Best Card Machines for Pubs & Bars UK 2025

What Pubs Need from Card Machines

UK pubs process 94% of transactions via card (British Beer & Pub Association 2024). Peak weekend service demands:

• Speed: Under 2 seconds per transaction (queues during match days)
• Reliability: 99.9% uptime during Friday/Saturday nights
• Tab management: Keep cards on file for running tabs
• Tip collection: Staff gratuity options
• Multiple terminals: 2-5 terminals for busy venues
• Offline capability: Continue serving during internet outages

Top 5 Card Machines for Pubs

1. Dojo - Best for Most Pubs

Rating: 9.0/10

Dojo powers over 8,000 UK pubs with 0.9% + 9p fees and free terminals. Handles peak weekend volume without slowdown.

Pricing:

• Fee: 0.9% + 9p
• Monthly: £0
• Terminal: FREE on 12-month contract

Key Features:

• Tab management (keep cards for running tabs)
• Ultra-fast contactless (1.9 seconds)
• Offline mode stores 100 transactions
• Multi-terminal management
• Integration with pub EPOS (Lightspeed, Ordamo)

Cost Example: £20,000 wet sales → £189/month

2. Worldpay - Best for High-Volume Pubs

Rating: 8.7/10

For pubs processing £30,000+ monthly, Worldpay's negotiable rates from 0.75% save significant money at scale.

Pricing:

• Fee: From 0.75% (negotiable)
• Monthly: £20-£25
• Terminal: FREE

Cost Example: £50,000 monthly → £395/month (vs £459 with Dojo)

3. Square - Best for Food-Led Pubs

Rating: 8.4/10

Gastropubs and food-focused venues benefit from Square's free POS with menu management and kitchen integration.

Pricing:

• Fee: 1.75%
• Monthly: £0
• Terminal: £269

Features:

• Free restaurant POS with table management
• Kitchen display system integration
• Menu modifiers (meal deals, sides)
• Staff tips distribution

4. Barclaycard - Best for Barclays Customers

Rating: 8.0/10

Barclays business banking customers get same-day settlement into their Barclays account and preferential rates.

Pricing:

• Fee: From 1.0%
• Monthly: £12
• Terminal: FREE

5. SumUp - Best for Small Community Pubs

Rating: 7.8/10

Small village pubs processing under £8,000 monthly benefit from SumUp's no monthly fees.

Pricing:

• Fee: 1.39%
• Monthly: £0
• Reader: £19-£99

Peak Performance Considerations

Friday/Saturday nights test your card machine's limits:

• Transaction volume: 150-300 transactions in 4-hour peak
• Processing speed critical: Target under 2 seconds
• Multiple terminals: 2-3 terminals for bars serving 100+ customers/hour
• Connectivity redundancy: 4G backup if WiFi fails

Tab Management for Pubs

Running tabs require secure card storage:

• Dojo: Keep physical card behind bar (return when settling)
• Square: Can store card details securely (PCI compliant)
• Worldpay: Pre-authorization holds available

Best practice: Take card at tab opening, return when customer pays/leaves.

Final Recommendation

For most pubs: Dojo (0.9% + 9p, free terminal, reliable)

For high-volume (£30k+/month): Worldpay (negotiate custom rates)

For gastropubs with food: Square (free kitchen POS worth £80/month)