Bar Manager Contract Template for England and Wales

A Bar Manager Contract is a specialised employment agreement that governs the working relationship between a licensed establishment and its bar manager in England and Wales. This contract goes beyond standard employment terms to address the responsibilities and legal requirements that come with managing licensed premises, including staff supervision, inventory control, and the handling of alcohol licensing obligations.

What is a bar contract?

In hospitality, a "bar contract" usually means one of two things: the employment agreement for the person who runs the venue, or a supply and service arrangement covering how a bar operates. This template is the first kind, a written employment agreement between an establishment and its bar manager. It records what each party agrees to, from pay and hours to the duties the manager will provide day to day. If you instead need a business-to-business arrangement, a service agreement is the better starting point, and for a supplier or contractor working on site an independent contractor agreement covers the service and payment terms.

Does this cover a bartender contract too?

The template is built for the manager role, but the same structure works for a bartender contract. A bartender is usually an hourly employee reporting to the bar manager, so you keep the parties, duties, hours and pay sections and trim the licensing and accountability clauses that only apply to the person in charge. Edit the duties to describe serving, till work and shift patterns rather than rota-setting and stock ordering. For an hourly role you may also want to issue a short offer letter setting out start date, pay rate and hours before the full contract is signed.

When do you need this document?

You need a Bar Manager Contract when hiring someone to oversee daily operations, manage staff, and meet licensing obligations in pubs, restaurants, hotels, or entertainment venues. This document becomes essential when the role involves significant autonomy in decision-making, budget management, or when the manager will hold personal licensing responsibilities. It's particularly important for establishments where the manager has authority over purchasing, staff scheduling, and customer service standards, as these responsibilities carry both operational and legal implications under UK licensing law. Groups running more than one venue can reuse the same draft across their bars, adjusting the parties and duties for each site.

What should a bar manager contract include?

A complete contract sets out the terms clearly so neither party is left guessing. The core sections are:

• Parties and start date, naming the employer, the manager and when employment begins.
• Job title and duties, describing the service the manager will provide, from opening and closing the venue to managing the drinks menu and ordering stock.
• Hours and availability, covering salary, any performance bonus, and how irregular, late or on-call hours are handled.
• Licensing responsibilities, stating whether the manager is the designated premises supervisor and how they enforce age-check policy at the point of sale.
• Cash and stock accountability, setting out till reconciliation, stocktakes and handling of takings.
• Premises and property, covering care of the premises, equipment and any keys, floats or company property the manager is responsible for.
• Team management, setting out authority over the team, from rota-setting and recruitment support to supervision and standards.
• Conduct and disciplinary procedure, so any breach is dealt with through a fair, written process.
• Confidentiality, notice and termination, protecting supplier terms and pricing and stating how either party ends the agreement.

You can add clauses where the role or venue needs them, for example a rota policy, a request-and-approval process for stock orders, or terms for third party suppliers and contractors working on site.

Key legal considerations

Your contract must clearly define the scope of management responsibilities, including whether the manager will be a designated premises supervisor under the Licensing Act 2003. Include specific clauses covering working time arrangements, as bar management often involves irregular hours that must meet the Working Time Regulations 1998. Address remuneration structures carefully, particularly if the role includes performance bonuses or revenue-sharing arrangements. Set out how the manager handles client and customer contact, since front-of-house standards and complaint handling often sit with this role. Consider including confidentiality clauses to protect business information, non-compete provisions where legally enforceable, and clear disciplinary procedures. The contract should specify training requirements for licensing and outline consequences for regulatory breaches that could affect the establishment's licence.

Legal requirements in England and Wales

Your Bar Manager Contract must meet the Employment Rights Act 1996, providing statutory employment rights including notice periods, unfair dismissal protection, and a written statement of employment particulars. Ensure the contract meets National Minimum Wage Act 1998 obligations, particularly important given the hospitality sector's history of pay disputes. Include automatic enrolment pension provisions under the Pensions Act 2008 for eligible employees. Address equality and discrimination protections under the Equality Act 2010, ensuring fair treatment regardless of protected characteristics. The contract must acknowledge health and safety duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, particularly relevant in licensed premises with specific risks. Consider licensing-specific points under the Licensing Act 2003, including the manager's part in preventing underage sales and maintaining public order.

How do I draft and sign a bar manager contract?

Start from this template, add the parties, duties and pay, then adjust the clauses to match the venue. Each clause is written in plain English so both sides can read and agree the terms directly. The employer and the manager review the draft, agree any changes, and sign a final copy each keeps. Both parties should accept the terms in writing before the first shift so responsibilities are settled from day one. For a broader employer document set, see GenieAI's employment contract templates.

Can I use this for a site manager or other operational role?

The structure carries over well to other operational hires. A site manager contract follows the same pattern as a bar manager one: named parties, a clear duties section, hours and pay, accountability for premises, equipment and stock, and a conduct and termination process. If you manage people across venues or sites, start from the closest fit and edit the duties and licensing clauses to match the role. Where staff vary between employed and self-employed, pair the right agreement to each person: a standard employment contract for direct hires and an independent contractor agreement for contractors working on site.

Is this template free and kept up to date?

Yes. This is a free, editable Bar Manager Contract template for England & Wales, reviewed through 2026 so the terms and the governing statutes stay current. To find and download it, open the template and draft it in your browser: add the parties, adjust the clauses, and produce a professional, ready-to-sign agreement without paying for external help on every hire. If you want more depth on a specific clause, the per-clause guidance and the applicable law list on this page explain what each term means and why it's there, so you can understand the document before you sign it.