Awarded by The Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality and accredited by OFQUAL, this is the first course of its kind in the world, and will allow you to clearly demonstrate your level of knowledge to current or future employers – and progress to the next stage of your career quickly and easily. 

Upon successful completion of this course, you will then have the option to progress further in your pursuit of management skills and qualifications by studying the CTH (IoH) Level 4 Diploma in Advanced Hospitality Management. 

This online course comprises 140 hours of engaging, relevant content, filled with interactive graphics, quizzes, exercises and videos to help you learn, as well as links to further reading to support your learning. 

Online learning:  
All course content is delivered remotely and can be accessed via a laptop or tablet. You’ll never have to travel to attend lectures in person.   

Easy to follow:  
The course is divided into six units, which are split into separate modules. The simple navigation tools take you through each module with a clear route map: 

• Simply press on the arrows to progress 
• Click on all the highlighted areas to find out everything you need to know
• Your progress will be saved regularly 

Time is on your side:  
You choose when you want to study, and with 24 months to complete the course you can learn at your own pace.  

The curriculum for the Level 4 National Diploma in Professional Bar Management is broad and wide-ranging. As well as learning about financial business management, HR, training and legislation relevant to the bar industry, you will be taught essential sales and marketing techniques, discover how to manage your bar more ethically and sustainably, and learn advanced bar management skills.  

The content has been put together by bar industry specialists, drawing on a wealth of expertise from hospitality and education experts.  

The course is divided into six units:

1. FINANCIAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT 

(Estimated time to complete: 20 hours) 

• Understanding the importance of financial planning and financial management when running a business  
• Understanding ways a bar can be funded, and how its income is generated  
• Understanding the fixed and variable costs involved in running a bar
• Understanding how to set prices, hit profit margins, and maximise turnover 
• Understanding final accounts: profit and loss accounts, balance sheets and cash flow statements 

2. SALES AND MARKETING 

(Estimated time to complete: 20 hours) 

• Understanding the theories of marketing, sales and PR, and how they can be applied within the hospitality industry 
• Understanding how to manage your venue’s online presence 
• Understanding the principles of selling in the hospitality industry  
• Understanding the importance of responsible service and sales management  

3. ETHICAL BAR MANAGEMENT 

(Estimated time to complete: 20 hours)  

• Understanding the importance of sustainability and CSR when operating a licensed venue  
• Understanding the role of purchasing in developing a sustainable business  
• Understanding how plastics, packaging and other waste can be identified and reduced, and your progress measured 
• Understanding the importance of providing responsible service and creating the right environment for your business
• Understanding how discrimination and equality policies should be followed in the workplace 
• Understanding the importance of ensuring good working conditions for staff 
• Understanding how to develop and implement ethical bar management policies in your business, and how to communicate your strategy to others    

4. HUMAN RESOURCES AND TRAINING 

(Estimated time to complete: 20 hours)  

• Understanding the importance of effective human resources in the hospitality industry  
• Understanding the recruitment process and the importance of employment contracts  
• Understanding the importance of staff welfare, and appraisal and disciplinary procedures  
• Understanding the role effective training has within a business, and how to create a successful training culture 
• Understanding how to develop and manage teams in the workplace  

5. LEGISLATION IN LICENSED PREMISES 

(Estimated time to complete: 20 hours)  

• Understanding management responsibilities and actions for compliance with health and safety, and food hygiene legislation 
• Understanding the relevant licensing law for managing a licensed premises  
• Understanding the legislation for providing customer service  

6. ADVANCED BAR MANAGEMENT SKILLS 

(Estimated time to complete: 40 hours)  

• Understanding the history and diversity of licensed venues 
• Understanding how to create a drinks list that is appropriate for your bar 
• Understanding the range of drinks sold in licensed operations and why product knowledge is important 
• Understanding the processes for good cellar management and storage across a range of venues  
• Understanding an advanced level of practical bartending skills  
• Understanding the practical, logistical and stylistic requirements of running events  

Throughout the course you will have plenty of opportunities to:  

• Put your knowledge and understanding to the test with practical tasks   
• Check what you have learned with quick informal quizzes   

You will then be required to take a 60-minute online test at the end of each unit, as well as a 2-hour written examination on completion of the course.    

The final examination is also taken online and can be taken at home or in your workplace, but will be administered under secure examination conditions and overseen remotely by external regulators. 

On successfully passing you will receive a digital Level 4 National Diploma in Professional Bar Management, awarded by The Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality and regulated by OFQUAL, the UK government’s official regulator for qualifications in England. 

The final assessment comprises a 2-hour written examination. To pass the exam, a minimum mark of 40% is required. Results are graded as follows:

• Pass: 40% - 59%
• Merit: 60% - 69%
• Distinction: 70% or above

Please note: the final written exam can only be taken after successful completion of all unit tests. The overall grade for the qualification will be based on the grade achieved in the written examination only.

All students who pass will receive a digital Level 4 Diploma in Professional Bar Management, awarded by CTH and regulated by Ofqual.

To take the course you must have passed the Level 2 Certificate in Professional Bartending Skills, or an equivalent qualification. You must have at least three years’ bartending experience, with at least one year in a supervisory role.

The course is designed to be studied online via a laptop, desktop computer or tablet (min. 10-inch). It is not suitable for smartphones. For the multiple-choice unit exams, a computer or laptop with a camera is required. For the final written exam, both a computer or laptop with a camera AND a smartphone or tablet is required.

The course has a dedicated helpdesk for you to contact for support and advice, as well as a comprehensive FAQs page to help solve any queries.