Bars Manager

Butlin's; Winthorpe; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Butlin's is seeking aBars Manager to lead three high-energy venues—Studio 36, Jellyfish, and Skyline Bar—driving exceptional guest moments and delivering outstanding service.

You will own the guest experience, optimise stock and yields, and coach large teams to perform at peak during busy periods. This role blends hands-on leadership with commercial accountability in a dynamic resort environment.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership within a high-volume bar, pub or entertainment venue.
• Strong understanding of cellar management and stock controls.
• Proven commercial acumen with experience driving stock yield and sales.
• Experience leading multi-skilled teams in fast-paced environments.
• Coaching ability and hands-on leadership in busy periods.
• Experience creating and managing rotas to forecast demand.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Own the guest experience across three venues, ensuring fast, friendly service with consistency.
• Drive commercial success through stock control, upselling and activation.
• Use data and reports to improve performance and decision-making.
• Be highly visible on the floor, coaching in real time and resolving issues.

Skills

Leadership

Bar operations

Stock management

Customer service

Coaching

Labour planning

Tools

SAM scheduling software

Job description

Description

This isn’t just a bar management role — it’s your chance to take the reins of three of our most iconic, high‑energy venues and bring them to life every single day.

As our Bars Manager, you’ll be at the heart of the action, leading the teams behind Studio 36 (our flagship entertainment venue where headline acts perform), Jellyfish (our stylish cocktail lounge), and Skyline Bar (the beating heart of our famous Skyline Pavilion).If you thrive in fast‑paced environments, love creating unforgettable guest moments, and have the passion to lead large, dynamic teams, this role puts you right where the magic happens.

You’ll set the tone, drive the atmosphere, and make sure every drink poured, every interaction delivered, and every shift run feels exceptional.

You will:

• Deliver a brilliantly executed bar experience through fast, safe, friendly service and consistent product quality.
• Champion commercial success by maximising stock yield, managing cellar and product controls, and driving sales through product mix, upselling, and activation.
• Use insight (P&L, SPH, stock results, yield reports, NPS, team data, guest volumes) to make informed decisions that elevate performance.
• Be highly visible on the floor, leading standards, coaching in real time, and interacting with guests to create memorable moments.

KPIs

• Guest NPS (overall, speed of service, quality of serve)
• eNPS & team engagement
• Stock yield %, stock loss, line variances, waste & compliance
• Revenue growth, SPH, Bserve volumes & category sales mix
• P&L delivery vs. budget
• Payroll management & labour productivity
• RPRPRT – Right People, Right Place, Right Time
• Audit & compliance results (H&S, Licensing, Food Safety, Cellar Management, Cash & Stock Controls)
• Team retention & development progress

General Duties & Key Accountabilities

Guest Experience & Service Leadership (WET Focused)

• Own the full guest experience within the bar, ensuring speed, quality and friendliness of service during all trade patterns.
• Actively manage guest flow to reduce queue times and maintain a lively, well organised bar environment.
• Ensure consistency of product delivery across all WET categories (draught, spirits, cocktails, hot beverages, premium serves).
• Use NPS trends and guest comments to improve service points, product mix and bar layout where possible.
• Be highly visible during peak trading to support, coach, and solve issues in real time.

Commercial, Stock & Business Performance

• Full accountability for stock results, including:
• stock yield performance
• line checks
• waste reduction
• stock rotation & product care
• safe cellar management
• cash variances
• Use stock reports to identify patterns, risks or opportunities and implement action plans to improve yields and reduce loss.
• Contribute ideas to increase WET sales: premiumisation, product placement, seasonal activation, and upsell training.
• Deliver labour plans aligned to forecasted demand, improving productivity without compromising service.
• Complete rotas in SAM 3 weeks ahead and ensure accuracy in payroll closing.
• Drive the profitability of the bar through margins, SPH, ATV, and effective promotions.

Team Leadership, Culture & Development

• Create clear, measurable objectives for supervisors that drive performance in revenue generation, queue management, profit protection, compliance, Guest experience, and team experience.
• Lead and develop a positive, high performance bar team through coaching, recognition, and hands on guidance.
• Ensure all team members are fully trained in product knowledge, pouring standards, cellar safety and responsible alcohol retailing (Challenge 25, refusals, licensing obligations).
• Conduct meaningful 1:1s, PDPs, performance reviews and use realtime feedback to support development.
• Role-model Butlin’s Values and Leadership Behaviours at all times.
• Build a multiskilled team capable of flexing across the resort to meet guest volume and business need.
• Actively improve team retention through recognition, support, development opportunities and open communication.

Operational Excellence, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure complete compliance with licensing legislation, including Challenge policies, refusals logs, trading hours and responsible retailing.
• Oversee cellar management to guarantee safety, product quality, proper changeover, gas system handling and hygiene.
• Maintain full audit readiness across:
• bar cleanliness and organisation
• food safety
• H&S and COSHH
• security, cash handling and stock holding
• brand standards
• Lead venue opening/closing routines and complete daily operational checks.
• Escalate risks appropriately and own corrective actions.

Cross Resort Collaboration & Leadership

• Work closely with Central Commercial & Procurement to align on product range, price changes and yield objectives.
• Build strong relationships with leadership teams and peers across all resorts to share ideas and improve performance.
• Support other venues and departments when operational needs shift
• Championing Butlin’s Team member plus modelling optimisation labour alongside other resort leaders.

Key Knowledge/Experience & Qualification Requirements

• Demonstrable leadership experience within a WET led bar, pub, Night club or high-volume hospitality environment.
• Strong understanding of cellar management, stock controls, licensing law and responsible alcohol retailing.
• Proven commercial acumen with experience delivering stock yield targets and improving financial performance.
• Experience working with multiskilled teams in fast paced, high-volume operations.
• Strong coaching ability, able to upskill teams in service, product knowledge, and operational excellence.
• Skilled in rota planning, forecasting and managing labour to demand.
• Confident communicator who can influence, motivate, and adapt quickly to changing needs.
• Strong problem solver with the ability to stay calm and lead during pressured trading periods.
• Demonstratable experience of leading teams to success, this includes proficiency in:
• Managing performance.
• Coaching team.
• Delivering team training.
• Setting standards and role modelling this behaviour.
• Problem solving
• Providing feedback.
• Communicate business goals and objectives and support team to achieve these targets.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and can adapt quickly to changing requirements.

About Butlin's

Did you know Billy Butlin was the first person to introduce dodgems to the UK? That's right, 'fun' is in our DNA, and we've been delighting guests for almost 90 years. Ask any of our team, past and present, and one of the best things they'll say about working at Butlin's is our culture.

As The Home of Entertainment, we pull out all the stops to provide our guests with an 'Altogether More Entertaining and Fun Break', from all-action family holidays to adult-only Big Weekenders, brought to life through our three mighty values. So, if you're looking for a role where you can Create Smiles, where you aren't afraid to Get Stuck In and where the team genuinely Care For Each Other, we think you'll fit right in!