Multiple positions available - permanent 20 hour contract and temporary minimum 8 hour contract. Additional hours potentially available during busy periods. Please state in your cover letter, which role you would prefer to be considered for.
The Role
You will be part of the team working in our award winning British Gastro-pub, The Oakfield, which was once the home to the founder of our zoo, George Mottershead and his family, as well as supporting within our purpose-built wedding and events space, The Square when required. You’ll be responsible for providing exceptional customer service to all our guests, whether they are stopping by for a quick drink during their day out at the zoo, having a delicious freshly made meal, or here as part of a wedding or corporate function.
You will carry out all general front of house restaurant/pub/event duties, including:
Welcoming and seating guests in a friendly and professional manner
Providing exceptional customer service at all times
Taking customer orders and confidently recommending food and drink options
Preparing and serving drinks, and delivering food to tables efficiently
Supporting bar service in line with licensing regulations
Maintaining cleanliness, hygiene, and presentation standards throughout The Oakfield
Keeping service areas well stocked, organised, and ready for service
Assisting with the setup, preparation, and breakdown of events in The Square and The Oakfield
Supporting weddings, corporate events, and private functions as required
Working collaboratively with the wider team to ensure smooth and efficient service
The Package
You’ll be working a variety of shifts, including during our core zoo opening hours, as well as early morning or evening work for events such as weddings and corporate functions or late-night opening.
Permanent contract
£12.71 per hour
33 days annual leave, based on 5 days per week
Annual holiday buy/sell scheme (dependant on contract)
Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off, plus multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family
Free travel to and from work on the X1 bus service from Chester and Ellesmere Port
Healthcare plan and employee assistance programme (dependant on contract)
Discounted gym membership
Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks
Pension scheme with generous employer contributions (dependant on contract)
Our Requirements
Excellent customer service skills, ideally gained in a similar environment such as a leading British Gastro-pub
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
Due to licencing requirements, you must be aged 18 or older
Desirable Requirements
It would be great if you also have experience of working functions and events such as weddings and corporate meetings, however full training will be given
Bar and/or barista experience would be desirable
What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?
Well, where do we start? Here goes
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?
We reserve the right to close our vacancies earlier than the listed date if we have received a high level of applications. We recommend that if you do wish to be considered that you submit your application as promptly as possible as shortlisting and interviews may be taking place whilst the advert is live.
