Catering Manager - Leisure Attraction

Leisure People; Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5% employee pension

7.5% employer pension

Life assurance 3x salary

Health cash plan

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Free parking

Job summary

Leisure People is seeking an experienced Catering Manager to lead the catering operation at a historic leisure attraction in Basingstoke. The role covers both front and back of house, shaping the catering offer while driving commercial performance and guest experience.

You will develop the team, manage budgets and menus, and ensure compliance with food safety and health & safety standards. Excellent leadership and a commercial mindset are essential.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership and people-management experience.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, forecasts and food costs.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety, allergens, HACCP and health & safety requirements.
• Experience in catering operations within hospitality, leisure or visitor attractions.
• Capable of developing menus, seasonal offers and events catering.

Responsibilities

• Manage, motivate and develop the catering team, including kitchen and front-of-house staff.
• Oversee scheduling, budgets, gross profit, labour costs and stock control.
• Develop menus, seasonal offers and hospitality packages while maintaining quality.
• Manage suppliers, purchasing, stock systems and staffing rotas for efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with Food Safety legislation, allergens, HACCP, COSHH and licensing.

Skills

Team leadership

Budgeting

Food & beverage

Food safety & HACCP

Customer service

Microsoft Office

Scheduling & rostering

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Catering Manager - Leisure Attraction

Basingstoke

£34,000+ excellent benefits

We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Catering Manager to lead the catering operation of a wonderful historical leisure attraction in Basingstoke.

This is a fantastic opportunity to take ownership of both front and back of house food and beverage operations, delivering a high-quality visitor experience while driving commercial performance, developing the team and shaping the future of the catering offer.

Hours

37 hour week, working 5 from 6 days Tuesday-Sunday 10.00-4.45 EXCEPT from 23rd November to 23rd December where extended opening hours means you may work until 8pm on some days. Closed 24th-29th December. Working every other weekend on average.

Benefits

• Opportunity to develop and evolve the role further.
• Ongoing mentoring and development to support with future advancement.
• Working for a large, supportive, inclusive, fun organisation with a genuine purpose to enrich the lives of the communities they serve.
• 5% employee/7.5% employer pension.
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Life assurance 3x annual salary.
• Health cash plan.
• Discounts on retail, leisure, going out and holidays.
• Generous occupational maternity, paternity, adoption and sick pay.
• Free parking.

Key responsibilities include:

• Manage, motivate and develop the catering team, including the cook, café supervisor, visitor experience assistants, casual employees and volunteers.
• Take responsibility for catering scheduling, budgets, gross profit, labour costs, food costs, stock control and overall financial performance.
• Develop menus, seasonal offers, event catering and hospitality packages while maintaining excellent food quality and presentation.
• Manage suppliers, purchasing, stock systems and staffing rotas to ensure efficient and commercially effective operations.
• Ensure full compliance with Food Safety legislation, allergens, HACCP, COSHH, Health & Safety and licensing requirements.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Strong experience managing a complete catering operation covering both kitchen and front of house functions possibly as a Catering Manager, Café Manager, Food & Beverage Manager or Chef Manager.
• Previous experience delivering successful and profitable food and beverage operations within hospitality, leisure, visitor attractions, tourism or a similar environment.
• Functions and events catering experience would be highly advantageous.
• Proven leadership experience with the ability to coach, motivate and develop operational teams.
• Strong commercial awareness, including experience with budgeting, forecasting, food costing, stock control and cost management.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety, allergens, HACCP, COSHH and wider Health & Safety requirements.
• Strong customer service, communication and organisational skills, alongside confidence using Microsoft Office and other operational systems.