in April 2018 for around £7 million
- Average store size historically reported at approximately 800 sq ft
- Weekly average store turnover historically reported at around £15,000
- Free EPOS system, twice-weekly free delivery and a dedicated Business Support Manager
- Access to over 2,000 own-label lines and rotating four-weekly promotions
- Ongoing integration into hybrid Costcutter/Bargain Booze store formats
If you are considering opening a store under the Bargain Booze fascia, get in touch to request full, up-to-date terms directly from the franchisor.
How much does it cost to open a Bargain Booze store?
There is no published upfront investment figure or entry fee on the official Bestway Retail or Bargain Booze websites. Historic industry reporting from 2021 referenced a weekly trading charge of around £85.60 tied to a minimum three-year agreement, but current terms should be confirmed directly with Bestway Retail, which now administers the fascia.
Is Bargain Booze a traditional franchise?
Not in the classic sense. Bargain Booze operates as a symbol group affiliation under Bestway Retail, offering wholesale buying terms, rebates of roughly 4–6%, and support services rather than a fixed entry fee plus a percentage royalty structure typical of franchising.
What are the requirements to become a Bargain Booze retailer?
Candidates must pass a credit check, show sufficient working capital, and demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for retail and customer service. Because the fascia sells alcohol, operators also need a Personal Licence and must complete the Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH) qualification, as required across the UK off-licence sector.
What support does Bestway Retail provide to Bargain Booze partners?
Partners receive a free EPOS system, up to twice-weekly free deliveries, 14-day payment terms, access to over 2,000 own-label products, rotating four-weekly promotions, marketing and point-of-sale support, and a dedicated Business Support Manager, plus optional co-investment funding for store development.
How many Bargain Booze stores are there in the UK?
There is no current, officially published store count. Historic figures vary widely, from around 419 to as many as 836 stores at different points under previous ownership, and the network is now progressively integrating into hybrid Costcutter/Bargain Booze formats, so anyone interested should ask Bestway Retail directly for up-to-date network figures.
Sources and data verification
The figures on this page come from the following sources:
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