Best POS Systems for Pubs & Bars in the UK
Behind a busy bar you need fast rounds, open tabs and card machines that don't sulk on a Friday night. Reliability and speed beat shaving pennies off the rate.
What pubs & bars actually pay
Start from typical numbers for your trade - then make them yours.
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Our top picks for pubs & bars
Dojo
4.1Strong on rates and payouts - just read the contract first.
Best for
- Monthly fee
- From ~£15/mo (quote-based)
- Transaction fee
- Tailored rates (quote-based, often blended)
- Contract
- Contract terms vary - check carefully
- Payouts
- Next-day, as fast as same-day payouts
- Fast payouts (as quick as same day)
- Avoid if: You hate contracts, sales calls or quote-based pricing.
Square
4.5The easiest all-rounder for most small businesses.
Best for
- Monthly fee
- £0 (paid POS tiers available)
- Transaction fee
- 1.75% in-person (no monthly/setup fee on standard)
- Contract
- No contract (pay-as-you-go)
- Payouts
- Next working day (instant transfer for a fee)
- Genuinely good free POS app
- Avoid if: You're chasing the absolute lowest rate at high volume.
Lightspeed
4.1A powerful retail/hospitality POS - overkill if you just need a reader.
Best for
- Monthly fee
- From ~£59/mo (plan dependent)
- Transaction fee
- Payments via Lightspeed or integrated provider (quoted)
- Contract
- Subscription, often annual
- Payouts
- Depends on payments provider
- Powerful inventory and reporting
- Avoid if: You only need to take card payments.
Epos Now
3.6A capable full till system - but check the contract and add-on costs.
Best for
- Monthly fee
- Software from ~£25/mo (bundles vary)
- Transaction fee
- Via Epos Now Payments or integration (quoted)
- Contract
- Contract & payment terms vary - read carefully
- Payouts
- Depends on payments setup
- Complete till/POS hardware setups
- Avoid if: You want no contract or a simple pay-as-you-go reader.
What matters for pubs & bars
Speed & open tabs
Quick rounds, pre-auth tabs and fast contactless.
Reliability
Hardware and connectivity that survive a full session.
Fast payouts
Cash flow matters; next/same-day settlement helps.
Stock control on kegs & spirits
Pour cost and stock tracking for the cellar.
Fees to watch
Recommended setup
Dojo card machines for speed and fast payouts, paired with Square or a hospitality POS for tabs and stock. Bigger venues lean to Lightspeed or Epos Now for deeper stock control.
Compare these providers
Showing 4 of 4 providers
Prices last checked:| Provider | Best for | Monthly | Transaction | Reader from | Contract | Payouts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Square4.5 | Cafés | £0 (paid POS tiers available) | 1.75% in-person (no monthly/setup fee on standard) | £19 + VAT | No contract (pay-as-you-go) | Next working day (instant transfer for a fee) | Visit |
Dojo4.1 | Restaurants | From ~£15/mo (quote-based) | Tailored rates (quote-based, often blended) | Hardware/payment-plan pricing (quoted) | Contract terms vary - check carefully | Next-day, as fast as same-day payouts | Visit |
Lightspeed4.1 | Multi-location retail | From ~£59/mo (plan dependent) | Payments via Lightspeed or integrated provider (quoted) | Hardware bundles (quoted) | Subscription, often annual | Depends on payments provider | Visit |
Epos Now3.6 | Full till systems | Software from ~£25/mo (bundles vary) | Via Epos Now Payments or integration (quoted) | Till bundles (quoted, finance options) | Contract & payment terms vary - read carefully | Depends on payments setup | Visit |
- Monthly
- £0 (paid POS tiers available)
- Transaction
- 1.75% in-person (no monthly/setup fee on standard)
- Reader from
- £19 + VAT
- Contract
- No contract (pay-as-you-go)
- Payouts
- Next working day (instant transfer for a fee)
- Watch out for
- You're chasing the absolute lowest rate at high volume.
- Monthly
- From ~£15/mo (quote-based)
- Transaction
- Tailored rates (quote-based, often blended)
- Reader from
- Hardware/payment-plan pricing (quoted)
- Contract
- Contract terms vary - check carefully
- Payouts
- Next-day, as fast as same-day payouts
- Watch out for
- You hate contracts, sales calls or quote-based pricing.
- Monthly
- From ~£59/mo (plan dependent)
- Transaction
- Payments via Lightspeed or integrated provider (quoted)
- Reader from
- Hardware bundles (quoted)
- Contract
- Subscription, often annual
- Payouts
- Depends on payments provider
- Watch out for
- You only need to take card payments.
- Monthly
- Software from ~£25/mo (bundles vary)
- Transaction
- Via Epos Now Payments or integration (quoted)
- Reader from
- Till bundles (quoted, finance options)
- Contract
- Contract & payment terms vary - read carefully
- Payouts
- Depends on payments setup
- Watch out for
- You want no contract or a simple pay-as-you-go reader.
Find the right POS for your pubs & bar
Answer a few quick questions and we'll match you to providers that fit how you actually trade.
FAQs
What card machine is best for a busy bar?
Dojo is a popular choice for bars thanks to fast, reliable card machines and quick payouts. Pair it with a POS that handles tabs well if you run table or tab service.
How we compare
We compare providers using publicly available pricing, contract information, hardware costs, payout details, software features and suitability for different UK business types. Some links may earn us commission, but providers cannot pay to change our editorial verdicts. Read our full methodology.
Reviewed by Nathan Keeble - Founder, The POS
Independent UK payments research. We research the pricing, read the small print and write it up in plain English.