What signs must a bar or pub display?
These notices are checked by licensing officers and trading standards, and some of them protect you directly: a clear age policy at the bar makes refusals easier for your staff.
This guide covers England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules on licensing and smoking signage. For a bar in France, the French version of this guide lists a much longer set of compulsory posters.
The licence summary and the nominated person
Section 57 of the Licensing Act 2003 requires the premises licence holder to keep the licence at the premises and to ensure that the summary of the licence (or a certified copy of it) is prominently displayed, together with a notice showing the position held at the premises by the person nominated to look after the licence. Failing to do so is an offence punishable by a fine up to level 2 on the standard scale.
- Licence summary in a frame near the entrance or behind the bar, where customers and officers can read it
- Notice naming the position of the nominated person (for example “Licence held by: the manager”)
- Full licence kept on site and ready to show
- Summary replaced as soon as the licence is varied or transferred
The premises licence for [bar name] is kept at these premises in the custody of the [manager / designated premises supervisor]. Please ask a member of staff if you wish to see it.
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The no-smoking sign
The Smoke-free (Signs) Regulations 2012 apply in England. They require at least one legible no-smoking sign to be displayed in smoke-free premises. They replaced the more detailed sign requirements of 2007, so there is no longer a fixed size or wording in England, but the sign must be legible.
- At least one clear sign, visible to customers entering
- If you have a smoking area outside, make clear where smoking is allowed and keep it away from windows of neighbours
- Remember that e-cigarettes are a separate question: decide your policy and show it
Wales has its own smoke-free rules and signage: check with your council if your bar is in Wales.
Smaller measures, free water and age checks
The mandatory licensing conditions apply to every premises selling alcohol. Three of them affect what you show customers.
Smaller measures on the menu
Where you sell these drinks for consumption on the premises, they must be available in these measures, and the measures must appear on a menu, price list or other printed material available to customers:
| Drink | Measure that must be available |
|---|---|
| Beer or cider | ½ pint |
| Gin, rum, vodka or whisky | 25 ml or 35 ml |
| Still wine in a glass | 125 ml |
If a customer does not say which size they want, they must be made aware that these measures are available.
Free water
Free potable water must be provided on request where reasonably available. A line on the menu avoids awkward questions.
Age verification
You must have an age verification policy: anyone who appears under 18, or a higher age you choose such as 25, must show identification with a photograph, date of birth and a security feature. A clear notice at the bar helps staff apply it.
Challenge 25: if you look under 25, we will ask for photo ID before serving alcohol. Please don’t be offended, it’s the law and our policy. Free tap water is available on request. Smaller measures available: ½ pint, 25 ml spirits, 125 ml wine.
Price lists: where and how
The Price Marking (Food and Drink Services) Order 2003 covers places that sell food or drink for consumption on the premises; “food” in the Order includes drink. Prices must include VAT, and any extra charge (such as a service charge or a minimum charge) must be shown too.
| Where you serve | Where the prices go |
|---|---|
| Seated area with table service | At or near the entrance, so customers can see them before entering |
| Bar where people order and collect | Where customers choose, and at the entrance too if it cannot be seen before entering |
How many prices? Under article 5, if you offer up to 30 items (wine aside), show all of them. Above 30, show at least 30, including five soft drinks if you sell soft drinks. If wine is served with food in an eating area, show the prices of five wines (or all, if fewer).
- Prices include VAT
- Service charge or cover charge stated clearly
- Board and menus updated together when prices change
- Happy hour boards consistent with the till
Happy hours and promotion boards
Promotions are where bar signage most often goes wrong. The mandatory conditions ban irresponsible promotions, and the price marking rules mean your boards must match what customers pay.
- Show the times clearly: “Happy hour 5–7 pm, Monday to Thursday”
- Show the real price, not only a percentage: “Pints £4.00 instead of £5.20”
- Avoid anything that rewards drinking fast or drinking a lot in a short time
- Offer something for non-drinkers at the same time: a soft drink or mocktail deal keeps the evening balanced and widens your audience
- Take the board down, or turn it round, when the offer ends
Happy hour, Monday to Thursday, 5–7 pm: draught beer £[price] a pint (usually £[price]), house wine £[price] a glass, all soft drinks and mocktails £[price]. Smaller measures available on request.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Licence summary in the back office | Frame it where customers can read it |
| Old licence summary after a variation | Replace it the day the new one arrives |
| Small measures only known by staff | Print them on every menu and price list |
| Chalkboard prices different from the till | Update boards before changing the till |
| Service charge added but not shown | State it on menus and price lists |
| Age policy not applied on busy nights | Brief every shift; keep the notice at each serving point |
The checklist to print
- Premises licence summary (or certified copy) prominently displayed
- Notice of the nominated person’s position
- Full premises licence kept on site
- At least one legible no-smoking sign
- Small measures shown on menus or price lists
- Free tap water available on request
- Age verification policy in place and shown at the bar
- Drinks and food prices including VAT, visible before entering or where customers order
- Service or cover charge stated
- If you serve food: allergen information available, as for any food business
- Opening hours on the door and the same on your Google profile
Walk round with this list when you open, then every time you change your menu or prices. To tell regulars about a price change, see how to announce a price increase.
Making it work behind the bar
Notices only help if staff use them. A five-minute briefing for every new member of the team:
- Where the licence summary and full licence are kept.
- The age policy: when to ask for ID, which documents are accepted, how to refuse politely.
- The smaller measures: offer them when a customer does not specify.
- Free water: always, without a sigh.
- Who to call if a customer is drunk or aggressive.
Write the policy on one page and keep it behind the bar. When a licensing officer visits, a team that can explain the rules is the best sign that your premises are well run.
The steps at a glance
The steps to make a bar’s notices compliant in England and Wales.
- Licence summary. Display the summary or certified copy and the nominated person notice.
- No-smoking sign. At least one legible sign in the smoke-free premises.
- Measures and water. Smaller measures on the menu, free water on request.
- Age policy. Written policy and a clear notice at the bar.
- Prices. VAT-inclusive prices where customers see them before entering or where they order.
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Sources
The rules quoted in this guide come from these official pages, checked on October 28, 2026.