Job Description:
At Good Times Pubs & Bars, we create community-led pubs where great food, drink, and genuine hospitality come together. As Assistant General Manager at The Cricketers, you’ll play a key role in leading the team, supporting the General Manager, and helping drive the standards, atmosphere, and commercial performance of one of Worthing’s most loved local pubs.
The Cricketers is a traditional, community-focused pub and restaurant with a strong local following, quality food and drink, a large garden, regular events, and a warm, family-friendly feel. This role is ideal for an experienced Assistant Manager or Deputy Manager who is ready to take more ownership and develop towards a future General Manager role.
What’s in it for you?
- Salary range of £33,280 - £35,360 (£16-£17 per hour x 40 hour contract with paid overtime)
- Any hours worked over your contract are paid at the equivalent hourly rate
- Management bonus scheme
- Clear progression pathway within Good Times Pubs & Bars
- 28 days holiday
- Pension scheme
- 50% management discount card on completion of probation
- Ongoing training and development
- The chance to help shape a busy, community-led pub with real personality
The Role
You will support the General Manager in the day-to-day running of The Cricketers, taking ownership of the venue when the GM is not present.
This is a hands-on leadership role with a strong focus on service standards, team development, guest experience, cellar management, stock control, and smooth daily operations.
You’ll be expected to lead from the front, set the tone for the team, and make sure the pub runs well across busy food services, wet-led trading periods, events, garden trade, and day-to-day community pub life.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the General Manager in leading the daily operation of the pub
- Take full ownership of the venue in the GM’s absence
- Lead, coach, and motivate the front-of-house team
- Set clear expectations for service, standards, pace, and guest experience
- Create a warm, confident, and welcoming environment for locals, families, tourists, and regular guests
- Oversee daily service, ensuring shifts run smoothly and efficiently
- Support supervisors and team members with training, development, and accountability
- Manage cashing up, banking, locking up, and end-of-day procedures with accuracy
- Maintain high standards of cellar management, including care and handling of real ales
- Support stock control, line checks, ordering, wastage control, and GP performance
- Help drive sales through great service, events, local engagement, and strong shift leadership
- Support menu delivery, specials, events, garden trade, and seasonal activity
- Ensure health, safety, licensing, food safety, and company standards are followed
- Handle guest feedback professionally and resolve issues quickly
- Work closely with the GM and senior team to improve processes, standards, and team performance
Requirements
- Previous experience as an Assistant Manager or Deputy Manager in a pub, bar, or restaurant setting
- Confident leading shifts in a busy hospitality environment
- Strong people leadership and communication skills
- Comfortable giving direction, feedback, and support to team members
- Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
- Confident with cashing up, locking up, and daily operational procedures
- Experience with cellar management, ideally including real ales
- Good understanding of stock control, line checks, wastage, and GP
- Confident across food service, drinks service, and guest experience
- Calm under pressure and able to make sensible decisions during busy shifts
- Positive, practical, and solutions-focused
- Genuine love for hospitality and community pubs
- Must hold a personal licence
- Right to work in the UK
About Good Times Pubs & Bars
Good Times Pubs & Bars is an independent pub group based in Brighton & Hove and Worthing, founded in 2012.
The group began with the renovation of The George Payne, which went on to win Best Turnaround Pub of the Year in 2013. Since then, the business has grown to nine community-focused pubs:
- The George Payne
- The Railway Inn
- The Poets’ Ale & Smokehouse
- The Stirling Arms
- The Basketmakers Arms
- The Lewes Road Inn
- The Cricketers
- The Mitre Tavern
- The Constant Service
Each site is a family and dog-friendly space with a strong local identity, great food and drink, and a focus on genuine hospitality.
Equality Statement
All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status, national origin, veteran status, neurodiversity status, or disability status.
Pay: £16.00-£17.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee assistance programme
- Employee discount
Work Location: In person
