College Bar Management

At present, the College Bar is a College-owned operation, with the Domestic Bursar holding the licence that allows the Bar to operate. The Bar is supervised by two JCR-elected student officers, a Bar Manager and a Bar Treasurer, and is staffed by student supervisors and bartenders employed by the College on a casual basis.

In week 6 of Trinity term 2025, the Buildings and Household Committee received a recommendation to review and modify the operational management structure of the Bar, based on the findings of a risk assessment and mandatory external health and safety audit. These assessments highlighted risk areas requiring support and supervision from a full-time, professionally trained staff member. The responsibilities identified are beyond the remit of a part-time student employee.

We plan to implement the following measures over the 2025-26 academic year:

Provide temporary professional support at high-capacity events:

For now, the current management structure will remain in place, with additional support for high-volume events. Beginning in September 2025, a professionally trained member of the College staff will be present at the Bar during high-capacity events such as alumni reunions, Freshers’ Week events and BOP nights. This will not change student staff roles or student staff numbers/hours, but rather offer additional support and supervision during high-volume events. 

Undertake consultation and discussion with students about future bar management plans:

Through Michaelmas term 2025, we will seek consultation with students on this question. We must review our operational management plan to ensure it aligns with health and safety regulations and requirements, and that the level of risk being carried by the College, and by individual employees of the College is reasonable. Ultimately, the decision about whether to accept the recommendation to engage a professionally trained member of staff to manage Bar operations will be taken by the Governing Body of the College. This proposal has not yet been put to Governing Body and Governing Body will take soundings from the consultation with students before it makes this decision.

We seek to balance the need to ensure that we act in a timely way to manage identified risks, and the desire to consult appropriately with all those affected by the changes being considered.

The report and recommendation came forward to the Buildings and Household Committee in week 6 of Trinity term, where it was decided that we would take immediate steps to mitigate risk and consult with students. We are therefore communicating about our process now to ensure that College members are informed of our plans and how to be involved going into the next academic year.

Beginning in September 2025, a member of College staff will be present at the Bar during high-capacity events such as alumni reunions, Freshers’ Week events and BOP nights. This will not change student staff numbers/hours, but rather will offer additional support and supervision during high-volume events.

We are pleased to report that a well-known member of our Lodge Team has extensive experience as a professional publican, and the current plan is that he will offer the additional professional support required at most of the events we have identified over the coming months.

The main risks identified cannot be mitigated by offering more training to our existing student staff. We must assign responsibility and manage risk appropriately. A professional Bar Manager would help College manage its regulatory responsibilities for holding a bar license, and would have the training and experience that would allow them to assume responsibility for risks and legal liabilities associated with the license. Such operational and regulatory responsibilities cannot be delegated to a student.

A professional Bar Manager would assume responsibility for conducting event risk assessments, monitoring the handling of dangerous chemicals, and other matters related to our alcohol license regulations. They would also assume responsibility for administrative requirements, including supervising training for a large number of casual workers.

Currently, the College Bar is owned by St Peter’s College and the license is held by the Domestic Bursar. As such, responsibility, liability and risk for managing health, safety and compliance matters falls on the College and Domestic Bursar. This means that College and the Domestic Bursar are responsible for identifying the best way to manage the Bar operation.

We take this responsibility seriously.

We are proud of the work of the student Bar Managers and Treasurers and casual student workers, who work together professionally, diligently and sensitively to try to create a safe, friendly and inclusive atmosphere for all.

However, the current operational structure does not adequately shield all parties from assuming unacceptable levels of risk and liability. College is responsible for addressing this matter. We do not believe that delegating day-to-day management of, and responsibility for, these liabilities and risks to students is possible or appropriate.

We are committed to retaining the student-led ethos of the Bar and to retaining leadership opportunities for students who are keen to gain management experience. If the College adds a Bar Manager to its professional staff, this person will likely take on some responsibilities currently held by either the JCR Bar Manager or Treasurer, while other responsibilities will be retained by students. Students will continue to be able to work in the Bar.

No.

This decision is based on an assessment of the College’s responsibility to manage risk and liability.

We are proud of the excellent work of the student Bar Managers and Treasurers and casual student supervisors and bartenders, who seek to work together professionally, diligently and sensitively to create a safe, friendly and inclusive atmosphere for all. We are likewise proud of our JCR and MCR representatives for working to create an inclusive social culture. This is neither a criticism nor a punitive measure.

BOPs are parties hosted by the JCR or MCR. College staff do not attend BOPS unless a member of the Lodge, Decanal Team or Health, Wellbeing and Welfare Team is called to attend for security, health and safety reasons.

The Bar, on the other hand, is a College-owned operation, licensed by the Domestic Bursar, where beverages are sold to patrons. The College is responsible for providing appropriate managerial support for the Bar.

Going forward, on BOP nights and other high-capacity events, a staff person will work at the Bar while it is open.

We are committed to retaining the student-led ethos of the Bar, and are committed to retaining opportunities for students to work in the Bar and to organise events in the Bar.

It is College’s priority throughout this process to retain the student-led and student-centred ethos and build on the friendly and casual atmosphere at the College Bar.

For now, there will be very little change, other than additional staff support and supervision at high-volume events such as BOP nights, alumni reunions and Freshers’ Week.

In the longer term, regardless of any changes, we envision that students will continue to play a crucial role in the day-to-day running of the Bar, including:

• Bartending
• Procurement
• Event planning and event management
• Shift supervision

Our goal is to secure the future of the College Bar as a place for our students. The Bar will remain a College space for College members—especially students.

Hiring a professional Bar Manager may open up the possibility of expanding the hours and menu of the Bar (e.g. offering hot drinks and pastries, and daytime coffee hours), but these ideas, if developed further, will be presented for consultation.

No, the College would not raise prices at the Bar to cover the salary of the Bar Manager. Bar price changes will continue to be reviewed and approved according to the usual processes.