Assistant Restaurant Manager - Daytime Hours

The Garden Cafe at The Newt in Somerset; Bruton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

A vibrant café on a country estate is seeking an Assistant Restaurant Manager. The role involves leading a team, managing daily services while ensuring guest satisfaction. Ideal candidates have experience in a busy restaurant, strong leadership skills, and a passion for quality food and beverage service. The position offers a competitive salary, fantastic benefits, and a positive workplace environment.

Benefits

Complimentary gym access

Discounted hotel stays

Complimentary staff meals

Employee Assistance Programme

Recognition programme rewards

30% colleague discount at shops

Qualifications

• Confident, hands-on leader with strong people skills.
• Experience in a busy restaurant environment.
• Proven ability to motivate, train, and develop teams.
• Excellent time management, organisation and attention to detail.
• Sound business acumen; comfortable with cost and labour control.
• Passion for food, beverage, provenance and exceptional guest experiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a motivated, guest-focused team.
• Oversee daily service flow, ensuring consistency and efficiency.
• Coach and mentor staff to enhance growth and retention.
• Maintain strong menu knowledge and ensure guest satisfaction.
• Support and refine service standards tailored to the Garden Café.

Skills

Leadership

People skills

Time management

Attention to detail

Motivation and training

Business acumen

Job description

Overview

Assistant Restaurant Manager – Garden Café

Up to £36,000 per annum, inclusive of tronc, plus fantastic benefits

40 hours per week across 5 days (including regular weekends and bank holidays). Daytime Hours.

Due to the location of the Estate a driving license is recommended for this role

Advert closes: 6 October 2025

Take a look at our website. Read the full job description here.

Role Summary

Lead the buzz of a vibrant, produce-led café where genuine hospitality shines and every service runs like clockwork.

Our Assistant Restaurant Manager

You’ll be the right hand to our Restaurant Manager, keeping the Garden Café humming as it welcomes between 150–200 covers daily. From mentoring and rota planning to service standards and systems, you’ll develop a motivated, guest-focused team and ensure smooth, consistent services. You’ll champion The Newt’s relaxed, produce-first style, bringing energy and leadership that helps every guest leave delighted.

Key Responsibilities

• Elevate every service to be warm, welcoming and memorable
• Lead by example and inspire the team with The Newt’s service style
• Coach, mentor and run regular 1:1s to support growth and retention
• Oversee daily service flow, ensuring consistency and efficiency
• Maintain strong menu knowledge and confident guest communication
• Support and refine service standards tailored to the Garden Café
• Assist with rotas, holidays and labour cost control
• Uphold H&S compliance

What we can offer

• A base salary of £30,900
• A positive workplace environment with opportunities to develop both personally and professionally.
• Stay in shape with our complimentary use of our gym and wellbeing classes
• Look after your wellbeing with complimentary access to our Spa and swimming pools and our exclusive benefit of 50% off Spa Treatments.
• Enjoy shopping in both our shops on estate and online with 30% discount for all our colleagues and free delivery for any online purchases.
• Discover exclusive perks with our Discounted hotel stays for staff, accompanied by a fantastic 30% discount at our restaurants.
• Complimentary garden membership for the Newt and our partner gardens including the Eden Project, Kew Gardens and The Lost Gardens of Heligan
• Complimentary staff meal each shift – crafted by our dedicated kitchen team, often featuring fresh produce from our estate.
• We value your hard work and recognise your achievements through our colleague recognition programme “Newt Awards” with the opportunity to achieve a variety of amazing rewards including a complimentary Hotel Stay.
• Support from our Employee Assistance Programme for both yourself and your family
• A team that knows how to have fun with regular team engagement activities including Fun Squad events, which include activities such as Go-Karting and Wine Tasting, to name but a few.
• Up to 30 days annual leave each year for our full-time team

What we’re looking for

• Confident, hands-on leader with strong people skills
• Experience in a busy restaurant environment
• Proven ability to motivate, train and develop teams
• Excellent time management, organisation and attention to detail
• Sound business acumen; comfortable with cost and labour control
• Passion for food, beverage, provenance and exceptional guest experience

Where you’ll be working

The Garden Café is a vibrant, produce-led restaurant at the heart of The Newt estate. With a menu that celebrates seasonal vegetables, estate-grown ingredients, and the work of our growers and makers, it offers guests a relaxed yet refined dining experience. Serving 150–200 covers daily—and more when events are running—it’s a fast-paced, dynamic space where simplicity, freshness, and provenance shine on every plate. Our team takes pride in combining genuine hospitality with attentiveness, ensuring that every guest feels both cared for and inspired by the connection to the land. Collaboration, adaptability, and a shared passion for food and sustainability are central to the way we work, creating an atmosphere that is as supportive for staff as it is memorable for guests.

Who are we – The Newt in Somerset

Nestled within an expanse of rolling fields and steeped in ancient history, our luxury country estate stands as a haven of refined elegance, inviting guests to explore acres of captivating gardens, meandering pathways, and enriching exhibitions - accessible 364 days a year for our members. Our hotel extends a warm welcome, offering a home-away-from-home experience where impeccable service flourishes in an ambiance of unassuming sophistication. Beyond the estate, the Newt's essence remains tangible, with our Ecommerce teams delivering our finest products to homes, while media and membership endeavours keep them informed of our latest developments. Behind the scenes, a tapestry of talented teams - from Housekeeping to HR, Finance to Farming - collaborates harmoniously, crafting an unforgettable journey of growth, development, and innovation, where every contribution creates unparalleled experiences.

INDAVR