A bar manager is responsible for the day-to-day running of a bar or pub, ensuring excellent customer service, managing staff, and maintaining profitability. Duties include ordering and managing stock, overseeing health and safety regulations, handling budgets and cash, and organising events or promotions. Bar managers are also involved in hiring and training staff, dealing with suppliers, and resolving customer complaints. This career is fast-paced, sociable, and requires strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills. It can be physically demanding and often involves working late hours.
Bar managers in the UK typically earn between £22,000 and £35,000 per year, with experienced managers in busy or high-end venues earning up to £45,000.
There are approximately 6,000 bar manager positions advertised annually across the UK, with strong demand in cities and tourist areas.
Bar managers often work unsociable hours, including evenings, weekends, and public holidays, with an average working week of 40 to 48 hours.
Specialises in managing cocktail-focused venues, overseeing mixology staff, creating drinks menus, and ensuring high-quality service in a stylish setting.
Supervises the bar area within a hotel, coordinating with hospitality staff, managing inventory, and ensuring guests have a positive experience.
Leads the overall operations of a public house, including managing staff, organising events, maintaining budgets, and ensuring compliance with licensing laws.
Begin your career in an entry-level position to learn the basics of working in a bar, such as serving drinks, handling cash, and providing customer service.
Working as a bar assistant or bartender allows you to understand the daily routines and expectations in a busy bar environment. You will learn essential skills like pouring drinks, mixing cocktails, and dealing with customers. These positions also offer a chance to work closely with experienced staff and managers, giving you insight into the different roles within a bar.
Focus on delivering excellent service and handling customer queries or complaints professionally.
Strong customer service is crucial in hospitality. Develop your communication skills by interacting with customers from different backgrounds. Being friendly, approachable, and calm under pressure will help you build a positive reputation and prepare you for greater responsibility in the future.
Consider taking courses in hospitality or bar management, such as a Level 2 Certificate in Licensed Hospitality Operations or a Level 3 Diploma in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership.
These qualifications cover topics such as health and safety, licensing laws, managing staff, and running hospitality businesses. You can find courses at local colleges or through online learning platforms. Some employers might offer apprenticeships or training schemes, which can combine work and study.
Obtain a personal licence to sell alcohol, which is a legal requirement for bar managers in the UK.
To get a personal licence, you need to complete a recognised training course and apply through your local council. This licence demonstrates that you understand the laws relating to alcohol sales and the responsibilities of managing a licensed premises.
Progress to more senior roles, such as bar supervisor or assistant manager, to gain leadership experience.
Taking on supervisory roles helps develop your leadership, organisation, and problem-solving skills. You will manage staff rotas, deal with suppliers, and ensure high standards of service. This experience is vital before taking on the full responsibility of a bar manager position.
Apply for bar manager positions once you have sufficient experience and qualifications.
As a bar manager, you will oversee the entire bar operation, including finance, staff management, stock control, and compliance with health and safety and licensing regulations. You may work for a small independent bar, a large pub chain, or even move on to manage multiple venues.
Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Bar Manager. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.
A Bar Manager is most similar to a Restaurant Manager because both oversee the daily operations of food and beverage establishments, manage staff, ensure customer satisfaction, and handle administrative duties related to service. The skills and qualifications required for managing a bar align closely with those needed for managing a restaurant setting.
You can get into this job through:
You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills you'll need in this job.
Courses include:
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
You could work towards this role by applying to do a Hospitality Supervisor Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship and continue with further training on the job.
You could also take a Hospitality Manager Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship, if you've got supervisory experience in restaurant work.
You'll usually need:
You could move up to a management position after working as part of the restaurant staff, for example head waiter or kitchen manager.
With experience and qualifications you could take on more management responsibilities.
You could apply for a place on a graduate training scheme. Many large restaurants and fast food chains run schemes that can lead to management jobs.
You'll usually need a university qualification to get a place. For example, a degree in hospitality management is useful but many employers will accept other subjects.
You can find out more about how to become a restaurant manager from Caterer.com.
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