Food & drink

Publican

Publicans manage licensed premises like pubs and bars.

Annual Salary

£20,000 to £50,000

Working hours

47 to 49 variable

You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; flexibly

2.2%
Future employment

There will be 2.2% more Publican jobs in 2027.
In your local area

What's it all about?

Day-to-day tasks

In your day-to-day tasks you may:

  • organise deliveries
  • make sure the bar is stocked and well maintained
  • serve customers
  • run the bar in line with health, safety and legal regulations
  • recruit, train and supervise bar staff and kitchen staff
  • stocktake
  • handle wages, book-keeping and accounts
  • build good relationships with breweries, suppliers and customers
  • carry out plans to maximise sales

Working environment

You could work in a pub or bar.

Your working environment may be noisy and physically demanding.

You can get into this job through:

  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly
  • a graduate management trainee scheme
Apprenticeship

You may be able to start by doing a hospitality manager higher apprenticeship.

You could then 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
For more information
Work

You can start as a bar person and work your way into this role by applying for promotion when you've got experience.

Direct application

There are no set requirements, but you'll find it useful to have experience in customer service at a supervisory level, and some experience of bar work.

You'll usually need to do the Pre-Entry Awareness Training e-learning course. You'll also need to complete the British Institute of Innkeeping Awarding Body Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders to apply for a Personal Licence.

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'll usually need a qualification in food safety accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.

Other routes

Some large 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 with licensed retail

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

More information

Professional and industry bodies

You may find it useful to join organisations like the British Institute of Innkeeping and British Beer & Pub Association, for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a publican from British Beer & Pub Association and the Wine and Spirit Education Trust.

If you're employed by a chain or brewery, you could become a regional manager.

You could become self-employed and expand your business by buying additional pubs or bars.

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

  • customer service skills
  • leadership skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to work well with others
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • business management skills
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • the ability to motivate and manage staff
  • knowledge of food production methods
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
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