Beverage Manager

Independents by Sodexo; Ascot; Remote; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Raceday tickets

Job summary

Sodexo Live! at Ascot Racecourse is seeking an experienced Beverage Manager to lead a high-profile beverage operation across racedays, Royal Ascot and events.

You will balance strategic planning with hands-on leadership, delivering commercial success and exceptional guest experiences. Reporting to the Head of Operations, you will manage purchasing, forecasting, cost control and stock, while coaching Cellar Managers and collaborating with Hospitality, Retail and Finance to drive improvements.

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing beverage operations within large-scale hospitality or events.
• Proven ability to lead operational teams in fast-paced environments.
• Strong commercial awareness with experience managing labour, budgets and stock.
• Excellent knowledge of beverage stock management systems.
• Strong financial and analytical skills.
• Excellent planning and organisational abilities.
• Experience driving operational change and continuous improvement.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management.
• Hands-on leadership style with a visible senior presence.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Office suite.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of beverage planning and readiness across racedays and events.
• Lead purchasing, forecasting and inventory control to optimize stock.
• Manage beverage cost of sales, labour and budgets, investigate variances.
• Oversee stock reconciliation, invoicing and financial reporting with controls.
• Lead, coach and develop Cellar Managers and Stock Controller.
• Collaborate with Hospitality, Retail, Culinary, Finance and Event Ops to coordinate events.
• Manage supplier performance and delivery schedules, ensure product quality.
• Maintain licensing, food safety, equipment compliance and safe practices.
• Review performance post-event and translate data into improvements.
• Standardise processes and introduce ideas to improve service and efficiency.

Skills

Beverage operations management

Team leadership

Commercial awareness

Stock management

Financial analysis

Planning and organising

Operational change leadership

Stakeholder management

Microsoft Excel

Licensing and safety knowledge

Tools

Excel

Job description

Job Description

• Job Title: Beverage Manager
• Location: Ascot Racecourse, Royal Ascot, High Street, Ascot, SL5 7JX
• upto £55,000 per annum Salary + 10% performance Bonus and £1,300 Flexible benefit funds
• 40 Hours / 5 days out of 7days
• Site perks: Raceday tickets

Job Introduction

At Sodexo Live!, we bring exceptional venues and memorable experiences to life. We’re looking for an experienced Beverage Manager to join our team at Ascot Racecourse, combining strong commercial judgement with a passion for outstanding hospitality.

From the excitement of Royal Ascot to racedays, conferences and events, this is a venue where every detail matters. With up to 30 fine dining restaurants, 215 private boxes and 150 retail units, Ascot offers an extraordinary setting to apply your expertise and make a visible impact on the guest experience.

Reporting to the Head of Operations, you’ll play a central role in shaping the future of the beverage operation. There is real scope to bring fresh ideas, improve ways of working and build on the standards expected of this prestigious venue. You’ll work alongside colleagues across hospitality, retail and events, bringing teams together to deliver an operation that performs commercially and consistently delights its guests.

This opportunity would suit a confident, approachable leader with experience in large-scale beverage operations who enjoys the pace and complexity of live events. You’ll be comfortable moving between strategic planning and hands‑on leadership, inspiring your team and turning insight into meaningful improvements.

Join Sodexo Live! at Ascot and bring your ambition, ideas and expertise to a role where you can make a lasting difference.

What You'll Do:

• Take ownership of beverage planning and operational readiness across racedays, Royal Ascot, conferences and external events.
• Lead purchasing, forecasting and inventory control, ensuring the right products are available without creating unnecessary stockholding or waste.
• Manage beverage cost of sales, labour expenditure and departmental budgets, investigating variances and taking timely corrective action.
• Oversee stock reconciliation, invoice processing and financial reporting, maintaining accurate and secure controls across the site.
• Lead, coach and develop the Cellar Managers and Stock Controller, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Work in partnership with Hospitality, Retail, Culinary, Finance, Commercial and Event Operations teams to deliver a coordinated event operation.
• Manage supplier performance, delivery schedules and product quality while building productive commercial relationships.
• Maintain high standards of licensing, food safety, equipment compliance and safe working practices throughout the department.
• Review performance following each event and translate operational feedback and financial data into practical improvement plans.
• Standardise processes and introduce new ideas that improve service consistency, efficiency and overall performance.

For a full list of responsibilities please read the attached job description

What You Bring:

Essential

• Significant experience managing beverage operations within a large-scale hospitality, stadia, events or contract catering environment.
• Proven experience leading operational teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong commercial awareness with experience managing labour, budgets and stock.
• Excellent knowledge of beverage stock management and inventory systems.
• Strong financial and analytical skills.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills.
• Experience leading teams through operational change and continuous improvement.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Highly visible leadership style with a hands‑on approach to operational delivery.
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel.

Desirable

• WSET or equivalent beverage qualification.
• Forklift license or experience managing mechanical handling operations.
• Knowledge of EPOS and stock management systems.

Why Join Sodexo Live!?

This is an opportunity to make your mark within one of the most prestigious sporting and events environments in the world.

You will have genuine ownership of a complex beverage operation, the support of an experienced multidisciplinary leadership team and the platform to introduce improvements that can be seen across some of the venue’s biggest occasions.

Alongside your role‑specific package, you will have access to Sodexo’s wider benefits, wellbeing support, pension scheme, employee discounts and learning and development opportunities.

At Sodexo Live!, you will be part of a team that creates memorable experiences at extraordinary venues while building a career with a global organisation.