The honest maths for a meal-length stop
A pub lunch or an evening meal usually means an hour or two parked. That gives a useful top-up, and drivers know a full charge takes longer.
Here is what a car gains, depending on what its onboard charger accepts (LGA, figures derived):
| Car accepts | 1 hour | 2 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 7.4kW (single-phase) | about 25 miles | about 50 miles |
| 11kW (most three-phase cars) | about 37 miles | about 74 miles |
| 22kW (a few models) | about 75 miles | about 150 miles |
Most popular EVs cap at 11kW on AC, and 22kW is rare (bestchargers.co.uk). So the middle row is the one to plan around. Our 7kW vs 22kW guide goes into why we still fit 22kW sockets.
Why drivers choose a pub with a charger
Drivers plan stops around where they can charge. In a Deloitte survey, 21% of EV drivers said they look for retail or hospitality amenities when charging, and one in five would use a full-service restaurant while they wait (Deloitte).
Charging also keeps people on site. In a Zest/CACI survey, 52% of EV owners said they would stay 30 minutes or more longer at a destination with good charging (Zest). That is a dessert, a coffee or another round.
There is some wider evidence too. A US study of more than 4,000 Californian charging stations found each new station lifted spending at nearby businesses by 1.4% in 2019 (MIT SMART). It's American data, so treat it as a pointer.
Filling quiet afternoons
Once your charger is on Zapmap, drivers looking for somewhere to stop see your pub on the map. That puts you in front of people who would otherwise drive past, often mid-afternoon when the dining room is quiet.
Standard public chargers averaged 54p/kWh in September 2026, against 79p/kWh for rapid and ultra-rapid (Zapmap). A driver who isn't in a hurry has a reason to choose a slower, cheaper charge with a meal.
How a Victus install works at a pub or restaurant
Placing it
Pub car parks are often small. We look for two bays that are easy to reach, visible from the road or the entrance, and close to a cable route from your board. The pedestal is compact, about 1.4m tall, and lights up at night.
Open to the public
For most pubs, passing trade is the point, so the charger is open to anyone. That brings the Public Charge Point Regulations into play.
New public chargers of 8kW and above need contactless payment. The price must be shown in pence per kWh, including any fixed fees, and drivers need a free 24/7 helpline. Victus runs the payment, pricing and driver support side. Who counts as the operator, and whether any micro-business exemption applies, depends on the set-up, so check the guidance with us at survey.
Idle fees keep the bays turning
A pub car park can't afford a car sitting on the charger long after its owner has left the table. An idle fee that starts after a grace period nudges drivers to move on.
We agree the grace period and the fee with you and show it to drivers before they start. Our idle fees guide has examples of how sites pitch it.
Pubs with rooms
If you have letting rooms, the charger does two jobs. Diners top up by day, and staying guests charge fully overnight. You can keep idle fees for daytime hours only, so residents aren't charged for sleeping. The hotels page covers the overnight side.
What we look after
We survey the car park and supply, handle the Northern Powergrid paperwork and install the pedestal. Once it is live, we run payments, monitoring, maintenance and driver support, and help get it listed on Zapmap.
You serve the food and drink. Drivers who find your charger on the map have a reason to stop with you.
Which package suits a pub or restaurant
Shared Investment suits most independents. You pay for installation and groundworks, we supply the charger and handle payments, back office, monitoring, maintenance and driver support, and the revenue is shared. The revenue split is agreed for your site at proposal stage. You get the footfall without running a charging business.
Owned & Managed suits pub groups or owners who want the full charging margin. You buy the charger and install, keep the full return, and can pay us to run it. The 100% first-year capital allowance on chargepoint equipment runs to 31 March 2027 for Corporation Tax (HMRC). Check with your accountant how it applies to you. Compare the two on the packages page.
Honest caveats
- This is AC charging. Drivers on a long trip who need a big top-up in minutes will still use rapid hubs. Our AC vs DC guide explains the difference.
- Bays are bays. Two EV bays are two fewer general spaces on a busy Sunday. Pick them with that in mind.
- Earnings depend on location. A pub on a main road between Durham and the coast will see more use than one down a quiet lane. The revenue estimator lets you test both.
Next step
Tell us where you are and how many bays you have, and we'll book a free survey. Or run your numbers through the revenue estimator first and bring them to the conversation.