A bar manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a bar or pub. This includes managing staff, ordering stock, ensuring excellent customer service, and maintaining health and safety standards. Bar managers also handle finances, create staff rotas, and may help with marketing or event planning to attract customers. Strong leadership, organisation, and communication skills are essential, as well as the ability to handle busy and sometimes challenging environments. Many bar managers start as bar staff and work their way up, while others may enter the role with a background in hospitality management.
The average salary for a bar manager in the UK is between £22,000 and £32,000 per year, with experienced managers in busy venues earning up to £40,000.
There are over 45,000 pubs and bars in the UK, creating a strong demand for bar managers across urban and rural areas.
Bar managers typically work 35 to 48 hours per week, often including evenings, weekends, and public holidays.
Oversees the operations of a cocktail bar, specialising in creating and managing unique drink menus and ensuring high standards of customer service.
Manages a traditional pub, handling everything from staff supervision and stock control to organising events and maintaining a welcoming atmosphere.
Supervises the daily running of a wine bar, with a focus on wine selection, customer recommendations, and leading a team of staff.
Begin working in a bar, pub, or restaurant to learn the basics of serving drinks and interacting with customers.
Most bar managers start their career as bar staff. You will learn essential skills such as pouring drinks, using the till, keeping the bar clean, and dealing with customers in a friendly and professional manner. This is also a great opportunity to observe how the bar operates and to get a feel for the fast-paced work environment.
Focus on building excellent communication and problem-solving abilities with customers.
Strong customer service is at the heart of bar work. Practice active listening, patience, and conflict resolution. Being able to handle difficult situations calmly and efficiently is highly valued by employers and is essential for managerial roles.
Take courses in food safety, health and safety, and responsible alcohol retailing.
Formal training will help you understand legal requirements and best practices in the hospitality industry. Many bar managers also obtain a Personal Licence, which is required to authorise the sale of alcohol in the UK. Your employer may offer in-house training or you can find courses through local colleges or online.
Consider a college course, apprenticeship, or short course in hospitality or bar management.
While not always necessary, formal qualifications in hospitality management can give you a competitive edge and help you move into supervisory roles more quickly. Look for courses that cover leadership, finance, stock management, and marketing.
Apply for supervisor or assistant manager roles to learn about running shifts and managing staff.
As a supervisor or assistant manager, you will be responsible for opening and closing the bar, managing rotas, training new staff, and ensuring customer satisfaction. This is a key step in building the leadership and organisational skills needed for full management.
Seek positions as a bar manager in pubs, cocktail bars, or hotels.
When you feel confident in your management abilities and have built up experience, start applying for bar manager positions. You will be expected to handle stock ordering, finances, event planning, and team leadership. Good references and a strong track record will help you secure your first manager role.
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 and a Restaurant Manager both oversee the daily operations of a dining or drinking establishment, including managing staff, ensuring customer satisfaction, and controlling budgets. Their roles require similar skills in staff management, customer service, and operational oversight within the hospitality industry.
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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