Episode 31

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Published on:

27th Apr 2026

Episode 31: The Rent Review Nobody Modelled

Once the lease is signed, most of your location decisions are already made, and rent catching up to revenue is the tightest margin squeeze showing up on P&Ls right now. This episode walks through a four-question pre-lease checklist: realistic rent-to-revenue ratio, review terms, fit-out reality, and exit conditions. Because the most expensive decisions in hospitality are the ones you make without knowing what they actually cost.

This week's actions:

1. Pull out your current lease and read it properly — know your next review date, your make-good, and your assignment clauses.

2. Calculate your current rent-to-revenue ratio and map where it lands across the next two review cycles.

3. Identify one clause you'd negotiate differently if you were signing today.

The lease decision is one of the places we spend the most time in a Pantry Review. If you want another set of eyes on the economics before your next review, reach out to us via the email below.

Next episode: Making the most of where you already are — because most venues are leaving revenue on the table in the space they've already got.

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About the Podcast

The Prep List
Short, sharp, ready for service
Start your week with a sharper mindset and a better plan.

Hosted by Shaun de Vries from Open Pantry Co., The Prep List is your under 10-minute Monday hit of hospitality insights, made for venue owners, operators, and team leaders who don’t have time to scroll or sit through an hour-long podcast.

Each week, you’ll get:
– One trend to watch
– One tool to test
– One real-world operator move
– One smart question for your team

If you run a venue, manage a crew, or just want your week to feel a little less chaotic, this is your mise en place for the mind.

About your host

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Shaun de Vries