Running a pub or bar in 2026 means you need more than just a basic till. You're juggling table service, bar orders, kitchen coordination, stock management, and staff scheduling – often all at the same time during peak hours. The right POS system can make your life so much easier, whilst the wrong one can slow everything down and frustrate your team.
We've spent time looking at three popular options: Toast, EPOS Now, and SumUp. Each has its strengths, but they're quite different in how they approach pub and bar management. Let's break down what you need to know.
What Makes a Great POS System for Pubs and Bars?
Before we dive into the comparison, it's worth thinking about what actually matters when you're running a busy pub or bar. You need a system that can handle:
- Fast-paced service during rushes without crashing or lagging
- Split bills and tab management (because customers always want to pay separately)
- Stock control that tracks your beverages and alerts you before you run out
- Staff management with clock-in features and tip distribution
- Kitchen integration if you're serving food alongside drinks
- Reliable hardware that can handle spills and constant use
Your epos system should speed things up, not slow them down. It's also got to be intuitive enough that new staff can learn it quickly – you don't want to spend hours training someone on a complicated system.
Toast POS: Built for High-Volume Hospitality
Toast has made quite a name for itself in the restaurant and bar world, particularly in the US market. It's an Android-based system that's designed specifically for hospitality venues, which means it understands the challenges you're facing.
What We Like About Toast:
Toast excels at handling busy service periods. The interface is clean and your staff can take orders quickly without fumbling through endless menus. It's got strong kitchen display system integration, which is brilliant if you're running a gastropub where food and drinks need to be coordinated.
The platform includes online ordering built-in, and it integrates with popular tools like QuickBooks and 7Shifts for scheduling. For multi-location operators, Toast offers centralised reporting that lets you see how all your venues are performing from one dashboard.
The Downsides:
Here's where Toast can be a bit tricky for UK pub owners. It requires proprietary hardware, which means you're locked into their ecosystem. The pricing can escalate quickly once you start adding features – what looks affordable at first can become quite expensive when you need integrations and add-ons.
Toast is also more established in North America, which sometimes means UK-specific features and support can feel like an afterthought. Payment processing is tied to their system, so you've got less flexibility there.
EPOS Now: The UK Pub Specialist
EPOS Now has built a strong reputation among UK pubs and bars, and it's easy to see why. The system is designed with British hospitality in mind, which means it handles things like split bills, table management, and stock control in a way that makes sense for how we actually run pubs over here.
Why Pubs Love EPOS Now:
The EPOS Now till system is incredibly flexible. You can use it with various hardware options, including iPads and Android tablets, which means you're not locked into expensive proprietary kit. This flexibility extends to payment processing too – you can choose your own provider rather than being forced into one option.
Stock management is where EPOS Now really shines for pubs. You can set up automatic alerts when your best-selling lager is running low, track which spirits are moving fastest, and even manage your cellar stock. The system tracks everything down to the measure, which is crucial when you're dealing with expensive spirits and trying to minimise waste.
The reporting is detailed without being overwhelming. You can see exactly what's selling, when your busy periods are, and how individual staff members are performing. This data is genuinely useful for planning shifts and ordering stock.
Table Management Done Right:
For pubs with table service, EPOS Now makes it simple to manage tabs, move orders between tables, and split bills however customers want. Your staff can take orders on tablets and send them straight to the bar or kitchen, which speeds everything up during busy periods.
The Investment:
EPOS Now operates on a subscription model, and whilst it's not the cheapest option, the features you get make it excellent value for money. The UK-based support team actually understands pub operations, which means when you need help, you're not explaining British licensing laws to someone unfamiliar with them.
If you're serious about finding a system that'll grow with your business, check out our detailed EPOS Now review to see all the features in action.
SumUp: The Budget-Friendly Option
SumUp has positioned itself as the affordable alternative, and it certainly delivers on that promise. Starting at around £99/month, it's significantly cheaper than the other options we're discussing.
Where SumUp Works:
For small pubs or bars with straightforward operations, SumUp can do the job. It handles basic transactions well, the card readers are portable, and the setup is genuinely simple. If you're running a small neighbourhood pub without table service or complex stock needs, it might be all you need.
The Limitations:
The challenge with SumUp is that it's quite basic compared to Toast and EPOS Now. The stock management features are limited, there's no robust table management system, and the reporting doesn't give you the deep insights that help you actually improve your business.
For a busy pub with multiple staff members, table service, and a need to track stock carefully, SumUp can feel restrictive quite quickly. It's more suited to retail or very simple bar setups rather than full-service pubs.
Feature Comparison: What You Actually Get
Let's look at how these systems compare on the features that matter most for pub and bar operations:
Stock Management:
- EPOS Now: Comprehensive tracking with automatic alerts and wastage monitoring
- Toast: Good stock features but can require add-ons
- SumUp: Basic stock tracking only
Table Service:
- EPOS Now: Full table management with tab controls and split billing
- Toast: Strong table service features built-in
- SumUp: Limited table management capabilities
Hardware Flexibility:
- EPOS Now: Works with multiple hardware options
- Toast: Requires proprietary Android terminals
- SumUp: Limited to SumUp devices and card readers
Integration Options:
- Toast: Integrates with major US platforms (QuickBooks, 7Shifts, Grubhub)
- EPOS Now: Extensive UK-focused integrations including Xero and Sage
- SumUp: Basic integration options
Support:
- EPOS Now: UK-based support team familiar with British pub operations
- Toast: US-focused support, though expanding internationally
- SumUp: Online support primarily
Pricing: What You'll Actually Pay
Pricing for POS systems can be confusing because there's often hardware costs, software subscriptions, payment processing fees, and add-on charges to consider.
Toast doesn't publish transparent pricing, which is always a bit frustrating. You'll need to contact them for a quote, and the final cost typically includes proprietary hardware plus monthly software fees that increase with add-ons.
EPOS Now operates on clear subscription pricing with different tiers depending on the features you need. Hardware can be purchased or financed, and you're free to choose your payment processor. For most pubs, you're looking at a monthly subscription that's competitive when you consider everything you're getting.
SumUp is the most affordable upfront, starting around £99/month. However, what you save in subscription costs you might lose in limited functionality and the need to upgrade sooner as your business grows.
Which POS System Should You Choose?
Here's how we'd break it down:
Choose Toast if you're running a large, high-volume venue or multiple locations and you're comfortable with US-focused features. It's powerful, but it's probably overkill (and overly expensive) for most independent UK pubs.
Choose EPOS Now if you want a system that's built for UK pubs and bars, need comprehensive stock management, run table service, and want hardware flexibility. It's the best all-rounder for serious pub operations, and the EPOS Now till system genuinely understands how British pubs work.
Choose SumUp if you're running a very small bar with simple operations, don't need table management, and budget is your primary concern. Just be aware you might outgrow it quickly.
Making Your Decision
The right pos system depends entirely on your specific setup. A small local pub has different needs than a busy town centre bar with food service and multiple staff members.
That said, for most UK pub and bar owners, EPOS Now offers the best balance of features, flexibility, and value. The stock management alone can save you money by reducing waste and preventing stockouts of your best-sellers. The table service features speed up your operation during busy periods, and the reporting helps you make smarter business decisions.
If you're still weighing up your options, it's definitely worth getting a detailed look at what EPOS Now offers. The system is designed specifically for venues like yours, with UK-based support that understands the challenges you're facing.
The right POS system isn't just about processing transactions – it's about making your whole operation smoother, keeping your staff happy, and giving you the data you need to grow your business. Choose wisely, and you'll wonder how you ever managed without it.