Head Bartender

MJMK; Camden Town; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

50% discount across MJMK restaurants

£500 referral bonus

Career development opportunities

Mental health & wellbeing support

Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

Extra holiday days

Enhanced pension after 5 years

Job summary

MJMK Restaurants is seeking an experienced bartender for Luso, a two-floor venue at 30 Charlotte Street. You will lead the bar team, manage day-to-day operations, train staff, and contribute to menu development while maintaining high standards of service and compliance with licensing laws.

We value warmth, hospitality and the ability to guide guests through our drinks list. The role offers opportunities for career growth within MJMK’s expanding restaurant group and a supportive team culture.

Qualifications

• Experienced bartender with premium bar/restaurant background.
• Confident managing day-to-day bar operations including ordering, stock control and stock rotation.
• Leads with warmth and generosity, trains staff and develops drinks menus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the bar team through service and set the standard by example.
• Train, coach and mentor the bar team, including new starters, on bar service and house standards.
• Lead tastings and briefings for bar and floor teams on cocktails and spirits.
• Build strong relationships with floor and kitchen teams to support service.
• Ensure drinks are served to spec with presentation and temperature in mind.
• Maintain batch, pour, and prep standards consistently.
• Create a warm, personal bar experience and guide guests through the drinks list.
• Handle guest concerns calmly and professionally.
• Manage daily/weekly stock control: ordering, receiving, storage, labeling, rotation.
• Monitor margins and minimize wastage; report variances for improvements.

Skills

Premium bar experience

Stock control

Cocktails & drinks knowledge

Staff training

Job description

About Luso

Luso celebrates the diversity of Portugal’s coastline and countryside. The menu is rooted in regional dining traditions, with deep respect for both land and sea. Dishes such as sea bass baked in salt sit alongside olive oil martinis and wines from iconic producers. The restaurant sits across two floors at 30 Charlotte Street, with a private dining room seating 12 and a terrace.

Candidates Requirement

Reporting to the General Manager, this role is made for an experienced bartender who is happiest behind the bar. It will suit someone from a premium bar or restaurant background who is confident running a bar day to day, from ordering and stock control to training and menu development, and who leads with warmth and generosity.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the bar team through every service and set the standard by example
• Train, coach and mentor the bar team, including new starters, on bar service and house standards
• Lead regular tastings and briefings for the bar and floor teams on cocktails, spirits, and the wider drinks list
• Build a strong working relationship with the floor and kitchen teams, supporting front of house during service
• Make sure every drink is served to spec, with care over presentation, glassware, garnish, and temperature
• Keep pouring, batching, and preparation standards consistent
• Create a warm, personal bar experience and guide guests through the drinks list with confidence
• Handle guest concerns calmly and professionally
• Manage daily and weekly stock control, including ordering, receiving, storage, labelling, and rotation
• Monitor drinks margins, help maintain target GP, and keep wastage to a minimum
• Report stock variances and work with the General Manager on controls and improvements
• Keep the bar clean, safe, and well organised at all times
• Make sure alcohol is served responsibly, in line with licensing law and our age verification policy
• Know the allergens in every drink and make sure guests get accurate information

What we offer

• 50% discount across all MJMK restaurants
• £500 referral bonus for recommending a friend
• Opportunity to develop your career growth with MJMK Restaurants
• Mental health & well-being support with Hospitality Action who can offer free advice and counselling.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay after your first year with us
• Extra day’s holiday every year you’re with us, up to 33 days
• Enhanced pension plan after 5 years with us

About MJMK Restaurants

MJMK Restaurants owns and operates a collection of award‑winning restaurants. Founded in 2018 by lifelong friends Jake Kasumov and Marco Mendes, our journey began with Casa do Frango.

In 2020, we partnered with chef patron Santiago Lastra to open KOL, a restaurant in Marylebone celebrating Mexican cuisine with British ingredients. KOL has since earned a Michelin star and been named one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.

2024 saw two new ventures: Fonda, a contemporary Mexican concept in Mayfair, our second collaboration with Santiago Lastra, and AngloThai in Marylebone, a debut restaurant from husband-and‑wife John and Desiree Chantarasak, blending Thai flavours with British ingredients. Within three months of opening, AngloThai earned a Michelin star.

In the 2025 National Restaurant Awards, AngloThai was named The Square Opening of the Year and ranked 7th in the Top 100 list, followed by KOL at number 50. Luso, a contemporary Portuguese restaurant in Fitzrovia, opened in September 2025, and we have just opened Lenny’s with our chef patron Max Lewis.

We're building ambitious restaurant brands with a focus on quality, creativity and guest experience, and we're just getting started.