Head Gardener

Hand Picked Hotels; Lower Slaughter; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Share of service charge

Wellbeing support via EAP

Company pension

28 days holiday incl. bank holidays

Uniform and meals on shift

Free onsite parking

Employee discount platform

Job summary

Hand Picked Hotels is seeking a knowledgeable Dual Site Head Gardener to oversee the gardens and outdoor spaces at The Slaughters Country Inn and The Slaughters Manor House. This hands-on leadership role requires passion for horticulture and a proactive approach to garden management across two iconic Cotswolds properties.

You will shape planting schemes, lead a small team, and maintain the highest standards year-round, enhancing guest experiences through thoughtfully designed grounds.

Qualifications

• Experience as Head Gardener or senior gardener.
• Proven leadership and people management.
• Strong plant knowledge across varieties.
• Experience planning planting schemes and maintenance schedules.

Responsibilities

• Oversee two sites' gardens and grounds to maintain high standards.
• Plan and develop planting schemes that reflect the hotels’ characters.
• Direct day-to-day garden maintenance and seasonal workflows.
• Collaborate with hotel teams to deliver a premium guest experience.

Skills

Gardening expertise

Horticulture knowledge

Leadership skills

Team management

Tools

Equipment maintenance

Job description

Dual Site Head Gardener – Slaughters Country Inn & The Slaughters Manor House

Location: Lower Slaughter, Gloucestershire, GL54 2HS

Salary: Competitive Salary discussed at interview + excellent colleague benefits

Job Type: Full-time | Permanent | 5 days out of 7 – 48 Hours per week

Come and join our Team...

We are currently seeking a knowledgeable, passionate and hands-on Dual Site Head Gardener to take pride in the gardens and outdoor spaces at The Slaughters Country Inn and The Slaughters Manor House, two beautiful properties set in the heart of the Cotswolds.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Head Gardener looking for a new challenge, or a Senior Gardener ready to take the next step in their career and develop their leadership skills. Working across both properties, you will have the opportunity to shape and maintain a variety of beautiful outdoor spaces, ensuring they reflect the character, charm and high standards of each hotel.

The Slaughters Country Inn offers a warm and authentic Cotswolds experience, combining welcoming hospitality, generous food and a stunning countryside setting. Situated alongside the picturesque River Eye in Lower Slaughter, the Inn features charming hotel rooms and cottages, a popular 2 AA Rosette restaurant and bar, a spacious outdoor terrace and a seasonal Field Kitchen.

Alongside this, The Slaughters Manor House offers its own distinctive setting, providing the opportunity to care for and enhance the grounds of another beautiful Cotswolds property. Across both sites, you will help create attractive, well-maintained outdoor spaces that complement each hotel's individual character and enhance the overall guest experience.

As Head Gardener, you will take ownership of the planning, development and ongoing care of the gardens across both properties, combining hands-on horticultural expertise with a forward-thinking approach to garden management. You will play a key role in shaping the look and feel of the grounds throughout the seasons, bringing fresh ideas, thoughtful planning and a keen eye for detail to create beautiful, distinctive outdoor spaces. With a passion for horticulture and a commitment to high standards, you will look beyond day-to-day maintenance, continually seeking opportunities to enhance, improve and evolve the gardens.

What's in it for you?

• A competitive salary discussed at interview stage plus a share of service charge.
• A welcoming, inclusive culture where long-term friendships and diversity are celebrated.
• Ongoing career development with in-house and external training, including apprenticeships and industry-recognised courses.
• 28 days holiday per year including bank holidays.
• Uniform and meals on shift provided.
• Free onsite parking (where applicable).
• Access to wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Company pension.
• Online retail discount platform offering thousands of savings with high street retailers and restaurants as well as a health and well-being platform.
• Discounted stays in our hotels and on food, drink, spa treatments & products.
• Colleague of the Month awards, which leads to our annual awards ceremony.
• Regular team gatherings and appreciation events.

Are you Hand Picked?

• We are looking for proactive and enthusiastic candidates that have a willing attitude and a welcoming and friendly nature. We thrive on excelling together to ensure as a team we deliver service, excellence and consistency, fostering a culture of collaboration, partnership & teamwork.
• You will have passion and pride in delivering exceptional, high-quality, personalised service to ensure our guests experiences are memorable.
• This is a hands-on position, requiring a proactive approach, a keen eye for detail and pride in maintaining beautiful, well-presented gardens across both properties.

Who we are…

Hand Picked Hotels was founded in 2001 by owner and Chairman, Julia Hands MBE, and today still remains a family-owned group which has 24 unique luxury country houses and coastal retreats, each hand picked for their individuality. Architecturally distinctive and quintessentially British, every hotel boasts an extraordinary location from Scotland to the Channel Islands, offering breathtaking views from vast countryside to expansive beaches, to lush woodlands.

Dedicated to creating unique and enchanting stays, curated personalised service runs through the heart of every hotel. Whilst each hotel is individual, each property fulfils the company values of family, individuality, community and care, with a team commitment to aiming higher and delight their guests with magical experiences that offer a true escape from the every day.

Hand Picked Hotels are committed to protecting the environment for a sustainable future, and all of our hotels have received the 'Green Tourism' accreditation. A Recognition of our progress in reducing energy use and waste, supporting biodiversity, and sourcing responsibly from local and ethical partners.

Hand Picked Hotels is an Equal Opportunities employer. Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.