General Manager

Compass Group; Forest Row; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospitality provider is seeking a General Manager for its operations at a cultural venue in Forest Row. The role includes overseeing catering operations and ensuring excellent guest experiences. Candidates should have over 5 years' experience in similar roles and strong leadership abilities. This is a full-time position with competitive salary and benefits, including generous annual leave and training opportunities.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Excellent pension programme

Free on site parking

Free staff meals

Access to training and development

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in a similar General Manager role.
• Experience in contract catering or food & beverage operations.
• Proven track record of leading diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop catering operations to enhance guest experience.
• Manage labor planning, cost control, and forecasting.
• Drive commercial opportunities in food & beverage.

Skills

Leadership

Financial acumen

Communication

Team management

Job description

General Manager
Location: Glyndebourne
Salary: Up to £65,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time, 5 out of 7 days per week

As the General Manager at Glyndebourne, you will be joining this well‑known destination for those who love a day/evening at the opera! You will lead and develop the catering operations, whereby the guests remain at the heart of every decision. This role will be responsible for the overall catering operation that varies from fine dining to drinks service. Glyndebourne offers exemplary cuisine on every plate.

The venue requires a strong leader, who ideally has some experience in the events world as well as a contract catering background. Food and guest experience at the heart of decisions is key here along with the seamless running of the operation. The role requires on‑site presence throughout the season (predominantly the summer months) as well as the autumn and winter festivals.

What can we offer you:

• A collaborative and inclusive culture, where your ideas are valued, and creativity is encouraged.
• The chance to work at a truly beautiful and inspiring venue.
• 25 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays and national holiday days)
• Excellent pension programme with generous contribution from us.
• Free on site parking.
• Free staff meals whilst on site.
• Access to Compass Group company perks & benefits.
• Perks for Works discounts and promotions
• Access to training, mentoring and development, with support from our wider Restaurant Associates and Compass Group UK networks.
• On-site F&B discounts.

Responsibilities:

• Leading, training and developing a motivated, skilled team of operators and culinary teams.
• Managing all aspects of labour planning, cost control and forecasting
• Identifying and driving commercial opportunities to maximise revenue within food & beverage
• Maintaining strong client relationships and ensuring their expectations are exceeded
• Overseeing operational delivery across all food and hospitality services
• Ensuring compliance with company policies, health and safety standards and financial targets
• Supporting and delivering the venue's growth strategy in partnership with the client

The Ideal Candidate:

• 5+ years' experience in a similar General Manager role.
• A strong contract catering or food & beverage background (ideally from a visitor attraction site)
• Excellent financial and commercial acumen
• Proven experience leading a large, diverse team of contracted and casual staff
• Keen eye for detail when managing budgets and spotting areas for improvement and growth.
• Exceptional communication style with both client and on‑site team and a clear leader.
• A genuine passion for development of the food & beverage offering and working with the client to progress this

About Us:

Restaurant Associates is a leading premium hospitality provider with an ethos drawn from our history of fine and high‑quality dining in London and New York.

Within our venues team, we provide catering and hospitality services to some of the most iconic visitor attractions and destinations in the UK including the Imperial War Museum London, Glyndebourne Opera House, Knebworth House, Design Museum, Whipsnade Zoo and many more. Within these amazing venues we operate a host of bespoke cafés and restaurants, as well as delivering private events ranging from small meetings to large‑scale ground events of up to 1000 people. You can find a full list of our venues on our website.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive, diverse, fun, and dynamic place to work with opportunities to collaborate with a wide range of teams plus a commitment to putting our people first. Restaurant Associates is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. As a business, we are committed to sustainability‑led practices and are proud to have achieved 3 stars with the Sustainable Restaurant Association's Food Made Good Programme.