Skip to main content
National Careers Service

Beta How could we improve this service? Your feedback will help.

  1. Home
  2. Explore careers
  3. Bar person

Bar person

Alternative titles for this job include Bartender

Bar staff serve drinks in venues like pubs, clubs, bars, hotels and restaurants.

Average salary (a year)

£19,000 Starter

to

£24,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

30 to 40 variable

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

Meet Gabe

As a bar supervisor, Gabe enjoys working in a customer facing role and meeting new people.

1 minute 30 second watch

View transcript

Hello, I'm Gabe and I’m a bar supervisor here at The Old Shoe in Sheffield.

Previously to here, I've worked in hospitality for about 5, 6 years and I've really enjoyed it. Meeting new people, meeting your regulars, getting to know them, knowing about people's lives. And it's nice to chat with people and have a rapport with them, and also having an interest in what you're doing as well.

First things first, we check what fantastic beers we've got on. Have a little taste of them all. You’ve got to know what you're selling to sell it to people. Check our orders, see if they've arrived. Check our cellar. Check everything's turned on, correct, working.

We go through all the stock we have, stock things up, check dates, check everything we’ve got. And we basically aim to give fantastic customer service to people who want to be customers.

I think being highly personable to people, understanding what they're talking about, having a passion for what you're selling is really important in this job role. Like an eye for detail, looking out, seeing what people are drinking and seeing what they might enjoy. Checking on people.

Basically it’s just really customer facing and you want to give people the best opportunity they have to enjoy the place that they’re in.

It’s a very rewarding place to gain skills in and have a future in. There’s different roles. So if you're not, if you don't particularly enjoy the customer facing side of thing, there's loads of other stuff, marketing, brewing, loads of different bits and like easy to do, easy to get into, as long as you just have a lot of passion and are willing to put a bit of time into it really.

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

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.

More Information

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.

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:

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

More Information

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.

More Information

Career tips

Some salaries include a basic rate plus a share of tips left by customers.

Further information

You can find out more about careers in the hospitality and drinks industry from Caterer.com and the Wine and Spirit Education Trust.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

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

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

  • be over 18 to sell alcohol and other restricted goods

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

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.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

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.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Apprentice Bar Manager

  • Wage: £12,480 a year Annually
  • Location: THE SQUARE, CLUN, SHROPSHIRE

Food and beverage team member apprentice

  • Wage: £20,800 a year Annually
  • Location: HARROGATE
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Food and Beverage Service

  • Provider: LUMINATE EDUCATION GROUP
  • Start date: 14 September 2026
  • Location: Leeds

Diploma in Food and Beverage Service Supervision

  • Provider: NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE COLLEGE
  • Start date: 02 September 2026
  • Location: HITCHIN
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Search further careers

Related careers

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Speak to an adviser

You can call 0800 100 900 or use webchat to speak to an adviser.

We're open:

  • 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday
  • 10am to 5pm Saturdays and bank holidays

We're closed on Sundays, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Is this page useful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback.

Thank you for your feedback. Click here if you'd like to let us know how we can improve the service.