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As a member of a bar's staff your main duties would include:
- serving customers with drinks
- collecting payment and operating the till
- providing snacks, such as crisps and nuts.
You may also create cocktails for customers and, during busy periods, you may help serve hot and cold food.
You would be responsible for keeping the bar area clean and well stocked, which would involve:
- washing glasses
- emptying ashtrays
- storing empty bottles
- clearing and cleaning tables and the bar regularly.
You would also play a key role in creating a welcoming, friendly atmosphere and talking with customers.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You will not usually need any specific qualifications to start work as a bar person. An outgoing, pleasant and helpful manner is usually considered more important than qualifications.
You may need a good general standard of education, and some large pub and bar chains will consider your ability to take relevant qualifications such as:
- NVQ Level 2 in Food and Drink Service
- Level 2 National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders (see training and development section for details).
It would be an advantage to have some experience of customer service.
You will usually need to be at least age 18 to work in a bar. However, you could start a relevant apprenticeship at age 16. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. For more information on Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk (link opens in new window).
What further training and development can I do?
You will normally receive on-the-job training from your employer when you begin work. You could combine this with working towards:
- NVQ Level 2 in Food and Drink Service, Multi-skilled Hospitality Service, or Customer Service
- BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Food and Beverage Service
- the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) specialist courses in wine, spirits and other alcoholic beverages.
You may be able to progress to an NVQ Level 3 in Hospitality Supervision, which covers supervisory and management skills.
You could also take the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) courses and awards in subjects such as:
- Professional Bar Person’s Qualification
- Award in Beer and Cellar Quality
- Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing.
If you have management responsibilities, you may be encouraged to achieve a Personal Licence Holder's qualification. These are offered by the BII, GOAL (through Education Development International) and GQAL (through Developing Hospitality Ltd).
Bar Courses and Training
If you would like your company to be listed here please email us with all your details
London Bar School
Your opportunity to learn all the bartending skills needed to start working behind any of the coolest (or hottest!) cocktail bars anywhere in the world!http://londonbarschool.com/English/welcome.html
Shaker Bar School
Shaker Bar Schools have bought you world class bar training since 2001,
we are proud to introduce our new boutique training venue in the heart
of London.
http://www.shaker-uk.com/index_barschool.php
Squeeze
This fantastic combination course fuses together the 1 day Bartender
basics course and the 1 day Cocktail basics course teaching you
everything you need to know to become a fledgling cocktail bartender!
http://www.squeezeuk.com/course03.html
Bartenders Guild United Kingdom
Two bar training courses aimed at both the younger bartender and
the more experienced bartender to help them develop the skills needed
for further success in the bar industry.
http://www.ukbg.co.uk
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Bar service Training courses