- 1,911front of house, bar and waiting jobs live right now
- 23employers hiring for the role
- £12.71–£16.71typical top hourly rate in adverts that show pay
- 12 of 23employers mention tronc, tips or service charge
What Does a Waiter or Waitress Do?
Front of house staff look after guests from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave. Job titles vary (bar and waiting staff, waiting team member, server, food and beverage assistant, restaurant crew), but the job is built around the same things. We read 80 adverts from the 23 employers currently hiring, and these were the tasks that came up most often.
- Welcoming guestsGreeting people as they arrive and making them feel looked after. Mentioned by 17 of the 23 employers.
- Serving food and drinkBringing food and drink to tables and keeping guests happy through their visit. Mentioned by 13 of the 23.
- Clearing and cleaningSetting up, clearing tables and keeping the restaurant clean and tidy. Mentioned by 15 of the 23.
- Working the barPouring pints, making drinks and coffee. Mentioned by 11 of the 23.
- Taking paymentsWorking the till and taking payments. Mentioned by 8 of the 23.
- Recommending dishes and drinksKnowing the menu and suggesting something guests will enjoy. Mentioned by 7 of the 23.
Where You Could Work
Front of house jobs on our site are in:
- Pubs and pub restaurants, the largest group by far.
- Restaurant chains and independent restaurants.
- Quick service restaurants.
- Supermarket and store cafés.
- Hotels.
- Airports and stations.
- Care homes, as food and beverage assistants.
Do You Need Experience?
No. Three employers say outright that no previous experience is needed and that they'll give you full training. 12 of the 23 employers mention training in their adverts.
There are also 22 bar and waiting apprenticeships live right now, so you can learn on the job and work towards a qualification.
Some roles ask you to be 18 or over, so check the advert before you apply.
What Employers Look For
How many of the 23 employers mention each quality in their adverts:
Personality comes first. A typical advert asks you to give a warm welcome and excellent service to everyone who visits.
What Does a Waiter or Waitress Earn?
£12.71–£16.71an hour
That's the spread of typical top hourly rates across the 17 employers whose adverts show pay. The middle of that spread is £12.75.
- £12.71 is the most common rate. 8 of those 17 employers pay it. It is the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over (from April 2026).
- Ranges often start at £8.00. That's the legal minimum for under-18s and apprentices, so the bottom of a range is usually the youngest age band.
- Tips on top. 12 of the 23 employers mention tronc, tips or service charge. Some adverts quote an hourly rate that already includes expected tronc, so read the small print.
Look beyond the hourly rate as well. Of the 23 employers, 17 mention a staff discount, 13 mention holiday, 11 mention wellbeing support, 9 mention a pension and 6 mention free or discounted meals.
Hours and Shifts
- Flexible shifts are the norm. 16 of the 23 employers mention flexibility, and there are 161 jobs advertised as part-time right now.
- Expect evenings and weekends. Adverts ask for availability across a range of shifts, including evenings, weekends and holidays.
Where It Can Lead
17 of the 23 employers talk about progression or careers in their adverts. Front of house jobs on our site go up through:
- Team Leader or Supervisor: running a shift or a section of the floor.
- Assistant Restaurant Manager: helping run the whole restaurant or pub.
- General Manager: responsible for the site, its team and its results.
Browse the next step up:
Job Titles to Search For
- Bar and Waiting Staff
- Waiting Staff
- Waiter
- Waitress
- Front of House
- Server
- Food and Beverage Assistant
- Restaurant Crew
- Food Runner
- Host
- Bar and Waiting Apprenticeship
How to Get Started
- Know your availability. Most front of house work is evenings and weekends, so be clear about when you can work.
- Think about Christmas. Our guide to how Christmas jobs can boost your career explains why seasonal work is worth a look.
- Upload your CV. Employers can then find you as well as the other way round.
- Prepare for the interview. Read our 20 common interview questions before the day.
Ready to start?
There are 1,911 front of house, bar and waiting jobs live right now.