Area Manager – Hospitality
Char & Barrel Ltd – Hatfield and St Albans, Hertfordshire
A full UK driving licence and reliable access to transport are required due to regular travel between venues.
Pay and Contract type
- Employment: Full-time, permanent
- Location: Hatfield and St Albans, with regular travel between venues
- Pay: £45,000–£55,000 per year, depending on experience
Char & Barrel Ltd is looking for an experienced, commercially driven Area Manager to oversee multiple restaurant locations as our business continues to grow.
This is a senior operational role for someone with a proven track record in UK hospitality and multi-site management. You will be responsible for ensuring each location operates efficiently, profitably and consistently while maintaining the service and operational standards expected across Char & Barrel Ltd.
We are looking for a hands-on leader who can develop strong restaurant management teams, analyse performance and take ownership of results. You should be highly organised, commercially aware and able to identify problems, implement solutions and follow improvements through to completion.
The Role
As Area Manager, you will oversee the performance of multiple restaurant locations and their management teams.
You will act as the link between senior leadership and individual restaurant managers, ensuring company expectations are translated into effective day-to-day operations.
Your success will be measured not simply by how restaurants perform when you are present, but by your ability to build strong managers, systems and teams that consistently perform without requiring constant supervision.
Key ResponsibilitiesMulti-Site Operations
- Oversee the day-to-day performance of multiple restaurant locations
- Ensure consistent operational, service and brand standards across every site
- Conduct regular site visits, identifying operational issues and ensuring agreed actions are completed
- Establish and maintain effective systems, procedures and structures across locations
- Ensure communication between restaurant management, kitchen teams and senior leadership remains effective
- Support new restaurant openings and help establish operational standards as the company expands
Leadership & People Development
- Lead, support and hold Restaurant and Food & Beverage Managers accountable for the performance of their locations
- Develop managers into confident, independent leaders capable of running successful restaurants
- Establish consistent recruitment, onboarding, training and performance-management standards
- Identify strong performers and future management potential within the business
- Recognise underperformance early and work with managers to establish clear improvement plans
- Create a positive management culture based on accountability, communication, development and high standards
Commercial Performance
- Take responsibility for the commercial performance of restaurants within your area
- Monitor sales, labour, food and beverage costs, stock, wastage and other key performance indicators
- Review individual site performance and identify opportunities to improve profitability
- Ensure staffing and rotas are commercially appropriate while maintaining excellent guest service
- Analyse reports and operational data to identify trends, risks and opportunities
- Work with restaurant managers to establish clear performance targets and ensure agreed actions are followed through
- Identify opportunities to increase revenue, improve efficiency and control unnecessary costs
Standards & Guest Experience
- Ensure consistently high standards of hospitality and guest experience across all locations
- Maintain consistent food, beverage, service, cleanliness and presentation standards
- Review guest feedback and ensure recurring issues are identified and addressed
- Ensure managers and their teams maintain strong product, menu and service knowledge
- Protect the company's reputation by ensuring every location operates to the expected standard
Compliance
- Ensure all locations operate in accordance with food safety, health & safety, licensing and other relevant legal requirements
- Ensure managers understand their responsibilities and maintain appropriate records and procedures
- Identify compliance risks and ensure corrective actions are completed promptly
What We Are Looking For
- Significant proven experience within the UK hospitality industry
- Previous multi-site management experience within restaurants, bars or food & beverage operations
- A proven track record of managing and developing restaurant managers and their teams
- Strong understanding of restaurant operations and commercial performance
- Excellent understanding of labour costs, food and beverage costs, stock, wastage and profitability
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret operational and financial reports
- Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage priorities across multiple locations
- Confident, clear and professional communication
- A leadership style that combines accountability with coaching and development
- The confidence to challenge poor performance and recognise excellent performance
- A proactive, solutions-focused approach with strong follow-through
- The ability to work independently and take ownership of decisions and results
- Applicants must have the right to work in the UK
What We Offer
- Competitive annual salary of £45,000–£55,000, depending on experience
- A senior operational position within a growing hospitality company
- Genuine responsibility for the performance and development of multiple locations
- The opportunity to influence company-wide systems, standards and operational strategy
- The opportunity to play a significant role in new restaurant openings and future expansion
- Opportunities for further progression as Char & Barrel Ltd grows
How to Apply
Please submit your CV together with your current availability, earliest available starting date and details of your relevant multi-site hospitality management experience.
Please note: Previous UK hospitality management and multi-site operational experience are essential for this position. Applications that do not meet these requirements cannot be considered.
Pay: £45,000.00-£55,000.00 per year
Experience:
- Hospitality management: 5 years (required)
Language:
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
