Racing Hospitality & Events Lead

Chepstow Racecourse; Chepstow; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Chepstow Racecourse is seeking an experienced Hospitality & Events Manager to lead hospitality across race days and non-race day events. This hands-on role involves planning, coordinating and delivering high-standard hospitality operations while identifying commercial opportunities to grow revenue and manage costs.

You will drive a team, maintain service standards, and work closely with the Catering Operations Manager, Head Chef and wider team to ensure seamless guest experiences and compliance

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• The ability to remain calm and work effectively under pressure.
• A systematic and solutions-focused approach to problems.
• A process-driven approach with strong attention to detail.
• A positive, professional and proactive attitude.
• Strong customer service and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to lead, motivate and develop a casual hospitality and events team.
• A strong understanding of hospitality and event operations.
• A commercial mindset, with the ability to identify opportunities to increase revenue while controlling costs.

Responsibilities

• Planning staffing requirements for race days and non-race day events, including detailed race day hospitality management plans.
• Planning and monitoring variable labour costs, ensuring hospitality provision remains within budget.
• Working with the Catering Operations Manager and Head Chef to develop food and beverage offers and event themes while maintaining agreed cost of goods.
• Managing allergen compliance and ensuring all allergen information is accurate and up to date.
• Leading hospitality and events and supporting Business Coordinators with key client requirements from planning through to delivery.
• Managing cutlery, crockery and light equipment inventories and maintaining agreed PAR levels.
• Training and developing the casual Hospitality & Events team in core skills and service standards.
• Working closely with the Retail & Events Manager to ensure a seamless customer experience across events and racedays.
• Coordinating the set-up of furniture and event equipment across the racecourse.
• Carrying out regular site inspections and using checklists to monitor and maintain operational standards.
• Coordinating weekly linen orders and maintaining appropriate stock levels.
• Coordinating the administration required for race day and non-race day events.
• Briefing staff before events and ensuring all relevant paperwork is completed.
• Dealing with customer complaints and enquiries professionally, escalating where appropriate.
• Identifying opportunities to generate additional sales and bookings through proactive customer engagement.
• Collating event feedback and ensuring effective event handovers.
• Ensuring all team members are well presented and maintain professional standards.
• Meeting and greeting clients and acting as an ambassador for the racecourse.
• Completing event area close-down checks at the end of each event.
• Ensuring company policies and procedures are consistently followed.
• Supporting the company's environmental objectives by minimising waste, maintaining equipment appropriately, recycling effectively and reducing unnecessary energy consumption.

Skills

Excellent communication

Organised

Calm under pressure

Systematic problem solving

Detail oriented

Proactive attitude

Customer service

Team leadership

Commercial mindset

Job description

Chepstow Racecourse is seeking an experienced Hospitality & Events Manager to lead hospitality across race days and non-race day events. This hands-on role involves planning, coordinating and delivering high-standard hospitality operations while identifying commercial opportunities to grow revenue and manage costs.

You will drive a team, maintain service standards, and work closely with the Catering Operations Manager, Head Chef and wider team to ensure seamless guest experiences and compliance