The pubs, bars and nightclubs industry is represented by People 1st, the Sector Skills Council for hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism. The hospitality, travel and tourism sector incorporates the following industries: contract food service providers, events, gambling, holiday parks, hospitality services, hostels, hotels, membership clubs, pubs, bars and nightclubs, restaurants, self-catering accommodation, tourist services, and visitor attractions. The sector accounts for a workforce of 2.1 million, most of which are based within the restaurants, hospitality services, and pubs, bars and nightclubs industries. The roles within the sector are extremely diverse and include managers, technical staff, front-of-house staff, back-of-house staff, and non-core staff.
Pubs and bars provide alcoholic and non‐alcoholic beverages. They may also provide snacks or food. Who, or what, own the pubs and bars are important:
- Managed houses – include those that are owned by a brewery and employ salaried staff who manage and work in the outlet, and those owned by pub companies
- Tenanted or leased pubs – these are owned by the brewery, but are occupied by licensees who pay rent to the brewery and agree to take their supply of beer
- Free houses – these are owned and managed by the licensee and deal with a number of different suppliers and brewers
- Nightclubs primarily offer a place to listen to music and dance for an admission fee. Drink and food are offered as additional services.
Key facts:
- There are 332,700 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry.
- 16% of the workforce has an NVQ Level 4 or above qualification.
- The majority of the workforce has a NVQ Level 2 qualification (26%).
- 13% of the workforce has no qualifications.
- 43% of the workforce is employed full‐time.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]
Jobs in the industry range from: bar manager, general manager, bar person, chef, cloakroom attendant, food and beverage manager.
National and regional data
East Midlands – There are approximately 29,600 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in this region, of which:
- 40% work full‐time
- 55% of the workforce is female
- 94% of the workforce is white
- 28% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- The majority of the workforce has a NVQ Level 1 and entry level qualification (34%)
East of England – There are approximately 26,500 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in this region, of which:
- 51% work full‐time
- Workforce is evenly split between men and women
- 93% of the workforce is white
- 28% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 28% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
London – There are approximately 20,000 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in this region, of which:
- 46% work full‐time
- 41% of the workforce is female
- 81% of the workforce is white
- 39% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 31% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification
North East – There are approximately 18,700 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in this region, of which:
- 40% work full‐time
- 62% of the workforce is female
- 95% of the workforce is white
- 20% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 26% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
North West – There are approximately 42,700 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in this region, of which:
- 40% work full‐time
- 59% of the workforce is female
- 26% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 25% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
South East – There are approximately 42,200 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in this region, of which:
- 54% work full‐time
- 53% of the workforce is female
- 94% of the workforce is white
- The majority of the workforce is aged between 16‐24 years (50%)
- 28% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification
South West – There are approximately 25,900 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in this region, of which:
- 60% work full‐time
- 64% of the workforce is female
- 95% of the workforce is white
- 29% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 28% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
West Midlands – There are approximately 30,000 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in this region, of which:
- 37% work full‐time
- 61% of the workforce is female
- 96% of the workforce is white
- 29% of the workforce is 16‐19 years
- 30% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are approximately 37,700 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in this region, of which:
- 39% work full‐time
- 60% of the workforce is female
- 97% of the workforce is white
- The majority of the workforce is aged between 16‐24 years (46%)
- 31% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
Northern Ireland – There are approximately 43,900 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Northern Ireland, of which 5,600 work in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in 1,200 establishments. Details as follows:
- 56% work full‐time
- 52% of the workforce is male
- 97% of the workforce is white
- The majority of the workforce is aged between 20‐29 years (52%)
- 47% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
Scotland – There are approximately 183,500 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Scotland, of which 28,000 work in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in 4,200 establishments. Details as follows:
- 55% work full‐time
- 64% of the workforce is female
- 97% of the workforce is white
- 39% of the workforce is aged between 20‐29 years
- 31% of the workforce has an NVQ level 4 qualification
Wales – There are approximately 86,100 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Wales, of which 20,700 work in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in 3,800 establishments. Details as follows:
- 36% work full‐time
- The workforce is split fairly evenly between male and female
- 98% of the workforce is white
- 42% of the workforce is aged between 20‐29 years
- 32% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]
