Front of House Assistant

John Lewis Partnership; Cookham Rise; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A large employee-owned business in the UK is seeking a hospitality team member to enhance guest experiences at their country-club hotel. Responsibilities include interacting with guests, taking orders, and ensuring a smooth service experience. Candidates should possess strong communication skills and some knowledge of IT & POS systems. The role offers competitive pay and benefits, including paid holidays and discounts at local stores for employees.

Benefits

Full-time working holiday entitlement of 22 days

Free meals while on duty

Partnership discount after Earning Membership

Excellent work-life balance

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Candidate must be self-motivated and industrious.
• Experience and familiarity with IT & POS systems are required.
• Excellent communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Interact with guests, sharing product knowledge on drinks and food.
• Take orders and assist with queries.
• Liaise with the kitchen team to understand the menu.
• Clear and set tables, work behind the bar serving drinks.

Skills

Self-motivated/Industrious

Basic knowledge of IT & POS systems

Excellent communication skills

Proven experience in the hospitality industry

Education

Level 2 Food Safety

Job description

About the role

Hours of Work: 15.5 hours

Contract type: Permanent

Pay rate: £12.40

What you’ll be doing:

• Interacting with guests, sharing product knowledge on drinks and food.
• Taking orders, checking back, and assisting with queries.
• Liaising with the kitchen team to fully understand the menu.
• Clearing down and setting tables.
• Working behind the bar, serving drinks and taking orders for food.

Required essential experience skills and qualifications:

• Self‑motivated/Industrious
• Basic knowledge of IT & POS systems and able to use standard software.
• Excellent communication skills
• Proven experience of the hospitality industry is desirable.

Desirable experience skills and qualifications:

• Level 2 Food Safety

Location: The Odney Hotel, a John Lewis Partnership‑owned country‑club hotel set on 130 acres by the River Thames in Cookham, Berkshire. Guests stay in one of five beautiful houses on the site or in Airbnb’s period‑style accommodations, with access to a private river stretch, water gardens, a pool and sports facilities. The main house, Lullebrook Manor, is said to have inspired *The Wind in the Willows*. Relaxation can be achieved through the Wellbeing suite, afternoon tea on the terrace, a drink in the bar or a meal overlooking the river.

Benefits of the Partnership and the role:

• Full‑time working holiday entitlement of 22 days, plus public and bank holidays (prorated for part‑time hours).
• Free meals while on duty for both Live‑Out and Live‑In roles.
• Partnership discount once you complete your Earning Membership period: 25% off in John Lewis (12% off electrical products, some exclusions apply) and 20% off in Waitrose (some exclusions apply); you may nominate a person you live with to share the discount.
• Excellent work‑life balance, focus on wellbeing, flexible working, and a marketing‑led equal parenthood leave policy.

Next Steps:

• Complete the application form: upload your CV and answer the application questions. Check your Workday inbox for guidance on the PDW under "Internal application process". A notification or email confirming receipt will follow.
• Tell us about any adjustments you may need to support the recruitment process.
• Note that we reserve the right to close the role early if a high volume of applicants is received.

The partnership

We’re the largest employee‑owned business in the UK and home of John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees; we’re Partners, driven by a purpose to build a happier world. We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail and food service, continuously innovating and diversifying, and never knowingly underselling on price, quality, or service.

As Partners we share responsibility and reward, contribute to our success, and treat everyone with kindness and respect. We embrace differences and create an environment where we can thrive and grow individually and collectively.

We occasionally close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications, so we recommend applying early. If you need a reasonable adjustment due to a disability, please contact us as soon as possible.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work‑life balance and support flexible working, which may include compressed hours, job sharing, or shorter hour contracts where possible. Please discuss this with the hiring manager during your interview.