Door Supervisor
An SIA-licensed individual who controls or restricts entry, presence, or departure at licensed premises.
A door supervisor is an individual licensed by the Security Industry Authority to control or restrict entry, presence, or departure at premises licensed under the Licensing Act 2003 or its Scottish or Northern Irish equivalents. The role exists to manage risks at the entry to licensed venues: refusing entry to underage or intoxicated patrons, managing capacity, responding to incidents, working with police, and supporting the venue's operating schedule. Door supervisors work front-of-house at nightclubs, late-night bars, music venues, casinos, and large events.
Key Points
- Door supervisors hold the SIA Door Supervisor licence specifically.
- They control entry to premises licensed under the Licensing Act 2003 or its UK equivalents.
- A Security Guard licence does not authorise door work at licensed premises.
- Day-to-day responsibilities include ID checks, refusals, capacity counting, and incident response.
- The licence is valid for three years and requires retaking the qualification to renew.
What licensable conduct covers
Under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, licensable conduct as a door supervisor is the manned guarding of premises licensed under the Licensing Act 2003. This includes controlling who comes in, refusing entry, ejecting people, supporting the management of incidents, and coordinating with police. Anyone carrying out this conduct without an SIA Door Supervisor licence commits an offence carrying up to 6 months imprisonment.
Door supervisor versus security guard
These are distinct SIA licence categories. The Security Guard licence authorises general manned guarding (warehouses, shops, retail) but does not authorise work at licensed premises. The Door Supervisor licence covers licensed premises specifically. A holder of the Security Guard licence cannot lawfully work the door at a nightclub. Some individuals hold both.
What door supervisors typically do
Day-to-day responsibilities include: ID checks under Challenge 25, refusing entry (intoxication, fake ID, capacity, banned individuals), capacity counting, ejecting customers, responding to incidents (fights, drug spiking, medical emergencies), securing scenes for police, communicating with the duty manager, and using radio or body cam where applicable. The role is reactive and physical, but most of the value is preventative: visible, well-trained door staff deter problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a door supervisor and a bouncer?
"Bouncer" is colloquial for door supervisor in the UK. The legal title is "door supervisor" and the role requires an SIA Door Supervisor licence. The terms are used interchangeably in conversation.
Can I use security guards as door supervisors?
No. The Security Guard SIA licence does not authorise work at licensed premises. Use only individuals holding the SIA Door Supervisor licence (or the front-line Cash and Valuables in Transit licence where relevant).
Do door supervisors need training in first aid?
Some basic first aid training is included in the Door Supervisor qualification. Many venues require an emergency first aid at work qualification on top, particularly for individuals who may be first to respond to a medical incident.
How many door supervisors does my venue need?
Numbers are typically set by your operating schedule (and become conditions on the premises licence). Common ratios: 1 door supervisor per 75 to 100 patrons at full capacity for nightclubs; lower for late-night bars. Police and environmental health may negotiate higher numbers if your premises has incident history.
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