Head Sommelier

THE PIG; Arundel; On-site; GBP 34,500 - 38,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bed & breakfast stays

Discount on food & drinks

Meals on duty

Holiday entitlement

Take-home products

Private healthcare

Critical illness cover

Help@Hand GP access

Learning & development

Team trips & incentives

Anniversary dining with wine

Career progression

Job summary

THE PIG in the South Downs, Arundel, is seeking a Head Sommelier to lead our wine journey from vineyard to glass. You will work with the Senior Leadership Team to develop a guest-facing wine programme that celebrates our location, our on-site vineyard and outstanding English wines.

You will curate a year-round wine offering, build relationships with local producers and deliver immersive experiences such as tastings and wine dinners, while ensuring exceptional guest service and commercial success.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead a wine team and deliver exceptional service.
• Strong storytelling and communication to guests of varying wine knowledge.
• Commercial mindset to curate a dynamic, year-round wine offer.
• Experience coordinating with multiple departments to center wine in guest experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire the wine team to deliver outstanding service.
• Develop a dynamic wine offering that evolves through the year.
• Create guest experiences including vineyard tours, tastings and events.
• Collaborate with local producers to showcase Sussex and English wines.
• Position THE PIG in the South Downs as the flagship wine hotel within the group.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Storytelling

Commercial awareness

Team coaching

Wine knowledge

Job description

Location: THE PIG - in the South Downs, Arundel, BN18 0NL

Package: £34,500 to £38,500 per annum, (OTE £42,100 to £46,100 including tronc).

Hours: 45 hours per week, over 5 days

Could you help shape the future of one of the most exciting wine destinations in the UK?

At THE PIG in the South Downs, wine is more than what's in the glass. With our own vineyard on the estate and a commitment to showcasing the very best of Sussex and English wine, we're looking for an exceptional Head Sommelier to lead our wine offering and help establish THE PIG in the South Downs as the flagship wine hotel across the group.

This is a unique opportunity for a passionate wine professional to create memorable guest experiences, champion local producers, and play a leading role in developing a destination wine programme unlike any other.

What you'll be doing:

As Head Sommelier, you'll oversee every aspect of the wine journey, ensuring our guests experience something truly special from vineyard to glass. Working closely with the Senior Leadership Team and Group Head of Wine, you'll be instrumental in developing and delivering an engaging, guest-facing wine programme that celebrates our location, our vineyard and the exceptional wines of Sussex.

You'll:

• Lead and inspire the wine team, delivering outstanding service and expertise.
• Curate a dynamic and commercially successful wine offering that evolves throughout the year.
• Create and deliver guest experiences including vineyard tours, tastings, wine dinners, masterclasses and special events.
• Use our vineyard as a unique education, marketing and guest experience asset, bringing the story of English wine to life.
• Build meaningful relationships with local wineries and producers, showcasing the very best of the region.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure wine is at the heart of the guest experience.

What we're looking for:

Beyond being an excellent Head Sommelier, we're looking for someone who can help drive our vision forward.

Key qualities and experience include:

• The ability to position THE PIG in the South Downs as the group's flagship wine hotel, creating a reputation that attracts wine lovers from across the UK and beyond.
• Proven experience creating and delivering an engaging guest-facing wine programme, including tours, tastings, events and an innovative year-round wine offering that keeps guests returning.
• A genuine passion for using a vineyard as a unique guest experience, educational platform and marketing tool.
• Strong knowledge of the English wine industry, particularly Sussex, with an established network of contacts or the ability to build and nurture relationships with local producers.
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to engage guests at every level of wine knowledge.
• Commercial awareness and a passion for delivering both memorable experiences and strong business results.
• Leadership experience with the ability to coach, develop and inspire a high-performing team.

What's In It For You?

Alongside the opportunity to lead and shape one of the most exciting wine programmes in the UK, you'll enjoy a host of industry-leading benefits designed to reward, support and invest in you:

• Complimentary bed & breakfast stays across THE PIG Hotels - experience our unique properties as a guest and enjoy the hospitality we're renowned for.
• 35% discount on food, drink and treatments across the collection, so you can share THE PIG experience with family and friends.
• Freshly prepared meals on duty, every shift.
• Up to 33 days' holiday, increasing with length of service, giving you more time to relax and recharge.
• Take-home products at cost price, including some of the fantastic goods and produce we champion across the business.
• Private Healthcare, providing reassurance and access to quality medical support when you need it most.
• Critical Illness Cover and Death in Service Benefit, helping protect you and your loved ones.
• 24/7 access to GP appointments, physiotherapy and counselling services through Help@Hand, available to both you and your immediate family.
• Outstanding learning and development opportunities, including industry training, supplier visits, wine education and leadership development programmes.
• Exclusive team trips, experiences and performance incentives, celebrating success and creating memorable moments together.
• Anniversary dining vouchers with wine for two, because your milestones deserve to be celebrated.
• Exceptional career progression opportunities within a growing, award-winning hotel group that values talent and promotes from within.

Most importantly, you'll have the chance to play a leading role in establishing THE PIG in the South Downs as the group's flagship wine destination, working with an exceptional team, an on-site vineyard and some of the finest producers in English wine.