Catering Assistants

Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve & Howletts Wild Animal Parks; Hythe; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 18,000; Full time

Job summary

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve has exciting seasonal Catering Assistant positions for the Port Lympne Illuminated event. You will work in cafes and outlets, serving food and drinks, handling till payments, and keeping areas clean and stocked.

Shifts are predominantly evenings with a 2:00 pm–10:00 pm window, some day shifts may be available. Applicants should have customer service experience and be able to work as part of a busy team at a remote location in the UK.

Qualifications

• Ideal candidate will have previous customer service experience.
• Confident communicator; able to stay calm under pressure and be courteous.
• Team player who can also work independently.

Responsibilities

• Serve hot and cold food and beverages and light refreshments.
• Process payments using till system and restock outlets.
• Clean seating areas and maintain outlets during busy periods.

Job description

Closing date: 16 November 2025

Salary: £10.85 - £12.71 Per Hour

Seasonal, Flexible Hour Positions Available

(23 November 2026 – 4 January 2027)

Are you wild about creating memorable experiences?

Do you want to work in a place where you can hear calls from troops of monkeys, or the roar of a pride of lions?

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve have an exciting opportunity for Catering Assistants to join us on a seasonal basis during our second festive light trail.

As a Catering Assistant, you will work in one of our various cafés and outlets during Port Lympne Illuminated. Working during the days and evenings, you will be required to serve hot and cold food, hot and cold beverages and light refreshments such as baked goods and snacks. You will also process payments using our till system, clean and maintain seating areas, and restock our outlets.

If you understand the importance of excellent customer service and thrive in a busy environment, then this could be the perfect job for you.

Who Are We Looking For

We are looking for individuals looking to gain experience in the catering industry or someone with a customer service background who would like to work in a truly unique environment. You should be a confident communicator; able to stay calm under pressure and remain courteous when dealing with difficult situations. It is also important that you are a team player who can also work on their own. The ideal candidate will have previous customer service experience, gained in a fast-paced commercial environment.

Contract Details

Rate of pay is £10.85 for under 21-year-olds and £12.71 for over 21-year-olds.

These are seasonal roles running in the lead-up to and throughout Port Lympne Illuminated, through to the 4 January 2027.

The role is flexible hours on a rota basis, with shifts predominantly worked during the evenings, between 2:00 pm and 10:00 pm. However day shifts may also be available.

A reliable form of transport is recommended due to the remote location of Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve. All applicants must have right to work in the UK.

Port Lympne Illuminated

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is a world-renowned wild animal park set within 600 acres of Kentish savannah. This festive season, you will Step into the secret after-dark world of Port Lympne and discover a bigger, brighter and more magical than ever event.

Building on our animal theme, the 2026 trail will introduce brand-new installations featuring new species, bringing fresh stories and visual spectacles to the experience. Guests can also look forward to a brand-new zone, extending the journey further, a reimagined Elf Disco and a truly exhilarating grand finale, designed to leave visitors with a lasting sense of wonder.

Each element has been carefully crafted to elevate the magic, blending nature, light, and storytelling into an unforgettable festive adventure.

Your adventure awaits

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