Can I get a Decision in Principle for Pub Finance the Same Day or Within a Week?

Summary: Yes — often. For straightforward pub finance requests (refurb, working capital or smaller secured loans), specialist brokers and lenders can frequently provide a Decision in Principle (DIP) the same day or within 24–72 hours if your paperwork is ready. Larger property purchases, complex leaseholds or anything requiring full valuations, licensing checks or legal concessions typically need longer — commonly up to a week or more. Use a specialist matchmaker to speed things up: Get Started — Free Eligibility Check.

Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check

What is a Decision in Principle (DIP) and why it matters for pubs

A Decision in Principle (DIP) is a provisional indication from a lender (or from a broker on a lender’s behalf) that, based on the information you’ve supplied, they would likely lend up to a stated amount subject to final checks. For pub finance — where property condition, licensing, trading performance and lease arrangements are crucial — a DIP helps you:

• bid or negotiate with confidence,
• show vendors or landlords you have funding in place, and
• speed up the path to a full offer because the lender has done initial underwriting.

Crucially, a DIP is not a legally binding loan offer. Final approval always depends on valuation, legal searches, licensing transferability, and up-to-date trading evidence.

Typical timescales — same day, 24–72 hours, or within a week?

How quickly you receive a DIP depends on the lender/broker, the loan size, the security, and how well prepared you are. Typical scenarios:

Same day

• When: small working capital requests, short-term unsecured or minimal-security loans for established pubs with clear accounts.
• How: a specialist broker calls, completes a quick credit/affordability screen and emails an indicative DIP.

24–72 hours

• When: standard secured business loans of moderate size or desktop-valued loans where documents are readily available.
• How: broker collates documents, lender runs soft checks and a desktop valuation/quick licensing check.

Within a week

• When: larger property-backed purchases, buy-to-let pub acquisitions, or refinance where solicitor involvement and formal valuation are required.
• Why: desktop valuations, landlord consents and licensing verifications often add a few business days.

Longer than a week

Portfolio deals, pubs with planning/change-of-use requirements, or cases with recent insolvency/CCJs typically need extended underwriting and legal due diligence.

What affects how quickly you’ll get a DIP

Several practical factors determine speed:

• Documentation quality. Ready accounts, management accounts, VAT returns and licence paperwork speed the process.
• Type of security. Property security usually requires valuation. Unsecured small loans are quicker.
• Specialist vs. high-street lender. Pub-specialist lenders and brokers know the sector and can fast-track DIPs.
• Credit and affordability. Clean, transparent credit records are quicker to process; problems require extra time.
• Licensing and lease complexity. Transferable alcohol licences and simple leases reduce delays.
• Solicitor readiness. Legal work can be a bottleneck — appoint a responsive solicitor early.

How to get a DIP faster — practical step-by-step checklist

Follow these steps to maximise your chance of a same-day or within-week DIP:

1. Gather documents: last 2–3 years’ company accounts, latest management accounts, VAT returns, and 3–6 months’ bank statements.
2. Prepare proof of identity and company documents (incorporation, shareholders, directors).
3. Upload or have ready lease/title, landlord contact, business rates and alcohol licence details.
4. Write a one-page funding summary: purpose (purchase, refurb, refinance), amount (note: we arrange loans from around £10,000 and up), and repayment timeframe.
5. Choose a pub specialist broker or use an introducer that matches you to the correct lender quickly.
6. Consent early to desktop valuation and soft credit checks — they’re faster than full surveys and hard searches.
7. Respond promptly to follow-up questions from lenders or brokers — delays here are the most common blockers.

Free Eligibility Check — Get Started

What a DIP does — and does not — guarantee

A DIP usually:

• gives an indicative loan amount and likely headline terms,
• shows that a lender is prepared to proceed to full underwriting, and
• helps you make or support offers to buy or secure leases.

A DIP does NOT:

• equal a completed loan agreement,
• cover final conditions such as full valuation, solicitor searches, licensing transfers or final affordability checks, and
• protect against later changes in trading performance or borrower circumstances.

When a DIP will probably take longer — realistic examples

• Large-scale purchase with major refurbishment and planning conditions — lenders demand detailed contractor quotes and planning evidence.
• Leasehold pubs needing landlord’s consent for refinancing or change of use — legal checks add time.
• Multiple-site portfolio purchases — portfolio underwriting and cross-charges lengthen the timeline.
• Recent insolvency, CVA or significant CCJs — lenders require deeper credit and business recovery evidence.

How UK Business Loans helps you get a faster DIP

We connect pub owners with specialist lenders and brokers who regularly handle hospitality and pub finance requests. What we do to speed things up:

• Match you with partners experienced in pub lending so you’re not sent to lenders unfamiliar with the sector,
• prioritise partners that issue quick DIPs (same day or within 24–72 hours) where documentation is complete, and
• help you understand which documents lenders will want so your enquiry is “application-ready”.

Our service is a free introduction — we do not provide loans or regulated financial advice and submitting an enquiry is not an application. To start the matching process use our quick form: Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check.

For more information specifically about pub sector lending criteria and case studies, see our dedicated pub finance page on pubs business loans: pubs business loans.

Frequently asked questions (short answers)

Will a DIP affect my credit score?

Most initial checks are soft searches and will not impact your credit file. Formal hard searches are normally performed later with your consent.

Can a DIP be used to support a purchase offer?

Yes. Sellers and agents frequently accept DIPs as evidence of funding intent, but remember the final offer remains conditional on valuation, solicitor checks and underwriting.

Is the initial enquiry an application?

No — the enquiry is a way for us to match you with suitable lenders/brokers. It is not a formal loan application. Completing the enquiry helps lenders decide whether to issue a DIP.

What loan sizes do you arrange?

We typically arrange introductions for loans from around £10,000 and upwards. For very small needs below this amount, alternative providers may be a better fit.

Next steps — ready to move faster?

If speed is crucial, prepare the documents listed above and use a sector specialist to avoid delays. Complete our quick two-minute form and we’ll match you to brokers and lenders who commonly issue rapid DIPs.

Get Started — Free Eligibility Check

---

Important: UK Business Loans acts as an introducer connecting businesses with lenders and brokers. We do not lend or provide regulated financial advice. Submitting an enquiry is not a loan application and will not normally affect your credit score. All lending is subject to status, affordability and lender terms.

Explore more:
Home |
Business loans overview |
About our partners |
FAQs

1. How quickly can I get a Decision in Principle (DIP) for pub finance?
Often same day for straightforward cases, 24–72 hours for standard secured loans, and up to a week or more for larger property or complex leasehold deals.

2. Will requesting a DIP affect my credit score?
Initial checks are normally soft searches and won’t affect your credit score; hard searches are only carried out later with your consent.

3. What documents do lenders need to issue a fast DIP for a pub loan?
Provide 2–3 years’ company accounts, latest management accounts, VAT returns, recent bank statements, ID, lease/title, landlord contact and alcohol licence details to speed a DIP.

4. Can a DIP be used to support my offer to buy a pub?
Yes — sellers and agents commonly accept a DIP as evidence of funding intent, though the final loan remains conditional on valuation, legal searches and full underwriting.

5. Do you (UK Business Loans) lend directly or charge for introductions?
UK Business Loans does not lend or charge businesses for introductions — we’re a free introducer that matches you with suitable brokers and lenders.

6. What loan amounts can I apply for through UK Business Loans for pub projects?
We typically arrange introductions for pub loans from around £10,000 up to multi‑million property and refinance facilities depending on lender appetite.

7. What factors most commonly delay a DIP for pub property finance?
Delays usually stem from required full valuations, complex lease or licence transfers, landlord consents, solicitor readiness or recent insolvency/CCJs.

8. Can leasehold pubs or those needing licence transfers get a fast DIP?
They can, but leasehold complexities and licence transfer checks often require extra time and may push a DIP beyond same‑day timelines.

9. What types of pub finance can UK Business Loans help me find?
We connect you with lenders and brokers for purchases, buy‑to‑let acquisitions, refurbishments, working capital, refinancing and property‑backed pub loans.

10. Are the brokers and lenders you connect me with regulated and trustworthy?
Yes — we partner with FCA‑regulated brokers and reputable UK lenders experienced in hospitality and pub finance to ensure compliant, trusted introductions.