Assistant Manager

Market House; Reading; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A vibrant bar & events venue in Reading is seeking an Assistant Manager to lead shifts, manage a team, and deliver great customer experiences. The ideal candidate has solid bar experience, is confident running busy environments, and thrives during high-pressure situations. Responsibilities include overseeing events, ensuring high service standards during peak times, and supporting staff training. This role offers a competitive salary plus benefits such as career development, free meals on shift, and employee discounts.

Benefits

Competitive salary + tronc

Free meals on shift

28 days holiday

Company pension scheme

Employee discounts

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience as an Assistant Manager or in a supervisory role in a busy bar.
• Ability to manage staff effectively and run shifts under pressure.
• Organized and calm, even during busy events.

Responsibilities

• Run shifts, manage staff, and ensure high service standards.
• Lead a large team of casual staff during busy nights.
• Support corporate events and ensure smooth operations.
• Handle guest issues with confidence and calmness.

Skills

Bar management

Team leadership

Customer service

Event coordination

Crisis management

Job description

Assistant Manager

Full-time | Bar & Events Focus | Competitive salary + tronc

Market House is Reading’s grown‑up playground. Big bar, big energy, packed weekends, corporate bookings midweek, and a crowd that expects things to run smoothly without being babysat.

We’re looking for an Assistant Manager with solid bar experience who’s comfortable leading from the floor, running shifts, and helping deliver everything from corporate meetings to full‑tilt Friday and Saturday nights.

The role

You’ll be part of the core management team, working across service, people and events. One minute you might be setting up a corporate meeting or private hire, the next you’re running a busy late shift with DJs, games and a full floor.

This is a hands‑on role. You’ll be expected to lead the team, not watch it.

What you’ll be responsible for

• Running shifts across the bar, events and late nights.
• Leading and motivating a large team of casual staff and supervisors.
• Supporting delivery of corporate meetings, private hires and parties.
• Keeping service standards high during busy Friday and Saturday nights.
• Managing games bookings, guest flow and the overall vibe of the venue.
• Handling customer issues calmly and confidently.
• Supporting training, onboarding and day‑to‑day people management.
• Working closely with senior managers to keep the operation tight and organised.

What we’re looking for

• Experience as an Assistant Manager, Supervisor or strong Team Leader in a busy bar‑led venue.
• Confident running a floor and making decisions under pressure.
• Comfortable managing casual staff and flexing teams around trade.
• Organised, people‑focused and calm when it gets busy.
• Happy working late nights, weekends and event‑led shifts.

What this isn’t

• Not a desk job.
• Not a quiet pub.
• Not a Monday‑to‑Friday role.

What you’ll get

• Clear career pathway and development towards General Manager. A large majority of our GM appointments are internal.
• Access to fully funded apprenticeships and training and development courses.
• Competitive salary plus tronc.
• Free meals on shift.
• 28 days holiday per year.
• Company pension scheme.
• 20% discount in all Young’s pubs and 30% off overnight stays in Young’s Pubs with Rooms.
• Access to the Young’s Share Save scheme.

Market House is set in the centre of Reading, 5 min walk from the train station and surrounded by shops, restaurants and bars. With 23 hotel rooms, private spaces, a roof terrace bar, shuffle board, ping‑pong tables, darts and a karaoke booth we are anything but standard. We strive to provide the best eating, drinking, sleeping and gaming experiences possible, we want to make sure that everyone who walks through our door has the best time possible and most importantly wants to come back and have it again!