Food Service Manager- The Venues Collection

Compass Group PLC; Newthorpe; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary + bonus

23 days annual leave

Healthcare & wellbeing

Employee assistance programme

Maternity, paternity & adoption leave

Perks at Work discounts

Meals on duty

Job summary

Compass Group PLC, The Venues Collection at Kents Hill Park in Milton Keynes, is seeking an experienced Food Service Manager to lead the Restaurant & Bar operation. You'll be hands-on, visible on the floor, and responsible for delivering outstanding guest experiences while supporting Duty Management across the property.

You will build a high-performing team, manage scheduling and costs, uphold food safety standards, and drive revenue through upselling.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a food and beverage, restaurant or bar operation.
• Strong people leadership and team development skills.
• Genuine passion for delivering guest service.
• Good knowledge of food safety and licensing requirements.

Responsibilities

• Leading the day-to-day Restaurant & Bar operation
• Delivering high standards of food and beverage service
• Recruiting, training, coaching and developing a high-performing team
• Managing labour scheduling in line with business demand
• Duty Management shifts across the property
• Driving guest engagement and upselling opportunities
• Ensuring health & safety and licensing standards are maintained

Skills

F&B leadership

People leadership

Guest service excellence

Commercial awareness

Staff development

Communication skills

Problem solving

Opera familiarity

Tools

Opera

Job description

We're looking for an experienced and passionate Food Service Manager to lead the Restaurant & Bar operation at Kents Hill Park. This is a hands‑on leadership role where you'll be responsible for delivering consistently high standards of food and beverage service, developing a great team and creating memorable guest experiences, while also supporting the wider operation as a Duty Manager. We are The Venues Collection. The Venues Collection brings together a portfolio of distinctive conference, training, accommodation and event venues across the UK. We create memorable experiences for our guests, from residential conferences and corporate meetings to large‑scale events and special occasions. Behind every great guest experience is a team of people working together to make sure everything runs smoothly. As part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, we have the scale, resources and opportunities of a global hospitality business, while keeping our focus firmly on our people, our customers and the individual character of our venues.

Food Service Manager – The Role. Reporting to the Front of House Manager, you'll take ownership of the Restaurant & Bar operation at Kents Hill Park, leading the team to deliver exceptional service while ensuring the department operates safely, efficiently and commercially. You'll be responsible for:

• Leading the day-to-day Restaurant & Bar operation
• Delivering consistently high standards of food and beverage service throughout the guest journey
• Recruiting, training, coaching and developing a high-performing team
• Creating a positive, guest-focused culture and leading by example
• Managing labour scheduling in line with business demand
• Holding regular one-to-ones and performance reviews
• Driving colleague engagement, retention and development
• Building strong relationships with the kitchen and wider operational teams
• Maximising revenue through effective upselling and promotional activity
• Monitoring service levels, staffing requirements and operational performance
• Managing stock, wastage and beverage gross profit performance
• Ensuring licensing, food safety and hygiene standards are maintained
• Handling guest queries and feedback, taking ownership through to resolution
• Identifying sales opportunities through positive guest interaction
• Ensuring departmental SOPs are up to date and fully adhered to
• Managing Profit Protection requirements within the department
• Ensuring the team understands the venue's facilities, events and services
• Maintaining effective communication across departments
• Managing maintenance issues promptly and ensuring these are recorded appropriately
• Supporting colleague discipline and grievance procedures in line with company policies
• Taking ownership of Health & Safety and ensuring all relevant legislation and risk assessments are followed.

Duty Management

As part of the role, you'll also take responsibility for Duty Management shifts across the property, acting as a key point of contact for guests and operational teams. This will include:

• Leading hotel operations during assigned Duty Manager shifts
• Acting as the primary escalation point for guest and operational issues
• Conducting hotel walkarounds and compliance checks
• Ensuring health, safety, security and brand standards are maintained
• Responding effectively to emergencies, incidents and guest welfare concerns
• Supporting communication between operational departments
• Supporting the Front of House Manager in maintaining exceptional standards across the property.

We're looking for a confident hospitality leader who enjoys being visible, hands‑on and close to both their team and their guests.

You’ll ideally have:

• Experience leading a food and beverage, restaurant or bar operation
• Strong people leadership and team development skills
• A genuine passion for delivering excellent guest service
• Good commercial awareness, including revenue, stock, wastage and cost control
• The ability to motivate and engage a team in a busy operational environment
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• A proactive approach to problem solving and guest recovery
• Good knowledge of food safety, Health & Safety and licensing requirements
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities
• Confidence making decisions and taking ownership of operational issues
• The ability to work collaboratively across departments
• A flexible approach and willingness to support the wider operation when required
• Good IT skills and confidence using departmental systems, with experience of Opera desirable.

Kents Hill Park is part of The Venues Collection, offering conference, meetings, training and residential accommodation in Milton Keynes.

As Food Service Manager, you'll have the opportunity to play a key role in the guest experience, leading the Restaurant & Bar team while also gaining wider operational exposure through Duty Management. It's a role for someone who enjoys variety, likes being visible on the floor and wants to make a real impact across the venue. We believe in celebrating individuality and building inclusive teams where everyone feels they belong. Our diverse team fuels creativity, innovation, and excellence. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join us in creating a supportive, empowering workplace where everyone can thrive. Together, we create unforgettable experiences - and shape the future of hospitality.

Why Join Us?

• Competitive salary with bonus and full company benefits
• 23 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, your birthday off, and a holiday purchase scheme
• Healthcare & wellbeing: Aviva Digicare and Medicash, including dental, optical and therapy treatments
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and mental health support
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Additional family-friendly benefits
• Shopping, entertainment and travel discounts through Perks at Work
• Up to 55% off cinema tickets
• 20% off Nuffield Health and 10% off PureGym memberships
• Travel discounts including TUI and Expedia
• Shopping discounts across high street and online retailers
• Meals on duty
• Vodafone discounts
• Pension scheme and Life Assurance
• Ongoing training and development
• Professional subscriptions paid
• Financial wellbeing support and preferred rates on salary finance products
• Structured career pathways and opportunities across Compass Group