The bar is all about customer service and experience and it’s not as straightforward as it looks. To start with, the bar manager needs to show flair while serving drinks and be able to chat to guests at the bar whilst keeping track of the order.

He / she will need good knowledge of beers, wines, spirits and cocktails. And they’ll likely need to be able to recommend any bar food and snacks that complement the customers’ drinks.

To be a bar manager it’s important to:
  • Have a solid, working knowledge of licensing laws 
  • Make sure there is constant cleanliness and hygiene of all bar areas
  • Keep on top of stock and cost control of the range of drinks available
  • Recruit and train new bar staff
  • Be able to manage and motivate the bar team – many of whom may be part time
  • Deliver exceptional customer service whilst being friendly and informative
  • Be keen to learn about new products so that they can be talked about knowledgeably
  • Be able to mix things up a bit to keep customers interested, such as creating seasonal drinks and cocktails for summer, Christmas and special events such as Valentine’s Day, Halloween, national festivities etc.
Skills, Experience and Personality Needed
The ideal bar manager possesses the following:
  • Previous bar experience at supervisory level
  • Dependability and reliability
  • An eye for detail and the ability to innovate
  • Confidence, creativity and an infectious energy
  • Natural hospitality skills, energy and enthusiasm
  • The ability to lead a team and coach and develop other bar staff
  • The ability to create a happy, positive place for both staff and guests
  • The ability to stay calm when service is busy or there are incidents in the bar
  • Stamina – shifts can be long and you’ll be on your feet for most of them
Benefits and Considerations
  • It’s definitely not a 9-5 job and evening and weekend work is the norm
  • But it generally a fun environment, especially for those who like meeting and talking to people
  • Tips can be generous
  • May be offered discounted or free food and drink
  • Can be busy and stressful, especially if there are rowdy or difficult customers
  • Some manual lifting is needed