Security Cameras for Bars, Restaurants & Hotels

Most of the publicans who call us don't do it because of a break-in. They do it because the till doesn't balance and they don't know why. Or because stock from the storeroom disappears faster than it's sold over the bar. Or because there's been an incident on the terrace and there's no way to prove what happened.

A bar has a problem no other business has: it handles a lot of cash, at a fast pace and with a lot of people behind the bar. These cameras are designed for exactly that.

The four spots in a bar you need to cover

The till

It's the most worthwhile camera of all and the one almost nobody puts up first. Pointed at the cash drawer and the POS, with continuous recording, it lets you jump to a specific time and see exactly what happened during that transaction. When the cash-up doesn't add up, there's no argument: there's video.

The bar

Drinks on the house that never get logged, rounds that don't go through the till, wrong change given. It needn't be dishonesty — often it's just the pace of a busy Saturday. Seeing the whole bar tells you whether the problem is the staff or the system.

The storeroom and cold room

Where the expensive stock lives: bottles, meat, fish. It's the lowest-traffic area, which makes it the easiest. A camera on the storeroom door stops a lot of unexplained shrinkage at the root.

The terrace and entrance

Customers who leave without paying, furniture that vanishes, scuffles on the way out, a customer who claims they slipped. The terrace is where most incidents happen and where there's usually the least surveillance. For large areas, motorised PTZ cameras with AI follow whoever's moving on their own, so one covers what three fixed cameras would.

Why hospitality needs continuous recording

At home, recording only on motion is fine: if no one's there, there's nothing to record. In a bar there's movement all the time, so motion detection filters out nothing useful.

And above all: when you find money missing, you don't know what time it happened. You discover it at close, or three days later while cashing up. You need to be able to go back to any moment of the week, not just the times an alert was triggered. That's why in hospitality we recommend an NVR recorder with a hard drive rather than a card.

Recording your staff: what the law says

This is the question we get asked most and the one almost nobody answers clearly. An honest summary:

• Yes, you can install cameras for security and workplace monitoring in work areas: bar, kitchen, till, storeroom.
• You must inform people first. Your staff and their representatives, expressly and clearly. You can't just put them up and be done.
• Never in toilets, changing rooms or staff break areas. Not there, under any circumstances.
• No hidden cameras. Besides risking a fine, the footage won't be valid as evidence. You lose both ways.
• The sign is compulsory and visible before entering, for customers too.

The funny thing is that informing people doesn't make the system less effective — it makes it more so. A team that knows there are cameras works differently, and the footage does its job the day you need it. We send the signage with the system. This is practical guidance, not legal advice — you'll find it all in the security cameras guide.

How many for your venue?

• Small bar with just a counter — 2 cameras: till and entrance.
• Bar with kitchen and dining area — 4: till, bar, kitchen and entrance.
• Restaurant with terrace — 4 to 8, with at least one motorised camera for the terrace.
• Hotel or large venue — 8, spread across reception, entrances, storeroom and common areas.

It's a guide. Send us your floor plan — a photo or a sketch will do — and we'll tell you exactly how many and where, with no obligation.

Frequently asked questions

Can I watch the bar from home on my day off?

Yes, live from your phone, and the previous recordings too. You can give your manager access so they can watch as well.

Do they cope with the steam and grease of a kitchen?

In the kitchen it's best to place them away from the extractor hood and direct steam. Tell us what yours is like and we'll tell you where to put it so it lasts.

Do they work at night, with the place closed and in the dark?

Yes, and in colour. Ordinary infrared night vision records in black and white; ours keeps the colour, which is what you actually need to identify someone.

My wi-fi barely reaches the terrace. Will it work?

If your phone browses fine out there, so will the camera. If it's patchy, there are solutions: a repeater, or a cable for that stretch. Ask us before you buy.

Can I point at the terrace if it's on the pavement?

You can record your terrace, but not the public street beyond what's essential. In practice the camera is aimed at your tables, not the road.

Is there a monthly fee?

No. You pay for the kit once and the recordings are stored on your recorder. No subscriptions to watch your own footage.

We'll design the system for your venue

Send us the floor plan of your bar or restaurant and tell us what worries you. We'll tell you how many cameras you need, where they go and why. If two will do, we'll tell you two.

Message us on WhatsApp or call 622 872 311.

You might also be interested in

Start with the complete security camera guide if you're not yet sure what you need. Got a shop too? See the cameras for shops. And at home? The home cameras — viewed from the same phone and app as the ones at the bar.

For the full system you'll need an NVR recorder. And if you also want to speed up service, take a look at the waiter call systems and the POS with hospitality software.