General Manager - Riverside East, Olympic Park

Compass Group UK & Ireland; City Of London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospitality group in London seeks an experienced General Manager for Riverside East, a vibrant venue in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. You will oversee daily operations, lead a dedicated team, and drive financial performance while ensuring an exceptional guest experience. The ideal candidate should have experience in high-volume venues and exhibit strong leadership and operational skills. The role offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits, including hybrid working.

Benefits

28 days holiday + birthday off

Private healthcare & wellbeing support

Enhanced parental leave + sick pay

Access to events and festivals

Qualifications

• Experience running a busy, high-volume venue or similar operation
• Strong leadership and communication skills
• Solid understanding of bar, kitchen, and event operations
• Confidence in compliance, health & safety, and licensing
• Hands-on approach with a focus on people, quality, and results

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations and ensure site runs efficiently
• Lead, recruit, and motivate the venue team
• Drive the venue's financial performance, focusing on sales growth
• Handle guest feedback quickly and positively

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Commercial awareness

Job description

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Job Introduction

General Manager - Riverside East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park | Full time / Permanent

£55,000 + excellent benefits including hybrid working, 28 days annual leave, private healthcare, access to leading festivals & events, and more!

We're looking for a passionate General Manager to take full ownership of the day-to‑day running of Riverside East, Peppermint's bold new venue in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – a busy, all‑day bar and restaurant with a huge outdoor yard that hosts everything from Sixes Social Cricket and weekend roasts to live DJs, markets, and brand activations. It's a lively, mixed‑use space that needs a strong operator to keep it running smoothly.

This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone who's as comfortable running a busy service as they are managing budgets and leading a large hospitality team.

General Manager - the role

Venue Operations

• Overseeing daily operations and ensuring the site runs efficiently from prep and service to close‑down.
• Keeping the venue in top condition: stock levels, staffing, cleanliness and maintenance.
• Working closely with the events team on event handovers, set‑ups, and delivery.
• Managing suppliers, maintenance schedules, and utilities and liaising with park management and partners

People & Leadership

• Leading, recruiting, and motivating our dedicated team to deliver great service and ensuring a positive working culture including managing rotas.
• Promoting Peppermint's values and teamwork across all departments.

Compliance, Safety & Facilities management

• Taking ownership of all licensing, food safety, health & safety, allergen management and building maintenance.
• Reporting and management of all compliance and training.
• Overseeing security and crowd management plans with external contractors.

Commercial Performance

• Driving the venue's financial performance, focusing on sales growth, GP, and labour control.
• Ensuring accurate reporting, stock management, and margin control across all outlets.
• Supporting weekly and monthly forecasting, P&Ls, and performance reviews.
• Working with the events team to maximise event profitability and conversion.
• Spotting opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and grow revenue.

Guest Experience

• Leading by example on the venue floor – visible, approachable, and setting the tone for great service.
• Handling guest feedback quickly and positively.
• Building local connections and a loyal customer base.
• Keeping sustainability, accessibility and inclusivity front of mind in everything we do.

What we're looking for

• Experience running a busy, high‑volume venue or similar operation.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• A solid understanding of bar, kitchen and event operations.
• Commercial awareness – comfortable reading and acting on a P&L.
• Confidence in compliance, health & safety and licensing.
• A hands‑on approach with a focus on people, quality, and results.

What you'll get in return

• 28 days holiday + your birthday off
• Private healthcare & wellbeing support (via Medicash)
• Enhanced parental leave + sick pay
• Access to some of the UK's best events, festivals and sports venues

Why Peppermint?

Peppermint Bars & Events is a multi‑award‑winning hospitality group delivering bar and food experiences at over 50 of the UK's most iconic festivals and venues. From BST Hyde Park and Mighty Hoopla to Dreamland Margate, we're known for quality, innovation and good vibes.

Now partnered with Levy UK & Compass Group, the world's largest catering company, and a vibrant leader in hospitality.

We believe in celebrating individuality and building inclusive teams where everyone feels they belong. Our diverse team fuels creativity, innovation and excellence.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join us in creating a supportive, empowering workplace where everyone can thrive.

Together, we create unforgettable experiences - and shape the future of hospitality.