Senior Bar Manager

Company of Cooks; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A hospitality company seeks a Senior Bar Manager for Bar Cicoria at the Royal Opera House. This role requires leading bar operations, creating a strong team culture, and driving sales while maintaining premium standards. Candidates should have experience in high-volume hospitality, a passion for Italian drinks culture, and strong leadership skills. This position offers an exciting opportunity to shape a high-profile destination bar with competitive benefits including personal development and health support.

Benefits

Personal Development and Training opportunities

Life assurance scheme

Pension scheme

Holiday allowance

Healthcare Support App

Wellbeing strategy access

Regular social events

Holiday purchase scheme

Volunteering days

Professional subscriptions

Recognition schemes

Qualifications

• Experience in leading a serious bar operation.
• Strong background in premium, high-volume hospitality.
• Ability to build and develop teams.

Responsibilities

• Own Bar Cicoria from culture and training to performance and experience.
• Run high-volume services while maintaining premium standards.
• Drive sales through effective management and decisions.
• Collaborate on menus, activations, and events.
• Lead during peak trading times.

Skills

Leadership

Sales and profitability management

Training and mentoring

Strong drinks culture knowledge

Operational discipline

Team building

Job description

Senior Bar Manager

Bar Cicoria | Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Salary: £45,000

Bar Cicoria is one of the Royal Opera House’s most high-profile and exciting bar spaces. A destination for pre-theatre, post-show and late-night guests, it combines Italian style, world-class drinks and the energy of one of London’s most iconic cultural institutions.

We are now looking for an exceptional Senior Bar Manager to lead Bar Cicoria into its next chapter.

This is not a standard bar role. This is a chance to build and run a flagship bar with serious visibility, scale and creative freedom.

The role

You will own Bar Cicoria end to end, from culture and training through to commercial performance and guest experience. You will be a visible, inspiring leader on the floor, setting standards and building a team that people are proud to be part of.

Bar Cicoria is rooted in Italian drinking culture. Aperitivo, vermouth, amaro, spritzes, classic cocktails and thoughtful non‑alcoholic options are central to the identity of the bar. A genuine passion for this style of drinking, and the ability to bring it to life for guests and teams, is essential.

What you will do

• You will build, train and mentor a large bar team, creating a culture of excellence, warmth and progression.
• You will run high‑volume, high‑energy services while maintaining premium standards.
• You will drive sales and profitability through strong labour control, stock management and smart commercial decisions.
• You will work with senior leadership on menus, activations and events to keep Bar Cicoria fresh, relevant and talked about.
• You will lead from the front, especially during peak pre‑theatre, interval and late‑night trading.

Who you are

• You are already leading or ready to lead a serious bar operation.
• You have a strong background in premium, high‑volume hospitality.
• You are known for building strong, loyal teams and developing future managers.
• You are commercially sharp and operationally disciplined.
• You genuinely love drinks culture, especially Italian‑style bars, vermouth, aperitivo and classic cocktails.
• You are confident operating in a high‑profile environment where standards and reputation matter.

Why this role

Bar Cicoria sits inside one of the most famous cultural venues in the world. You will have the chance to shape a bar that London notices, with the backing, scale and ambition of the Royal Opera House behind you.

If you want to lead something distinctive, build a serious team and put your stamp on a destination bar, this is that opportunity.

What's in it for you?

Working with Company of Cooks has its perks! People are at the heart of everything we do, so we've developed a range of benefits to keep you happy.

• Personal Development and Training opportunities
• Life assurance scheme
• Pension scheme
• Holiday allowance
• Access to Healthcare Support App which includes Annual health check, Digital GP, Mental Health Consultations, Nutritional Consultations, Second Medical Opinion
• Eye care
• A great wellbeing strategy – including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance
• Family friendly support

• Regular social events and communication with our leaders
• A holiday purchase scheme
• Volunteering days
• Professional subscriptions
• Recognition schemes and peopleawards
Long service awards
• Access to some great high street discount vouchers