General Manager
Location: Soul Mama Islington, London
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Lead One of London’s Most Exciting Hospitality Venues
Soul Mama is more than a restaurant. We are a destination where exceptional food, world-class live music and vibrant culture come together to create unforgettable experiences.
We’re looking for an experienced, commercially driven General Manager to lead our flagship venue in Islington. This is an exciting opportunity for an inspiring hospitality leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, loves developing people and understands how to balance operational excellence with an outstanding guest experience.
You’ll be responsible for leading every aspect of the venue, from financial performance and team development to live event operations, ensuring Soul Mama continues to deliver exceptional hospitality every single day.
What You’ll Be Doing
As General Manager, you’ll have overall responsibility for the performance of the venue, leading the restaurant, bar, kitchen and management teams while working closely with the Directors and Chief of Staff to achieve business objectives.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Managing the day-to-day operation of the venue, ensuring exceptional standards of food, beverage and service.
- Leading, developing and inspiring a high-performing management team.
- Driving commercial performance through effective budgeting, labour management and cost control.
- Taking ownership of venue profitability, KPI performance and financial reporting.
- Recruiting, training and developing exceptional people whilst creating a positive and accountable team culture.
- Overseeing rotas, labour deployment and productivity in line with business demands.
- Maintaining outstanding standards of cleanliness, presentation and compliance throughout the venue.
- Ensuring full compliance with Health & Safety, Food Safety, licensing and employment legislation.
- Working closely with the Events and Marketing teams to deliver exceptional live music events and private functions.
- Supporting promotional activity and local partnerships to drive sales and increase guest engagement.
- Leading pre-service briefings and ensuring every department is fully prepared for service.
- Taking ownership of guest satisfaction, resolving complaints professionally and continually improving the customer experience.
- Monitoring business performance and implementing initiatives that improve revenue, profitability and operational efficiency.
- Creating an environment where every team member feels supported, motivated and proud to represent the Soul Mama brand.
What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for an experienced hospitality leader with a proven track record of managing high-volume restaurants, bars or entertainment-led venues.
You’ll bring:
- A minimum of three years’ experience as a General Manager or senior hospitality leader.
- Exceptional leadership and people management skills.
- Strong commercial awareness with experience managing budgets, labour costs and gross profit.
- Experience analysing business performance and delivering measurable improvements.
- Excellent communication and organisational skills.
- A passion for developing people and building high-performing teams.
- The ability to remain calm, decisive and solutions-focused under pressure.
- A genuine passion for hospitality and creating memorable guest experiences.
- Essential Requirements
- Previous General Manager experience within hospitality.
- Experience managing multiple departments.
- Strong financial and commercial management experience.
- Excellent knowledge of Health & Safety, Food Safety and licensing legislation.
- Level 3 Food Safety qualification.
- Flexible availability, including evenings, weekends and live events.
Desirable
Experience within a live music venue or entertainment-led hospitality business
- Personal Licence Holder.
- First Aid at Work qualification.
- Fire Marshal training.
- Experience opening new venues or leading business growth.
Why Join Soul Mama?
This is an opportunity to lead one of London’s most exciting hospitality concepts and become part of an ambitious business with significant growth plans.
You’ll work alongside passionate leaders, talented teams and incredible artists while helping shape the future of a brand that is redefining hospitality through food, music and culture.
If you’re an inspirational leader who loves hospitality, thrives on building exceptional teams and is ready to take ownership of a truly unique venue, we’d love to hear from you.
Pay: Up to £45,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee discount
Education:
- Certificate of Higher Education (required)
Experience:
- Hospitality management: 4 years (required)
- Hospitality: 5 years (required)
Language:
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
