Restaurant Bar Pre-Shift Briefing Template

A focused pre-service briefing guide for bar managers and head bartenders

Date: ___________________________

Shift: ☐ Opening ☐ Afternoon ☐ Evening ☐ Late Night ☐ Brunch

Bar Manager / Head Bartender on Duty: ___________________________

Huddle Start Time: _______________ Target End Time: _______________

Total Bar Staff on Shift: _______________

How to use this template: Complete before every shift. Aim for 10 minutes maximum. Post the 86 list, features, and shift goal so that all staff can see them throughout service.

Section 1 — Business Overview (2 Minutes)

Tonight's Numbers

VIP Guests & Special Occasions

Anticipated Business Level

☐ Quiet — Focus on craft, conversation, and guest engagement

☐ Moderate — Balance pace with personalised service

☐ Busy — Prioritise speed, accuracy, and bar flow

☐ Very Busy — Efficiency and teamwork above all

Shift Priority

One focus for this shift:

Examples: Reduce wait times at peak, push featured cocktails, manage a sports event crowd, and maintain consistency across high volume.

Section 2 — Bar Team & Station Setup (2 Minutes)

Team Assignments

Late or Absent Staff

Opening Checklist

Bar Setup

☐ Ice bins stocked and ice machine checked

☐ Speed rail organised and fully stocked

☐ Garnishes prepared, labelled, and stored correctly

☐ Fresh citrus juiced and strained

☐ Syrups, mixes, and house-made ingredients prepared and dated

☐ Beer taps checked — temperature correct, no off-flavours

☐ Glassware polished and stocked at each station

☐ Bitters, modifiers, and low-volume bottles topped up

☐ Cocktail tools cleaned and in place

☐ Bar mats, napkins, straws, and coasters stocked

☐ Bottles faced and back bar display set

Operations

☐ Cash float counted, confirmed, and documented

☐ POS terminals tested and operational

☐ Payment terminals/card machines tested

☐ Music and AV systems tested and levels set

☐ Refrigeration temperatures within a safe range

☐ Glass washer functioning and chemical levels checked

☐ Restrooms checked — clean and fully stocked

☐ Draft system checked and is flowing correctly

Notes:

Section 3 — Menu, Product & Sales Focus (4 Minutes)

86 List — Unavailable Items

Every team member must know this list before service begins and be able to suggest an alternative without hesitation.

Today's Features & Promotions

Upselling Focus

Primary upsell target this shift: ___________________________

Suggested approach:

Examples: Lead every guest greeting with the featured cocktail. Offer a premium spirit upgrade when a guest orders a standard mixer. Recommend a wine by the glass when food is ordered at the bar.

Product Knowledge Spotlight

Featured Product: ___________________________

Category: ☐ Cocktail ☐ Spirit ☐ Wine ☐ Beer / Craft ☐ Non-Alcoholic

Origin / Producer: ___________________________

Key Selling Points:

Tasting Notes / Flavour Profile:

How to describe it to a guest (natural, conversational language):

Best served with / pairing suggestion:

Price: _______________ Available as: ☐ Neat ☐ On the rocks ☐ Cocktail ☐ Flight

Allergy & Dietary Reminders

☐ All staff reminded: when in doubt, always confirm with the kitchen before advising a guest

Section 4 — Operations & Compliance (2 Minutes)

Events & Entertainment

☐ Live Music — Details: ___________________________

☐ DJ — Set times: ___________________________

☐ Sports Broadcast — Event: ___________________________

☐ Private Buyout or Function — Details: ___________________________

☐ Theme Night / Promotion — ___________________________

☐ None

Operational Reminders

Responsible Service & Compliance

☐ ID check policy confirmed — local minimum age: _______________

☐ Responsible alcohol service standards reviewed

☐ Cut-off and refusal procedure confirmed — all staff know the steps

☐ Incident reporting procedure reviewed (altercations, accidents, theft, illness)

☐ Cash handling and till security confirmed

☐ Emergency contacts and first aid kit location confirmed

☐ Fire exits clear and unobstructed

Compliance note:

International note: Minimum serving ages, responsible service obligations, and licensing conditions vary by country and region. Always refer to local law and your venue's current licence.

Section 5 — Team & Wrap-Up (2 Minutes)

Recognition — Previous Shift

Name the person and the specific behaviour:

Examples: Fastest ticket times of the week, turned a complaint into a compliment, highest cocktail upsell rate, mentored a new barback effectively.

One Improvement Focus for This Shift

Examples: Every guest is greeted within 30 seconds of sitting at the bar. All featured cocktails are described before the guest orders. No empty glasses left unattended for more than two minutes.

Shift Goal

Specific and measurable where possible:

Question of the Day

Ask one — invite a team member to answer:

Examples: What are the base spirits in tonight's featured cocktail? Name a classic cocktail that uses Campari. What do we do if a guest becomes aggressive? What is the correct pour measure for a standard spirit in this venue?

Open Floor

Questions, concerns, or suggestions from the team:

Manager Sign-Off

☐ Every team member knows the 86 list and can suggest alternatives

☐ Every team member can describe the featured products confidently

☐ Roles and stations are confirmed and understood

☐ VIP and special occasion guests have been assigned and briefed

☐ All compliance reminders covered

Manager / Head Bartender: ___________________________

Signature: ___________________________

Date & Time: ___________________________

End-of-Shift Handover Notes

Outgoing Manager: ___________________________

This template suits any bar format — standalone bar, restaurant bar, hotel bar, rooftop, or members club. Scale the team assignment table to match your staffing structure.