Sommelier

Bar Blondie; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentorship from leadership team

Weekly wine tastings

Staff wine training with importers/win

28 days holiday

Job summary

Bar Blondie in London’s North offers an exciting opportunity to join the opening team as Sommelier. You will lead wine service, curate the wine list, and work closely with the kitchen and management to ensure exceptional guest experiences.

We seek candidates with at least two years of hospitality experience and WSET Level 2 or equivalent, with Level 3 knowledge preferred or actively pursued. Join a vibrant, arts-driven, community-focused wine bar with a strong wine program.

Qualifications

• Minimum two years’ hospitality experience.
• WSET Level 2 (or equivalent) required; progression towards Level 2.
• WSET Level 3 knowledge preferred or in progress.

Responsibilities

• Lead wine service on the floor, ensuring a refined guest experience.
• Curate wine list; pairings and seasonal updates with kitchen and management.
• Educate and inspire guests and team on wine knowledge.

Skills

Wine knowledge

Upselling

Communication

Staff training

Education

WSET Level 2 or equivalent

WSET Level 3 (preferred)

Job description

LOCATION: Bar Blondie, Queen's Park (North London) NW6 6RA

OPPORTUNITY: An exciting opportunity to join the opening team of an ambitious newly opened wine bar.

• CONCEPT: Inspired by southern european wine bar culture and set in a west London mews with generous outdoor space for dining and drinking - it will be a creative, cultural and community hub combining rare wines, ingredient-led cooking, art, music, poetry and design.
• PEOPLE: The project comes from co-founders Elliot Milne (founder of Milk Beach) and Alex Price (Former Head of Wine at Plates, Head of Wine for HAM Restaurants, Beaverbrook and Annabels), bringing together deep experience across hospitality, wine, and operations.
• WINE: The wine program will be thoughtful and creative, exploring both classic old world estates and new age independent winemakers, all underpinned by low intervention sustainable farming practices, with an extensive selection of winemakers from all over the world.
• FOOD: an ingredient-led food offering that draws on Italian and Southern French influences, from an exciting chef to be announced soon.
• VIBE: The aim is to create something fresh for West London, a vibrant, community-led space that showcases exceptional wines and plates with a lively atmosphere and a carefully curated cultural program including musicians, speakers, poets and wine nights. In the summer, the mews will come alive with street-side dining and drinking.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• PASSIONATE: we're building a team that is passionate about hospitality, wine and food and with a never-ending curiosity to learn and share
• CONNECTION TO THE ARTS: we're looking for people with a genuine connection to and interest in the arts, who will resonate with and add to the cultural and community ethos of the wine bar
• EXPERIENCE: minimum two years' experience in hospitality experience, WSET Level 3 wine knowledge or equivalent preferred

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Proven experience as a Sommelier or in a comparable role within a premium wine bar or restaurant environment.
• WSET Level 2(or equivalent) required, or strong progression towards this level expected.
• Possesses in-depth wine knowledge, with a strong ability to curate, recommend, and confidently upsell wines tailored to guests’ preferences and menus.
• Leads the wine service on the floor, ensuring a refined, knowledgeable, and engaging guest experience.
• Works closely with the kitchen and management team to maintain and evolve the wine list, including pairings and seasonal updates.
• Demonstrates excellent communication skills, with the ability to educate and inspire both guests and team members.
• Plays a key role in training and developing junior staff in wine knowledge and service standards.

What we Offer:

• Mentorship under a highly experienced leadership team
• Frequent staff wine training - including but not exclusively with importers and winemakers.
• Weekly blind tastings.
• Access to supplier wine tastings and events.
• Supplier trips to farms and vineyards.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities for both product knowledge and management skills (e.g., WSET certifications and Watershed hospitality workshops)
• Awards programs and annual prize opportunities
• Friendly and motivating team environment
• Inclusive and diverse workforce
• Team socials
• 28 days holiday per year
• Meals, softs, coffees, and teas while on shift