General Manager - Blackhorse Road

Pretty Decent Beer Co; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Pretty Decent Beer Co. is seeking a high-energy General Manager to own day-to-day operations at Blackhorse Road.

You will lead a busy taproom, drive sales, manage the P&L, and coach the team to deliver an outstanding customer experience. The role requires a proven track record in hospitality leadership and a personal license to sell alcohol.

Qualifications

• Experience in General Management within hospitality or fast-paced environments.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for customer service.
• Lead from the front, motivate the team and bring energy to the workplace.
• Strong organisational skills; think on your feet; calm under pressure; proactive problem solving.
• Represent Pretty Decent Beer Co and its ethos as public face of the brand.
• Experience managing a P&L, including labour control, stock margins and cost management.
• Lead by example with attention to detail while seeing the bigger picture.
• Holds a personal license to sell alcohol.

Responsibilities

• Manage taproom sales and overall offering to drive growth against targets.
• Own the venue P&L, balancing labour costs with sales performance.
• Work to budgeted wages and stock figures to meet profitability targets.
• Manage stock to minimise waste and order within budget guidelines.
• Develop drinks menus and promotions with the Operations Manager.
• Create an inclusive, welcoming environment for customers and staff.
• Set the energy, standards and culture for the taproom team, including rota planning.
• Recruit, train and develop team members across service, product knowledge and standards.
• Keep the team motivated and focused during busy periods.
• Be hands on on the floor to support service and maintain smooth operations.
• Ensure service standards reflect Pretty Decent values.

Skills

General Management

Customer Service

Team Leadership

P&L Management

Cost Control

Staff Training

Communications

Job description

Location: Unit 10 Uplands Business Park, Blackhorse Lane, London E17 5Q (+ any other locations as required by the needs of the business.)

Hours: 40 hours per week (including evenings and weekends)

Salary: £40-44k+ , reviewed annually. Bonus based on financial performance in place, following successful completion of probation period

ABOUT THE ROLE:

Blackhorse Road is Pretty Decent’s largest site, with a strong local following and a reputation as a true neighbourhood go-to.

We’re looking for a high-energy, driven General Manager who leads from the front, to take ownership of the day-to-day running and overall performance of the taproom.

This is a fast paced, hands on role, which requires someone who thrives in a busy environment, has the ability to think on their toes, and isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in. A genuine can-do attitude to lead your team through whatever the day throws your way.

You’ll be responsible for the full operational and financial performance of the site, from driving sales and managing the P&L, to leading the team, maintaining standards and creating a stand out taproom experience.

Our motto - Beer Is For Everyone - underpins everything we do. You’ll play a key role in making sure Blackhorse Road remains a welcoming, inclusive and community focused space that regulars are proud to call their local, and new customers feel instantly comfortable in.

Who we are looking for:

• Experience in General Management, and within hospitality, preferably within a similar fast paced environment.
• A natural talent for customer service, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• The ability to lead from the front, motivate a team and bring energy and positivity to the workplace
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to think on your feet, stay calm under pressure and a proactive approach to problem solving
• Someone who is committed to representing Pretty Decent Beer Co and our ethos as a public face of the brand
• Experience managing a P&L, including labour control, stock margins and cost management
• Someone who leads by example with the ability to focus on details, whilst also seeing the bigger picture
• Someone who holds a personal license to sell alcohol.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Commercial performance

• Manage the sales and overall offering of the taproom to drive growth in line with agreed targets.
• Take ownership of the venue P&L, balancing labour costs against sales performance.
• Work to budgeted sales and expenditure figures, including wages and stock, ensuring profitability targets are met.
• Manage stock accurately to minimise wastage and order internal and third-party products within budget guidelines.
• Develop drink menus and promotional offers in collaboration with the Operations Manager
• Ability to look for opportunities to improve the venues performance, customer experience and profitability
• Create and maintain an inclusive and welcoming environment for both customers and staff
• Set the energy, standards and culture for the taproom team, including rota planning in line with the agreed labour budget
• Recruit, train and develop team members across customer service, product knowledge and operational standards.
• Keeping the team motivated, engaged and focused, especially in busy periods
• Be hands on when needed - supporting the team on the floor and able to step into whatever role is required to keep service running smoothly
• Ensure service and standards consistently reflect Pretty Decent values.

Events, Community & Growth

• Own the end-to-end process for event enquiries and bookings, ensuring systems are accurate and up to date.
• Work alongside the Marketing Manager to plan and deliver events that drive footfall and sales
• Collaborate closely with It’s Not Big Dough to maximise food and drink opportunities and trading initiatives.
• Ensure consistent opening hours and clear promotion of products in-venue and online.

Operations & Standards

• Take ownership of product quality, regularly tasting and checking beers and drinks to ensure they are presented at their best, maintaining line cleanliness standards, and resolving issues proactively.
• Act as a brand ambassador for Pretty Decent, ensuring the product, service and overall experience consistently reflect the standards of the brewery.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness and presentation, and organisation across the taproom.
• Ensure EHO and health and safety standards are consistently met.
• Oversee back-office systems including POS management, product creation and stock input.
• Proactively manage maintenance to ensure the venue is operating at its best.