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Pot Washing in a Pub
I think I have managed to get a job as a pot washer.
Will I be spending my full 3-4 hour shifts just at the sink or will I have to do other things?
How do i get all of the things I will be washing up, will they be brought to me?
Will I always have stuff to wash or will i be washing faster than I am getting stuff?
In a pub.
Will I be spending my full 3-4 hour shifts just at the sink or will I have to do other things?
How do i get all of the things I will be washing up, will they be brought to me?
Will I always have stuff to wash or will i be washing faster than I am getting stuff?
In a pub.
Scroll to see replies
And how busy it is on the day.
"Will I always have stuff to wash or will I be washing faster than I am getting stuff" - that depends entirely on how busy the pub is and how efficient you are at washing up!*
Usually, you'll have other tasks to do when it's quiet and there's not much washing up to do. E.g. cleaning, hoovering and dusting, tidying, polishing silverware and glasses, doing random errands... If you're lucky you might eventually get to help out with waitressing, bar work or basic food preparation.
Washing up will be dumped next to your sink(s) by the chefs (dirty pots and cooking utensils) and waiters (dirty plates, glasses, cutlery). You need to clean them quickly and well.
Usually, you'll have other tasks to do when it's quiet and there's not much washing up to do. E.g. cleaning, hoovering and dusting, tidying, polishing silverware and glasses, doing random errands... If you're lucky you might eventually get to help out with waitressing, bar work or basic food preparation.
Washing up will be dumped next to your sink(s) by the chefs (dirty pots and cooking utensils) and waiters (dirty plates, glasses, cutlery). You need to clean them quickly and well.
I used to pot wash in a pub.
You say you'll be working 3-4 hour shifts, will that just be to begin with? If you're only working 3-4 hour shifts I'd imagine that that would be the busiest time of the day in which case you could be at your sink for the majority of your shift.
To answer the other questions, everything that needs washing up will be brought to you, unless you're asked otherwise. If you're washing faster than you're getting stuff to wash you'll be expected to do something else and not just stand about waiting for things to wash. That might include cleaning the rest of the kitchen or possibly minor food prep.
You say you'll be working 3-4 hour shifts, will that just be to begin with? If you're only working 3-4 hour shifts I'd imagine that that would be the busiest time of the day in which case you could be at your sink for the majority of your shift.
To answer the other questions, everything that needs washing up will be brought to you, unless you're asked otherwise. If you're washing faster than you're getting stuff to wash you'll be expected to do something else and not just stand about waiting for things to wash. That might include cleaning the rest of the kitchen or possibly minor food prep.
Well like I said, if you're working shorter shifts, the chances are it'll be pretty busy and will be at the sink area for the majority of the time.
If you work longer shifts (4 hours +) there will be busy periods and quiet periods. It'll be during the quite periods where you'll be asked to do something else like food prep or expected to use your initiative and get on with another job without having to be told.
And yeah, I'd advise you to get some gloves mainly because of the disgusting amount of crap that ends up in your sink! I didn't wear gloves when I did it and it wasn't pleasant and my hands felt horrible by the end of the day.
If you work longer shifts (4 hours +) there will be busy periods and quiet periods. It'll be during the quite periods where you'll be asked to do something else like food prep or expected to use your initiative and get on with another job without having to be told.
And yeah, I'd advise you to get some gloves mainly because of the disgusting amount of crap that ends up in your sink! I didn't wear gloves when I did it and it wasn't pleasant and my hands felt horrible by the end of the day.
That's pretty much it. Cleaning the different surfaces around the kitchen. Depending on the size of the kitchen it could take a good half an hour and then there will be plenty more dishes to wash.
You'll also have to put away the stuff you've washed don't forget.
And depending on who you're working for/with you might find that when you don't seem to have anything to do you can just stand around and chat, maybe even learn how to make desserts.
You'll also have to put away the stuff you've washed don't forget.
And depending on who you're working for/with you might find that when you don't seem to have anything to do you can just stand around and chat, maybe even learn how to make desserts.
I did this kind of job for a day then walked out.
It's the worst job you could have. It's stressful, bad pay and boring.
Stressful? Yes. You have to wash up and wait for the equipment to drip dry. So then you've no space to put newly washed items. Then you have to trek around the kitchen looking for where the equipment goes. You then end up with a full drying rack so you have to try and wipe them dry, whilst you watch the pile of plates stack up next to the sink.
Then you get a pot that's had rice in and the chefs burnt it to the bottom. You're basically a human dishwasher. Mmm... the feeling of food that's been left over, spat out or dropped on the floor gliding through your fingers as you scrub away at the dish with dried soup stuck to it.
Talking to people? Give over, you'll have no time. It's not just the plates you wash up, it's the glasses, cooking equipment and everything else involved in making, serving and cleaning up after the customer.
That's just from my limited experience though.
It's the worst job you could have. It's stressful, bad pay and boring.
Stressful? Yes. You have to wash up and wait for the equipment to drip dry. So then you've no space to put newly washed items. Then you have to trek around the kitchen looking for where the equipment goes. You then end up with a full drying rack so you have to try and wipe them dry, whilst you watch the pile of plates stack up next to the sink.
Then you get a pot that's had rice in and the chefs burnt it to the bottom. You're basically a human dishwasher. Mmm... the feeling of food that's been left over, spat out or dropped on the floor gliding through your fingers as you scrub away at the dish with dried soup stuck to it.
Talking to people? Give over, you'll have no time. It's not just the plates you wash up, it's the glasses, cooking equipment and everything else involved in making, serving and cleaning up after the customer.
That's just from my limited experience though.
Original post by Runninground
I did this kind of job for a day then walked out.
It's the worst job you could have. It's stressful, bad pay and boring.
Stressful? Yes. You have to wash up and wait for the equipment to drip dry. So then you've no space to put newly washed items. Then you have to trek around the kitchen looking for where the equipment goes. You then end up with a full drying rack so you have to try and wipe them dry, whilst you watch the pile of plates stack up next to the sink.
Then you get a pot that's had rice in and the chefs burnt it to the bottom. You're basically a human dishwasher. Mmm... the feeling of food that's been left over, spat out or dropped on the floor gliding through your fingers as you scrub away at the dish with dried soup stuck to it.
Talking to people? Give over, you'll have no time. It's not just the plates you wash up, it's the glasses, cooking equipment and everything else involved in making, serving and cleaning up after the customer.
That's just from my limited experience though.
It's the worst job you could have. It's stressful, bad pay and boring.
Stressful? Yes. You have to wash up and wait for the equipment to drip dry. So then you've no space to put newly washed items. Then you have to trek around the kitchen looking for where the equipment goes. You then end up with a full drying rack so you have to try and wipe them dry, whilst you watch the pile of plates stack up next to the sink.
Then you get a pot that's had rice in and the chefs burnt it to the bottom. You're basically a human dishwasher. Mmm... the feeling of food that's been left over, spat out or dropped on the floor gliding through your fingers as you scrub away at the dish with dried soup stuck to it.
Talking to people? Give over, you'll have no time. It's not just the plates you wash up, it's the glasses, cooking equipment and everything else involved in making, serving and cleaning up after the customer.
That's just from my limited experience though.
Haha I must admit, that pretty much sums it up. It's ok for a part-time job but that's about it. If you have a good set of colleagues it makes things a lot easier.
Original post by Runninground
I did this kind of job for a day then walked out.
It's the worst job you could have. It's stressful, bad pay and boring.
Stressful? Yes. You have to wash up and wait for the equipment to drip dry. So then you've no space to put newly washed items. Then you have to trek around the kitchen looking for where the equipment goes. You then end up with a full drying rack so you have to try and wipe them dry, whilst you watch the pile of plates stack up next to the sink.
Then you get a pot that's had rice in and the chefs burnt it to the bottom. You're basically a human dishwasher. Mmm... the feeling of food that's been left over, spat out or dropped on the floor gliding through your fingers as you scrub away at the dish with dried soup stuck to it.
Talking to people? Give over, you'll have no time. It's not just the plates you wash up, it's the glasses, cooking equipment and everything else involved in making, serving and cleaning up after the customer.
That's just from my limited experience though.
It's the worst job you could have. It's stressful, bad pay and boring.
Stressful? Yes. You have to wash up and wait for the equipment to drip dry. So then you've no space to put newly washed items. Then you have to trek around the kitchen looking for where the equipment goes. You then end up with a full drying rack so you have to try and wipe them dry, whilst you watch the pile of plates stack up next to the sink.
Then you get a pot that's had rice in and the chefs burnt it to the bottom. You're basically a human dishwasher. Mmm... the feeling of food that's been left over, spat out or dropped on the floor gliding through your fingers as you scrub away at the dish with dried soup stuck to it.
Talking to people? Give over, you'll have no time. It's not just the plates you wash up, it's the glasses, cooking equipment and everything else involved in making, serving and cleaning up after the customer.
That's just from my limited experience though.
This is basically my experience too, although at a greasy spoon, and I only lasted two shifts before quitting.
I was 14, and had a 4 hour trial shift (which I know is ridiculous now, especially as I wasn't being paid for it), and learnt from the other girl working with me who had been there for a year that the pay was only £2.50 per hour. I would never have taken the job had I known the pay was so low. Plus, everyone was only paid at the end of every month, which meant I would have to do a lot of hours to get any pay at all. It was also so much harder work than I anticipated, and I felt it wasn't worth getting wet, hot and worn out for.
The managers said I had the job, but for some reason refused to put me on the official rota, meaning I had to ring up after my trial to ask when I was working again, which starting alarm bells ringing. After that next shift, I realised how much I dreaded going in, and decided life is too short, and quit.
The boss didn't like it at all (although I don't know why, as I found out later that they had at least 25 part time workers, mostly under 16 who didn't know any better, and had trouble keeping track of them all as it was). I worked for 8 hours there altogether, and never got paid, which still annoys me to this day.
/rant
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by PhoenixFortune
This is basically my experience too, although at a greasy spoon, and I only lasted two shifts before quitting.
I was 14, and had a 4 hour trial shift (which I know is ridiculous now, especially as I wasn't being paid for it), and learnt from the other girl working with me who had been there for a year that the pay was only £2.50 per hour. I would never have taken the job had I known the pay was so low. Plus, everyone was only paid at the end of every month, which meant I would have to do a lot of hours to get any pay at all. It was also so much harder work than I anticipated, and I felt it wasn't worth getting wet, hot and worn out for.
The managers said I had the job, but for some reason refused to put me on the official rota, meaning I had to ring up after my trial to ask when I was working again, which starting alarm bells ringing. After that next shift, I realised how much I dreaded going in, and decided life is too short, and quit.
The boss didn't like it at all (although I don't know why, as I found out later that they had at least 25 part time workers, mostly under 16 who didn't know any better, and had trouble keeping track of them all as it was). I worked for 8 hours there altogether, and never got paid, which still annoys me to this day.
/rant
I was 14, and had a 4 hour trial shift (which I know is ridiculous now, especially as I wasn't being paid for it), and learnt from the other girl working with me who had been there for a year that the pay was only £2.50 per hour. I would never have taken the job had I known the pay was so low. Plus, everyone was only paid at the end of every month, which meant I would have to do a lot of hours to get any pay at all. It was also so much harder work than I anticipated, and I felt it wasn't worth getting wet, hot and worn out for.
The managers said I had the job, but for some reason refused to put me on the official rota, meaning I had to ring up after my trial to ask when I was working again, which starting alarm bells ringing. After that next shift, I realised how much I dreaded going in, and decided life is too short, and quit.
The boss didn't like it at all (although I don't know why, as I found out later that they had at least 25 part time workers, mostly under 16 who didn't know any better, and had trouble keeping track of them all as it was). I worked for 8 hours there altogether, and never got paid, which still annoys me to this day.
/rant
Mine was under minimum wage too. I was doing an exchange scheme. I work for them for free, they give me a lesson for free (it was flying lessons).
It worked out as being paid 1p less than minimum wage, and my first shift was 6 hours long. I had to do 4 of these shifts for one flying lesson!!!
I admire the people who can hold out a job like that for so long.
Hi,
Worked in a pub for over a year as a waitress/bar maid.
Pot washing is hard work, you'll have a lot to do and I'm afraid your bottom of the pile in terms of the 'food chain'.
However, You have a low level of responsibility and you not on show to customers so you don't have to worry about having to keep up appearances through out your shift. You can slip out for breaks and there will be tons of free food.
Stuff to wash will most probably be brought to you and on some shifts you'll have **** loads to clean.
But its easy mindless money and you can work your way up through the kitchen.
Tip for you, try and get waitresses to scrape plates into the bin before they put them in your washing up pile.
Good luck!
Worked in a pub for over a year as a waitress/bar maid.
Pot washing is hard work, you'll have a lot to do and I'm afraid your bottom of the pile in terms of the 'food chain'.
However, You have a low level of responsibility and you not on show to customers so you don't have to worry about having to keep up appearances through out your shift. You can slip out for breaks and there will be tons of free food.
Stuff to wash will most probably be brought to you and on some shifts you'll have **** loads to clean.
But its easy mindless money and you can work your way up through the kitchen.
Tip for you, try and get waitresses to scrape plates into the bin before they put them in your washing up pile.
Good luck!
This is the only job I've ever tried. I was so excited, willing to get my hands dirty and get to work and the manager basically handed the job to me with open arms. I wondered why it was so easy.
I tried it but after 4 hours I was through, and it pains me to say it. It takes a certain personality to do this job. While I'm definitely willing to get my hands dirty, I'm a pretty shy person, and to just survive in the kitchen among all the big sweary jokey loud-mouths that seemed to work there was a massive challenge in itself. Then was the actual work. I had to run all around every crevice of the kitchen, slipping on the floor everywhere and fumbling with plates that were burning hot. I was too shy to ask the other workers where the plates and stuff went so I held everybody up. I have a permanent burn on my hand from a plate I was handling. I know I'll have it forever but the scariest part is I didn't think anything of the fact I was being burned when it was happening, I was far too overwhelmed to give a ****.
The dishwashing machine wasn't so bad, it was the fact I had to run everywhere when I'm clumsy, and my voice is too quiet to get heard when I don't know what to do. Note people, definitely never a suitable job for introverts! Have to say the manager was kind though cos she gave me a tenner for my (unproductive) time there.
I tried it but after 4 hours I was through, and it pains me to say it. It takes a certain personality to do this job. While I'm definitely willing to get my hands dirty, I'm a pretty shy person, and to just survive in the kitchen among all the big sweary jokey loud-mouths that seemed to work there was a massive challenge in itself. Then was the actual work. I had to run all around every crevice of the kitchen, slipping on the floor everywhere and fumbling with plates that were burning hot. I was too shy to ask the other workers where the plates and stuff went so I held everybody up. I have a permanent burn on my hand from a plate I was handling. I know I'll have it forever but the scariest part is I didn't think anything of the fact I was being burned when it was happening, I was far too overwhelmed to give a ****.
The dishwashing machine wasn't so bad, it was the fact I had to run everywhere when I'm clumsy, and my voice is too quiet to get heard when I don't know what to do. Note people, definitely never a suitable job for introverts! Have to say the manager was kind though cos she gave me a tenner for my (unproductive) time there.
Dear sir or madam, I sm applying for thr vacancy of pot washer, here is my phone number, 07554152490
Dear sir or madam,
I look forward to hearing from you.
Original post by sandra foote
Dear sir or madam, I sm applying for thr vacancy of pot washer, here is my phone number, 07554152490
I look forward to hearing from you.
Dear dude who got the job as a pot wash, I currently work as a pot wash now and I have done it for two large kitchens for roughly about a year. When u go to the interview it sounds like a good perfect picturesk part time employment nice calm easy manual labour and then you get home ... If only ! I started like you diong shorter shifts but they become more demanding so that your stuck there for longer period of time than you think, I hate my job I'm quitting tmorrow so writing this you can see why I have such a negative standpoint. In my opinion there thousands of other jobs that offer such minuscule payment and the job is often seen as being realy easy and not a bad thing attal when in fact it's one of the most stressful jobs in the kitchen. If u want my advice get out it's so bad ! Stressfull annoying hours, chefs often talk down to you, and the labour is long and tough. **** it life is short, to short to have to 4 pound an hour to clean bins and scrap up peoples old food. Ps if u ever run out of pots to wash and it's quite just look busy not even worth getting told to do some even ****ter job to do what other staff have to do normally ! Good luck btw
Hey mate, I worked as a pot wash in two placements over the span of about a year and a half. To be honest I was always one of the those hands on sort of people and had jobs previous to this that where hard labour.
I was like you promised short shifts of easy work that's get a nice but of cash at the end of the month but to be honest in giong to give u my opinion of why it is actually the worst job ever
Everyone expects you to do the work. You are like the engine of the kitchen the unsung hero and absolutly everyone couldn't give a monkeys shefs a lot of the time give the heavy load to you and talk down to you.
Another reason is that it's tiring ! It is hard work and stressful too especially when you have to do other things besides washing up like bins floors cleaning ect and it takes a toll on your body.
The wage is not even justifiable for the work you have to do, like they do not always pay you the best in my experience and life's short man ! Why work slaving a way for such a hard bad payed job when you could go get one in another field for much easer work
And yeah maybe you think I'm over diong it abit but I'm quitting tmorrow and it's gonna be the best feeling to say a good ***** you to the boss when I go !
Oh and ps even if ur not that busy look busy becuase they will always find some other way of giving you a worse aimless task to make their life's easer if ur free and good luck hopefully u like it more than I do !
I was like you promised short shifts of easy work that's get a nice but of cash at the end of the month but to be honest in giong to give u my opinion of why it is actually the worst job ever
Everyone expects you to do the work. You are like the engine of the kitchen the unsung hero and absolutly everyone couldn't give a monkeys shefs a lot of the time give the heavy load to you and talk down to you.
Another reason is that it's tiring ! It is hard work and stressful too especially when you have to do other things besides washing up like bins floors cleaning ect and it takes a toll on your body.
The wage is not even justifiable for the work you have to do, like they do not always pay you the best in my experience and life's short man ! Why work slaving a way for such a hard bad payed job when you could go get one in another field for much easer work
And yeah maybe you think I'm over diong it abit but I'm quitting tmorrow and it's gonna be the best feeling to say a good ***** you to the boss when I go !
Oh and ps even if ur not that busy look busy becuase they will always find some other way of giving you a worse aimless task to make their life's easer if ur free and good luck hopefully u like it more than I do !
Were is it to
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