Multi-Site Manager – The Nelson & The Waterfront
Two venues. Two vibes. One brilliant leader.
We're a growing, family-run hospitality group with a big heart and real ambition. Jolly Good Pubs operates a collection of characterful venues across Suffolk and Essex, and we're looking for an exceptional Multi-Site Manager to lead two of our most exciting sites. If you thrive on variety, love building great teams, and get a genuine buzz from brilliant hospitality, read on.
Our Group
We're proud to be a proper family-run pub group with venues that each have their own personality and loyal following. Alongside The Nelson and The Waterfront, we operate The Red Lion in Manningtree and The Marlborough in Dedham, two much-loved community pubs in the heart of Constable Country. We've even created our own range of Tiny Town beers and gin, born from our pride in the smallest town in England and the community that makes it so special. We're growing thoughtfully, doing things the right way, and we want the right people growing with us.
The Waterfront
Our exciting new venue is a fresh-air, good-vibes café bistro by day and a relaxed tapas bar by night, with full table service throughout. The Waterfront is a proper restaurant experience, with a fresh, seasonal kitchen, regularly changing specials, and a wine and drinks range we take seriously. We're planning a six-figure refurbishment in early 2027 that will take the venue to the next level, and the right manager will have a real hand in shaping what it becomes. This is a site with serious ambition and we need someone who shares it.
The Nelson
A proper pub in every sense. Ales are the heartbeat of The Nelson, with a well-kept range that keeps the regulars coming back. The food is classic, hearty pub cooking done well, the fires are real, and the atmosphere is relaxed and genuinely friendly. The Nelson really hits its stride in the colder months, packed with Christmas bookings and buzzing with community warmth from October through to spring. It's the kind of pub people fall in love with and never want to leave.
The Role
You'll oversee the day-to-day operations of both sites, playing to the strengths of each venue while keeping standards consistently high year-round. These are two very different businesses and that's exactly what makes this role so interesting. You'll need to switch between the polished restaurant environment of The Waterfront and the warm, ale-focused character of The Nelson, leading both with confidence and clarity.
You won't be doing it alone either. You'll have a dedicated Assistant Manager at each site, giving you a solid foundation to lead from and ensuring your venues are in safe hands when you're not on the ground.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Full operational oversight of both venues, respecting and developing the identity of each
- Leading and developing your two Assistant Managers and their wider teams
- Managing rotas, labour costs, and staffing levels across both sites
- Driving revenue, managing GP and wet/dry margins, and keeping a close eye on costs
- Working with the kitchen teams on menus, specials, and a continuously improving food and wine offer
- Maintaining the ale quality, cellar standards, and pub character that makes The Nelson what it is
- Meaningful input into menus and products across both sites, with a large degree of autonomy to put your stamp on things
- Maintaining compliance across food hygiene, health and safety, licensing, and fire
- Working closely with the owner on events, the 2027 Waterfront refurbishment, and the wider direction of the business
What We're Looking For
- At least 2 years of experience as a General Manager in a fast paced hospitality environment
- Proven experience managing multiple sites, or a strong GM who is ready and hungry for that next step
- A genuine knowledge of wines and food, comfortable working alongside a fresh kitchen and evolving menu
- An appreciation of real ale, cellar management, and the soul of a proper British pub
- A natural leader who gets the best out of people without losing the family feel
- Commercially sharp, you understand numbers and know how to act on them
- Someone who rolls their sleeves up when needed, no ego
- Flexibility to move between two distinct venues and adapt to their different seasonal peaks
What You Get
- A real seat at the table in a growing, ambitious family business
- A dedicated Assistant Manager at both The Nelson and The Waterfront, so you're properly supported from day one
- Company car option after one year
- Fantastic long standing colleagues who manage Dedham and Manningtree
- Generous staff discount across food, drinks, stays, and events at all Jolly Good Pubs venues
- Genuine input into menus and product, with the autonomy to make real decisions
- A front-row seat for the Waterfront's 2027 refurbishment, with real influence over its future direction
- Genuine progression potential across the wider group as we continue to grow
- Competitive salary, reviewed regularly as the business develops
- The satisfaction of building something you're truly proud of
If this sounds like the role you've been waiting for, we'd love to hear from you. Apply on Indeed or drop us a message and let's have a chat.
Pay: £38,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted or free food
Work Location: In person
