The Role
We’re looking for a hands-on, switched-on Café Manager to lead the day-to-day running of Parklife Café in Banstead.
This isn’t just about opening and closing the doors. It’s about owning the space. Setting the tone. Making sure every customer walks away thinking, yeah… I’ll come back here.
Parklife is a warm, modern café set in the park with a strong community feel, high-quality food, great coffee, and a growing reputation as both a daytime café and an evening venue.
So the role needs someone who can balance both sides of that. Calm daytime service, but also knows how to handle busier, more social evenings when needed.
Key Responsibilities
Daily Operations
- Oversee the full day-to-day running of the café
- Open/close the site, manage cashing up, and maintain standards throughout service
- Ensure smooth, efficient service across breakfast, brunch, lunch and events
Team Leadership
- Lead, train and motivate a small team
- Set the standard for service, attitude and pace
- Handle rota planning, staffing levels, and team development
Customer Experience
- Create a genuinely welcoming atmosphere
- Handle customer feedback, complaints, and special requests professionally
- Maintain a consistent, high-end but relaxed experience
Standards & Compliance
- Maintain cleanliness, hygiene and food safety standards at all times
- Ensure the team follows all operational procedures
- Keep the café looking sharp, clean and well-presented
Stock & Financial Control
- Manage stock ordering, deliveries, and waste
- Monitor margins, costs and daily takings
- Work closely with ownership on performance and improvements
Events & Growth
- Support private hire, parties and evening service
- Help develop the café as a local destination, not just a stop-off
- Bring ideas… and actually help implement them
What We’re Looking For
- Experience managing or supervising in a café, restaurant or bar
- Someone who naturally takes ownership rather than waiting to be told
- Strong people skills. You can read a room, manage a team, and keep things moving
- Organised, reliable, and calm under pressure
- A good eye for detail… the small things matter here
- Comfortable balancing service, staff and numbers at the same time
The Kind of Person Who Fits Here
Honestly, this role suits someone who:
- Likes being in the middle of it, not hiding in the office
- Takes pride in how a place feels, not just how it runs
- Notices when things slip… and fixes them without drama
- Wants to build something, not just manage shifts
What You’ll Get
- Competitive salary (based on experience)
- A proper say in how the café runs and grows
- A supportive, hands-on owner (not corporate layers)
- Opportunity to shape a well-positioned local venue into something bigger
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £26,700.00-£36,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
