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Publican

Alternative titles for this job include Pub landlord, bar manager, licensed premises manager

Publicans manage licensed premises like pubs and bars.

Average salary (a year)

£27,000 Starter

to

£50,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

45 to 50 variable

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays flexibly

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become 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

More Information

Work

You could start as a bar person 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 e-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

More Information

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.

Further information

You can find out more about a career in the drinks trade from the British Institute of Innkeeping 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
  • 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

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

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 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.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

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.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Apprentice Catering Manager

  • Wage: £12,480 a year Annually
  • Location: Ipswich

Apprentice Chef Manager

  • Wage: Competitive Annually
  • Location: Nailsea, Bristol
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Event And Business Management Level 2

  • Provider: EAST SUSSEX COLLEGE GROUP
  • Start date: 08 September 2025
  • Location: Lewes

FD in Hospitality Management - Middlesbrough College

  • Provider: MIDDLESBROUGH COLLEGE
  • Start date: 15 September 2025
  • Location: Middlesbrough
Find courses near you

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