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.
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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.
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Used daily at Teal Farm Pub, Washington NE38
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Wet GP%, dry GP%, labour costs, beer line cleaning logs (12 lines), HACCP temperature checks, stock ordering, weekly P&L. All in one system. Used every shift at Teal Farm where labour runs at 15.1% against a UK pub average of 25-30%.
On a pub taking £900k a year, running labour at 15% instead of 25% is worth roughly £90,000. That is what tracking it daily — every shift, every week — actually looks like.
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One-off payment. Works on any device. Used by a working licensee, not a software company that’s never pulled a pint.
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Real-time labour %, cash position and VAT liability in one dashboard. Built by a working pub landlord. £97 once, no monthly fees. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Takes 2 minutes · Free forever · Made for UK pubs
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Running your pub on gut feel?
The Pub Command Centre gives you wet GP%, cellar checks, staff cost and weekly P&L — from your phone, every shift. £97 once. No subscription.
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