Pub Stock Take: Template, Method and How to Stop Losses

By mise · Updated September 29, 2026

Quick answer: a pub stock take counts every line in the cellar and behind the bar (kegs by weight, bottles in tenths), then compares usage with sales to give a yield or stock result. Most pubs aim for a result within ±1–2%.

In a pub, a few pints poured short or given away every night add up to thousands a year. The stock take is how you see it — with the free pub stock take template, or by scanning, without waiting for pub stocktakers near you to have a slot.

How to do it

Count the cellar: full kegs, part kegs (by weight), cases.
Count the bar: bottles in tenths, fridges, mixers.
Record deliveries and transfers since the last stock take.
Compare usage with till sales: the gap is your loss.

Example: usage worth £9,200 at retail, till sales £8,900 → stock result −£300 (−3.3%). Look at draught lines first.

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Keep reading Restaurant gross profit and GP %: formula and calculator Wet stock management for pubs and bars Keg inventory: how to count and weigh kegs Cellar Management: Pub Cellar Routine and Stock All guides

Frequently asked questions

How often should a pub do a stock take?

Weekly or fortnightly for wet stock; many use an independent stocktaker monthly.

What is a good stock result?

Within ±1–2% of sales.

Do I still need a stocktaker?

An app speeds up the count; an independent stocktaker still adds a second pair of eyes.

How much does mise cost?

A 7-day free trial, then US$33 a month per location (£26 in the UK).