General Manager

Harri; Highcliffe-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Stepping Stones training

Hospitality Action support

Discounts through Reward Gateway

EarlyPay access

Enhanced parental leave

Referral bonus

Extra holidays

Food discounts

Bedroom discounts

Birthday gift

Cycle to Work

Job summary

Heartwood Collection is seeking an experienced General Manager for The Oaks, a premier pub with plans to refurbish and add 20 boutique bedrooms in 2027. You will lead from the floor, nurture a strong team and own standards, culture, sales, labour and profitability, aligning with guest expectations and the local community.

You’ll oversee a high-volume fresh-food operation, drive performance, and play a key role in launching the new bedrooms and the expanded business while maintaining guest

Qualifications

• 2–3+ years' experience as a General Manager in quality branded or multi-site hospitality
• Proven track record of running a high-volume fresh-food operation
• Strong commercial understanding including P&L, labour, sales, KPIs and profitability
• Ability to lead from the front and be highly visible with guests and staff

Responsibilities

• Lead from the floor and be highly visible with guests and your team
• Develop the people and build strong management teams
• Take ownership of standards, culture, sales, labour and profitability
• Prepare for refurbishment, launch bedrooms and unlock the expanded business potential

Skills

General Manager experience

People management

P&L experience

Guest-focused leadership

Job description

Exceptional General Managers. Exceptional Hospitality.

At Heartwood Collection, we’re not just looking for a General Manager; we are looking for an exceptional hospitality leader who can build a brilliant team, deliver outstanding guest experiences, and take a successful business to the next level.

The Oaks is an established and much-loved pub with an exciting future ahead. In early 2027, the site will undergo a major refurbishment and introduce 20 beautiful boutique bedrooms, transforming it into an even more impressive hospitality destination.

This is a rare opportunity to join the business ahead of that transformation: strengthening the existing operation, developing the team and building strong relationships with guests and the local community. You will then play a leading role in preparing for the refurbishment, launching the new bedrooms and unlocking the full potential of the expanded business.

Across Heartwood Inns and Brasserie Blanc, our General Managers are at the heart of their businesses. They lead from the floor, know their guests, develop their people and take genuine ownership of everything from standards and culture to sales, labour and profitability.

You’ll be an accomplished General Manager with a strong track record in premium pubs, restaurants or fresh-food hospitality. Experience of leading a refurbishment, opening bedrooms or managing a business with accommodation would be particularly valuable

We’re particularly interested in leaders who can demonstrate:

• 2–3+ years' experience as a General Manager, ideally within a quality branded or multi-site hospitality environment
• A proven track record of running a successful, high-volume fresh-food operation
• Strong commercial understanding, including P&L, labour, sales, KPIs and profitability
• The ability to lead from the front and be highly visible with both guests and your team
• A passion for developing people and building strong management teams
• High standards and an eye for the details that create an exceptional guest experience
• Confidence managing all aspects of a hospitality business, including rooms and reception where applicable
• A genuine desire to take ownership, drive performance and make your site the very best it can be

Above all, we're looking for people-first leaders with personality, energy and ambition — General Managers who inspire their teams and genuinely love hospitality.

General Manager- The Benefits

• Competitive salary package including TRONC and KPI-based bonus
• 48-hour contract
• Private healthcare with Bupa
• Bespoke training and career development through our Stepping Stones programme
• Employee Assistance Programme with Hospitality Action
• Hundreds of discounts through Reward Gateway
• Instant access to pay through EarlyPay
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Up to £1,500 referral bonus
• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days' holiday
• 50% off food at Heartwood Inns and Brasserie Blanc, plus 20% for family and friends
• Discounts across our beautiful Inn bedrooms
• Birthday gift and Long Service Recognition
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Join an award-winning collection

Heartwood Collection is proud to have been recognised as:

• Sunday Times Best Places to Work – 2024
• Double winner – Publican Awards 2024
• Best Pub Brand/Concept – Publican Awards 2025

If you're an experienced General Manager who knows how to lead people, drive a business and create hospitality that guests want to return to, we'd love to hear from you.

Bring your personality. Bring your standards. Bring your ambition. We'll give you the opportunity to make your mark.

#LI-AC1

Compensation: To be discussed