Deputy / Duty Manager – Bar, Hospitality & Guest Experience
The Bank – Low Fell, Gateshead
Pay: Competitive – good hourly rate or fixed salary negotiable depending on experience, availability and the role agreed
Hours: Full-time or substantial part-time considered for the right person
Schedule: Monday–Sunday hospitality rota, including regular weekend and Bank Holiday availability
The opportunity
The Bank is an independent neighbourhood bar in the heart of Low Fell, offering cocktails, wines, drinks, food, events and relaxed hospitality in a stylish and welcoming environment.
We are looking for an experienced, confident and dependable Deputy/Duty Manager who can help drive the venue forward while supporting the existing management team.
We're not simply looking for someone to hold keys and supervise a shift.
We want someone with personality, maturity and genuine hospitality experience who enjoys being around guests, can lead a team, create atmosphere, spot opportunities and take responsibility when on duty.
If you can demonstrate that you genuinely add value to the business, we are prepared to recognise and reward that accordingly.
The role
You will work alongside the venue management team, taking responsibility for agreed shifts and helping ensure The Bank operates to a consistently high standard.
Depending upon experience, responsibilities will include:
- confidently leading and taking ownership of shifts;
- being visible, approachable and engaged with guests;
- helping create a fun, lively and welcoming atmosphere;
- supporting and motivating the bar and front-of-house team;
- maintaining high standards of service, presentation and cleanliness;
- cocktails, wines, spirits and general beverage service;
- opening/closing, cash handling and normal Duty Manager responsibilities;
- dealing calmly and professionally with guest issues;
- supporting functions, entertainment and special events;
- getting to know regular customers and encouraging repeat visits;
- helping identify quieter periods and opportunities to increase trade;
- contributing ideas for promotions, events and customer engagement;
- helping ensure good ideas are actually implemented and followed through;
- providing reliable management cover, particularly across weekends, Bank Holidays and key trading periods.
Who we're looking for
Previous hospitality management/supervisory experience is important. We would particularly like to hear from experienced Deputy Managers, Assistant Managers, Duty Managers, Bar Managers or strong senior supervisors ready for greater responsibility.
But experience alone isn't enough.
We're looking for someone who is:
- bubbly, personable and naturally good with people;
- mature, dependable and trusted to take responsibility;
- confident enough to lead a busy shift without constant supervision;
- genuinely interested in guests rather than simply completing tasks;
- commercially aware and able to recognise opportunities to improve trade;
- energetic and willing to lead from the front;
- organised, calm and solutions-focused;
- comfortable supporting events and creating atmosphere;
- committed and reliable when the business particularly needs them;
- happy working a hospitality rota including weekends and Bank Holidays.
Cocktail, wine and premium-bar experience would be particularly useful, as would experience with events, functions, team training, EPOS and licensing requirements.
A Personal Licence would be advantageous but is not essential.
Commercial contribution
The Bank is an independent business, so every member of the management team should make a difference.
We don't expect a Deputy Manager to become a full-time salesperson or marketer, but we do want someone who thinks beyond simply getting through a shift.
That might mean recognising what guests want, helping develop an event, encouraging repeat business, improving the atmosphere, supporting promotions, building relationships with customers or identifying a simple opportunity to make a quieter session busier.
We value people who can say:
“I spotted this opportunity, I did something about it, and this was the result.”
Working pattern & reward
We are deliberately keeping the package reasonably flexible because the right person matters more to us than forcing everyone into the same arrangement.
For the right experienced candidate, we can discuss either a good hourly rate or an appropriate fixed salary, depending upon the hours, responsibilities and level of commitment agreed.
If you have a strong track record and can demonstrate that you bring additional value, responsibility and commercial contribution to the venue, there is scope for that to be reflected in your remuneration and future role.
Interested?
If you're an experienced hospitality professional who enjoys leading a team, knows how to look after guests, has a bit of personality and wants to help make a good independent venue even better, we'd be very interested in hearing from you.
When applying, please tell us briefly:
1. What hospitality/bar management experience do you have?
2. What is your normal weekend and Bank Holiday availability?
3. Give us one example of something you personally did that improved a venue, increased trade, improved guest experience or made a team perform better.
Work Location: In person
