Best Card Machines for Pubs and Bars (2026)

At a busy bar, speed is everything. Every second a customer spends waiting for the card machine is a second they're not ordering the next round. Pubs also have their own quirks: tabs, a beer garden that's out of WiFi range, quiz nights, live music, and takings that pile up on Friday and Saturday nights.

Here's how to choose a card machine for a pub or bar, with real prices from providers' official UK websites, checked October 2026.

At a glance

What pubs and bars need

Speed at the bar. Fast contactless and a machine that's always within reach. Many bars keep a terminal on a dock at each till point.

Tabs. The ability to open a tab, add rounds and close it at the end. This usually comes from your EPOS rather than the card machine itself.

Table service. Portable machines so staff can take orders and payments at tables, especially for food.

Beer garden coverage. WiFi often doesn't reach outside. A terminal with 4G can save a lot of frustration in summer.

Late night support. If your machine fails at 10pm on a Saturday, you need help then, not on Monday.

Fast payouts. Weekend takings are often the biggest. Check when Friday and Saturday's money reaches you.

1. Dojo

Dojo's 1.2% blended rate applies to businesses with card turnover under £100,000 a year, covering all card transactions. Bigger pubs get custom pricing on 12 month or 30 day rolling plans. The Dojo Pocket costs £149 upfront or £25 a month. Payouts are next day.

Best for: pubs that want a single, simple rate and hospitality features.

2. Teya

Teya specialises in hospitality and pays out next day, including weekends, so Saturday night's takings don't sit until Tuesday. Pricing is by quote.

Best for: pubs and bars that do most of their trade at weekends.

3. Square for Restaurants

Square's paid restaurant plans from £29 a month give you a full bar POS, including open tabs, menus and staff management, with card payments at 1.75% on UK cards. Square Terminal costs £149 ex VAT. Free payouts take one to two working days.

Best for: bars that want POS and card payments in one place.

4. SumUp Terminal

At £135 ex VAT with a free SIM and a built in printer, the SumUp Terminal is a good value pub machine, especially for a beer garden or events. It's 1.69% on UK cards, or 0.99% on domestic consumer cards with Payments Plus at £19 a month.

Best for: smaller pubs and micropubs on a budget.

5. Zettle by PayPal

Zettle charges 1.75% on all major cards, including Amex and overseas cards. Good for pubs in tourist areas. The PayPal Terminal costs £149 ex VAT and works on 4G and WiFi.

Best for: tourist pubs with lots of visitors.

For more hospitality focused systems, see our guide to Shift4 SkyTab.

Cost examples for a pub

Rates on UK consumer cards. Excludes hardware and plan fees. Above £100,000 a year in card turnover, Dojo quotes a custom rate.

Running tabs

Tabs are one of the trickiest parts of pub payments. Common approaches:

• Hold a card behind the bar. Many pubs do this, but it's not ideal. Cards get left behind, and you can't charge a card without the customer.
• Open a tab on your EPOS and pay at the end. The customer pays the total on the card machine when they leave. Simple, but there's a risk of walkouts.
• Pre authorise a card. Some systems let you reserve an amount on the customer's card when they open a tab, then take the final total. Ask your provider whether it supports this and how it works.

Whatever you choose, have a clear policy and train staff on it.

Practical tips for pubs

• Dock a terminal at each till point. Saves staff hunting for it.
• Test the beer garden. Take a test payment at the far table.
• Keep spares charged. Especially for big match days and bank holidays.
• Check weekend payouts. It's your busiest time.
• Make tipping easy. Turn on tip prompts if your staff want them. Remember that by law, all tips must be passed on to workers.
• Have a backup. Tap to Pay on the manager's phone.

Events, quizzes and live music

Busy nights put pressure on your card machines and your WiFi. If you're expecting a crowd:

• Add a second terminal at the bar.
• Use 4G terminals so you're not relying on one router.
• Set up quick product buttons for popular drinks.
• Consider a separate terminal for ticket sales or the quiz entry fee.

Setups by type of pub

Questions to ask providers

• What hours is support open, including Friday and Saturday nights?
• How quickly will you replace a broken terminal?
• When will my Saturday takings reach my account?
• Does your terminal integrate with my EPOS?
• Do you support tabs or pre authorisation?
• What's the rate on Amex and business cards?
• What's the total monthly cost on my takings, including rental and PCI?

Common mistakes pubs make

Too few terminals. One machine shared across a busy bar means queues behind the queue. Staff end up waiting for the terminal, and customers wait for staff.

WiFi only machines in a big building. Old pubs with thick walls and cellars are tough on WiFi. A 4G fallback saves the day.

Signing a long contract on the first quote. Pubs are a competitive market for card providers. Get several quotes and use them to negotiate.

Forgetting the function room and garden. Test payments in every space you serve.

No backup. If the broadband drops on a Saturday night, you need another way to take cards. Tap to Pay on a phone, or a SIM terminal, takes seconds to switch to.

Should a pub take cash too?

That's your call. Many pubs still take cash, especially in rural areas and for older customers. Going card only can speed up service and reduce cash handling, but it may put off some regulars. If you go cashless, put up clear signs at the door. That way nobody gets to the front of the queue before finding out.

FAQs

What's the best card machine for a pub?

It depends on size. Dojo and Teya are popular with pubs that want hospitality features and fast payouts. Smaller pubs and micropubs often do well with a SumUp Terminal or Square.

Can I run tabs on a card machine?

Tabs usually run through your EPOS. Some systems let you pre authorise a card when a tab is opened. Ask your provider.

Is it OK to keep a customer's card behind the bar?

Many pubs do, but it carries risks: lost cards and disputes. Using your EPOS tab feature or pre authorisation is safer.

Do I need 4G in my pub?

If your WiFi doesn't reach the beer garden or function room, yes. A terminal with 4G as a fallback avoids failed payments.

How quickly will I get my weekend takings?

It depends on your provider. Teya pays next day including weekends, and SumUp pays by 7am every day. Bank based payouts may wait until the next working day.

Can I set a minimum card spend in my pub?

Yes. A minimum spend isn't a surcharge. Just make sure it's clearly displayed. Adding a fee for using a card isn't allowed for consumers.

Do pub card machines accept Apple Pay?

Yes. Any contactless card machine takes Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. Phone payments are checked on the device, so they often work for bigger rounds when a contactless card asks for a PIN.

Can staff take card payments on their own phones?

With Tap to Pay, they can, using your provider's app and their own staff login. Many pubs prefer dedicated terminals so staff phones stay out of the way behind the bar.

What happens if a customer walks out without paying their tab?

You'll usually lose the money unless you pre authorised their card. Clear tab rules, and closing tabs before last orders, help reduce the risk.