Find UK courses - part time courses, undergraduate, postgraduate courses

What would you like to learn?

* mandatory
Advanced search Find a course provider

Bar Person

Interested in Bar Person? Click on the links below.

Bar Person

Bar Person Career Details

Bar staff, also known as bartenders, work in public houses (pubs), clubs, wine bars, café bars and hotels. Their main duties are serving customers with drinks and collecting payment. Snacks such as crisps and nuts may be served, in addition to hot and cold food at lunchtime and in the evening.

The bar area needs to be kept clean and well stocked. Other duties include washing glasses, emptying ashtrays and storing empty bottles. In bars it is necessary to clear and clean the tables regularly.

Conversing 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.

Working 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.

Bar Person Related Skills

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.

Bar Person Career 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.

Further Career Information

If you would like to know more about a career as an Bar Person related facts, statistics, articles and websites.

Career Steps

Not quite sure about a career as a Bar Person? Try our step-by-step career guide to reaching your chosen career.

Career Courses

Not quite qualified to be a Bar Person? Take a look at Training Bar Person courses, our course browses or use our search form and find courses which will help you on your chosen career path.