Bar experience

...that is experience behind it not leant up against it

How many of you have turned to bar work at one time or another in your life for whatever reason? Tips and tricks of the trade? Funny/serious stories?

I've got a couple of trial shifts at my local including a bit of serving fodder, every little helps and all that. Done a bit of pint-pulling voluntarily at a music event but other than that, zilch. So unleash your pearls of wisdom and prepare me for what should be a rather fun night...when I'm not dropping/spilling stuff

[andrewsmith]

Yep did it after uni looking work. Still work the football ground matchdays
What type of local is it? (edit: grub server)

If its serving real ales...


How goods your right forearm and bicep

Pulling pints make sue you keep a good grip of the glass , shorts depends if its optics or free pour. Be polite etc...

[dizzyblonde]

Worked behind three local small pub bars, and a busy town centre One. My brother is manager/licensee of one of Halifaxs best (as far as making money,not best quality of clientele) and busiest pubs, and is stand in area manager at the moment, heading towards permanent.

Don't be shy, and be prepared to give as much as you get. Learn to pull an extremely good pint, and know exactly what your regulars like. Knowing how to pull pints and who the next in the queue is, whilst gassing and balancing glasses on your head is a fine art

Done some in my youth, PM Quiff for real advice, what he doesnt know about pullng pints isnt worth knowin.

[JamesMio]

Worked at one of Edinburgh's biggest nightclubs for a while then later behind the bar at a busy local in a wee small town. Really enjoyed the latter, you got the chance to meet folks and have a bit of craic.

Tips...
- don't be shy!
- don't try to remember huge rounds while you're learning your way around. It's totally ok to stop someone half way through ordering to "just get these and I'll be right back with you"
- or, another way I learned to deal with big rounds was to count the number of drinks in the order. That seemed to help jog my memory when I was making sure the total I had tallied up.
- Don't maul or touch the glass anywhere above about half way, that's where they'll be drinking from!
- learn how to pour heavy beers (like bitter, Guinness etc) PROPERLY. It really does make a huge difference to how they taste and a proper beer drinker will both notice and thank you for it. ( hello, tips!)
- lager is easy to pour
- cocktails are a pain in the ass and anyone ordering them should be shamed into doing so again. Seriously, when you've got a busy bar stacked 4/5 people deep the LAST think you want is some Charlie ordering half a dozen different drinks that each take 5 minutes to make
- enjoy it and don't take it too seriously! It's a pub, not a high brow restaurant, despite what some clientel may try to convince you of otherwise!

[dizzyblonde]

Learn how to pour a proper black velvet ...... Do people still order them? Dunno, but getting guiness to float impresses any punter!

Originally Posted by andrewsmith

If its serving real ales...

Aye, it's a lovely and bustling little pub, good grub, real ales and allows dogs in plus a roaring fire or two

As for cocktails, there's quite a large young crowd that frequently drink there and a few students so could get all manner of daft requests...

Guess I'll find out about the pint pulling, I know Guinness can be a tricky one. Looking forward to it, even if it's not for me tis something I've always fancied having a go at.

Don't tip the glass when trying to reduce the size of the head on a pint, the head will stay where it is and beer will flow over the lip of the glass from underneath it. Watched pints of beer get wasted into drip trays that way, whilst thinking "can't you just stick that in a glass and give it to me?" Hold the glass straight and the liquid level will rise in the glass instantly, chucking the head over the top.

[anna]

I have worked in quite a few at various points whilst studying, cant really say I enjoyed it to be honest, mainly because at the time I was working far too many hours.

However you picked a good time to start tips over Xmas and New Years are normally good.

[dizzyblonde]

The first tug is the best as far as hand pull is concerned if your first tug is cack, the rest of the pint will be.

Perfect it with both arms, or ya'll end up lopsided!