Pubs are expected to be open and operational 365 days a year and yet owners and managers need to take holiday and time off from the constant pressure. To cope with this occasional need, reliable relief managers are an essential part of the chaotic pub industry.
Moat of the large chains and operators manage a specific “relief circuit” of managers that are learning their trade or are full time “reliefers” so you will rarely find them looking for temporary pub cover. It is the independants, tenents or lessees were this temporary requirement is a fundamental part of the industry.
Periods of cover can range from a long weekend (typically a week though) through to a month. The norm is that a relief manager will pay a security bond of c.£1000 which is then paid back at the end of the relief period as long as there has been no hiccups.
Needless to say extensive experience is key and if you are using a relief agency then they will undoubtably ask for trade qualifications (National Licensee’s Certificate).
The typical temporary worker(s) in the relief market range from couples who are looking to keep working between pubs of their own, less experienced managers wanting a broader experience of the industry to semi-retired publicans who can not quite hang up their boots and what to keep busy in the industry that they have given their life to.