Head Host

Recruit Genie; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 17,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Special discounts on stays and dining

Bonuses to recommend a friend to join

Additional holiday day on first work-­

Meals on duty and uniforming

Job summary

Dakota Hotel in Manchester is seeking a Head Host to lead the guest arrival experience at our Bar & Grill, ensuring exceptional service and a polished welcome. You will work closely with the Restaurant Manager to optimise reservations, assist guests, and maintain a seamless, guest-first atmosphere.

The role requires passion for hospitality, strong communication, and the ability to adapt to busy shifts. Compensation includes a base hourly rate with tronc, and a supportive team culture with

Qualifications

• A personal passion for food and enthusiasm for engaging with people.
• An enthusiastic individual who will promote our culture of positivity.
• Flexible with shift patterns and able to work at pace with attention to detail.
• Confident using reservation and booking systems, with strong computer skills.
• Experience in a hosting or receptionist role.
• Be task oriented with pride for the work they do and attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, organisation and multi-tasking.

Responsibilities

• Lead the guest-arrival experience within our Bar & Grill, working with the Restaurant Manager to maintain service standards.
• Manage reservations and guest inquiries, including walk-ins and special requests.
• Oversee the host stand and cloakroom, including menu printing and upkeep.
• Provide a warm, professional welcome and memorable Dakota hospitality at all times.
• Communicate guest requirements and VIP notes to relevant teams in advance.
• Maintain knowledge of the menu to make personal recommendations.
• Contribute to pre-service briefings about events, covers and VIPs.
• Drive up-sells through service and guest recognition.
• Coordinate with F&B Reservations for group bookings and special occasions.

Skills

Guest service

Reservation systems

Communication

Hospitality

Flexibility

Experience hosting

Job description

Dakota Hotel is seeking a charismatic, organised, and guest-focused individual to join our Bar & Grill team in the role of Head Host. We are looking for an organised individual with a passion for hospitality.

Estimated earnings of £15.30 per hour, comprising a basic hourly rate of £12.71 plus average anticipated tronc. Team members in this role at Dakota Manchester received an average of £2.59 per hour in tronc over the 12 months to October 2026. Tronc payments are variable, non-contractual and not guaranteed.

PRIMARY ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

• We’re looking for a Head Host to lead the guest-arrival experience within our Bar & Grill. You’ll work closely with the Restaurant Manager to ensure exceptional service standards, smooth daily operations, and a warm, professional welcome for every guest. Main responsibilities will include:
• Work with our Restaurant Management System to ensure a seamless running of the books and cover maximisation. Have a running knowledge of all upcoming reservations and handling guest enquiries, including walk-ins, special requests, dietary notes, and accessibility needs, ensuring accurate communication to relevant teams.
• Host stand and cloakroom maintenance including menu printing/ up-keep and ad-hoc tasks for the Bar & Grill.
• Focus on providing a Dakota welcome and farewell to all guests to the Bar and Restaurant.
• Liaise with reservations ahead of time to understand guest requirements and special requests.
• Maintain a comprehensive level of knowledge of our food and drinks menu to be able to offer guests personal recommendations based on their tastes
• Consistently deliver service which shows your outgoing personality, always playing the part of host.
• Contribute to pre-service team briefings on upcoming covers, reservation notes, events and VIPs.
• Drive up-sales through service as well as by sincere guest recognition.
• Liaising with the Food & Beverage Reservations team to ensure all dining experiences, group bookings, and special occasions are communicated and delivered seamlessly.
• Handling all pre-arrival checks to ensure guest notes, allergies, celebrations, and requests are properly logged and actioned.
• Supporting the handling of F&B reservation enquiries for parties of up to 20 guests, ensuring all requirements, deposits, and dining details are accurately communicated.

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS

The successful applicant will have/be:

• A personal passion for food and enthusiasm for engaging with people.
• An enthusiastic individual who will promote our culture of positivity.
• Flexible with shift patterns and available around the needs of our business. Be able to work at pace with meticulous attention to detail.
• Confident using reservation and booking systems, with strong general computer skills.
• Experience in a hosting or receptionist role is required, demonstrating the ability to manage guest enquiries, bookings, and special requests.
• Be task oriented with a great pride for the work they do and attention to detail.
• Excellent in verbal and written communication, organisation and multi-tasking.
• Successful candidates must demonstrate having researched our brand and a genuine desire to be part of our team.

WHAT WE OFFER

In addition to being part of a culture infused with positivity and opportunity for ongoing development, tangible benefits you could enjoy when you join our team include:

FINANCIAL

• Special discounts on stays and dining at any Dakota
• Bonuses to recommend a friend to join our team and every time you are mentioned on Trip Advisor
• Additional holiday day on the first anniversary of your employment
• Meals on duty and uniforming

WELLBEING

• Access to our Employee Assistance Program which includes free private mental health support and counselling sessions, video GP consultations and private prescription services, as well as access to daily rewards to be cashed out for shopping vouchers
• Support from our inhouse Mental Health Champions
• Family-friendly flexible working options
• Participation in meaningful initiatives such as Macmillan Cancer Support Coffee Morning and the Walk for Wellbeing, Supporting causes that matter while connecting with colleagues

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

• Accredited, certified compliance training given on employment
• Access to a suite of external, certified resources via our Learning Management System
• Supportive continuous professional development culture with an annual appraisal and objectives, or a Personal Development Plan
• Opportunities to undertake both internal and external training courses, including potential for in-house Apprenticeships

Full terms on our benefits can be found in our Handbook.

ABOUT DAKOTA HOTELS

Dakota is a growing UK-based lifestyle brand, known for our stylish hotels, bustling brasserie?Grills?and upscale cocktail Bars. Dakota’s story started with two boutique hotels on the outskirts of Edinburgh, in South Queensferry, and Glasgow, in Eurocentral. We have now expanded into prime city centre locations in Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester &?Newcastle. Our newest hotel is at Manchester Airport, with our next opening in York expected early 2028 with more?in our pipeline.?

Dakota is synonymous for delivering attentive and genuine guest service. We attract hard-working individuals who are passionate about working to the highest standards and have been voted within The Caterer’s Top 15 Best Employers in Hospitality for the lastsixyears in a row. We were also featured within the Top 10 employers in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work in the UKfor the last three years running.

Aswinners of The Cateys ‘People Team of the Year’,?we have award-winning internal training programmes within Dakota Academy fostering continuous development and ongoing training. As a result, over 75% of our leaders have been promoted internally and, forfiveconsecutive years, a member of our team has won a prestigious Acorn Award awarded by The Caterer to the ‘Top 30 under 30’?in the industry,?demonstrating?our success in developing talent.?