Book
Bartending for Dummies
A trusted manual for new or budding baristas with over 1000 drink recipes and clear, easy-to-follow instructions.
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Bartender
Discover the great things about a career as a bartender: travel the world, work on cruise ships, festivals, high profile events, unleash your creativity, and engage in a highly social role. Bartenders have the unique opportunity to work in exciting environments, from high-end venues to exclusive celebrity hangouts. Whether you’re creating your own pop-up, opening your own bar, or mixing drinks in five-star locations, bartending offers endless possibilities. It’s not just a job—it’s an adventure where every shift brings new experiences and the chance to build a rewarding career in hospitality.
With opportunities to work across bars, restaurants, events, and hotels, bartending could be your ticket to a dynamic and fulfilling career path.
Summary
If you're outgoing, adaptable, and have a creative flair, bartending could be the perfect career for you.
Bartenders are the heartbeat of the hospitality industry, combining creativity, social interaction, and skill to craft unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re designing innovative cocktails, managing high-energy events, or working in a luxury hotel or cruise ship, bartending offers an exciting and dynamic career. What sometimes starts off as a weekend job to earn some extra money can often turn into a love affair with a highly social, rewarding role for the right person. It’s a career that allows you to travel the world, engage with fascinating people, and meet some of the most interesting people in the world—from locals to celebrities—while expressing your creative talents.
From mixing classic drinks to experimenting with modern recipes, bartenders are masters of their craft. The role also involves managing stock, ensuring safety, and adhering to legal and licensing regulations, making organisation and attention to detail essential skills.
Bartending offers flexibility—whether you’re looking for part-time work, a full-time role, or a position at a five-star venue. As you gain experience, the career path can lead to many opportunities, such as becoming a bar supervisor, opening your own bar, or even starting a pop-up bar. For those who are social, enjoy creativity, and are looking for a career with endless adventure, bartending is a great choice.
Responsibilities
A bartender is responsible for pouring and crafting drinks, providing excellent customer service, and maintaining a welcoming bar atmosphere. Their key responsibilities are as follows:
Preparing and serving drinks. Mixing and serving various alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including cocktails, beers, and wines, according to recipes and customer preferences. Maintaining consistency and quality in drink preparation.
Engaging with customers. Interacting with customers to take orders, recommend drinks, and ensure a positive experience. Building rapport and fostering a friendly and inviting bar environment.
Managing bar inventory. Keeping track of stock levels for spirits, mixers, garnishes, and other supplies. Restocking the bar as needed and coordinating with suppliers for inventory replenishment.
Maintaining cleanliness and hygiene. Cleaning bar surfaces, bar tools, and glassware to uphold hygiene standards. Ensuring the bar complies with health and safety regulations at all times.
Handling transactions. Processing payments accurately, managing tabs, and balancing the cash register at the end of the shift. Ensuring all transactions comply with company policies.
Ensuring responsible alcohol service. Keeping track of customer alcohol consumption and adhering to laws regarding serving alcohol. Politely refusing service to intoxicated customers and ensuring the safety of all patrons.
Key Skills & Traits
The best bartenders possess a range of skills, including drink-crafting expertise, strong interpersonal and communication abilities, and an eye for detail. Their efficiency, creativity, friendliness and professionalism enables them to deliver excellent service.
Drink preparation skills.
Confident in mixing and serving a wide range of beverages, from classic cocktails to modern twists and custom creations. Knowledge of techniques, garnishes, and tools to ensure consistency and quality in each drink.
Drinks knowledge.
A comprehensive understanding of spirits, wines, beers, and mixers, including flavour profiles and pairings. Staying updated on industry trends and new products.
Cash handling and Mathematics.
Competent maths and cash handling skills for processing payments, managing tabs, and providing correct change. Balancing cash registers accurately at the end of the day.
Teamwork and cooperation.
Working within a team and coordinating with barbacks, service staff, and management to ensure the smooth running of the bar. Flexibility to switch tasks and support colleagues, especially in busier peak times.
Customer service.
Strong interpersonal skills to engage with customers, take orders and provide tailored recommendations. The ability to create a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere for all patrons of the bar.
Attention to detail.
A precise approach to measurements, drink presentation, and order accuracy. Ensuring that garnishes, glassware, and drink aesthetics meet high and consistent standards.
Time management.
Managing time effectively to prioritise customer service while keeping the bar clean, stocked, and organised, with prep and restocks carried out before busy periods.
Communication skills.
Clear and confident verbal communication to engage customers, explain drink options and menu items, upsell specials, and handle customer inquiries. Active listening skills to understand and fulfil customer preferences.
Multitasking.
Comfortably managing multiple orders and customer interactions in a busy environment. Working efficiently while staying composed and organised under pressure, especially during peak hours.
Hygiene and safety awareness.
Maintaining cleanliness and hygiene of the bar area, tools, and glassware. Keeping up to date with and following all food safety and alcohol regulations, including recognising signs of intoxication in customers.
Education & Qualifications
Anyone can become a Bartender—no formal qualifications required! What really matters is your attitude, willingness to learn, and ability to work well under pressure. Many great Bartenders started with no experience at all, just a strong work ethic, a friendly personality, and a desire to deliver excellent service.
Success behind the bar is built on skill, speed, and service—not certificates. You’ll learn most of what you need on the job: how to pour pints, mix drinks, handle customers, and keep your cool in a fast-paced environment. Whether you're working in a pub, a cocktail bar, or a hotel, enthusiasm, teamwork, and a calm head will get you far.
Lifestyle
A bartending career offers a vibrant mix of social interaction and independence. With evening and weekend shifts, it's ideal for those who enjoy non-traditional hours and thrive in fast-paced environments. While bartenders build strong connections with customers, they also enjoy the freedom of independent work. Earnings can be lucrative, particularly with tips in high-demand venues or events, although financial stability can vary. Holiday benefits and stability may depend on the employer, but the role offers flexibility, travel opportunities, and seasonal work for those seeking adventure.
0%
Remote SuitedA bartender works in-person at a bar or other hospitality location, so it is not suitable for remote working.
50%
StressfulThis job can be stressful during busy shifts, handling unexpected issues and challenging customers, all while maintaining professionalism under pressure.
60%
Work Life BlanceWhile bartenders typically work set shifts and do not have to take their work home with them, working long shifts and antisocial hours late at night impact their work-life balance.
Our collection of reviews from industry professionals have scored being a bartender as 4.0 out of 5 on average.
45/hrs
WeeklyFull-time bartenders typically work 40 or more hours per week, often including evenings, late nights and weekends.
Salary Data
The average salary for a bartender in the UK is around £25,000. Entry-level bartenders can expect to earn approximately £21,000 to £22,000 per year, depending on tips and hours worked. Senior bartenders can earn around £30,000. Many bartenders are paid an hourly rate, which may vary depending on the venue and hours worked, with tips often contributing a significant portion of earnings. For freelancers, contractors, or self-employed bartenders, earnings can fluctuate widely based on the type of work, location, and clientele, with the potential to earn more at high-demand events or exclusive venues. Business owners, such as bar owners or those running pop-up bars, may see higher earnings, but also face additional responsibilities and risks.
£22,000
Entry
£25,000
Average
£30,000
Senior
Career Path
The career path of a bartender has diverse opportunities, starting with entry-level bartending, service and barback positions and moving up the ranks into management and specialist roles. Bartenders often start as trainee bar staff, learning customer service, drink preparation, and bar operations on the job. There is no requirement for formal qualifications or education, but there are certifications in mixology, health and safety, or responsible alcohol service that can improve employability and skills.
Barback
This entry-level role focuses on supporting more senior bar staff, restocking supplies, and maintaining bar cleanliness while learning the foundations of bartending. This is a great starting point for gaining hands-on experience and knowledge.
Bartender
As bartenders gain experience, they develop expertise and specialisms in mixology, customer service, and low-level management. They craft cocktails, recommend drink pairings, and build rapport with patrons, representing and often being the face of the establishment.
Lead Bartender or Mixologist
Lead bartenders have additional responsibilities, such as training and mentoring junior staff in mixology and designing signature cocktails. Specialist mixologists will focus on crafting unique and premium beverages. These position is more commonly found in specialist bars (such as cocktail bars) or high-end restaurants.
Bar Manager
With experience, bartenders can move up into management roles. Bar managers oversee staffing and schedules, and manage inventory and finances. A bar manager role requires strong leadership, interpersonal and organisational skills.
A bartender has many opportunities for career progression, and the above represents some of these paths. Other opportunities include working in a diverse range of environments, including luxury hotels, cocktail bars, nightclubs, corporate events and even on cruises. Some bartenders may climb the ladder into management, while others may sidestep to other hospitality roles such as restaurant manager, hotel manager or in customer service.
History of the Profession
The art of bartending has been around since ancient times, and the profession has seen its fair share of transformations. What started as simply serving drinks has evolved into an exciting, dynamic role where bartenders are creators, entertainers, and even therapists. So, let’s take a quick sip of history and see how the profession has shaped itself over the centuries—and how bartenders today are still setting the trends.
Reviews
We think that one of the best ways to figure out if a job is for you is to get advice from other people, so we've collected these reviews to help you make your decision!
Bartender
Jen
I love my job, it’s the most coveted job in the restaurant I work in and I feel lucky to have it. I started out as a server a year ago and helped out on the bar during some shifts, so when a bartender position came up I was an easy hire for the manager. I’m training in mixology and love the creativity and craftsmanship of bartending. Plus the tips are great. The only downsides are super busy shifts where things get a bit chaotic, and when customers are rude or get a little out of hand. In the future, I’m hoping to move into management, but I’m happy where I am at the moment.
💰£27,000Annual
salary
salary
💼40Weekly hours
🏝️0%Remote suited
🤷♀️30%Stressful
⚖️90%Work life balance
Bartender
Matt
I’ve been working as a barman for 2 years at a pub. I love the social side of the job, I have lots of interesting conversations with patrons and have some regulars that I’ve got to know well. I love knowing a regular’s drink of choice and starting to make it when I see them come in, before they ask. The pub is open daytime and evening, so my shifts vary, but I try to take afternoon and evening shifts so that I can get my own stuff done in the mornings and have more work-life balance. The only things I’d improve about my job are the wages, but I’m hoping to move up and earn more soon.
💰£24,000Annual
salary
salary
💼45Weekly hours
🏝️0%Remote suited
🤷♀️60%Stressful
⚖️70%Work life balance
Mixologist
James
I love working as a Mixologist, it’s a sought-after role and I have been able to work at some high-end establishments in London. I get the royal treatment at other bars where people know me, I get to meet lots of great people and go to all the best after-parties. The money is better than some standard bartender roles due to my training, skills and expertise, getting trained is the best choice I ever made. In my current job, I am the resident cocktail wizard, I make interesting and exciting cocktails all day, as well as helping to teach and train new hires.
💰£30,000Annual
salary
salary
💼50Weekly hours
🏝️0%Remote suited
🤷♀️20%Stressful
⚖️90%Work life balance
Similar Careers
These careers are closely related to working as a bartender. It is likely that during their career a bartender will work alongside, be promoted or sidestep to one of these roles.
Resources
Want to learn more about being a bartender? We’ve put together some resources to help you learn more about the drinks and hospitality industries and prepare for a career in bartending.
Book
Bartending Inside-Out: The Guide To Profession, Profit and Fun
A concise reference book for full and part-time bartenders offering “the tools to achieve success”. This guide covers the need-to-know basics on spirits, the best glassware for each drink and the core essentials of bartending customer service. It has over 125 cocktail recipes.
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Podcast
The Speakeasy
Three industry hosts talk cocktails, spirits, wine, beer, tea, coffee, and more in this weekly podcast. Episodes feature industry enthusiasts and experts in mixology, bar history, distillation, and brewing.
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Course
International Bartender Course
The European Bartending School calls this “the world’s most popular bartender course, provided by the world’s largest bartender school.” This 4 week course gives students the equivalent of 6 months of cocktail bar experience where they will master over 65 classic cocktails.
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Course
Online Bartending Course
The European Bartending School offers online courses on a range of bartending topics. There are basic, intermediate and specialised courses to suit all levels and empower students to specialise in the topic of their choice. All courses provide a certificate upon completion.
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Article
Raising the Bar: What It Takes To Succeed as a Bartender Today
This article from VinePair explores modern bartending and the challenges and rewards of the ever-evolving profession.
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Specialisms
Bartenders can specialise in areas of their profession, developing specific skills or focusing on aspects of the role to further their careers. Below are some popular specialisms in bartending.
Regulatory Bodies
Several licensing and legal requirements impact bartenders and those in the bartending profession.