Bartender

Sopwell House; St Albans; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and wellbeing platform

Health care cash plans

Staff meals and parking

Staff discounts on F&B, accommodation,

Refer a Friend scheme

Job summary

Sopwell House in Hertfordshire is seeking a passionate Sommelier to lead the wine experience across two award-winning restaurants and the hotel bar. You will curate wine lists, guide guests through pairings, and own cellar management while mentoring teams to deliver outstanding five-star service.

We seek a wine professional with senior experience in luxury hospitality, WSET 3 or higher (Court of Master Sommeliers preferred) and a genuine passion for guest experience.

Qualifications

• Proven sommelier or senior wine experience in luxury hotel, fine-dining or premium hospitality setting.
• Strong knowledge of wine regions, styles, and service best practices.
• Excellent communication and mentoring skills for staff development.

Responsibilities

• Curate and continually develop wine lists for both restaurant outlets and hotel bar.
• Guide guests through thoughtful wine and food pairings, delivering five-star service.
• Own the wine cellar and beverage stock, including sourcing, supplier relations, storage and inventory.
• Train and inspire restaurant and bar teams to raise wine knowledge and service standards.

Skills

Wine expertise

Sommelier experience

Team leadership

Wine service

Guest engagement

Education

WSET Level 3 or higher

Court of Master Sommeliers (preferred)

Job description

Full-time position, 40 hours
Up to £45,000 per annum, includes service charge

Your country home away from home, nestled within 12 acres of picturesque Hertfordshire countryside. Sopwell House is a luxurious, family-owned Georgian country house hotel offering timeless elegance and modern comfort. We're proud to be a place where exceptional service is delivered with warmth, pride and purpose.

At Sopwell House, we live by our Vision, Purpose and Values.

We are dedicated to creating a world of 'Perfect Contentment' for both our team members and guests alike, 'Spreading kindness one act at a time' along the way. Our team pride themselves on 'Performing with Drive and Serving with Soul' in everything we do.

We are looking for a passionate and knowledgeable Sommelier to lead the wine experience across our two award-winning, full-service restaurants, while lending expert support to our hotel bar. This is a rare opportunity for a talented wine professional to shape the beverage journey of a five-star property, working with an exceptional cellar, ambitious menus and a team who share a genuine love of hospitality.

Your role in our family:

• Curate and continually develop the wine lists for both restaurants and the hotel bar, tailored to each outlet's concept and cuisine.
• Guide guests through thoughtful, memorable wine and food pairings, delivering genuine five-star service.
• Take ownership of the wine cellar and beverage stock, from sourcing and supplier relationships to storage and inventory.
• Train and inspire the restaurant and bar teams, raising wine knowledge and service standards across the board.
• Host tastings, pairing dinners and masterclasses that bring our wine story to life for guests.
• Support the hotel bar with your expertise, helping shape its evolving drinks offering.
• Manage beverage costs and margins, playing a key role in the commercial success of the department.

What we're looking for:

• Proven sommelier or senior wine experience in a luxury hotel, fine-dining or premium hospitality setting.
• WSET Level 3 or above, or Court of Master Sommeliers qualification, preferred (or working towards).
• A genuine passion for wine, hospitality and guest experience, with an excellent palate.
• A confident communicator and natural mentor, comfortable leading and training a team.
• A meticulous, commercially minded approach to cellar and stock management.

The best bit:

• Learning and Development: Access our digital learning platform, and various courses to enhance your knowledge and skills
• Health & Wellbeing: Benefit from our interactive health and wellbeing platform and Employee Assistance Program.
• Health care cash plans: take advantage of our Health Care cash plan benefits, including 24-hours access to a GP.
• Discounted food and beverage, accommodation and spa for you and your family
• Discounts on Spa treatments and Spa days in our award-winning Cottonmill Spa
• Discount on Spa products
• Refer a Friend Scheme: earn up to £1,000 referral fee when you recommend someone to work with us
• Preferred Hotel Group discounted global hotel rates
• Free staff meals and parking

Equal Opportunities

We're committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, just let us know at [e-mail]

Right to Work

Applicants must have the legal right to live and work in the UK. Proof of documentation will be required in line with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.

Next Steps

If you're shortlisted, we'll give you a quick call to learn more about you and answer your questions. Candidates who progress will then be invited to the hotel for an in-person interview.

We review applications as they come in, so apply early to avoid missing out. We may close the role once we've found the right person.
Please be advised that if you have not received a response within 14 days, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.