Temporary Food & Beverage Events Assistant

Chester Zoo; Chester; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 22,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff pass

Complimentary tickets

Free bus travel

Staff discount

Subsidised canteen

Online discount

Free entry to affiliated zoos

Job summary

Chester Zoo is seeking Events Team Members to support weddings, parties, conferences and other events across The Square and The Oakfield gastro-pub. The role is hands-on, varied, and aims to deliver world-class guest experiences.

You will also assist front-of-house F&B duties, lead small conferences, and build strong client relationships on event days. An exciting 2026 plan supports growth and variety, with shifts including weekends and evenings.

Qualifications

• Excellent customer service skills, ideally in events, hospitality, or related venues.
• Clear communication and teamwork abilities.
• Good numeracy and literacy for taking orders and processing payments.
• Cash handling experience.
• Ability to think on your feet across varying event scenarios.
• Keen eye for detail and high standards.
• Due to licencing requirements, you must be aged 18 or older.

Responsibilities

• Assist with event setup and pack downs to keep spaces presentable.
• Welcome and serve guests in a friendly, professional manner.
• Support food and beverage service, including meals, drinks, and clearing tables.
• Lead delivery of small conferences and coordinate with clients on-day.
• Build strong client relationships to encourage repeat business.
• Support front-of-house F&B operations when required in the pub and outlets.
• Maintain cleanliness and presentation across event spaces and F&B areas.
• Collaborate with team to ensure seamless events from start to finish.

Skills

Customer service

Excellent communication

Numeracy and literacy

Cash handling

Adaptability

Attention to detail

Eligible 18+

Job description

We’re looking for Events Team Members to join our Food & Beverage team at the UK’s number 1 zoo!

The Role

As an Events Team Member, you’ll support the smooth running of weddings, parties, conferences, and other exciting events at the zoo, across our stunning events space, The Square, and our award-winning British gastro-pub, The Oakfield. With exciting plans for 2026 and beyond, there’s never been a better time to join us!

Your role will be hands‑on, varied, and focused on ensuring every guest enjoys a world‑class experience. In addition to event delivery, you will also support Food & Beverage front‑of‑house duties within the pub and other F&B units as required. You will also take the lead on small conferences, building positive relationships with clients and acting as a key point of contact on the day.

Duties include

• Assisting with event setups and pack downs, ensuring spaces look their best
• Welcoming and serving guests with a friendly, professional manner
• Supporting food and beverage service, including serving meals, drinks, and clearing tables
• Leading the delivery of small conferences, liaising with clients and ensuring their requirements are met
• Building and maintaining strong client relationships to support repeat business and positive feedback
• Supporting front‑of‑house Food & Beverage operations within the pub and other F&B outlets when required
• Maintaining cleanliness and presentation across event spaces and F&B areas
• Working with colleagues and managers to deliver seamless events from start to finish

The Package

You’ll be working a variety of shifts, including weekdays, weekends’ and evenings, for events such as weddings, private parties and corporate functions, Christmas parties. Contracted hours are a minimum of 8 hours per week, with additional hours available during peak periods.

• Temporary contract, until 31st December
• Rate of pay of £12.71 per hour regardless of age
• Working on a rota basis with a minimum of 8 hours per week up to a maximum of 40 hours per week. Hours will vary and can be significantly more during busy periods. This includes weekends, bank holidays and evenings.
• Annual leave which accrues based on hours of work.
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off, plus complimentary tickets for your friends and family.
• Free bus travel available on the X1 from Chester and Ellesmere Port train stations
• Staff discount in our restaurants and retail outlets
• Subsidised staff canteen
• Online Discount/Cashback scheme
• Free entry to affiliated zoo’s and collections through BIAZA including Blue Planet Aquarium

Our Requirements

• Excellent customer service skills, ideally gained in a similar environment such as an event space or hospitality venue
• Excellent communication skills and teamwork
• A good level of numeracy and literacy, to help with taking orders, reading menus and processing payments
• Cash handling experience
• Ability to think on your feet and adapt to a multitude of difference scenarios
• A keen eye for detail and passion for high standards
• Due to licencing requirements, you must be aged 18 or older

Desirable Requirements

• Bar and/or barista experience would be desirable

What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?

We’re a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal welfare experts, marketeers, visitor experience professionals, environmental policy influencers; the list goes on. Each and every one of us is on a mission to make Chester Zoo the best in the world, and our planet a better place.

As the UK’s biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans, and there’s always lots going on here. We’re an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of over 600 permanent and up to 500 temporary team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us for the long term on our exciting journey.

Our working environment could not be more different from a typical place of work – where else can you see critically endangered orangutans, rare giraffes and tigers on your lunch break?