Restaurant Manager – Bonsai Brighton
Location: Brighton
Pay: £19 per hour + TRONC
Estimated TRONC: around £3–£4 extra per hour
Schedule: Typically Tuesday–Saturday, with flexibility required for events and business needs
Job Type: Full-time
Bonsai Brighton is looking for a confident, hands-on Restaurant Manager to take ownership of the day-to-day running of the restaurant.
This is a key leadership role for someone who loves hospitality, takes pride in high standards, and is comfortable being fully involved in service, team management, operations, events, content, and the continued growth of the business.
The Restaurant Manager will report directly to the owner and will be responsible for making sure the restaurant runs smoothly, professionally, and consistently across all areas of the business.
About the role
You will lead the front of house team, manage daily service, uphold standards, support business growth, and help create a strong team culture. This role would suit someone who is proactive, detail-focused, confident with people, and able to take real ownership of the restaurant.
Bonsai is entering a period of growth, so we are looking for someone who wants to be part of building something exciting and long-term, not just someone looking for a standard management job.
Social media and brand presence
A major part of this role will involve helping to represent Bonsai publicly through social media.
This is not a standard restaurant management position where you are only expected to run the floor and manage the team. We are looking for someone who is comfortable being a visible part of the brand and understands that social media, content, personality, and behind-the-scenes storytelling are a big part of how independent restaurants grow.
You do not need to be an influencer or content creator, but you must be comfortable appearing in photos, videos, Instagram stories, TikToks, behind-the-scenes content, staff features, event promotions, and other brand-led content where appropriate.
You should be confident, personable, and happy to help bring energy and personality to the business online, while still representing the restaurant professionally.
This will suit someone who enjoys hospitality, people, creativity, and being part of a restaurant with a strong identity.
Key responsibilities
Guest experience and service leadership
You will lead from the front during service, setting the tone for hospitality, energy, and professionalism. You’ll be responsible for making sure every guest has a consistently high-quality experience, while confidently managing bookings, table flow, customer feedback, and the overall atmosphere of the restaurant.
Daily operations
You will take control of daily service operations, including opening and closing procedures, table timings, floor flow, communication between front of house and kitchen, and making sure the team is performing effectively during service.
Team leadership
You will lead, motivate, train, and manage the front of house team. This includes staff performance, accountability, feedback conversations, rota planning, and helping to build a positive but high-standard team culture.
Financial and business performance
You will help manage key business targets, including labour cost, wage control, stock control, sales performance, upselling, cash handling, and general profitability.
Standards and compliance
You will be responsible for maintaining high standards of cleanliness, organisation, health and safety, licensing, food hygiene, and general restaurant presentation.
Bar and beverage oversight
You will oversee bar operations, including stock levels, ordering, cleanliness, consistency, cocktails, syrups, house infusions, and supporting drink service where needed.
Admin and business support
You will help manage rotas, reporting, bookings, phone calls, operational admin, new systems, promotions, and events. You will act as the key point of contact when the owner is not present.
Events, pop-ups and growth
Bonsai is growing beyond standard restaurant service, so the Restaurant Manager will also support events, collaborations, pop-ups, and special projects.
This may include helping organise events at Bonsai, supporting off-site pop-ups, adjusting rotas around business needs, helping promote events, and making sure the core restaurant continues to run smoothly.
What we’re looking for
We are looking for someone with:
- Strong restaurant management or assistant management experience
- A genuine passion for hospitality and guest experience
- Strong leadership and communication skills
- High standards and excellent attention to detail
- Confidence managing a team during busy service
- Confidence being on camera and appearing in social media content
- An understanding that content and brand presence are a key part of the role
- A proactive, solutions-focused mindset
- Good understanding of rotas, labour control, stock, and service standards
- Reliability, professionalism, and consistency
- Flexibility around events and non-standard trading hours when needed
- A desire to grow with the business
Pay and bonuses
The role is paid at £16 per hour, plus TRONC.
TRONC currently averages approximately £3–£4 extra per hour, depending on business performance.
There will also be opportunities for performance-related bonuses based on targets such as labour control, cost control, initiative, and overall business performance. Currently a £250 bonus per month, If the targets are hit.
Benefits
- £19 per hour + TRONC
- TRONC averaging around £3–£4 extra per hour
- Staff meal provided during shifts
- Staff discount when dining off-duty
- 1 complimentary meal for two per quarter, up to £100
- Structured working week, usually Tuesday–Saturday
- Opportunity for one weekend off per month where possible
- Autonomy to create rotas in line with business needs and labour targets
- Involvement in menu tastings, events, pop-ups, and collaborations
- Opportunity to be involved in social media, content, and brand-building
- Career progression as the business grows
- Supportive, ambitious, and performance-driven working environment
- Opportunity to help shape the next stage of Bonsai Brighton
About Bonsai
Bonsai Brighton is an independent restaurant with a strong identity, loyal customer base, and exciting plans for growth. We are focused on high standards, great service, strong team culture, strong online presence, and building a restaurant that people genuinely love coming back to.
This is a great opportunity for a manager who wants real responsibility, creative involvement, and the chance to be part of a growing independent business.
To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter explaining why you think you’d be a good fit for the role.
Pay: From £16.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
Experience:
- Restaurant management: 1 year (required)
Work Location: In person
