Types of Bars, Pubs, Permit Rooms and Night Clubs: BHA103 Notes

Quick answer: The main types of bars in hotels are the lobby bar or lounge, cocktail bar, dispense (service) bar, pool bar, rooftop bar, banquet bar and in-room minibar, plus concept bars such as wine bars, sports bars and piano bars. A pub is an informal bar with draught beer and simple food. A permit room is an Indian term, used mainly in Maharashtra, for a licensed bar where alcohol is served under state excise rules. A night club or discotheque is a late-night venue with music, a dance floor and a bar.

These notes cover BHA103 (Foundation Course in Food and Beverage Service, NCHMCT B.Sc. HHA, Semester 1), Unit 2, where the syllabus lists bar types, pubs, permit rooms and night clubs among F&B outlets. They follow the NCHMCT syllabus topic and are written as revision notes for IHM students; they are not official NCHMCT material. For all other outlets, see our overview of 15 types of food and beverage outlets. This guide goes deeper into beverage outlets only.

Table of contents

1. What is a bar? Meaning and basic layout
2. Types of bars in a hotel (by location and purpose)
3. Concept types of bars: wine bars, sports bars and more
4. Pubs: meaning, features and types
5. Permit rooms: an Indian concept
6. Night clubs and discotheques
7. Types of bars compared: bar vs pub vs permit room vs night club
8. Bar staff and their duties
9. Exam tips and likely questions
10. Careers: bartender jobs and F&B service jobs in bars
11. FAQ: types of bars, pubs, permit rooms and night clubs

What is a bar? Meaning and basic layout

A bar is a licensed food and beverage outlet whose main product is drinks: alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, spirits and cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks such as mocktails, juices and soft drinks. Most bars also serve bar snacks or a short food menu.

The name comes from the barrier, or counter, that separates the bartender from the guests. Every bar, from a small pub to a grand hotel lounge, has three working parts:

• Front bar: the counter where guests sit or stand and where drinks are served, with a foot rail and bar stools.
• Back bar: the shelves and mirror behind the bartender that display bottles and glassware, often with refrigerators below.
• Under bar: the working area below the counter with the ice bin, speed rail for popular spirits, sinks, glass washer and garnish trays.

Students should know the glassware used at the bar too. Revise it in glassware in F&B service.

Types of bars in a hotel (by location and purpose)

Hotels often run several bars, each designed for a different guest need. Learn these for the exam.

1. Lobby bar or lounge

Located in or next to the lobby, it serves coffee, tea, light snacks and drinks through the day and evening. It is a meeting place for business guests and visitors, with comfortable sofas and soft music.

2. Cocktail bar

A stylish bar focused on mixed drinks, prepared by skilled bartenders or mixologists. It usually has a long counter, a wide spirit selection and a signature cocktail menu. Many five-star hotels use their cocktail bar as a brand showcase.

3. Dispense bar (service bar)

A dispense bar does not serve guests directly. It prepares drinks for waiters to serve in restaurants, room service and banquets. It is usually placed between the restaurant and the kitchen or behind the scenes. Control is strict because every drink must match a bar order ticket (BOT).

4. Pool bar

Placed beside the swimming pool, often open-air, serving soft drinks, beer, cocktails in shatterproof glassware and light snacks. Safety rules ban glass near the pool in many hotels.

5. Rooftop bar

A bar on the top floor or terrace with a view of the city or sea. It may be seasonal and often doubles as a lounge with music in the evening.

6. Banquet bar

A temporary or portable bar set up for functions. The common arrangements are:

• Open bar (host bar): the host pays for all drinks, either per drink consumed or per person.
• Cash bar: guests buy their own drinks.
• Limited bar: the host pays for a fixed time or a fixed list of drinks.

7. Minibar (in-room bar)

A small refrigerator in the guest room stocked with soft drinks, beer, miniature spirits and snacks. Consumption is checked by room service or housekeeping staff and charged to the guest folio. Some hotels now offer complimentary non-alcoholic minibars.

Concept types of bars: wine bars, sports bars and more

The second way to classify types of bars is by their theme or main drink. These concept bars are popular in stand-alone restaurants and in hotels.

Type of bar	Main feature	Typical guest
Wine bar	Wide wine list by the glass and bottle, cheese and small plates, often a sommelier	Couples, wine lovers, business guests
Sports bar	Large screens showing live matches, beer and finger food	Groups of friends, sports fans
Piano or jazz bar	Live music in an elegant setting, cocktails and premium spirits	Leisure and business guests
Beer bar / taproom	Many draught beers on tap, sometimes brewed on site	Young professionals, groups
Juice or mocktail bar	Fresh juices, smoothies and alcohol-free drinks	Families, health-conscious and non-drinking guests
Theme bar	Decor and drinks built around a theme such as retro, tropical or a film	Tourists, young crowd
Karaoke bar	Guests sing along with screens and music systems	Groups and parties

Pubs: meaning, features and types

"Pub" is short for public house, a British tradition of a local drinking place open to the public. In hotel and catering studies, a pub is an informal bar with a relaxed, social atmosphere where guests order at the counter or from roaming staff.

Features of a pub

• Draught beer on tap, with bottled beer, spirits and simple cocktails.
• Pub food: fries, burgers, fish and chips, kebabs, Indian bar snacks.
• Casual decor with wooden furniture; music, quiz nights or sports screens.
• Moderate prices and often a happy hour.

Types of pubs

• Traditional pub: the classic British local with a strong community feel.
• Gastropub: a pub that serves restaurant-quality food alongside drinks.
• Brew pub (microbrewery): brews its own beer on site and serves it fresh. Brew pubs are now common in Indian cities such as Bengaluru, Pune and Gurugram.

Permit rooms: an Indian concept

"Permit room" is a term you will see on signboards across Mumbai and Maharashtra. It comes from the state's prohibition-era rules, under which drinking alcohol required a personal liquor permit. Licensed bars were therefore called permit rooms. Today a permit room is simply a bar or bar-cum-restaurant licensed by the state excise department to serve alcohol on its premises, following the licence conditions on opening hours, age limits and display rules. You can see the licensing authority on the Maharashtra State Excise Department website.

Features of a permit room

• Licensed under state excise laws, which differ from state to state in India.
• Usually a simple bar with a food menu of snacks and Indian dishes.
• Often attached to a restaurant: "restaurant and permit room" or "bar and restaurant".
• Must display the licence and follow rules on hours and minimum age.

Remember that alcohol laws in India are made by each state. Some states, such as Gujarat and Bihar, follow prohibition, and the legal drinking age differs between states. Always mention this in exams to show awareness.

Night clubs and discotheques

A night club is an entertainment venue that opens late in the evening and runs into the night, offering music, a dance floor, a bar and sometimes live acts. A discotheque (disco) is a type of night club focused on recorded dance music played by a DJ, with special lighting and sound systems. Many hotels in metro cities and resorts in Goa run a night club as a separate revenue outlet.

Features of night clubs and discotheques

• Late opening hours within the limits of the local licence.
• DJ booth, dance floor, lighting rig and powerful sound system.
• Cover charge or entry fee, sometimes redeemable against drinks.
• Table reservations and bottle service for groups.
• Door policy, guest list and strong security.

Safety and responsible service

Night clubs carry high risks, so management must control capacity, keep fire exits clear, train staff in first aid and refuse service to intoxicated or under-age guests. The WHO fact sheet on alcohol explains the health risks behind responsible service rules.

Types of bars compared: bar vs pub vs permit room vs night club

Basis	Hotel bar / lounge	Pub	Permit room	Night club / disco
Atmosphere	Elegant, relaxed	Casual, social	Simple, local	Loud, energetic
Main drinks	Cocktails, spirits, wine	Draught beer	Beer, Indian and foreign liquor	Cocktails, shots, bottle service
Food	Bar snacks, small plates	Pub food	Snacks and Indian dishes	Limited finger food
Entertainment	Soft or live music	Music, sports, quizzes	Usually none	DJ, dance floor, lights
Hours	Afternoon to late evening	Afternoon to late evening	As per excise licence	Late night
Key staff	Bartender, bar captain, server	Bartender, barback	Bartender, steward	DJ, bartenders, hosts, security

Bar staff and their duties

• Bar manager: runs the bar, controls stock and cost, plans menus and promotions.
• Head bartender: supervises the shift, creates signature drinks and trains juniors.
• Bartender: prepares and serves drinks, follows standard recipes and pours, handles cash or POS.
• Barback (bar helper): restocks ice, glasses, bottles and garnishes, and keeps the bar clean.
• Bar server or cocktail server: takes orders at tables and serves drinks.
• Sommelier: wine specialist in wine bars and fine-dining restaurants.

Revise the overall F&B hierarchy in organisation of the F&B department.

Exam tips and likely questions

• Define a bar first and name the three parts: front bar, back bar and under bar.
• Classify the types of bars in two ways: by location in the hotel and by concept.
• Explain the dispense bar clearly; it is a favourite short-note question.
• For permit rooms, give the Maharashtra context and mention state excise laws.
• Use a comparison table for any "differentiate" question.

Likely questions (BHA103, Semester 1):

1. List and explain the different types of bars found in a hotel. (10 marks)
2. What is a dispense bar? (3 marks)
3. Write short notes on: permit room, pub, discotheque. (3 marks each)
4. Differentiate between a pub and a night club. (5 marks)
5. Explain open bar and cash bar in banquets. (3 marks)

Careers: bartender jobs and F&B service jobs in bars

All types of bars, and night clubs too, offer exciting careers for F&B service students. Many start as barbacks or bar servers during industrial training and move to bartender within a year or two with good product knowledge. Cruise ships, Gulf hotels and international resorts regularly look for skilled bartenders.

• Entry roles: barback, bar server, steward, commis de bar.
• Next steps: bartender, head bartender, bar supervisor, bar manager, beverage manager.
• Typical pay ranges (indicative only): entry-level bar roles in India often fall roughly between ₹12,000 and ₹22,000 a month plus service charge in some outlets; Gulf and cruise roles may include accommodation and meals. Pay varies widely, so check each live job post.

Browse the latest F&B service jobs, including bartender and steward jobs in India, the Gulf and Europe, or look at hotel jobs in Dubai. Prepare with our F&B service interview questions and answers, and register free on Hospitality Vacancy so recruiters can find you.

More notes from our hotel management study blogs: full service vs limited service hotels, housekeeping organisation chart and kitchen safety procedures (Food Production).

FAQ: types of bars, pubs, permit rooms and night clubs

What are the main types of bars in a hotel?

The main types of bars in a hotel are the lobby bar or lounge, cocktail bar, dispense bar, pool bar, rooftop bar, banquet bar and minibar. Concept bars include wine bars, sports bars, piano bars and juice bars.

What is a dispense bar?

A dispense bar, or service bar, prepares drinks only for waiters to serve in restaurants, room service and banquets. Guests do not order directly at it.

What is the difference between a bar and a pub?

A pub is a type of bar with a casual, social atmosphere, draught beer and pub food. The term "bar" is wider and includes elegant cocktail bars, lounges and service bars.

Why is it called a permit room?

Under Maharashtra's prohibition-era rules, drinking alcohol required a liquor permit, so licensed bars became known as permit rooms. Today it means a bar licensed by the state excise department.

What is the difference between a night club and a discotheque?

A night club is any late-night entertainment venue with music, dancing and a bar, sometimes with live acts. A discotheque is a night club focused on recorded music played by a DJ.

Read next

• Food and Beverage Outlets: 15 Types of F&B Outlets (BHA103)
• Glassware in F&B Service: Types and Uses
• F&B Service Career Path: Steward to Restaurant Manager, with Interview Tips

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About the author: Sumit Manwal

Sumit Manwal is the founder of Hospitality Vacancy, the job site built for the hotel industry. He is passionate about helping hotel management students and hospitality professionals build successful careers, and connects talented people with hotel jobs across India, the Gulf and Europe. Through these notes he shares practical, easy-to-follow hospitality knowledge so every reader can learn, grow and get hired.