Bar staff, also known as bartenders, work in pubs, clubs, wine bars, café bars and hotels. Their main duties can include:

• serving customers with drinks
• collecting payment
• providing snacks such as crisps and nuts
• serving hot and cold food at lunchtime and in the evening.

The bar area needs to be kept clean and well stocked. Other duties may include:

• washing glasses
• emptying ashtrays 
• storing empty bottles
• clearing and cleaning tables and the bar regularly.

Talking with customers and providing a welcoming, friendly atmosphere are important aspects of the work. Bar staff need to be alert for any trouble that may develop and must be prepared to try to prevent it.

Hours and Environment

Hours in a bar can be long and usually involve evening and weekend work. Full-time employment is likely to be on a shift basis, but many employees work part-time.

Flexible opening hours for premises, providing the potential for up to 24-hour opening, seven days a week (subject to objection) was introduced late 2005, and may impact on the type of shifts bar staff will work.

There are opportunities for seasonal work.

Bars, pubs and restaurants can differ greatly. They can be noisy and smoky when busy.

Skills and Interests

As a bar person, you will need:

• good communication skills
• an outgoing personality and a pleasant manner
• a smart and tidy appearance
• tact and diplomacy for dealing with difficult customers
• good physical fitness and stamina
• a good memory
• an honest nature
• numeracy skills for handling cash
• the ability to work well in a team
• flexibility and adaptability.

Entry

Some pubs and bars - especially when part of a large chain - may prefer bar staff that are prepared to work towards relevant NVQs/SVQs, or the new qualification for personal licence holders; see Training section.

An outgoing, pleasant personality is regarded as more important than qualifications by most employers. Experience of customer service is useful.

You usually have to be aged 18 or over to work in a bar. However, if you undertake a relevant apprenticeship in England or Wales you can start work at 16; see Training section for more details.

There is no upper age limit for bar work, and employers are often keen to take on mature people with the right personality and stamina.

Training

Most employers will arrange on-the-job training for new entrants.

Although not essential, there are a range of relevant qualifications available in this field including:

• NVQ/SVQ in Food and Drink Service
• NVQ/SVQ in Hospitality
• Edexcel (BTEC) Certificate in Food and Beverage Service.

Some bar staff progress to an NVQ/SVQ Level 3 in Hospitality Supervision which covers supervisory and management skills.

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) have developed courses and awards in the following areas:

• Customer and Drinks Service
• Award in Beer and Cellar Quality
• Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing
• Professional Barperson’s Qualification 
• Award in Conflict Management. 

Bar staff with supervisory responsibilities may be encouraged to achieve a Personal Licence Holders qualification, offered by the BII, GOAL and GQAL; see Further Information section for contact details.

In Scotland the ServeWise On-Licence course, offered by Alcohol Focus Scotland, is a six-hour course split into two units: Licensing Law and Introduction to Alcohol, and Alcohol and People Skills. Pubs or bars usually book this course to run in-house. Check Further Information section for contact details.

Apprenticeships may be available for those under the age of 24. In England these are currently Apprenticeships (level 2) and Advanced Apprenticeships (level 3). To find out more about these, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Apprenticeships may be different in other areas. For further information see Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland

Note: People 1st, the sector skills council for the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industries, are in the process of reviewing the occupational standards for this area; changes may be made to the title and content of the qualifications listed above.

Opportunities

Bar staff are employed in pubs, clubs, restaurants, hotels and other leisure complexes. Opportunities for work may also be available in theatre bars, holiday centres, sports clubs, airport terminals, and on ships, trains and aircraft.

Prospects for promotion are excellent for those prepared to combine hard work with the determination to succeed. With experience and training, bar staff can move on to become supervisors, deputy bar managers and eventually bar managers. Others become club stewards, publicans or bar managers with a chain of hotels. Some eventually buy a freehold pub or apply for a tenancy.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only. Salary scales for bar staff vary greatly and depend upon the type of bar or restaurant and its location.

Full-time salary rates for beginners can be around £9,000 a year.
Experienced staff can earn up to £16,000.
Bar staff can supplement their earnings by working overtime, and may also receive tips from customers, especially if meals are being served.

Further information

Wessex House
80 Park Street
Camberley
Surrey
GU15 3PT
Tel: 01276 684449 Tel: 08707 202 909 2nd Floor
Armstrong House
38 Market Square
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 1LH
Tel: 0870 060 2550 2nd Floor
166 Buchanan Street
Glasgow
G1 2LW
Tel: 0141 572 6700