How to Run a Pub Staff Gamification Scheme

Right, let’s be honest. Getting pub staff properly engaged can feel like herding cats some days. You’ve got servers who couldn’t care less about upselling, bar staff who treat customers like they’re doing them a favour, and kitchen staff who think speed is optional. Sound familiar?

That’s where gamification comes in. Before you roll your eyes thinking it’s some trendy nonsense, hear me out. I’ve been running pubs for fifteen years, and turning work into a bit of friendly competition has transformed my teams more than any lecture ever could.

Setting Up Your Gamification System

First things first – keep it simple. You don’t need fancy software or complicated point systems. Start with clear, measurable targets that actually matter to your business:

• Sales targets: Weekly upselling competitions for desserts, premium spirits, or food specials
• Customer service scores: Track positive reviews mentioning staff by name
• Speed challenges: Average service times during busy periods
• Knowledge tests: Monthly quizzes on menu items, allergens, or local brewery facts

The key is making everything visible. Get yourself a whiteboard behind the bar where everyone can see the scores. Update it daily. Trust me, even the most laid-back staff member will start paying attention when they see their name at the bottom.

Rewards That Actually Motivate

Here’s where most landlords get it wrong – thinking a pat on the back is enough reward. Your staff are working hard for their money, so make the prizes worth having:

• Cash bonuses (even £20-30 makes a difference)
• Extra day off or early finish on a quiet shift
• Staff meal vouchers for local restaurants
• Priority when writing the staff rota for preferred shifts
• Bottle of decent wine or craft beer selection

Monthly prizes work better than weekly ones – gives everyone time to improve and keeps the competition running longer.

Making It Stick

The biggest mistake I see is landlords starting schemes with great enthusiasm, then forgetting about them after a fortnight. Consistency is everything. Set aside ten minutes each morning to update scores and check progress.

Get your team involved in setting the rules. Ask them what challenges they’d find motivating. You might be surprised – sometimes they want to compete on things you never thought mattered.

Also, rotate the competitions. Don’t just focus on sales every month. Mix in customer service, teamwork challenges, or even silly things like best uniform presentation. Variety keeps everyone interested.

Running a successful gamification scheme isn’t rocket science, but it does need proper planning and follow-through. When you get it right, you’ll see staff engagement shoot up faster than a pint of lager disappears on match day.

Want more practical tools to help manage your pub team effectively? Check out SmartPubTools’ free front-of-house app – it’s designed by pub people, for pub people.