Assistant bars manager

Accor; Knutsford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Spa and golf discount

Friends & family rates

Colleague restaurant

Training opportunities

Pension

Holiday entitlement

Job summary

Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere in Knutsford, Cheshire, North West England, seeks an Assistant Bars Manager to lead the beverage service across all bars and inspire a high-performing team. You will design staff rotas, ensure service excellence, and uphold safety standards in a luxury 5-star setting.

Key responsibilities include training staff, maintaining SOPs, driving revenue through menu design and upselling, managing stock and budgets, and delivering exceptional guest experiences across the

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a managerial role within luxury/high-volume environment.
• Qualification in Hospitality Management/Food & Beverage preferred
• Additional F&B certifications will be an advantage
• Experienced in restaurant and banquet service
• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience with proven results
• Excellent reading, writing and oral proficiency in English language

Responsibilities

• Lead the full beverage service across all bars to deliver exceptional guest experiences
• Create efficient staff rotas aligned with business levels and budgets
• Train, develop and inspire a high-performing bar team
• Maintain and update brand-aligned SOPs for consistent service
• Oversee daily operations and ensure smooth service flow
• Drive revenue through smart menu design and upselling
• Manage stock levels, ordering and inventory
• Review products and trends to elevate the bar offering
• Provide product knowledge training to team
• Ensure health, safety, hygiene and fire procedures compliance
• Conduct performance reviews and development plans for staff
• Support payroll, financial reporting and budgeting processes
• Prepare documentation for wages and budgets
• Monitor business performance and contribute to reviews
• Foster a positive, collaborative team culture across the resort

Skills

Leadership

Staff training

Budgeting

Upselling

Operational excellence

Education

Hospitality Management degree

Food & Beverage certification

Job description

Location: On-site in Knutsford, Cheshire, North-West England (not remote)

Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere is one of the North West’s most distinguished luxury destinations. Nestled in the heart of the Cheshire countryside and surrounded by a championship golf course, the resort combines Fairmont’s world-renowned elegance with the warmth and character of its local heritage. Renowned for exceptional service and attention to detail, Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere offers guests an indulgent escape featuring world-class spa experiences, exceptional dining, and outstanding leisure facilities. Whether visiting for relaxation, celebration, or business, Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere is dedicated to creating unforgettable moments and delivering the very best in 5-star luxury hospitality.

Your purpose will be:

The Assistant Bars Manager at Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere plays a pivotal role in leading the day‑to‑day operation of our bars, ensuring an exceptional guest experience that reflects the sophistication and service excellence of a luxury 5‑star resort. This role is responsible for delivering outstanding beverage service, maintaining impeccable standards of quality and safety, driving commercial performance, and fostering a culture of warm, intuitive hospitality. With a focus on operational excellence and sustainable practices, the Assistant Bars Manager inspires and develops the bar team while ensuring every guest enjoys a memorable and elevated experience across all bar outlets.

Job Description

• Lead the full beverage service across all bars, ensuring exceptional guest experiences
• Create efficient staff rotas aligned with business levels and budgets
• Train, develop and inspire a high‑performing bar team
• Maintain and update brand‑aligned SOPs to ensure consistent service excellence
• Oversee daily operations, ensuring strong presence and smooth service flow
• Drive revenue through smart menu design, upselling and cost control
• Manage stock levels, ordering and inventory to balance guest demand and financial targets
• Continuously review products, service and trends to elevate the bar offering
• Deliver product knowledge training and ensure all team members meet service standards
• Ensure full compliance with health, safety, hygiene and fire procedures
• Conduct performance reviews, development plans and team appraisals
• Support accurate payroll, financial reporting and revenue forecasting
• Prepare documentation for wages, payments and annual budgets
• Monitor business performance and contribute to review meetings
• Foster a positive, collaborative team culture across the resort

Please note that we believe in flexibility and multi-skilling, and you may be asked to do different tasks from time to time to enable us to meet the needs of our guests and colleagues.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Managerial role, ideally within a luxury or high‑volume environment.
• Qualification in Hospitality Management/Food & Beverage preferred
• Additional certification(s) in Food & Beverage will be an advantage
• Experienced in all aspects of restaurant and banquet service.
• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience in a similar capacity with proven records in delivering results
• Excellent reading, writing and oral proficiency in English language

Additional Information

What is in it for you?

• Exclusive Discounts:
  • Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, Spa and Golf discount
  • Fairmont, Raffles, and Accor Hotels (friends and family rates are included)
  • 20% off food and beverage in on-site restaurants
• Colleague restaurant
• Being part of The Mere Team – our culture is unique!
• You will benefit from training and development opportunities
• Competitive salary and benefits including pension
• 28 days of holiday including public holidays
• 1-5 days service award based on length of service
• Special rates for Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere colleagues and their friends & family and discount across Accor hotels worldwide
• And last but not least you will get to work with a team of EXTRAORDINARY people