Door Supervisor or Security Guard: Which Do You Need?

The short answer

• If your premises is open to the public under a premises licence or club premises certificate while alcohol is being sold or regulated entertainment is taking place, people providing security there generally need a door supervisor licence.
• For offices, shops, construction sites, warehouses and other premises where that does not apply, a security guard licence is usually the right one.
• A door supervisor licence also covers security guarding work, so a door supervisor can do both.

What a door supervisor does

Door supervisors work at licensed venues such as bars, pubs, nightclubs and many events. Typical duties include managing entry and queues, checking age identification, refusing entry where appropriate, searching where it is a condition of entry, monitoring behaviour, dealing with conflict and supporting an orderly close at the end of the night.

What a security guard does

Security guards protect premises and property. That can mean staffing a reception or gatehouse, controlling access, carrying out patrols, monitoring a site out of hours, keeping a visible presence in a shop or responding to alarms and incidents in line with site instructions.

Events and mixed venues

Events often combine both. An event with a bar or regulated entertainment, held under a premises licence or temporary event notice, may need door supervisors at the entrances and around the licensed areas, while guarding car parks, equipment or a site overnight may only need security guards.

Your premises licence, its conditions and any event management plan are the best guides. If in doubt, ask your local council’s licensing team.

Questions to settle before you book

• Does your premises licence or event plan name door supervisors, or set a number or ratio?
• Will alcohol be sold or regulated entertainment provided while the public is present?
• Is the role mainly about people (entry, behaviour, crowds) or property (access, patrols, assets)?
• Which hours need cover, including set-up, close and any overnight period?