London - General Manager

The Columbo Group; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

50% off across Columbo venues

Nest pension scheme

Job summary

The Blues Kitchen, part of The Columbo Group, is seeking a General Manager to lead one of London’s most loved venues. You’ll set the tone, build culture and drive performance across all areas—service, food, drinks and guest experience—with full ownership of the venue’s operations.

We’re looking for a commercial, people-focused leader who is excited by building something long-term and taking real pride in what they run.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a General Manager in a high-volume hospitality business.
• Strong commercial awareness and confidence managing budgets and performance.
• Natural leader who can motivate, coach and develop a team.
• High standards with a sharp eye for detail.
• Calm under pressure and decisive.

Responsibilities

• Lead the overall direction and performance of the venue.
• Build, develop and inspire a high-performing management team.
• Drive standards across service, food, drinks and guest experience.
• Take ownership of P&L, budgeting, labour and financial performance.
• Oversee recruitment, training and team development across all departments.
• Create a strong team culture built on accountability and care.
• Work closely with senior leadership to grow the business and deliver long-term success.
• Ensure the venue runs smoothly, safely and consistently every day.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

People management

Decision making

Customer focus

Job description

We’re looking for a General Manager to lead one of our busiest and most loved venues at The Blues Kitchen.

The Blues Kitchen brings together proper food, world-class live music and an incredible drinks menu, all under one roof. But what really sets us apart is how it feels. The energy in the room. The standards behind the scenes. The people who make it happen. This is a venue built on heartfelt hospitality, strong culture and attention to detail. Nothing is random. Everything matters. From how a shift is run to how a guest feels walking through the door.

As General Manager, you take full ownership of the venue. You set the tone, build the culture and lead from the front. You’ll be responsible for every part of the operation, making sure the team is motivated, the standards stay high and the business performs.

This is a role for someone who knows how to lead properly. Someone commercial, people-focused and switched on. Someone who wants to build something long term and take real pride in what they run.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the overall direction and performance of the venue
• Build, develop and inspire a high-performing management team
• Drive standards across service, food, drinks and guest experience
• Take ownership of P&L, budgeting, labour and financial performance
• Oversee recruitment, training and team development across all departments
• Create a strong team culture built on accountability and care
• Work closely with senior leadership to grow the business and deliver long-term success
• Make sure the venue runs smoothly, safely and consistently every day

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience as a General Manager in a high-volume hospitality business
• Strong commercial awareness and confidence managing budgets and performance
• A natural leader who knows how to motivate, coach and get the best out of people
• High standards and a sharp eye for detail
• Calm under pressure and confident making decisions
• Someone who genuinely cares about hospitality and wants to build a brilliant team
• Ambitious, grounded and excited by the chance to lead one of London’s most exciting venues

What to Expect

• Competitive salary plus tronc with a strong overall package. Paid monthly.
• A high energy working environment with a strong team around you.
• Real autonomy and ownership of your restaurant.

Why You’ll Love Working With Us

• 50% off across all Columbo venues, plus free access to our events and festivals.
• Training and development through the Columbo Academy.
• Hero of the Month recognition, including a paid weekend off.
• Generous Referral Scheme.
• Opportunities for global industry trips for top performers.
• Pension scheme via Nest.