Venue Manager – College Farm, Hawkstone
Location: College Farm, Stow Rd, Cheltenham GL54 2HN
IMPACT EVOLVE is proud to be working exclusively with Hawkstone to support the search for a Venue Manager to lead the hospitality operation at College Farm.
Hawkstone has had huge momentum over the last 12 months. What started as one of the most talked-about challenger brands in the drinks space has continued to grow quickly, building real traction across retail, hospitality and brand presence. College Farm is now becoming a central part of that next chapter - and the ambition for the site is significant.
The venue already turns over in excess of £1m annually through tours, retail, and the current taproom setup, and that is before the site's full potential has been unlocked. The plan now is to take it several steps further. The venue is being developed into a premium rural destination, with an upgraded all-weather tent, expanded shop, permanent food vendors, outdoor spaces, a structured events programme and a paddock development that will bring a farm-to-brew experience to life - long table dining, fire kitchen, orchards, hop gardens and more.
This role is about taking ownership of that hospitality operation, building the team and commercial infrastructure around it, and helping shape what it becomes.
It is not a maintenance role. It is not a standard pub GM position. Think of it as running your own business within a business - with the brand, the investment and the ambition already behind you. The right person will be entrepreneurial, commercially sharp, operationally strong, hands-on when needed and genuinely excited by the challenge of building something as it evolves.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the day-to-day venue operation - Take ownership of the hospitality side of the College Farm site, overseeing service, standards, team performance and the overall visitor experience.
Build and develop the team - There is already a strong foundation in place. Your job is to build on it - recruiting, leading and developing the venue team across hospitality, bar, events and seasonal support, creating a structure that can scale with the site.
Drive events and programming - Build a venue calendar that gives people more reasons to visit more often, from regular hospitality moments through to private hire, corporate events and seasonal programming.
Own commercial performance - Manage the venue with a strong commercial mindset, keeping a close eye on revenue, labour, margins and the operational decisions that drive performance. The goal is to significantly grow what the site already delivers.
Manage a growing multi-part operation - Oversee a venue environment that includes hospitality, retail, food vendors and events, making sure it all works together operationally and that each part is pulling its weight commercially.
Help shape the next phase of the site - Work closely with the wider Hawkstone team as the venue develops - from the current Phase 1 build through to the longer-term paddock and destination vision. This person will have real input into how the operation grows.
What We're Looking For
An entrepreneurial operator, not a career pub manager - We are not looking for someone who has spent their career moving through managed pub groups. We want someone who has built something, grown something or run a complex venue with genuine commercial ownership. If you are the kind of person who could run their own business, this role will suit you.
Experience in more complex venue environments - We are especially interested in people who have worked in destination venues, events-led hospitality, farm or rural estate settings, brewery or taproom environments, or multi-revenue-stream hospitality sites. Al fresco and seasonal trading experience is a genuine plus.
Commercial awareness - You understand how to grow revenue, manage costs and run a venue properly - not just keep service moving.
Events and experience mindset - You know how events, programming and the physical visitor experience can drive footfall, repeat visits and commercial performance.
Hands-on, calm and practical - This is a rural site in an evolving state. We need someone who is comfortable with moving parts, outdoor variables and getting stuck in when needed.
What's in it for you?
This is a rare opportunity to take on a role with genuine scope and real ownership.
You will be joining Hawkstone at a point where the brand has serious momentum and College Farm is becoming a much more important part of the overall business. The current operation is already profitable. Now we want to scale it. There is a real opportunity here to put your stamp on a venue, build a team around you, and play a central role in shaping one of the most exciting destination hospitality projects in the Cotswolds.
In return, Hawkstone offers a competitive salary, package and the opportunity to be part of one of the most exciting growth stories in the UK drinks space.
Hawkstone and IMPACT EVOLVE are committed to fairness and equality for all employees and applicants. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and will provide adjustments or support as needed.
Ready to build the next phase of College Farm? Apply now to be part of Hawkstone's next chapter.
