If you run a pub or bar, you already know the business is built on timing. You can be profitable on paper and still feel the pressure when a supplier wants payment, a landlord won’t wait, or settlement is locked in and the bank’s process is moving at bank speed. That’s where bridging loans for pubs & bars can be a practical tool: short-term capital that helps you keep operations moving while you finalise a longer-term refinance, sale, or restructure. Contact us today to discuss your scenario.
At Secured Lending, we’ve advised and assisted borrowers across the pub and bar sector, and we have also facilitated over 500 strategic commercial loans to bridge the gap. Secured Lending can help you move fast with a bridging loan for pubs & bars. Assess your scenario today.
Why bridging finance makes sense for pub and bar operations
A bridging loan is designed to solve a specific problem: you need certainty and speed now, and you’ll repay the loan from a clear exit strategy (commonly a refinance, asset sale, or property settlement). In hospitality, that speed can protect value. A missed deadline can cost you a site, a lease, a discount, or a seasonal revenue window.
Bridging finance is often used to support pub and bar operations when timing is the issue, not viability. Common scenarios include:
- You’ve exchanged on a purchase and need an urgent settlement while longer-term funding is being finalised
- You’re upgrading a venue and need capital for works that will lift revenue, before a refinance to longer-term funding
- You’re smoothing cash flow for stock, wages, or critical repairs while waiting on a property sale or refinance
- You’re consolidating short-term liabilities to stabilise the business and buy time to execute a plan
The benefits are straightforward and commercial:
- Speed and certainty when timing matters most, including fast, same day settlement where the scenario allows
- A clean, time-bound structure that aligns to your next step, rather than locking you into years of inflexibility
- The ability to act on time-sensitive opportunities, including funding within 24 hours in urgent cases
- A solution that can be used in an emergency, without needing to pause operations or compromise the customer experience
Bridging finance isn’t “cheap money”, and it’s not meant to be. It’s decision-grade capital used to protect a transaction, protect a venue, or protect momentum while you complete the bigger move.
How Secured Lending supports pubs and bars with bridging finance
When you come to Secured Lending, you’re not getting generic hospitality lending. You’re getting a team that understands the pressure points in venue operations and settlement timelines, and structures the loan around what matters: speed, security, and a credible exit.
1. We start with the transaction and work backwards
You tell us what’s happening: the deadline, the settlement date, the gap, and the intended exit (sale, refinance, or another capital event). We review the numbers and structure the facility around the real-world sequence of events, not an idealised timeline.
2. We focus on what drives approval and speed
For bridging, the key questions are usually: what security is available, what is the plan to repay, and what could delay that plan. We coordinate the steps that matter—valuation pathway where needed, legal documentation, and settlement logistics—so you’re not chasing multiple parties without a clear owner.
3. We structure for operational stability, not just settlement
Many borrowers come to us because “settlement is urgent,” but the bigger issue is that the next 30 to 90 days still need to run smoothly. We factor in the operational need—so the bridging loan doesn’t just get you to settlement, it helps you keep the venue stable while you execute your plan.
4. We provide realistic terms you can plan around
If the deal needs to move quickly, you need numbers you can underwrite. Depending on the scenario, we can offer a secured business loan with an interest rate starting at 9.2% p.a. We’ll explain the full cost clearly, including establishment costs and any line items that matter, so you can make a clean decision.
5. We can fund at meaningful scale
Pub and bar transactions can be substantial, particularly when property is involved. With Secured Lending, you may be able to borrow up to $10million, subject to the security and structure. The point is not to over-leverage—it’s to bridge the gap with enough certainty that you can execute.
Private Lender options for urgent venue timelines
As a private lender in Australia, Secured Lending operates Australia wide: Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast, Canberra. We are a non-bank lender, which means we can often move faster than traditional lenders when you’re facing an urgent settlement or a time-sensitive operational need. If you’ve been told “it’ll take weeks,” or you need a private lender urgent solution due to a deadline, we can review your scenario quickly and coordinate a path to settlement.
What “fast” actually looks like with Secured Lending
Speed is only useful if it’s controlled. If you need fast, same day settlement or funding within 24 hours, it depends on how quickly the security position can be verified and documents can be executed. Where it’s feasible, we’ll drive the process end-to-end: confirm the structure, align the legal work, and arrange settlement so you can meet the deadline without unnecessary friction.
This is particularly important in an emergency scenario, where the cost of delay can exceed the cost of bridging.
Frequently asked questions
1. Can a bridging loan be used to support day-to-day pub or bar operations?
Yes—where it’s part of a clear short-term plan. Bridging can support operational continuity (stock, staffing pressure, essential repairs) while you complete a refinance, sale, or settlement event that repays the facility.
2. How quickly can Secured Lending settle a bridging loan?
In urgent cases, we can work toward fast, same day settlement or funding within 24 hours, depending on documentation, security verification, and settlement logistics. We’ll be direct about what’s achievable in your timeframe.
3. What is an acceptable exit strategy for a pub or bar bridging loan?
Common exits include refinancing to a longer-term facility, selling a property, or completing a settlement that releases funds. The stronger and more documentable the exit, the smoother the approval pathway.
4. What loan size can I access for a pub or bar bridging facility?
It depends on the security and structure, but you may be able to borrow up to $10million. We structure the amount to cover the gap without creating unnecessary pressure on the exit.
5. Are these secured business loans suitable if a bank has said no or is moving too slowly?
Often, yes. A non-bank lender can be suitable when bank timeframes don’t match your deadline, or when you need a private lender urgent option for an urgent settlement. We’ll assess whether bridging is the right tool, not just whether it’s possible.
6. What interest rate should I expect on bridging finance?
Pricing depends on risk, security, and timeline. In some scenarios, Secured Lending offers an interest rate starting at 9.2% p.a. We will outline total costs clearly so you can judge the net benefit against the time saved.
How We Can Help
Secured Lending specialises in bridging finance that protects timing, protects transactions, and keeps pub and bar operations moving while you execute your next step. We review your scenario, structure the loan around your exit, coordinate the documentation, and arrange settlement with the urgency your timeline demands. Secured Lending is a short-term lending solution you can rely on. When you’re ready, our team is here to help you move quickly and confidently. Our team specialises in urgent short term loans solutions. Learn more about commercial bridging finance for your venue.
