Publican
Publicans manage licensed premises like pubs and bars.
Also known as: Pub landlord, bar manager, licensed premises manager
- Starter salary£27,000 a year
- Experienced£50,000 a year
- Typical hours45 to 50 a week
What you'll do
As a publican, you would:
- order stock and take deliveries
- serve customers
- organise events, functions and activities to maximise sales
- maintain the premises, bar equipment and cellar
- handle wages, bookkeeping and accounts
- recruit, train and supervise bar and kitchen staff
- build good relationships with breweries, suppliers and customers
Working environment
You could work in a pub or bar or at a restaurant.
Your working environment may be noisy and physically demanding.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- customer service skills
- leadership skills
- the ability to work well with others
- business management skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to motivate and manage staff
- the ability to understand people's reactions
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become a publican
You can get into this job through:
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
- a graduate management trainee scheme
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do a Hospitality Manager Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.
This might help you find work as a deputy bar manager. You could apply to become a pub landlord once you've built up your experience in the drinks trade.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
Work
You could start as a bar person or cellar technician and get experience on the job. You might then move on to become a bar manager or landlord through further training and promotion.
Direct application
There are no set requirements to apply directly for jobs, but you'll find it useful to have experience in hospitality, catering or customer service at a supervisory or management level.
You'll usually need to do the Pre-Entry Awareness Training online learning course before you apply for jobs.
You'll also need to complete the British Institute of Innkeeping's Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders to apply for a licence to sell alcohol .
It's possible for anybody with enough financial backing to buy a pub or bar.
As a manager of a pub or bar that sells food, you may need a food safety qualification accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
Other routes
Some larger pub chains run graduate management trainee schemes.
You'll usually need relevant work experience and a degree in an area like:
- business
- marketing
- hotel and catering
- hospitality management
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- get a licence to sell alcohol
- be over 18 to sell alcohol and other restricted goods
- pass enhanced background checks
Career path and progression
If you're employed by a pub chain or brewery, you could become a regional manager. You might also use your skills to move into catering or restaurant management.
You could go self-employed and expand your business by buying additional pubs or bars.
Career tips
Some jobs will include live-in accommodation as part of the benefits package.
Professional and industry bodies
You could join the British Institute of Innkeeping or British Beer & Pub Association , for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
Guides for this industry
Related roles
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