Costume Character - Elf

Longleat Enterprises Limited (trading as Longleat); Warminster; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 18,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited free entry to Longleat

Discounts on food and beverages

Employee benefits

Flexible working schemes

Discounts on VIP Experiences

Job summary

Longleat Enterprises Limited (trading as Longleat) is seeking joyful elves to join our Santa’s Grotto team. You will rotate through roles delivering a magical experience for visiting families and children from late October to late December, with a 7-day rota and varied hours.

You will greet guests, entertain them while they wait, assist Santa, hand out presents, and prepare gifts for booked sessions while ensuring safeguarding and guest satisfaction at every step.

Qualifications

• Outgoing, enthusiastic and approachable personality.
• DBS check required due to safeguarding rules.
• Strong team-working and interpersonal skills.
• Deliver guest experience in line with safeguarding requirements.

Responsibilities

• Greet families and guide them to Santa.
• Entertain families while they wait for their turn.
• Assist Santa inside the grotto and manage guest flow.
• Hand out a present to every child.
• Prepare presents for booked sessions and ensure gifts are ready.
• Ensure present boxes are placed for the next train arrival.

Skills

Outgoing personality

Teamwork

Interpersonal skills

Guest satisfaction

Job description

About the role:

It’s approaching that magical time of year again, and we are looking for joyful elves to join our festive team and help welcome guests arriving by train to our wonderful Santa’s Grotto.

The Santa Express is a long-established and much-loved attraction at Longleat. Departing from Longleat Railway Station in the Main Square, the train travels past Half Mile Lake and through the tunnel before arriving at Santa’s snowy Grotto deep in the Estate. It is a truly magical winter wonderland experience for families to enjoy.

What you’ll be doing

As part of Santa’s team of elves, you will help deliver a magical Grotto experience for all guests. You will rotate through a number of different positions throughout the day, giving you variety and plenty of opportunities to spread festive joy at each stage of the experience.

You’ll be:

• Greeting families as they arrive at the Grotto and guiding them to where Santa is waiting.
• Entertaining families while they wait for their turn to visit Santa.
• Assisting Santa inside the Grotto room and helping to manage the flow of families.
• Handing out a present to every child.
• Preparing presents for booked sessions, ensuring there is a gift ready for every child booked to attend.
• Ensuring the present boxes for the next train are placed on the shelves ready for its arrival at the Grotto.
• Fully engaging with guests throughout their visit, appropriately ad-libbing and responding to individual questions and comments to help create a magical experience.

About you

• Have an outgoing, enthusiastic and approachable personality.
• Undertake a DBS check due to the nature of this role.
• Have strong team-working skills.
• Have excellent interpersonal skills.
• Deliver the guest experience in line with all Safeguarding requirements.

Your contract

You’ll be employed on a Fixed Term basis from 26 October until 24 December 2026, when Santa’s hard work is all over for another year! We can offer various hours, on a 7 day rota basis.

A little about us

At Longleat we offer a day out like no other, our guests are invited to step into the Thynn family home where they will find the finest example of Elizabethan Architecture. They are also immersed into the wild side, where they can visit over 120 species of animals by car, foot, train, bus, and boat.

With a core business welcoming around 1 million guests every year, we are passionate about providing unforgettable experiences that bring family and friends together to create memories that will last a lifetime.

Why join the Longleat team?

In this unique work environment, you will be surrounded by historic landscapes and listed buildings, all whilst listening to our lions roar and wolves howl. You will even have the opportunity to visit our adorable Koalas and cheeky meerkats during your lunch break.

You will receive attractive benefits that include:

• 29 days holiday inclusive of bank holidays, rising to 31 days at 5 years’ service.
• Unlimited free entry to Longleat for our employees
• Complimentary tickets to Longleat and Cheddar Gorge and Caves, 18 per annum pro rata
• 50% off Membership for Friends and Family
• Discounts on food and beverages and retail merchandise
• Discounts on VIP Experiences and Accommodation
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employer contributory pension scheme
• Life assurance scheme
• Perks at work
• Range of flexible working schemes