Bar person
Bar staff serve drinks in venues like pubs, clubs, bars, hotels and restaurants.
Also known as: Bartender
- Starter salary£19,000 a year
- Experienced£24,000 a year
- Typical hours30 to 40 a week
What you'll do
As a bar person, you could:
- greet customers and create a welcoming atmosphere
- take orders and handle cash and card payments
- serve drinks at the bar or at the table
- keep the bar area clean and well stocked
- give advice on drinks to suit customers' tastes
- collect glasses and wash up
Working environment
You could work in a pub or bar, at a restaurant, in a hotel or at a social club.
Your working environment may be noisy and crowded.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- customer service skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- active listening skills
- the ability to sell products and services
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- to enjoy working with other people
- a good memory
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become a bar person
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
College
You can take a college course to learn some of the skills and knowledge needed as a bar person. This might help you to find work in the industry. Courses include:
- introduction to employment in the hospitality industry
- food and beverage service
- hospitality
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do a Catering and Hospitality Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship, or Food and Beverage Team Member Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
You'll do on-the-job training and spend time with a college or training provider.
Direct application
You can apply directly for jobs if you've got some of the relevant skills, experience and knowledge needed for this role.
Employers will look for strong customer service skills, good communication skills and the ability to work well in a team.
Foundation apprenticeship
You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.
If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:
- have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- are in care or have been in care
- are in prison or have been in prison
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- no specific qualifications or experience to apply for a foundation apprenticeship
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- be over 18 to sell alcohol and other restricted goods
Career path and progression
With experience, you could progress to supervisor, deputy bar manager or bar manager.
You could also become a publican , or bar manager for a hotel chain.
Career tips
Some salaries include a basic rate plus a share of tips left by customers.
Guides for this industry
Related roles
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