Commis Sommelier

Sommelier Edit Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Complimentary stays at Dorchester Collection Hotels

50% off food and beverages at selected restaurants

Pension scheme with employer contribution

Access to apprenticeships

Vibrant social events

Referral bonus

Well-being support

Job summary

A prestigious fine dining restaurant in Greater London is seeking a Commis Sommelier to join their award-winning team. You will be responsible for beverage service and will work closely with senior sommeliers and staff to ensure that each guest has a remarkable dining experience. Ideal candidates will have strong communication skills, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn about wine and service techniques. The role offers various employee benefits including complimentary hotel stays, discounts, and training opportunities.

Qualifications

• Ability to accurately follow wine service procedures, monitor stock levels, and ensure proper storage.
• Clear verbal communication for effectively interacting with guests and team members.
• Willingness to work closely with senior sommeliers, kitchen staff, and waitstaff.
• Ability to create a positive experience for guests by responding to their needs.
• Capacity to keep wine areas organized and assist with setup and breakdown of service.
• Openness to developing wine knowledge and skills through training.
• Ability to handle wine bottles and glassware carefully.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for setup and maintenance of beverage station throughout the day.
• Set up glassware and necessary equipment for service before restaurant opens.
• Deliver beverages quickly and efficiently during service.
• Fulfill special requests from guests regarding wine preferences.

Skills

Attention to Detail

Communication Skills

Team Collaboration

Customer Service

Basic Organizational Skills

Willingness to Learn

Manual Handling

Job description

Join us as a Commis Sommelier at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, recently recognised as one of ‘The Sunday Times Top 10 Best Places to Work for’ in 2024 and ‘Hotel of the year – London’ at the 2024 AA Hospitality Awards. We continually strive to build and nurture a culture where inclusiveness is part of our DNA, reflected in our values of passion, personality, respect, working together, and creativity. We believe that a variety of perspectives enriches our culture and drives our success.

We care about your career and are proud to have the absolute best people in the industry. When you join us as a Commis Sommelier at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, you will have a unique opportunity to excel in your field.

You will learn from your fellow Legends and our award-winning learning academy to achieve the highest standards in craft, service, and leadership.

What you’ll do

As a Commis Sommelier, you'll enjoy your work and take pride in delighting our guests:

• You will be responsible for the setup and maintenance of the beverage station throughout the day. This includes receiving and organising beverage deliveries, checking inventory, storing items in the correct places, and ensuring everything is prepared before service.
• You will be setting up glassware and other necessary equipment for service before the restaurant opens, ensuring that everything is clean and in place.
• During the service, you will focus on delivering beverages quickly and efficiently to ensure that guests are served in a timely manner. You may receive specific timeframes for delivery, and it’s important to communicate any delays to the team.
• Occasionally, guests may have special requests such as preferences for certain wines, dietary requirements, or requests for special celebrations. Most of these requests are fulfilled by our Commis Sommelier.

The items shared are the essence of a day in the life of a Commis Sommelier, but we’ll make sure you are provided with specifics on how we care for our hotel.

The operational hours of work are shift-based and may be subjected to change. These currently set as:

• Tuesday to Saturday: 14:30 - close
• Sunday and Monday: Off

What you’ll bring

Essential Skills and Experience

• Attention to Detail: Ability to accurately follow wine service procedures, monitor stock levels, and ensure proper storage.
• Communication Skills: Clear verbal communication for effectively interacting with guests and team members.
• Team Collaboration: Willingness to work closely with senior sommeliers, kitchen staff, and waitstaff to provide seamless service.
• Customer Service: Ability to create a positive experience for guests by responding to their needs, answering questions about wine, and offering recommendations.
• Basic Organizational Skills: Capacity to keep wine areas organized and assist with the setup and breakdown of service.
• Willingness to Learn: Openness to developing wine knowledge and skills through training and on-the-job learning.
• Manual Handling: Ability to handle wine bottles and glassware carefully and safely.

Preferred Skills

• Basic Wine Knowledge: Some understanding of wine varieties, regions, or service techniques, though training will be provided.
• Experience in Upscale Dining or Hospitality: Previous experience in a fine dining or luxury hospitality environment is beneficial.
• Language Skills: Additional languages beyond English can be helpful for communicating with an international clientele.
• Knowledge of Food and Wine Pairing: Basic understanding of pairing principles, with a willingness to learn more.

What you’ll get

• Complimentary Stays: Enjoy complimentary stays with breakfast at Dorchester Collection Hotels every year.
• Discounts: Get 50% off food and beverages at selected bars and restaurants within the Dorchester Collection: Enjoy Friends & Family stay discounts out hotels, Benefit from discounts at various high street and online shops
• Employee Perks: Enrol from day 1 into the Aviva Private Pension scheme (we contribute 8% towards your pension); Benefit from Seasonal ticket loan, Rental deposit scheme, private financial advice, and Eye care vouchers.
• Training and Development: Advance in your career by accessing various apprenticeships from Level 2 to Hospitality Degree Level 5. We partner with outstanding nationally recognised Apprenticeship providers.
• Social Events: Participate in vibrant social events, including a summer party, winter ball, pub quizzes, and cultural and milestone recognition celebrations.
• Referral Bonus: Earn a £1000 bonus when you recommend a friend.
• Well-being Support: Access immediate well-being advice because we care about our employees.