General Manager – Hide & Seek Café Bar
Location: Milton Keynes
Salary: Competitive (dependent on experience) + Performance Bonus
About Us
Hide & Seek Café Bar is an independent, café built on exceptional coffee, fresh food and genuine hospitality. Alongside our busy daytime café, we also host private events and celebrations, offering bespoke experiences for our guests.
We are also the sister company of Private Chef Direct, providing bespoke luxury private dining experiences across the UK.
We're looking for an experienced, driven and hands-on General Manager to take ownership of the day-to-day operation of the business. This isn't a role for someone who wants to sit in the office – we're looking for someone who leads from the front, inspires their team and treats the business as if it were their own.
The Role
As General Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the daily operation of the café, ensuring outstanding customer service, strong financial performance and an engaged, motivated team.
You will work closely with the business owner while having the autonomy to make decisions, solve problems and continually improve standards across every area of the business.
As part of the role, you will also oversee the planning and delivery of private events, ensuring every event runs seamlessly while identifying opportunities to upsell food, drinks and additional services to maximise revenue and create memorable customer experiences.
You may also occasionally support our sister company, Private Chef Direct, assisting with planning or event coordination when required.
Responsibilities
- Lead, motivate and develop the team to deliver exceptional customer experiences every day.
- Manage all day-to-day café operations, ensuring smooth and efficient service.
- Recruit, train and coach team members to maintain high standards.
- Create and manage rotas, ensuring labour is controlled while maintaining excellent service levels.
- Monitor labour costs.
- Take full ownership of staffing levels throughout the week, adjusting rotas where necessary to meet business demands.
- Drive sales and identify opportunities to increase revenue and profitability.
- Proactively promote and sell private hire packages, working with customers to create bespoke events.
- Manage private event enquiries from initial enquiry through to successful delivery.
- Upsell food, drinks packages and additional services to maximise event revenue.
- Support the continued growth of our events business.
- Manage stock ordering, stock control and minimise waste.
- Ensure cash handling and daily financial procedures are completed accurately.
- Analyse sales, labour and business performance to make informed decisions.
- Maintain exceptional cleanliness and presentation throughout the café, including the front bar, seating areas, plants, displays and customer-facing spaces.
- Ensure all food safety, health & safety and compliance procedures are followed at all times.
- Maintain equipment and organise maintenance where required.
- Handle customer feedback professionally and turn complaints into positive experiences.
- Create a positive, accountable culture where high standards are the norm.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who:
- Has previous experience as a General Manager, Restaurant Manager or Café Manager.
- Has strong commercial awareness and enjoys growing sales as well as managing operations.
- Has experience managing or coordinating private events.
- Is confident building relationships with customers and converting enquiries into bookings.
- Is a natural leader who enjoys developing people.
- Leads by example and isn't afraid to get stuck in during busy services.
- Has excellent organisational and communication skills.
- Understands how to manage sales, labour, stock and profitability.
- Can confidently manage rotas, recruitment, performance and disciplinary matters.
- Takes ownership and accountability rather than waiting to be told what to do.
- Has exceptional attention to detail.
- Is passionate about hospitality and creating memorable customer experiences.
- Thrives in a fast-paced independent business.
Our Standards
We believe that the little things make the biggest difference. Our General Manager will be expected to maintain and enforce standards including:
- Exceptional customer service at all times.
- Professional appearance and presentation.
- Punctuality and reliability.
- Accurate clocking in and out.
- No mobile phone use during service except for business purposes.
- Maintaining a clean, organised and welcoming environment throughout the day.
- Ensuring food quality and coffee standards remain consistently excellent.
- Creating a positive, supportive and accountable culture within the team.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary.
- Performance-related bonus.
- Commission bonus on private events.
- Staff discounts.
- Opportunities to develop and grow with the business.
- Autonomy to make a genuine impact.
- The opportunity to be involved in both an exciting independent café and a growing private events and hospitality business.
- The chance to work alongside Private Chef Direct, expanding your experience across premium hospitality and events.
If you're passionate about hospitality, love leading people, have a commercial mindset and want the opportunity to make a real impact in a growing independent business, we'd love to hear from you.
Pay: £35,000.00-£45,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Store discount
Work Location: In person
