Hospitality & Events Lead
Marie’s Tearoom & Emporium – Gravesend
Part-time – approximately min 24–30 hours per week
Includes weekday, weekend and occasional evening working
About the Role
We are looking for a practical, reliable and hands-on Hospitality & Events Lead to take responsibility for the day-to-day operation of Marie’s Tearoom and our catering and events work.
This is not an office-based management role. We need somebody who is happy to be actively involved in the operation, including cooking, serving customers, supporting staff and making sure high standards are maintained.
Our Tearoom menu is straightforward and includes breakfasts, bacon rolls, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, afternoon teas and similar café-style food. You do not need to be a qualified chef, but you must be confident preparing and cooking food to a good standard.
You will take ownership of the hospitality operation, with support from the business owner while you learn our systems, procedures and ways of working.
An important part of the role is also taking responsibility for our school residential catering, external catering and events, which are busier at certain times of the year.
Key Responsibilities
You will be responsible for:
- Taking day-to-day responsibility for Marie’s Tearoom and Emporium.
- Preparing and cooking the full Tearoom menu.
- Ensuring food is properly cooked, well presented and served consistently.
- Opening and closing the Tearoom independently.
- Acting as the person responsible for the operation when the owner is not on site.
- Leading, supporting and supervising the hospitality team.
- Allocating work and making sure shifts run effectively.
- Training new and existing staff.
- Maintaining high standards of customer service.
- Ensuring food hygiene, kitchen and cleaning standards are maintained.
- Monitoring stock levels and organising or supporting ordering.
- Maintaining good stock rotation and helping reduce unnecessary waste.
- Making sure daily checks and procedures are completed correctly.
- Dealing with routine customer complaints and operational problems.
- Identifying issues and taking action rather than waiting for somebody else to resolve them.
- Supporting recruitment and trial shifts where required.
- Helping make sure appropriate staff cover is in place.
Residential, External Catering & Events
The business provides catering for school residentials and other events throughout the year, with particularly busy periods during the spring and summer.
The Hospitality & Events Lead will take responsibility for organising and delivering this work, with support from the owner where needed.
Responsibilities will include:
- Planning catering requirements.
- Checking numbers and dietary requirements.
- Planning menus and quantities.
- Organising food and supply orders.
- Preparing food and equipment for off-site catering.
- Leading catering delivery on location.
- Organising and supervising additional catering staff.
- Ensuring appropriate food hygiene and safety procedures are followed.
- Making sure everything required for an event or residential is prepared in advance.
- Reviewing events afterwards and identifying improvements.
Additional temporary or casual team members may support larger catering jobs. You are not expected to do everything alone; your responsibility is to make sure the operation is properly organised and delivered.
About You
We are looking for somebody who:
- Is confident cooking straightforward café-style food.
- Has experience within hospitality, cafés, restaurants, catering or a similar environment.
- Is comfortable taking responsibility and making decisions.
- Can lead and support a small team.
- Is organised and able to prioritise.
- Is confident dealing with customers.
- Can work independently.
- Notices problems and takes action.
- Understands the importance of food hygiene, cleanliness and consistency.
- Remains calm and practical when things become busy.
- Is reliable and takes ownership of their responsibilities.
- Is able to work flexibly around the needs of the business.
Previous supervisory, team-leading or management experience would be an advantage, although we would consider somebody with strong hospitality experience who is ready to take on greater responsibility.
A driving licence would be advantageous because of our external catering and events work.
Working Pattern
Marie’s Tearoom & Emporium is open Tuesday to Sunday.
Weekend working will form part of the normal role, alongside weekday shifts.
The role will also include occasional evening work for events, functions and external catering.
Hours may vary at different times of the year because our residential, catering and events work is seasonal.
We are looking for somebody who wants to take genuine ownership of the hospitality operation and help us continue improving the consistency, standards and future development of the business.
Pay: £15.00-£16.00 per hour
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
Work Location: In person
