Experienced Café Manager – The Coffee Lodge, Ampthill Great Park
The Coffee Lodge is an independent coffee shop located in the beautiful surroundings of Ampthill Great Park. We currently operate with outdoor seating only, meaning trade can be busy and variable depending on weather and season. We are looking for an experienced Café Manager who is passionate about exceptional coffee, confident in leading teams, and committed to delivering outstanding customer service.
This is a fully hands-on, operational role. There is no office – the manager works on the floor alongside the team every day and leads by example.
The Role
As Café Manager, you will:
- Take full responsibility for the day-to-day running of the café
- Lead, manage, and motivate a team of approximately 15–20 staff
- Be actively involved in all areas of service, including:
- Making high-quality coffee
- Preparing and serving food and drinks
- Delivering excellent customer service
- Cleaning duties, including customer toilets
- Manage staffing levels, rotas, and performance
- Maintain high standards during busy periods and variable trading conditions
- Support licensed event evenings during the summer months
- Drive sales and uphold quality, consistency, and efficiency
- Provide kitchen cover during holidays or days off (chef/cooking experience is advantageous)
About You
To be considered for this role, you must have:
- A genuine passion for coffee and high-quality food and drink
- Proven experience as a café, coffee shop, or hospitality manager
- Excellent communication and organisational skills
- A positive, friendly, and professional attitude
- Demonstrated experience managing and leading teams
- Strong, hands-on leadership skills
- High standards, strong attention to detail, and pride in your work
- The ability to work efficiently under pressure and in busy environments
- Experience driving sales and improving performance
- Have a strong understanding of Health & Safety, Food Safety, and Licensing compliance and the ability to train and support staff to meet these standards.
Further Details
- Opening hours:
- Winter: 8:30am – 4:00pm
- Summer: 8:30am – 6:00pm (up to 9:00pm for licensed event evenings, summer only)
- Salary based on a 42.5-hour working week
- Benefits include:
- Friendly working environment
- Free tea and coffee
- Staff meal provided during shifts
- Bonus scheme
All applicants must:
- Be flexible with shifts and able to work the majority of weekends
- Have a good level of spoken English
- Be eligible to live and work in the UK
This role is suited to an experienced manager who enjoys being operational, hands-on, and fully accountable for running a busy café in a unique outdoor setting.
How to Apply
If you are interested, please apply and include a short message telling us what your favourite coffee is and why.
Interviews: Held shortly after the closing date
Please note that only successful applicants will be contacted and previous candidates need not apply.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £30,000.00-£35,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
