Restaurant Team Leader

British Garden Centres; Reading; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 17,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

50% restaurant discount

20% store discount

Leisure Park discounts

Job summary

British Garden Centres is seeking an experienced Restaurant Team Leader to join the team at Winnersh. In this role you will lead a small team, ensure high standards of guest service, and manage kitchen and front-of-house operations with a focus on health and safety.

The role is part-time with varied hours including weekends and no evening work. You will hire and train staff, create rotas, and deputise for the Restaurant Manager during absences.

Qualifications

• Excellent customer service skills and ability to manage guests.
• Strong front of house and back of house capabilities.
• Knowledge of stock taking and food safety.
• Experience in leadership in a fast-paced food business.
• Ability to drive sales and manage labour.
• Barista experience is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain high guest service standards.
• Manage a small team of staff.
• Plan staff rotas and support manager duties when needed.
• Deputise in the Restaurant Manager’s absence.

Skills

Customer service

FOH/BOH balance

Microsoft Excel

Word

Barista experience

Problem solving

Communication

Stock control

Sales & labour management

Food safety

Customer complaints handling

Leadership

Tools

Word

Excel

Job description

Location: Winnersh

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Part Time

Hours: Various Hours per Week Including Weekends

About Us

British Garden Centres is the UK’s largest family owned garden centre group, with 80 centres nationwide. Founded by the Stubbs family, the business has grown rapidly through significant expansion and acquisitions, evolving from its first site at Woodthorpe Garden Centre into a national brand.

The group now includes garden centres, restaurants, nurseries and distribution centres, employing more than 3,500 colleagues across the UK. Despite its scale, British Garden Centres maintains strong family values, a community focus, and a commitment to providing a welcoming and supportive environment for both customers and employees

We are seeking an experienced Restaurant Team Leader to join our team; in this role you will be asked to perform a variety of managerial functions.

This starts with providing our customers with consistently high-quality dining experience. To do this, you will need to motivate our staff and demonstrate superior customer serve skills.

As Team Leader, you will also help our team to meet its standards for quality. This will involve ensuring that all food health and safety requirements are met. Leading by example and motivating the team in a hands on role. Responsible for the smooth running of shifts.

Your job may require you to hire new staff, train them and create schedules that the dynamic needs of the kitchen.

What we offer:

No evening work, split shifts or unsociable hours, year-round business.

Security of working in a well-established expanding family business & the associated benefits

Rate of pay negotiable, dependent upon skills and experience.

Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day & Easter Sunday

50% discount at any BGC restaurant & 20% discount at any BGC store, additionally discount rates available for Leisure Park.

Skills required:

Excellent customer service skills.

Strong FoH and BoH skills.

Computer literate including Word and Excel.

Barista experience.

Good problem solver.

Excellent communication skills.

Good IT skills including Microsoft Excel and Word.

Knowledge/experience of stock taking.

Ability to drive sales and manage labour.

Experience of food preparation and knowledge of food safety.

Confidence in dealing with customers and complaints.

Experience in leadership and a fast-paced food business essential.

Duties include:

Establish and maintain excellent standards of guest service.

Manage small team of staff.

Stock counting on Sundays and Monday morning day to day support of manager duties when manager is not present, legal paperwork compliance cash duties, customer concerns/queries Plan staff rotas.

Deputise in the Restaurant Manager’s absence.

Adhere to company policies and ensure that these are fully communicated to all team members.

To establish and maintain the highest standards of hygiene in accordance with Health & Safety.

Applications close –Tuesday 1st September 2026