About Nottingham Secret Garden & CookieShake
Nottingham Secret Garden and CookieShake are two established but very different hospitality venues in Nottingham city centre.
Secret Garden is a busy outdoor cocktail bar, nightlife and events venue, hosting DJs, independently promoted events, private events and busy weekend trading. With a capacity of around 330 and the ability to operate until 3am, it combines a busy bar operation with the atmosphere of an outdoor late-night venue.
CookieShake is an established milkshake café/bar in Nottingham city centre. It is a very different style of operation, with a strong focus on customer service, consistency, cleanliness, organisation and maintaining good standards throughout the day.
We are looking for a confident, reliable and hands-on Venue Manager to support the day-to-day operation of both venues.
The variety is a big part of the role. One shift may involve supervising a busy daytime operation at CookieShake, while another may involve helping manage a busy evening at Secret Garden alongside bar staff, DJs, promoters and security.
Position overview
As Venue Manager, you will work as part of the management team across Nottingham Secret Garden and CookieShake, reporting into senior management.
This is a practical, hands-on role focused on making sure shifts run properly, staff are supported, standards are maintained and any issues are dealt with or reported appropriately.
You will not be responsible for the overall running of either business. Senior management will retain responsibility for the wider operation, staffing decisions, commercial performance, compliance oversight and longer-term planning.
You will, however, be trusted to supervise shifts, give staff direction, make sensible day-to-day decisions and deal calmly with problems as they arise.
The role suits someone who enjoys being involved in the operation rather than sitting in an office and who is comfortable working across two very different hospitality businesses.
Job Responsibilities
- Help manage day-to-day shifts across Nottingham Secret Garden and CookieShake.
- Supervise staff and give clear direction throughout the shift.
- Make sure staff remain productive, professional and focused and that assigned jobs are completed properly.
- Support the training of new and existing staff.
- Report staff performance, conduct or attendance issues to senior management.
- Make sure each venue is properly prepared before opening and that opening and closing procedures are followed correctly.
- Maintain good standards of customer service, cleanliness, presentation, hygiene and general organisation.
- Help ensure products, drinks and service are delivered consistently and to the expected standard.
- Deal with normal customer complaints and day-to-day operational problems.
- Escalate serious customer, staffing, security, licensing or operational issues to senior management where required.
- Assist with rotas and staffing arrangements when requested.
- Help monitor stock levels, deliveries and wastage and report any problems or unusual usage.
- Carry out normal till checks, cashing-up and end-of-shift procedures.
- Make sure company procedures, operational checklists and cleaning requirements are followed.
- Identify maintenance or operational issues and report them promptly.
- Communicate clearly with senior management about any issues that need attention.
- Look for simple ways of improving how shifts run and maintaining standards.
- At Secret Garden, help supervise the venue during evening and late-night trading.
- Work alongside security teams to help ensure entry, customer flow, capacity and customer behaviour are managed properly.
- Act as an operational point of contact for DJs, promoters and event staff during the shift when required.
- Help make sure promoters, DJs and event staff understand and follow the venue's operational requirements.
- Help ensure responsible alcohol service procedures are followed.
- Help make sure intoxicated or vulnerable customers are dealt with appropriately.
- Assist with incidents alongside security and make sure relevant incidents and refusals are properly recorded.
- Remain aware of noise levels and raise or deal with any obvious issues.
- Follow the venue's licensing, health and safety and operational procedures.
- Help maintain a safe, organised and enjoyable environment for customers throughout the night.
- At CookieShake, help ensure products are prepared and presented consistently.
- Monitor cleanliness, presentation and customer service standards throughout the trading day.
- Help keep the venue organised, stocked and ready for customers.
Experience and qualifications
Previous supervisory or management experience within hospitality, bars, restaurants, cafés, nightclubs, music venues or events would be preferred.
This role may suit an experienced Assistant Manager, Supervisor or Team Leader who is ready to take on more responsibility.
Experience in the following areas would be useful:
- Supervising hospitality staff.
- Running or helping manage busy shifts.
- Training or supporting staff.
- Cash handling, cashing-up and till procedures.
- Stock control and monitoring wastage.
- Opening and closing venues.
- Maintaining cleaning and customer service standards.
- Working within licensed premises.
- Working alongside security teams.
- Working around DJs, promoters or events.
- Dealing with customers and resolving problems during busy shifts.
You do not need to come directly from nightclub management. Someone with good experience in a busy bar, restaurant, café or similar hospitality business who is comfortable working late nights at Secret Garden would also be considered.
A personal licence would be beneficial, although it is not essential.
Key qualities and competencies
We are looking for someone who is:
- Confident and comfortable supervising staff.
- Reliable, organised and responsible.
- Calm and practical when problems arise.
- Comfortable giving staff instructions and making sure jobs are completed.
- Able to deal with normal problems without needing constant supervision.
- Sensible enough to know when an issue needs to be escalated.
- Comfortable working as part of a wider management team and reporting into senior managers.
- Able to communicate well with younger members of staff as well as customers, suppliers, promoters, DJs and security teams.
- Hands-on and willing to help wherever needed.
- Able to move between two very different styles of hospitality business.
- Professional when dealing with customers and external partners.
- Attentive to detail and committed to maintaining good standards.
- Interested in hospitality, nightlife and customer service.
- Flexible and available to work evenings, late nights, weekends, bank holidays and key event dates.
Hours and working pattern
This is a full-time position working 37.5 hours per week.
Hours will be arranged around the operational requirements of both venues and will include a mixture of daytime, evening and late-night shifts.
Because Secret Garden operates as a late-night venue, regular evening and weekend work will form part of the role. However, the position will be managed within the agreed 37.5-hour working week rather than expecting the Venue Manager to routinely work excessive hours.
The working pattern will vary depending on trading requirements, events, bank holidays and particularly busy dates, so flexibility is important.
One of the advantages of the role is the variety. You will gain experience across both daytime hospitality and late-night bar and event operations while working as part of an established management team.
Perks and benefits
- A management role across two established Nottingham hospitality businesses.
- A varied role covering both daytime hospitality and late-night events.
- The opportunity to develop your management experience.
- Experience working across two very different styles of venue.
- Opportunities to work with promoters, DJs, suppliers and hospitality professionals.
- Staff discounts.
- Casual dress.
- Company events.
- Opportunities for progression as the businesses develop.
Pay: £30,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Discounted or free food
- Store discount
Application question(s):
- How many years of supervisory or management experience do you have within hospitality, bars, restaurants, cafés, nightclubs, music venues or events?
- Please briefly describe the venues or businesses you have worked in and your main responsibilities.
- Do you have experience supervising staff, cashing-up, stock control and opening or closing venues?
- Do you have experience working within licensed premises or alongside event promoters, DJs or security teams?
- Are you comfortable working across both a daytime hospitality business and a late-night bar/events venue?
- Are you available to work evenings, late nights, weekends and bank holidays?
- Why do you believe you would be a good Venue Manager for Nottingham Secret Garden and CookieShake?
Work Location: In person
