In the ever-evolving world of hospitality, running a successful bar isn’t just about serving great drinks or creating the perfect ambiance. It’s about crafting a smart, data-driven bar sales and marketing strategy that attracts the right audience, increases revenue, and builds long-term customer loyalty.
Many bars and restaurants struggle to reach their full potential not because of a lack of effort, but due to a lack of focused strategy. That’s where the expertise of restaurant management consultants like Bums On Seats becomes a valuable asset.
Why Bar Sales and Marketing Needs a Strategic Overhaul
The bar scene today is saturated, competitive, and heavily influenced by digital trends. Your customers are no longer walking in just because your signage looks appealing. They’re checking Instagram feeds, scanning Google reviews, comparing happy hour deals, and looking for venues that offer more than just a night out.
A tailored bar sales and marketing strategy addresses these shifting dynamics. It combines consumer insight, digital engagement, team training, and commercial planning to ensure your venue isn’t just busy on weekends — it thrives consistently.
But designing and executing such a plan requires time, expertise, and resources — things many hospitality operators simply don’t have. That’s why partnering with seasoned restaurant management consultants like Bums On Seats can be a game-changing move.
Who Are Bums On Seats?
Bums On Seats is a UK-based hospitality consultancy that specialises in growing sales through smarter planning, operational coaching, and marketing strategies tailored specifically to the food and beverage industry. They work with independent operators, multi-site brands, and hospitality groups looking to improve footfall, increase conversions, and maximise their capacity potential.
Their mission is simple: put more bums on more seats — and keep them coming back.
Key Components of a Winning Bar Sales and Marketing Strategy
Here’s how Bums On Seats supports bars and restaurants with a comprehensive growth plan:
1. Understanding the Customer Journey
The first step in driving bar sales is understanding your audience — who they are, when they visit, why they come, and what keeps them from returning. Bums On Seats begins every engagement by analysing customer data and market behaviour to shape highly targeted strategies. This includes:
- Identifying peak and off-peak patterns
- Profiling ideal customers
- Mapping out digital and in-venue touchpoints
This customer-centric approach ensures every campaign and tactic is aligned with what your audience actually wants.
2. Revenue-Driven Marketing Campaigns
Marketing without clear goals can waste time and budget. That’s why Bums On Seats crafts campaigns with revenue generation at the core. They help venues design and launch campaigns that:
- Promote events, new menus, or themed nights
- Leverage seasonal trends and holidays
- Use paid advertising for lead generation and bookings
- Improve social media engagement and brand awareness
Everything is supported by measurable KPIs — so you’re not guessing whether your marketing is working.
3. Operational Optimisation and Menu Strategy
Sometimes, the problem isn’t visibility — it’s conversion. Maybe people are walking in but not spending enough, or they’re not returning. The consultancy digs into operational factors that influence sales, including:
- Menu design and pricing psychology
- Staff sales training and upselling techniques
- Booking systems and guest flow management
- Pre-booked sales opportunities (e.g., group bookings, parties)
With these insights, your team can drive higher average spend and increase table utilisation — key components of sustainable bar profitability.
4. Empowering Your Team with Sales Confidence
Your front-of-house team has the power to influence every customer’s spend and experience. Bums On Seats offers tailored sales training workshops that turn servers into confident salespeople. Training covers:
- Conversational upselling
- Handling objections
- Cross-selling food and drink pairings
- Booking management and guest follow-up
When your staff is empowered and incentivised, they become a key driver in your sales and marketing engine.
5. Long-Term Strategy and Continuous Growth
Unlike one-off marketing agencies, Bums On Seats works as a long-term partner. Their goal is to embed a sales culture and structured strategy into your business. They regularly review data, adapt strategies, and provide ongoing support to ensure growth isn’t just a short-term spike, but a consistent upward trend.
Why Choose a Restaurant Management Consultant?
Restaurant management consultants bring clarity and expertise to what can often feel like chaos. They save you time, reduce costly trial-and-error, and fast-track you toward proven strategies that work in today’s market.
With Bums On Seats, you gain access to a team that understands the nuances of bar operations, the psychology of guests, and the tactics that convert interest into revenue.
Final Thoughts: It’s Time to Work Smarter
Whether you’re running a lively cocktail lounge, a neighbourhood pub, or a trendy rooftop bar, your success relies on more than just good vibes. A well-structured bar sales and marketing strategy, backed by experienced restaurant management consultants, can be the difference between breaking even and breaking records.
If your venue has untapped potential, don’t wait for customers to find you — go to them with a strategy that sells. Bums On Seats is here to guide, coach, and help you fill every seat, every night.
Start today — and turn every empty table into an opportunity.
