Bar Manager

Wotton House; Westcott; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted hotel stays

Birthday day off

Free meals on duty

RBH 30% discount on food & beverage

Wagestream

Enhanced parental leave

Course sponsorship

Refer a Friend £250

Employee assistance programme

Life insurance

Wellbeing events

Flexible working

Job summary

Wotton House is seeking a passionate Bar Manager to lead the Bar team, craft memorable drinks experiences and drive revenue in a busy hospitality setting.

You will develop your team, oversee daily bar operations, and create a welcoming atmosphere that reflects the property's character. The role requires leadership, creativity in drinks, and a hands-on approach to service, balancing guest satisfaction with cost control.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a Bar Manager or similar supervisory/management role within hospitality.
• Strong knowledge of wines, spirits, cocktails and beverage service.
• A genuine passion for hospitality and creating memorable guest experiences.
• Proven experience leading, motivating and developing a team.
• Good commercial awareness, including stock management, cost control and driving revenue.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Confidence managing busy services while maintaining high standards.
• A creative mindset with the confidence to introduce new ideas and improvements.
• Flexible to work evenings, weekends and bank holidays as required.
• Previous hotel or high-volume hospitality experience would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Leading, motivating and developing the Bar team to deliver consistently excellent service.
• Overseeing the day-to-day running of the bar, ensuring smooth and efficient operations.
• Creating a welcoming, vibrant atmosphere where guests feel genuinely looked after.
• Driving bar sales, identifying opportunities to increase revenue and encouraging creative upselling.
• Managing stock levels, ordering, stocktakes and wastage to maintain effective cost control.
• Working closely with the wider Food & Beverage team to deliver seamless guest experiences.
• Developing drinks menus, seasonal specials and new ideas that reflect the personality of Wotton House.
• Managing rotas, staffing levels and labour costs in line with business requirements.
• Ensuring high standards of cleanliness, presentation, licensing compliance and health & safety.
• Handling guest feedback and resolving any concerns professionally and confidently.
• Coaching and supporting your team, recognising achievements and creating opportunities for development.
• Leading by example and getting stuck in when things get busy!

Skills

Bar management

Team leadership

Wine & spirits knowledge

Hospitality excellence

Cost control

Communication

Organisational skills

Problem-solving

Flexible schedule

Job description

JOIN TEAM WOTTON!

At Wotton House, we do things a little differently.

Set in the beautiful Surrey countryside and surrounded by history, gardens and plenty of character, Wotton House is a hotel where no two days are quite the same. From weddings and celebrations to corporate events and countryside escapes, there's always something happening – and our Bar team plays a huge part in creating memorable experiences for our guests.

We're welcoming, creative and proudly a little quirky. Our approach is simple: \"Yes – what's the question?\" We look for solutions, support one another and aren't afraid to think differently.

We're also proud of our Green Key accreditation, our relationships with the local community and our commitment to making more responsible choices.

We're the flamingo in a flock of pigeons.

In short? \"It's Wonderfully Wotton.\"

THE ROLE – BAR MANAGER

We're looking for a passionate, energetic and hands‑on Bar Manager to lead our Bar team and bring a little Wonderfully Wotton magic to every guest experience.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who loves hospitality, thrives in a busy environment and knows how to create a great atmosphere for both guests and colleagues.

From crafting memorable drinks experiences to developing your team, driving sales and keeping operations running smoothly, you'll be at the heart of our Food & Beverage operation.

We're looking for someone who can bring fresh ideas, take ownership and inspire their team to deliver exceptional service, whether that's a perfectly made cocktail, a relaxed afternoon drink or a busy evening celebrating something special.

If you're a natural leader who loves great drinks, great people and great hospitality, we'd love to hear from you.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A BAR MANAGER

• Leading, motivating and developing the Bar team to deliver consistently excellent service

• Overseeing the day-to-day running of the bar, ensuring smooth and efficient operations

• Creating a welcoming, vibrant atmosphere where guests feel genuinely looked after

• Driving bar sales, identifying opportunities to increase revenue and encouraging creative upselling

• Managing stock levels, ordering, stocktakes and wastage to maintain effective cost control

• Working closely with the wider Food & Beverage team to deliver seamless guest experiences

• Developing drinks menus, seasonal specials and new ideas that reflect the personality of Wotton House

• Managing rotas, staffing levels and labour costs in line with business requirements

• Ensuring high standards of cleanliness, presentation, licensing compliance and health & safety

• Handling guest feedback and resolving any concerns professionally and confidently

• Coaching and supporting your team, recognising achievements and creating opportunities for development

• Leading by example and getting stuck in when things get busy!

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

We're looking for someone who knows that a great bar is about more than just great drinks – it's about the people, the atmosphere and the experience.

You’ll bring:

• Previous experience in a Bar Manager or similar supervisory/management role within hospitality

• Strong knowledge of wines, spirits, cocktails and beverage service

• A genuine passion for hospitality and creating memorable guest experiences

• Proven experience leading, motivating and developing a team

• Good commercial awareness, including stock management, cost control and driving revenue

• Excellent communication and organisational skills

• Confidence managing busy services while maintaining high standards

• A creative mindset with the confidence to introduce new ideas and improvements

• Strong problem-solving skills and a positive, hands‑on approach

• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and bank holidays as required

Previous experience within a hotel or high-volume hospitality environment would be advantageous.

Most importantly, we're looking for someone with personality, passion and a genuine desire to make a difference.

WHY JOIN US?

You’ll have access to a fantastic benefits package designed to support you both inside and outside of work, including:

• Discounted hotel stays for you, your friends and family

• An extra day off for your birthday

• Free meals on duty – saving you over £1,000 per year

• 30% food & beverage discount at RBH hotels

• Wagestream – giving you more flexibility over how and when you access your pay

• Enhanced maternity, adoption and shared parental leave

• Course sponsorship and development opportunities

• Refer a Friend scheme – earn £250 per successful referral, up to five referrals

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Life insurance

• Social and wellbeing events throughout the year

• Flexible working arrangements

And much, much more!

WONDERFULLY WOTTON

We want people who bring personality, ideas and enthusiasm to what they do. People who care about our guests, support their colleagues and take pride in creating something a little different.

As our Bar Manager, you'll have the opportunity to make your mark, develop your team and help shape the drinks experience at Wotton House.

We're not looking for someone who simply runs a bar. We're looking for someone who can bring it to life.

Wonderfully welcoming. Wonderfully whimsical. Wonderfully Wotton.

Think this sounds like you? We'd love to hear from you!

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

RBH Hospitality Management is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive, people-first culture. If at any point throughout our recruitment process you require reasonable adjustments, please contact [e-mail].

Compensation: To be discussed