Cafe and Bar Assistant

Preston-City-Council; Preston; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 15,000; Part time

Job summary

The Harris in Preston hosts a Café & Bar Assistant role across the Harris café and Guild Lounge, delivering welcoming service and high presentation standards. You will work to ensure guests enjoy drinks and food with attention to cleanliness and smooth service in a busy environment.

The role requires numeracy, customer-facing experience, and willingness to train in Food Hygiene, allergen handling, and responsible alcohol retailing. Live events and lunch services are part of the diverse programme.

Qualifications

• Good levels of numeracy and comfort handling cash or transactions.
• Experience working with the public in busy, high-pressure environments.
• Willing to train in Food Hygiene, allergens and responsible retailing of alcohol.

Responsibilities

• Welcome and look after every customer at the Harris café and Guild Lounge.
• Deliver great customer service while preparing hot drinks and food.
• Maintain high standards of presentation and cleanliness during busy service periods.

Skills

Numeracy

Public service experience

Barista skills

Job description

Closing Date
23.59 hours GMT on Sunday 08 November 2026

Reference
CHMU4011

We are looking for enthusiastic, confident and highly organised individuals for the role of Café and Bar Assistant, working at both the Harris and the Guild Lounge.

Free to enter and open to everyone, The Harris is a culturally significant civic building - a place for people to meet, explore ideas and engage with culture in the centre of Preston. After a £19 million restoration bringing together a museum, art gallery and library with blended displays, The Harris hosts major changing exhibitions, cultural events and workshops with nationally significant collections. Since reopening in September 2025, the Harris has received over 320,000 visitors from Preston, Lancashire and across the UK and features in Time Out Magazine Top 20 Best Museums in the UK.

Located in the heart of Preston, The Guild Lounge is a vibrant entertainment venue offering an exciting programme of live events, including comedy, music, theatre and family shows. This intimate 350-seat space brings you closer to the action, with a welcoming atmosphere and a diverse line-up of performances throughout the year.

What’s the role about?

As a Café & Bar Assistant you will welcome and look after every customer to the Harris café and Guild Lounge. You will deliver great customer service whilst preparing hot drinks and food, making sure everyone has an enjoyable time. You will work to high standards of presentation and cleanliness, able to work well under pressure whether delivering a busy lunch service in the Harris café or serving customers during interval breaks at the Guild Lounge.

What are we looking for?

You will need to be/have:

• Good levels of numeracy
• Willing to train in basic knowledge and application of Food Hygiene, allergens, responsible retailing of alcohol, barista skills and kitchen duties
• Experience of working with the public in a busy and high-pressured environment