Receptionist - Emerald Group - London

Host & Hostess; Greater London; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 19,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Birthday dinner

Dining discount 50%

Progression opportunities

Employee discount

Job summary

Host & Hostess in Greater London is seeking a friendly Host/Hostess to greet guests, manage reservations and seating, and coordinate with the service team to ensure a warm, smooth welcome.

You will handle waiting lists, escort guests, present menus, and maintain knowledge of menus and events. This role requires flexibility to work evenings, weekends and holidays, with opportunities for progression.

Qualifications

• Experience in a Host, Reception or guest-facing hospitality role.
• Excellent guest-service and communication skills.
• Strong organisation and the ability to manage reservations and priorities accurately.
• A calm, confident and professional approach in a busy environment.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Responsibilities

• Welcome guests warmly on arrival and thank them when they leave.
• Manage reservations, walk-ins, waiting list and guest enquiries.
• Coordinate table allocations and seating plans to support smooth service.
• Escort guests to tables, present menus and communicate information to the service team.
• Monitor entrance and dining room, inform guests of waiting times and respond to requests.
• Maintain knowledge of menus, bookings, events and service standards.
• Handle guest queries professionally, escalating to a Supervisor as needed.
• Keep reception areas organised, presentable and compliant with health and safety, 48 hours per week, flexible including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Skills

Guest-facing hospitality

Communication

Organisational skills

Flexibility

Job description

The Host is the first and final point of contact for guests, delivering a warm, organised and professional welcome. The postholder manages reservations and the waiting list, coordinates seating, maintains the flow of the restaurant and works closely with the floor team to ensure every guest receives the attentive, high-quality experience expected across Emerald Hospitality Group.

Key Responsibilities

• Welcome guests warmly and professionally on arrival and thank them when they leave.
• Manage reservations, walk-ins, the waiting list and guest enquiries accurately.
• Coordinate table allocations and seating plans to support smooth service and maximise availability.
• Escort guests to their tables, present menus and communicate relevant information to the service team.
• Monitor the entrance and dining room, keeping guests informed of waiting times and responding promptly to requests.
• Maintain accurate knowledge of menus, bookings, special events, accessibility needs and service standards.
• Handle guest queries and concerns professionally, escalating to a Supervisor where needed.
• Keep the reception and entrance areas organised, presentable and compliant with health and safety, 48 hours per week, worked flexibly including evenings, weekends and bank holidays; a separate 48-hour opt- out agreement will be provided.

Essential

• Previous experience in a Host, Reception or guest-facing hospitality role, ideally in a quality restaurant.
• Excellent guest-service, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisation and the ability to manage reservations and priorities accurately.
• A calm, confident and professional approach in a busy environment.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Desirable

• Experience using a restaurant reservation or table-management system.
• Knowledge of the venue, local area and dining recommendations.

Benefits

• Enjoy a complimentary birthday dinner on us.
• Receive a 50% discount when dining with us.
• Work with some of the best leaders in hospitality.
• Access opportunities for progression within the company
• Employee discount