Head of Private Dining and Events Mat Cover

Fortnum & Mason; Slough; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance bonus

Discretionary annual bonus up to 5%

Store and restaurant discounts up to 2

25 days holiday + birthday + wellbeing

Matched pension

Career development

Job summary

Fortnum & Mason in London is seeking a Head of Private Dining & Events to lead our iconic Private Dining operation within the Piccadilly flagship. You will drive unforgettable guest experiences while delivering strong commercial performance across private dining, corporate events, and special occasions.

The role requires significant luxury hospitality leadership, expert event planning, and the ability to manage large teams.

Qualifications

• Significant management experience within luxury hospitality or premium events.
• Proven track record delivering guest experiences and driving commercial performance.
• Strong leadership with experience managing large teams.
• Excellent event planning and operational management experience.
• Financial acumen with budgeting, forecasting, and cost controls.
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Knowledge of health, safety and food hygiene standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Private Dining & Events operation, delivering exceptional guest experiences from enquiry to delivery.
• Develop and execute strategies to drive revenue growth across private dining, corporate events, and special occasions.
• Build strong client relationships for personalised and memorable events.
• Collaborate with culinary, operations, sales, and restaurant teams to ensure seamless events.
• Manage and coach a high-performing team with coaching and performance management.
• Own budgets, forecasting, labour costs, and profitability targets.
• Ensure events align with brand standards and operational excellence.
• Oversee event planning processes, contracts and logistics.
• Identify and develop new business opportunities through networking.

Skills

Leadership

Event planning

Team development

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

Job description

Head of Private Dining & Events

Located in the heart of Piccadilly within our beautiful flagship store, this iconic central London destination offers guests a truly memorable experience. Surrounded by world-class shopping, restaurants, bars, and cultural landmarks, and just a short walk from Green Park Station, our Tea Salon is renowned for its exceptional hospitality, elegant surroundings, and quintessentially British dining experience.

Set within the iconic surroundings of Fortnum & Mason, our Private Dining offer provides the perfect backdrop for exclusive dining experiences, celebrations, corporate entertaining, afternoon teas, and tailored events. We are currently looking for an experienced Head ofPrivate Dining & Events to lead this exciting area of the business.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a hospitality professional with a passion for luxury service, events management, and team leadership to play a key role in delivering unforgettable guest experiences while driving commercial success.

Why Work For Us:

• Competitive salary and performance-related bonus
• Discretionary annual bonus (up to 5% of salary)
• Up to 40% store and restaurant discounts
• 25 days holiday, plus a day off for your birthday and 5 additional wellbeing days
• Matched pension scheme and excellent career development opportunities
• Opportunities to grow within a diverse and dynamic hospitality business
• Additional annual leave and recognition rewards for long service

Key Accountabilities:

• Lead the Private Dining & Events operation, ensuring exceptional guest experiences from enquiry through to event delivery
• Develop and execute strategies to drive revenue growth across private dining, corporate events, and special occasions
• Build strong relationships with clients, ensuring a personalised and memorable experience for every event
• Collaborate closely with culinary, operations, sales, and restaurant teams to deliver seamless events
• Manage and develop a high-performing team, providing coaching, support, and performance management
• Take ownership of budgets, forecasting, labour costs, and profitability targets
• Ensure all events are delivered in line with brand standards and operational excellence
• Oversee event planning processes, contracts, and operational logistics
• Identify and develop new business opportunities through networking and relationship building
• Ensure compliance with all company policies, health & safety regulations, and food safety standards
• Drive a culture of outstanding service, teamwork, and continuous improvement

We Expect the Successful Candidate to Have the Following Skills and Experience:

• Significant management experience within luxury hospitality, private dining, events, or premium restaurant operations
• Proven track record of delivering exceptional guest experiences and driving commercial performance
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing large teams
• Excellent event planning and operational management experience
• Financial acumen with experience managing budgets, forecasting, and cost controls
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• A passion for hospitality, food, and delivering memorable experiences
• Experience working within a premium or luxury guest-focused environment
• Knowledge of health, safety, and food hygiene standards

We are committed to developing your career and nurturing your talent, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We respect and embrace each other's differences to create a truly inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

In the last year alone, our people have been recognised and celebrated through industry awards for outstanding contributions to Retail, Hospitality, Customer Service, Technology, Visual Merchandising, and Community Engagement.