Beach bar and rooftop season: an opening checklist

A seasonal venue has a few weeks to get up and running and a few months to make money. Every sunny weekend lost to chaos is revenue you won't make back in October. Here's a list of things to do before you open your beach bar, rooftop or patio.

6 weeks before opening

• Team: post job ads with the pay or a pay range and gender-neutral job titles. Since December 2025, candidates in Poland must be told the pay before they're hired.
• Suppliers: arrange regular deliveries and check who can deliver stock to the beach or the roof.
• Menu: short, quick to prepare, with a few items that look great in photos.

4 weeks before

• Reservations: turn on reservations from Instagram, Google and Facebook. Guests plan their sunsets in advance.
• Events: plan DJ nights and open ticket presales.
• Rules: decide now what happens to reservations when it rains. By the first storm, it will be too late.

2 weeks before

• QR codes: on tables and in seating areas, so guests can order and pay without lining up at the bar.
• Signal: check the internet connection in every part of the venue. On a roof or a beach, it can be patchy.
• Test run: trial orders, payments and ticket scanning.

A week before

• team training and a dress rehearsal with family and friends playing the guests;
• communication: the opening date, the reservation link and your first events.

During the season

• Build the staff schedule around the weather forecast and reservations.
• Every week, check occupancy, the average bill and your best-selling items.
• Consider on-demand pay. For seasonal staff, it's a real selling point.

After the season

Review the numbers, thank your team and save the contact details of your best people for next year. Lessons written down in September give you an edge in April.