Quick at the bar
A countertop terminal beside the till keeps the queue moving: a tap, a drink, the next customer. Read how contactless, Apple Pay and Google Pay work for merchants.
Card machines for pubs and bars
Packed bars, big rounds, a beer garden at the back and a cellar where the signal drops. Take payments at the bar, the table and the door without holding anyone up.
What pubs and bars need
Built for a busy bar
Most drinks are paid for in seconds, in a crowd, by people who want to get back to their friends. Your payments need to keep up on a Friday night and still make sense on a quiet Tuesday.
At the table and in the garden
A portable terminal lets staff take payment where customers sit, so the bar is less crowded and tables turn faster. It can be used in the beer garden, on the terrace and at the door at an event, where there is signal.
Rounds and groups
Rounds and groups that want to pay separately need the payment step to stay simple. If you run tabs or pre-authorisations, tell us how and we'll confirm whether the terminal supports it before you sign.
What card payments look like in a pub
Pub payments come in two shapes. There are lots of small ones, such as a pint, a soft drink or a bag of crisps, often only a few pounds each. And there are fewer larger ones: a round for a group, a food order, a function booking. Your card fees need to work for both.
That is why the fixed fee on each payment deserves as much attention as the headline percentage. As an illustration only, not a quote from any provider: a 5p fixed fee (an example figure, not PayZu's price) on a £5 drink adds 1% on its own, while the same 5p on a £50 table bill adds 0.1%. If most of your takings are drinks at the bar, a low percentage with a high per-payment fee can cost more than it looks. Our card machine fees guide shows every line to compare.
Pubs also have a pattern that trips up some contracts: busy summers and quiet winters. Look on your statement for a minimum monthly service charge, which is a top-up you pay if your fees fall below a set amount in a slow month, and for a separate rental charge for every terminal. If you run extra terminals for match days or events, check what each one costs in the months you barely use it.
Connection matters more than people expect. Cellars, thick stone walls and big gardens create dead spots, and a terminal that only works on Wi-Fi stops working there. A portable terminal with its own 4G connection as well as Wi-Fi gives you a way round it. Walk the places where you take payment and note where your Wi-Fi is weakest before you choose.
Most businesses are up and running within 24 hours of receiving their terminal, because it arrives pre-configured. That makes it realistic to swap before a big weekend rather than after one.
Which terminal?
The right card machine for a pub or bar
PAX A920 Pro: bar, table and garden
Portable, with 4G and Wi-Fi, a built-in receipt printer and an optional charging dock behind the bar. Staff can take payment at the table, in the garden or at the door.
See the A920 Pro
PAX A35: for a fixed bar point
A compact countertop terminal with a physical PIN keypad that can link to a compatible till, so the total appears automatically. Good for a busy bar position that never moves.
See the A35
What you get
More than a low rate
- Debit card rates from 0.29%* (T&Cs apply)
- £0 upfront, zero hidden fees, zero PCI fees
- Portable terminals with 4G and Wi-Fi, so a weak signal doesn't stop sales
- Pay by link and phone payments for bookings, deposits and functions
- Your own account manager and 24/7 UK support
*0.29% applies to UK consumer debit cards for businesses with monthly card takings above £100,000. Credit, business and international card rates, and rates for lower takings, are quoted individually. Subject to eligibility and status.
Already have a card machine? Send us a recent statement and we'll show you what you could save, up to 50% on some fees. If you're already on a great deal, we'll tell you straight. Already in a contract? Let us look into it and find you a saving. In most cases, subject to approval, we can help with your exit or termination fee. See our guide to switching card machine provider.
Can staff take card payments at the table or in the beer garden?
Yes, with a portable terminal such as the PAX A920 Pro. It has 4G and Wi-Fi and a built-in receipt printer, so staff take payment where the customer is sitting.
What if the Wi-Fi drops in the cellar or the garden?
The PAX A920 Pro has its own 4G connection as well as Wi-Fi, so it can keep working when your Wi-Fi is weak. Signal strength varies from place to place, so we suggest testing in the spots you use most.
Can I take deposits for functions and bookings?
Yes. You can take card payments over the phone, send a secure payment link by text, email or WhatsApp, or key payments into a virtual terminal on a computer, so a deposit can be paid before the date.
Which fees matter most when most sales are single drinks?
With lots of small payments, the fixed fee on every payment and any minimum monthly service charge often matter as much as the percentage. Ask for all three in writing and compare them against a recent statement.
How many terminals does a busy pub need?
It depends on how many places you take payment at once, such as the main bar, a second bar, the garden and events. Tell us about your busiest nights and we'll suggest a set-up. A spare portable terminal also gives you a back-up if one runs flat.
Get your quote
Lower card fees for your business
Tell us about your business and we'll come back with a personalised quote. You can also email a recent statement to info@payzu.co.uk.
- £0 upfront
- Zero hidden & PCI fees
- Your own account manager
- 24/7 UK support