What’s included
SIA Door Supervisor licensed officers
Every door supervisor holds a valid licence for the work they are doing, which you can verify on the SIA public register.
Entry control and capacity monitoring
Managing the queue, checking entry conditions and helping you stay within your agreed capacity.
Search procedures
Searches carried out courteously and consistently, in line with your venue policy.
Conflict management and de-escalation
Trained to defuse tension early, which usually protects your venue better than physical intervention.
First aid trained personnel
First aid trained officers can be requested for your event or venue.
Incident recording
Written records of refusals, ejections and incidents to support your licensing responsibilities.
Who we protect
- Bars, pubs and nightclubs
- Hotels and hotel bars
- Restaurants with late licences
- Private members’ clubs
- Venues hosting one-off nights and private parties
Why licensed door supervision matters
Using unlicensed door staff at licensed premises can put your licence, your insurance position and your customers at risk. The licensing requirement exists to make sure the people controlling entry have been vetted and trained, and you can check any licence yourself on the SIA public register.
Good door supervision is mostly invisible. A supervisor who greets customers properly, spots a problem early and speaks calmly will prevent more incidents than one who waits for trouble. That is the style we aim for.
Different venues need different teams: a quiet hotel bar on a weeknight is not the same job as a late-licence venue on a Saturday. We ask about your customers, opening hours and past incidents before recommending numbers.
How deployment works
Venue brief
We cover opening hours, capacity, clientele, entry policy and any incidents you want to avoid.
Team recommendation
We recommend the number of supervisors, shift times and whether you want any female officers.
Deployment
SIA-licensed, BS 7858 screened door supervisors are briefed on your policies and report to your duty manager.
Reporting
Incident logs are shared after each shift and we adjust the team as trade patterns change.
Every officer we deploy holds a valid SIA licence and is screened to BS 7858. You are welcome to check any licence on the SIA public register of licence holders.
Working out how many door supervisors you need
There is no universal ratio. Capacity, the number of entrances, whether you have a queue, whether you search, the age and behaviour of your usual customers and the trading hours all affect the answer. Your premises licence conditions may also set a minimum number of door staff at certain times, and those conditions take priority over any recommendation from us or from anyone else.
A common mistake is to staff only for the busiest hour and leave the door under-covered at other times, or to add staff after an incident rather than before. A short conversation about your last few difficult nights usually shows where cover is thin. We would rather recommend the number that suits your venue than the largest team we can sell you.
Questions to ask any door supervision provider
- Do all supervisors hold a current SIA Door Supervisor licence, and can I check each one?
- How do your supervisors approach de-escalation, and what do they do when it fails?
- What records will you keep of refusals, ejections and incidents?
- What is your arrangement if a supervisor does not turn up for a shift?
Why MEHXIV
Some venues find a mixed team helps with customer relations and search procedures. We can supply female door supervisors alongside the rest of the team, and we can usually discuss short-notice cover if a regular supervisor is unavailable.
We operate around the clock, and we donate 5p from every £1 donated to children’s charities as part of how we do business. You can read more about our approach on the About MEHXIV page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do door supervisors need an SIA licence?
In most cases, yes. Door supervisors working at licensed premises must hold a valid SIA Door Supervisor licence. All of our door supervisors do, and you can check any licence on the SIA public register.
How many door supervisors does my venue need?
It depends on capacity, layout, opening hours and the type of crowd. We ask about these before recommending a number, and your licensing conditions may also specify minimum staffing. We will discuss this honestly with you.
Can you supply female door supervisors?
Yes. We can supply female SIA-licensed officers, which can help with searches and with customer relations. Mention this when you request a quote.
Can you cover a one-off night or private party?
Yes. We can supply door supervision for single nights, private functions and ongoing weekly cover. Tell us the date, venue and expected numbers so we can confirm availability.
What happens if a supervisor can’t attend a shift?
We maintain a pool of licensed officers for short-notice cover and operate 24/7, so we can usually arrange a replacement. Contact us as early as possible so we can confirm what is feasible.
Related services
Areas we cover
Based in Middlesbrough. Deploying across Teesside, the wider North East and Yorkshire; other UK areas by arrangement.
Sectors
Request a quote for door supervision
Tell us about your site and what you need covered. We will come back with a recommendation and a quote.