The fictional TV businesses Brits would most like to run have been revealed with the pubs made famous on soaps dominating the top ten
A new survey has uncovered a definitive list of the on-screen businesses Brits would like to own and – despite murders, affairs, explosions, fires, floods and even plane crashes – soap opera pubs dominated the list.
EastEnders ‘ famous Queen Vic, once run by iconic landlady Peggy Mitchell, was voted for by one ten Brits (10%) ahead of The Woolpack from Emmerdale (9%) and The Rovers Return (8%) from Coronation Street.
However, according to the data of 2,000 Brits, which was commissioned by business insurance experts Premierline, the nation’s favourite place to take the reins would be Wonka Industries, with the chocolate-making business totalling more than one in six (18%) votes.
Next up is Central Perk from the iconic sitcom Friends (17%), while a brave one in ten (12%) said they’d love to take over Fawlty Towers, the madcap hotel run by Basil Fawlty and his wife Sybil or Stark Industries from Iron Man (12%).
Other notable businesses to make the list included: Trotters Independent Trading from Only Fools and Horses (10%), The White Lotus (7%), Scoops Ahoy from Stranger Things (7%) and Agence Grateau from Emily in Paris (5%).
And when asked why they’d like to run these businesses, 37% thought ‘it would be a laugh’, and more than a quarter (27%) said they’d love the drama, while one in 10 (11%) believed that they could do a better job than the current manager.
A spokesperson from Premierline, said: “It’s no surprise that soap opera pubs and well-known on-screen businesses top the list, as they’re familiar, community-driven and feel like workplaces people already understand. But, what these fictional favourites gloss over is the reality behind the scenes which business owners face on a daily basis.
“In the real world, running a pub, shop or hospitality business means managing serious risks, from property damage (like dramatic fires and floors) to public liability, and staff illness, theft and cash-flow shocks. Without the right insurance in place, even a small incident can quickly become a costly setback.”
Nearly one in ten (9%) reckon they’ve gone as far as to draft a business plan for an on-screen business, while nearly a third (29%) say they’ve put some time and effort in to thinking how they’d operate a fictional company.
Staggeringly, three quarters of Brits (74%) said they’d walk out of their current role to take on one of these firms right away.
The research delved deeper in to the current state of Brits’ job satisfaction.
Three quarters (65%) of respondents said they’d like to be their own boss one day, one in ten (10%) said they’re ready to leave and start up soon with one in five (20%) saying they’ve thought about writing a business plan but haven’t got around to it yet.
Just over a quarter (27%) said they love their current role, only 2% said they live for the job, whilst 6% say they hate it and can’t wait to leave.
A spokesperson for Premierline added: “It’s no surprise that so many Brits dream of starting their own business. For many, it’s about freedom, flexibility and turning a passion into something sustainable. Whether it’s running a café, launching an online shop or going freelance, the appetite for entrepreneurship is clearly stronger than ever.”
“What often gets overlooked in the excitement of starting out is the practical side of running a business. From protecting equipment and premises to covering yourself if something goes wrong, having the right insurance in place can make all the difference between a minor setback and a major financial hit.”
THE FICTIONAL BUSINESSES BRITS WOULD LIKE TO RUN:
1. Wonka Industries – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (18%) 2. Central Perk – Friends (17%) 3. Fawlty Towers – Fawlty Towers (12%) 4. Stark Industries – Iron Man (12%) 5. Trotters Independent Trading – Only Fools and Horses (10%) 6. Wayne Enterprises – Batman (10%) 7. Honeydukes – Harry Potter (10%) 8. The Queen Vic – EastEnders (10%) 9. The Woolpack – Emmerdale (9%) 10. The Rovers Return – Coronation Street (8%) 11. Moe’s Tavern – The Simpsons (8%) 12. Krusty Krab – Sponge Bob Square Pants (8%) 13. The White Lotus – The White Lotus (7%) 14. The Garrison – Peaky Blinders (7%) 15. Scoops Ahoy – Stranger Things (7%) 16. Bob’s Burgers – Bob’s Burgers (7%) 17. Runway Magazine – The Devil Wears Prada (6%) 18. Modiste – Bridgerton (5%) 19. Agence Grateau – Emily in Paris (5%) 20. FC Richmond – Ted Lasso (5%)