Head Host - Nightclub

Koko Camden; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

KOKO Theatre in London seeks an experienced Head Host to lead the door team and own the guest arrival experience at a premier live music and club venue. You will set the night’s tone, manage guest flow, VIP access, and premium areas, ensuring guests are welcomed, informed, and looked after from arrival.

You will also lead and develop the door host team, ensuring strong coverage, consistent standards, and a calm presence at the entrance during service.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a front‑of‑house door team in high‑volume live entertainment.
• Strong leadership and the ability to develop a team.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with a guest‑first mindset.
• Commercial awareness including VIP access and on‑door upgrades.
• Calm, confident presence under pressure and late‑night/weekend work.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and set standards for the door host team, ensuring a consistent and professional guest experience
• Manage first impressions and maintain a positive, controlled atmosphere at the entrance
• Coordinate closely with Premium Experience, Sales & Reservations, table service and internal teams to ensure seamless transitions
• Manage guest lists, VIP access, bottle table bookings, and private areas efficiently
• Oversee guest flow into the venue, balancing show timings, capacity, and premium access
• Manage guest expectations during busy periods and handle wait times clearly and professionally
• Ensure all electronic systems and guest management tools are charged, operational and ready for service
• Deliver a warm, confident welcome to all guests, setting the tone for the night
• Identify opportunities for upgrades and new bottle table bookings on the door
• Handle issues or disputes at the entrance calmly, professionally, and in line with venue policy
• Ensure all hosts are well presented, attentive and guest-focused throughout service
• Create and manage rotas for the host team, ensuring adequate coverage aligned to event schedules and peak trading times
• Work closely with security to ensure ID checks are carried out in compliance with age-verification and licensing regulations
• Support a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for guests and team members
• Support incident reporting and follow escalation procedures when required
• Communicate guest feedback, operational updates, and potential issues clearly to management
• Support special events, live shows, and club nights, adapting to varying formats and guest profiles

Skills

Leadership

Guest experience

Communication

Commercial awareness

Calm under pressure

Job description

This role operates to support & lead the Theatre Door Host team during club nights, which is usually Fridays and Saturdays 21:00 - 03:00, with additional hours in line with event needs.

Job Summary

As Head Host at KOKO Theatre, you will lead the door team and own the guest arrival experience at one of London’s most iconic live music and club venues. As the first point of contact, you will set the tone for the night - managing guest flow, VIP access, and premium areas including bottle tables and private spaces, while ensuring every guest feels welcomed, informed, and looked after from the moment they arrive.

You will also be responsible for leading, scheduling and developing the door host team, ensuring strong coverage, consistent standards, and a calm, confident presence at the entrance throughout service.

Working closely with the Premium Experience and Sales & Reservations teams, you will play a key commercial role in maximising table occupancy, managing upgrades on the door, and supporting high-value bookings. You will balance guest experience with operational control during peak live music and club nights, ensuring the entrance operates smoothly, safely and in line with the energy and standards of KOKO Theatre.

Role & Responsibilities:

• Lead, manage and set standards for the door host team, ensuring a consistent and professional guest experience
• Manage first impressions and maintain a positive, controlled atmosphere at the entrance
• Coordinate closely with Premium Experience, Sales & Reservations, table service and internal teams to ensure seamless transitions
• Manage guest lists, VIP access, bottle table bookings, and private areas efficiently
• Oversee guest flow into the venue, balancing show timings, capacity, and premium access
• Manage guest expectations during busy periods and handle wait times clearly and professionally
• Ensure all electronic systems and guest management tools are charged, operational and ready for service
• Deliver a warm, confident welcome to all guests, setting the tone for the night
• Identify opportunities for upgrades and new bottle table bookings on the door
• Handle issues or disputes at the entrance calmly, professionally, and in line with venue policy
• Ensure all hosts are well presented, attentive and guest-focused throughout service
• Create and manage rotas for the host team, ensuring adequate coverage aligned to event schedules and peak trading times
• Work closely with security to ensure ID checks are carried out in compliance with age-verification and licensing regulations
• Support a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for guests and team members
• Support incident reporting and follow escalation procedures when required
• Communicate guest feedback, operational updates, and potential issues clearly to management
• Support special events, live shows, and club nights, adapting to varying formats and guest profiles

About you

We're seeking a confident and experienced Head Host with a strong presence and a natural ability to lead from the front, who thrives in a fast-paced live music and nightlife environment, with the following key attributes:

• Previous experience in a similar senior host or door role, ideally within a high-volume live music, club, or premium nightlife venue
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage and develop a front-of-house door team
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a guest-first mindset
• Commercial awareness, including managing VIP access, bottle tables and on-the-door upgrades
• Calm, professional, and authoritative presence under pressure, with flexibility to work late nights, weekends, and event dates

Please note we can only consider candidates with the Right to Work in the UK