02 Sep 2015

Do you love to have a bit of fun? Fancy yourself a bit of an Anglophile? Have you always wanted to live in the land of Harry Potter?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, a London pub gap year could be just the experience for you. If you’re chatty and outgoing, lively and always up for a bit of a party, it’ll be right up your street.

A pub work gap year will totally immerse you in the lifestyle and culture of the UK, getting you up close and personal with all those gorgeous accents. You could be a bartender, a waiter/ress, a cook, a kitchen hand or housekeeper, working to earn food, board and a bit of pocket money to fund your travel.

It’s a chance to experience life like you’ll never experience it at home. Putting yourself out there and trying something new will only help you gain world experience, and you’ll be having so much fun that the 24 hours you spent in a flying metal tube to get there will be absolutely worth it before the end of your first day.

London is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, rain, hail or shine (rain, more often than not), and it’s crawling with people year round. It’s also home to some of the best named establishments in the English speaking world: I Am The Only Running Footman or Dirty Dick’s, anyone? You’ll be busy, and the hours will be long, but you’ll be meeting new people from all over the world every single day.

Brits love a bit of an Aussie drawl, and apparently, we’ve got a rep for being great workers (who knew?) so you’ll be welcomed with open arms by both coworkers and customers. There’s a million of us over there, but we’ll help you find the pub that’s a perfect fit for you.

You’re going to need a visa, your Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certificate, and a food service qualification that will be internationally recognised. When you get there, you’ll be gaining tons of international experience on the job, so if you’re looking to break into hospitality when you get home, you’ll definitely have a head start on a lot of other applicants.

And yes, I know you’ve always wanted to fly the London Eye, or check out a show on the West End, or blow all your money on Oxford Street, so don’t worry! You’ll still have plenty of time to see all of London’s world famous landmarks, and experience the nightlife on the other side of the bar. You’ll know the Tube map by heart in no time.

Fancy living it up in London with ol’ mate Queen Lizzy? Check out our pub work gap year page!