General Manager

The Leicester Arms Country Inn; Penshurst; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Tronc

Performance-related opportunities

Company discounts

Training and development

Progression opportunities

Autonomy to make an impact

Job summary

The Leicester Arms, a stylish country pub with rooms in Penshurst, Kent, is seeking an exceptional General Manager to own the day-to-day operation, lead from the floor and drive guest experiences across the pub, restaurant and bedrooms.

You will manage the front-of-house team, recruitment, training, stock, payroll, and ensure high standards, whilst working with the Head Chef to deliver a strong food-led operation and build relationships with guests and the local community.

Qualifications

• This role requires previous General Manager experience in a quality pub, restaurant, hotel or hospitality business.
• Experience managing a food-led operation.
• Experience with bedrooms or boutique hospitality is a strong advantage.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of P&L, labour and GP.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• High standards and strong attention to detail.
• Confidence managing busy services from the floor.
• Experience recruiting, training and developing teams.
• A genuine passion for food, wine and hospitality.
• The ability to build relationships with guests and the local community.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operation of the pub, restaurant, bedrooms and events.
• Manage front-of-house team, guest experiences and service standards.
• Recruit, train and develop staff; handle rotas and payroll control.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting and P&L performance.
• Drive revenue across food, drink, rooms and events.
• Ensure health & safety, licensing and compliance.
• Collaborate with Head Chef on a strong, food-led operation.
• Build relationships with guests and the local community.

Skills

Leadership & People Management

Guest Experience

Budget & P&L

Food-led Operations

Staff Recruitment & Training

Hospitality Knowledge

Job description

We’re looking for an exceptional General Manager to lead The Leicester Arms, our beautiful country pub with rooms in the heart of Penshurst, Kent.

Following a major refurbishment in 2024, The Leicester Arms has been transformed into a stylish, characterful pub with 11 individually designed bedrooms, a strong food and drink offer, beautiful outside spaces and a growing reputation as a destination for dining, stays and events.

We’re looking for an experienced, hands‑on General Manager who can take full ownership of the business, lead from the floor and continue to develop The Leicester Arms into one of the best pubs with rooms in the area.

This is a genuinely hands‑on General Manager position.

You’ll be responsible for the day‑to‑day running of the entire operation, including the pub, restaurant, bedrooms and events, working closely with the Head Chef and senior management team.

You’ll take ownership of:

• Leading, developing and motivating the front‑of‑house team
• Delivering exceptional guest experiences across food, drink and bedrooms
• Maintaining consistently high standards of service and presentation
• Recruitment, training and development
• Rotas, labour management and payroll control
• Sales, forecasting, budgets and P&L performance
• Driving revenue across food, drink, rooms and events
• Stock control, purchasing and margin management
• Bedroom standards and the overall guest journey
• Guest feedback and complaint resolution
• Health & safety, licensing and compliance
• Local marketing, events and community engagement
• Working closely with the kitchen team to deliver a strong food‑led operation

About You

We’re looking for someone who is naturally hospitable, commercially minded and comfortable taking complete ownership of a busy operation.

You’ll ideally have:

• Previous General Manager experience in a quality pub, restaurant, hotel or hospitality business
• Experience managing a food‑led operation
• Experience with bedrooms or boutique hospitality would be a strong advantage
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of P&L, labour and GP
• Excellent leadership and communication skills
• High standards and strong attention to detail
• Confidence managing busy services from the floor
• Experience recruiting, training and developing teams
• A genuine passion for food, wine and hospitality
• The ability to build relationships with guests and the local community

Most importantly, we’re looking for someone who leads by example.

You should be visible, present and involved in the operation, supporting the team, engaging with guests and taking pride in every part of the business.

What We Offer

You’ll be joining Little & Large Pub Company, an award‑winning independent hospitality group with a collection of individual pubs across Kent, Surrey and London.

We offer:

• Competitive salary
• Tronc
• Performance‑related opportunities
• Company discounts
• Training and development
• Genuine opportunities to progress within a growing business
• The autonomy to make a real impact on your site

The Leicester Arms has huge potential, and we’re looking for someone ambitious who wants to take ownership of the business, build a brilliant team and continue developing it as a destination for great food, drinks, stays and hospitality.

If you’re an experienced hospitality leader looking for your next challenge, we’d love to hear from you.

Little & Large Pub Company it’s the little things that make the large difference.