Cove @ Castle & Cove
.Cove is the newest concept from Castle & Cove – a unique all-day hospitality venue that seamlessly transforms from a premium speciality coffee shop by day into a stylish cocktail bar by night. Our focus is on exceptional coffee, handcrafted cocktails, outstanding hospitality and creating an atmosphere that evolves throughout the day.
We're looking for an ambitious, hands-on General Manager who is equally passionate about speciality coffee and premium bar service.
The Role
As General Manager, you will have full responsibility for the day-to-day operation of Cove, ensuring every guest enjoys an exceptional experience from the first morning coffee to the final evening cocktail.
You will inspire, train and develop your team while driving sales, maintaining operational excellence and ensuring the venue consistently delivers to the highest standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and inspire the entire Cove team across café and bar operations.
- Take full ownership of the venue's daily performance.
- Deliver exceptional customer experiences throughout both day and evening service.
- Recruit, train and mentor baristas, bartenders and floor staff.
- Maintain consistently high standards in speciality coffee preparation and cocktail execution.
- Create staff rotas and manage labour costs effectively.
- Manage stock ordering, supplier relationships and inventory control.
- Monitor financial performance including sales, GP margins and wage percentages.
- Develop and implement promotional events, seasonal menus and new product launches.
- Ensure all health & safety, food hygiene and licensing regulations are met.
- Resolve customer issues professionally and efficiently.
- Work closely with the owners to grow the Cove brand and identify new business opportunities.
- Lead by example by remaining active on the floor during busy periods.
Essential Requirements
The successful candidate will have:
- Minimum 3 years' management experience in hospitality.
- Strong speciality coffee and barista experience.
- Experience managing a premium café or coffee operation.
- Proven cocktail and bar management experience.
- Excellent leadership and people management skills.
- Experience recruiting, coaching and developing hospitality teams.
- Strong commercial awareness with experience managing budgets and KPIs.
- Excellent organisational and problem-solving abilities.
- Experience with stock control, ordering and supplier management.
- Ability to remain calm and lead during busy service periods.
- Flexibility to work mornings, evenings and weekends.
Desirable
- Formal barista training or speciality coffee certification.
- Personal Licence holder (or willingness to obtain one).
- Cocktail competition or premium bar experience.
- Experience launching or managing a new hospitality venue.
- Knowledge of social media and local event marketing.
What We're Looking For
We're searching for someone who:
- Loves both coffee culture and cocktail culture.
- Leads from the front rather than from the office.
- Has high standards and attention to detail.
- Creates a positive, energetic working environment.
- Is passionate about delivering memorable guest experiences.
- Takes pride in building and developing an exceptional team.
- Treats the business as if it were their own.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary.
- Performance-related bonus.
- Opportunity to shape and grow a new hospitality concept.
- Ongoing training and professional development.
- Creative input into coffee, cocktail and food menus.
- Career progression within the Castle & Cove brand.
- Staff discounts and company perks.
Join us and help establish Cove as one of the North West's leading destinations for speciality coffee by day and premium cocktails by night.
We are looking for an experienced, passionate, and hands-on General Manager to lead our team, drive sales, and establish Castle & Cove as the destination venue for both coffee lovers and nightlife enthusiasts.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the day-to-day operations of the venue, ensuring exceptional customer service at all times.
- Recruit, train, motivate, and manage a high-performing team across coffee, bar, and floor operations.
- Create a positive workplace culture focused on teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.
- Oversee specialty coffee standards, ensuring consistency in quality, presentation, and customer experience.
- Maintain high standards in cocktail preparation, bar service, and late-night operations.
- Develop and implement marketing campaigns and social media advertising strategies to increase footfall, brand awareness, and sales.
- Manage the venue's social media presence, including promotions, events, and customer engagement.
- Monitor sales performance and identify opportunities to grow revenue.
- Control labour costs, stock management, ordering, wastage, and budgets.
- Ensure compliance with licensing laws, health & safety regulations, and food hygiene standards.
- Resolve customer feedback professionally and maintain outstanding online reviews.
- Work closely with ownership to develop new ideas, promotions, and business growth strategies.
Essential Requirements
- Minimum 2 years' experience in a General Manager or senior management role within hospitality.
- Strong background in both specialty coffee and premium cocktail service.
- Proven experience managing busy cafés, bars, or hospitality venues.
- Demonstrated success managing and developing teams.
- Experience creating and managing social media advertising campaigns across Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
- Commercial awareness with a strong understanding of sales, profitability, and cost control.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and organisational skills.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while maintaining exceptional service standards.
- Flexible to work evenings, weekends, and late-night shifts.
Desirable Skills
- Barista training or specialty coffee certification.
- Cocktail qualifications or mixology experience.
- Experience with entertainment venues, events, or nightclub operations.
- Knowledge of POS systems, stock control software, and rota management.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary based on experience.
- Performance-related bonus opportunities.
- Opportunity to shape and grow an exciting hospitality brand.
- Creative freedom to develop events, promotions, and marketing campaigns.
- Staff discounts and incentives.
- Ongoing training and professional development.
- Career progression within a growing business.
If you're passionate about exceptional coffee, world-class cocktails, hospitality, and creating unforgettable guest experiences, we'd love to hear from you.
Pay: £35,000.00-£45,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
Experience:
- Management: 2 years (required)
- Barista: 3 years (preferred)
Work Location: In person
