About the Role
We are opening a fresh, independently owned sandwich and coffee bar in Boscombe East / Pokesdown, Bournemouth and are looking for a talented, self-motivated manager to run it as their own.
The owner comes from a business and finance background and will handle the administrative side of things — accounts, rent, compliance, and the financial running of the business. They won't be in the shop day-to-day and won't be looking over your shoulder on operational matters. What they will bring is a clear vision for the business, an active involvement in marketing and menu direction, and a genuine product — the owner runs an independent brownie bakery and their products will be stocked and sold in the bar alongside the food you produce.
This is a business with an owner who cares about it and will be engaged in shaping what it becomes — but the day-to-day running of the shop, the kitchen, the service, and the customer relationships will be yours to own. Ultimate decisions rest with the owner, but the operational expertise sits entirely with you. If you're someone who thrives on genuine autonomy, takes pride in running a tight and well-organised operation, and wants to be trusted to get on with it without being micromanaged, this could be exactly what you're looking for.
We are a predominantly takeaway operation — fast, friendly, and focused on quality. We serve the breakfast and lunchtime crowds who want something genuinely good, made fresh in front of them, and ready to go. There may be limited outdoor seating in the summer months, but the heart of what we do is great food and coffee to take away.
We will serve freshly made sandwiches, subs, wraps, baps, hot and cold fillings, and quality espresso-based coffee from a professional barista machine. Simple, honest food and proper coffee done well — and you'll be the one making sure of it.
Food hygiene standards are a non-negotiable priority. We are committed to achieving and maintaining a 5-star Food Hygiene Rating and expect our manager to take full personal ownership of that — not simply as a compliance exercise, but as a reflection of how the kitchen is run every single day. If immaculate cleanliness and rigorous hygiene practice are things you take genuine pride in, you'll fit right in.
Working Hours
Monday–Friday 7:15am–2:15pm (Doors open 7:30am)
Saturday 7:45am–12:30pm (Doors open 8:00am)
Sunday Closed
You will be joined by a part-time member of staff each weekday lunchtime, giving you cover for your break and support through the busiest period of the day. Saturdays you will run solo — the shorter hours make this entirely manageable.
What You'll Be Doing
- Opening and closing the shop daily and managing all front-of-house and back-of-house operations
- Preparing and serving freshly made food to a high, consistent standard throughout the breakfast and lunch service
- Crafting espresso-based drinks to a professional standard using a barista machine — quality coffee is central to what we do and we expect it to be taken seriously
- Taking full responsibility for food hygiene standards — maintaining the cleanliness, organisation, and compliance required to achieve and sustain a 5-star Food Hygiene Rating at all times
- Managing allergen information across the entire menu accurately and diligently — every ingredient, every product, communicated correctly to customers and documented properly at all times
- Managing stock ordering, supplier relationships, and minimising wastage
- Handling daily takings, cash reconciliation, and basic record-keeping
- Building relationships with regular customers and driving repeat business
- Supervising, training, and taking day-to-day responsibility for the part-time lunch cover member of staff
- Playing a key role in the recruitment of that part-time member of staff — we don't yet have anyone in post and we'll want your input on who joins the team, since you'll be the one working alongside them every day
- Reporting daily sales and any operational issues to the owner
- Contributing to menu development in collaboration with the owner — your operational knowledge and the owner's product vision will shape what we offer
- Representing the business with pride — this shop will be your patch
What We're Looking For
Essential:
- Proven experience running or managing a sandwich bar, deli, café, or similar food service environment
- Genuine barista experience — you will be making espresso-based drinks to a consistently high standard every day and we need someone who can do this confidently and efficiently during a busy service
- Level 3 Food Hygiene certificate — this is essential, not desirable. You will be the named Food Business Operator and solely responsible for the hygiene standards of the premises
- A thorough and confident understanding of allergen regulations — including Natasha's Law — and the ability to implement and maintain accurate allergen information across the full menu and all products sold on the premises
- A demonstrable track record of maintaining high cleanliness and hygiene standards, and a genuine commitment to achieving and sustaining a 5-star Food Hygiene Rating
- A genuine passion for food and customer service
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to work independently without day-to-day supervision
- Reliable, punctual, and trustworthy — the owner will not be on site daily and trust is everything in this role
- Good basic numeracy and comfort with daily cash/till reconciliation
Desirable
- Experience with EPOS/till systems and daily sales reporting
- Experience with stock management and supplier ordering
- Experience recruiting and supervising junior members of staff
What We Offer
- £26,000–£28,000 base salary depending on experience
- Profit share bonus — once the business hits an agreed performance threshold, you'll share in the profits you help generate. This is a genuine, contractual scheme — not a vague promise
- Daytime hours only — no evenings, no late nights
- Early finish every day — home by early afternoon Monday to Friday, and by lunchtime on Saturdays
- Sundays always off
- Real autonomy and the opportunity to put your stamp on a new business from day one
- A business owner who will handle the financial and administrative side properly, leaving you free to focus entirely on running a great operation
- The genuine opportunity to build something — this is a new business and your reputation will grow with it
Important — Please Read Before Applying
The owner of this business comes from a business, finance & online Brownies by post background, not food service. They will not be working in the shop, will not be on site day-to-day, and will not be in a position to offer hands-on operational guidance. The accounts will be kept, the rent will be paid, the marketing will be looked after, and the business will be properly supported — but the kitchen, the service, the standards, and the customer relationships will be entirely yours to own. This is not a role where you clock in and wait to be told what to do. It suits someone who has the experience, the confidence, and the drive to walk in on day one and take charge. If that sounds like you, we'd very much like to hear from you. We will be interviewing a small number of candidates and will be looking closely at attitude, reliability, and relevant experience. References will be taken up thoroughly
How to Apply
Please apply with your CV and a covering note telling us:
- Where you've worked previously in a similar role
- Your barista experience and the type of equipment you've worked with
- What draws you to this opportunity specifically
- When you'd be available to start
Your cover note doesn't need to be an essay, but we do want to get a genuine sense of who you are and what you'd bring to this role
We are in the process of setting up a new business and are recruiting ahead of opening. We anticipate being ready to open in the coming months and will keep shortlisted candidates updated on our timeline throughout the process. You'll notice we haven't included a business name — that's because we're still in the process of building this venture from the ground up, and choosing a name is part of that journey. We wanted to find the right person now rather than wait, and we didn't want an unnamed business to raise doubts. What matters at this stage is the role, the opportunity, and whether it's the right fit for you.
Pay: £26,000.00-£28,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
