Publicans manage licensed premises, such as pubs, bars, clubs and wine bars. Their status with regard to the business varies:
- Pub owners buy the business and the building.
- Lessees lease the premises at an agreed rent from a brewery or pub management company .
- Depending on the terms of the lease, lessees are often responsible for repairs to the building during the period of the lease.
- Tenants rent the building, usually on a shorter term than a lease, and are responsible only for the fittings and for minor internal maintenance.
- Employees work on a salary basis for a brewery or pub management company.
Tenants and lessees are often tied to selling the produce of the brewery or pub management company.
The job can involve:
- serving customers
- laying tables, cleaning, clearing and tidying up
- stocktaking, ordering from suppliers and arranging deliveries
- maintaining the cellar
- organising food service from the kitchens
- recruiting, training and managing staff
- arranging staff rotas and time off
- keeping the books and paying wages
- dealing securely with large amounts of cash
- enforcing the law on the sale of alcohol on licensed premises
- ensuring that health and safety requirements are met
- dealing with legal paperwork
- deciding how to improve customer service and develop the business
- organising and advertising promotions or special events
- making regular business performance reports
- liaising with breweries, the police and the licensing authorities.
Hours and environment
The hours of work are long and involve evenings and/or weekends, sometimes until the early hours of the morning.
Establishments vary widely in size, style and atmosphere, from relaxed country pubs to city-centre theme bars.
Pubs can be hot, noisy and crowded. The work requires long periods of standing, walking up and down stairs, and usually lifting and carrying crates and barrels.
Many publicans live in, making it difficult for them to get away from the working environment.
A publican training with a large brewery or pub chain may have to travel to different premises. Experienced publicans may need to relocate to a different part of the country to progress their careers.
Salary and other benefits
These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live.
- The starting salary for a trainee manager may be from around €25,000 a year.
- Experienced managers and tenants may earn around €35,000 a year.
- The earnings of lessees and pub owners in successful establishments may exceed €50,000 a year.
Accommodation is sometimes available on the premises. Managers may receive benefits such as pensions, health schemes and performance bonuses, as well as tips and free meals on duty. Lessees and owners can make capital gains by selling on their business at a profit.
Skills and personal qualities
A publican should be:
- energetic
- honest and trustworthy
- cool under pressure
- sales and customer orientated
- sociable, patient and tactful
- assertive when dealing with difficult situations
- a team player, as well as a leader
- a good staff manager
- a good negotiator
- financially astute.
Interests
A publican should have an interest in:
- meeting people
- wines and other beverages
- general catering – more than 25 per cent of takings in the average pub come from food sales.
Entry routes:
No specified academic qualifications are required,but there are a number of third level courses on offer on a part time and full time basis.These courses are from Certificate level to Degree level.
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