Pests we see in pubs and bars
- Rats and mice in cellars, kitchens, under bar counters and in bin yards
- Fruit flies and drain flies around the bar, glass washers, drip trays and floor drains
- Wasps in beer gardens and nesting in the roof or walls in late summer
- Pigeons and gulls on roofs, signs and smoking areas
- Cockroaches in kitchens and warm cellar plant
The cellar
Cellars are often the oldest part of the building, with gaps around barrel drops, pipe runs and coal holes, and direct access to drains. They are cool, quiet and dark, which suits rats. We inspect and proof the cellar, place monitoring and bait stations, and check the drains.
The bar
Fruit flies breed in thin layers of sugary residue in drip trays, glass washers, bottle bins and floor drains. Cleaning those breeding sites is the most important step. We can treat drains and fit discreet fly control units where needed.
Beer gardens
Wasps become a nuisance from July to September. We treat nests on or near the premises and advise on keeping tables cleared and bins closed.
Regular pest control
Pubs with kitchens are food businesses, so pest control needs to be effective and recorded. Many pubs choose a contract with regular visits covering cellar, kitchen, bar and garden.
Questions and answers
Can you treat wasps in our beer garden?
Yes. We treat nests on your premises and can advise on reducing wasps around tables.
We have flats above the pub. Do you treat those too?
Yes. Pests often move between the pub and the flats above, so we can include them in the same plan.
How do we get rid of fruit flies at the bar?
Remove the breeding sites first: clean drip trays, glass washers, bottle bins and drains daily. We can treat drains and fit fly control units.
Related pages
This page is general information, last reviewed on 19 October 2026. It is not a substitute for an on-site inspection.