General Manager – Busy Community Pub & Function Venue
We’re looking for an experienced, hands-on General Manager to take charge of a busy wet-led community pub with an extremely popular function room.
This is a proper local pub with a strong base of regular customers and plenty of character. Alongside the main pub, we have a very busy function room hosting parties, celebrations and events throughout the year.
Because of that, we need someone with real pub experience who understands how to manage both sides of the business.
This isn’t a corporate-style management role. We’re looking for someone who is comfortable behind the bar, knows how to build relationships with regulars and understands the atmosphere of a busy community local.
You need to be able to read the room. You’ll be friendly, approachable and able to have a laugh with customers, while also having the confidence and experience to deal with difficult situations properly when they arise.
At the same time, you’ll need to be organised. On a busy weekend, you could have a packed pub alongside a large function, so planning rotas, having the right people in the right places and making sure everything runs smoothly is a big part of the job.
The Function Room
Our function room is a significant and extremely busy part of the business, so experience of functions, events or high-volume pub trading would be a real advantage.
You’ll oversee the function operation from booking through to the event itself, making sure customers receive a great experience and that the pub is properly prepared and staffed.
This includes:
Managing function enquiries and bookings
Building a good relationship with customers ahead of their event
Making sure function details and requirements are properly communicated
Planning staffing around functions and busy trading periods
Coordinating room preparation and changeovers
Ensuring the bar is stocked and ready for large functions
Managing functions alongside normal pub trading
Making sure functions run smoothly from arrival through to finish
Identifying opportunities to grow function bookings and repeat business
Running the Pub
You’ll have overall responsibility for the day-to-day operation, including:
Being a visible, approachable presence in the pub
Building relationships with regular customers and welcoming new ones
Recruiting, leading and developing a reliable bar team
Producing rotas and managing staffing and wage costs
Managing wet stock, deliveries and stock control
Maintaining excellent cellar standards and beer quality
Managing cash, banking and basic financial controls
Maintaining high standards of cleanliness and presentation
Growing wet sales while protecting the character of the pub
Ensuring licensing, Challenge 25, health & safety and other compliance requirements are followed
Dealing calmly and confidently with difficult situations when necessary
Who We’re Looking For
For us, the right experience and personality are more important than corporate management qualifications.
Ideally, you’ll already be an experienced Pub General Manager, Pub Manager or a very strong Deputy Manager who is ready to take full responsibility for a venue.
We’re particularly interested in someone who has worked in a busy wet-led community pub, function venue or similar high-volume operation.
You’ll need to be:
Experienced in hands-on pub management
Comfortable running a lively community local
Confident managing busy functions and events
Naturally good with people and regular customers
Calm and level-headed under pressure
Friendly and approachable, but firm when you need to be
Comfortable getting behind the bar and leading from the front
Good at planning staffing for busy weekends and functions
Commercially aware, with a good understanding of wet margins, stock and wage control
Reliable, organised and able to take genuine ownership of the business
Most Importantly
We’re looking for someone who understands this type of pub.
Our customers don’t want a corporate manager walking around with a clipboard. They want someone approachable who gets to know them, understands the community and creates a good atmosphere.
But behind that relaxed approach, we need an experienced operator who has the pub under control — someone who knows their numbers, manages their team properly, keeps standards high and can organise a very busy function business alongside the day-to-day pub.
If you’re an experienced pub manager who enjoys the community side of the trade, likes being around people and knows how to run a busy operation without losing the personality of the pub, we’d like to hear from you.
Pay: £30,000.00-£33,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Deysbrook L12 4YF: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
- Community Pub Management: 4 years (required)
Work Location: In person
