At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead our café and kitchen, creating amazing food experiences for diverse guests.
- Company: Join the award-winning Anderton Centre, a unique outdoor learning environment.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, staff discounts, and a supportive team culture.
- Other info: Opportunities for growth and development in a dynamic, mission-driven organisation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in hospitality while working in stunning natural surroundings.
- Qualifications: Experience in catering leadership and a passion for guest experience.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Do you have a passion for hospitality, leadership, and creating great food experiences in a truly unique environment? The Anderton Centre is looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Café & Catering Manager to lead our kitchen and café operation at the heart of our award-winning outdoor learning centre, located on the edge of the stunning Lower Rivington Reservoir. This is far more than a traditional kitchen role. You will help shape the food experience for school groups, residential visitors, corporate clients, outdoor adventurers, café guests, and the wider community, all within one of the region’s most distinctive outdoor education settings.
We are looking for someone who brings energy, creativity, resilience, and leadership to a busy and rewarding environment. You will lead the day-to-day operation of the kitchen and Wren Café, ensuring consistently high standards of food quality, hygiene, customer service, and team performance. The role will involve menu planning, food preparation, stock control, café operations, compliance management, and supporting the development of a positive and motivated catering team.
This position would suit somebody who:
- Takes pride in delivering high-quality food and service
- Enjoys working in a fast-paced and varied environment
- Has experience supervising or managing catering teams
- Is calm under pressure and highly organised
- Brings creativity and fresh ideas to hospitality delivery
- Enjoys being part of a wider mission-driven organisation
Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
- Leading the daily operation of the kitchen and Wren Café
- Preparing and delivering high-quality meals across varied service requirements
- Supporting a wide range of dietary and allergen needs
- Maintaining excellent hygiene, cleanliness, and food safety standards
- Managing stock ordering, rotation, and inventory records
- Assisting with menu planning and seasonal food development
- Supporting and mentoring kitchen team members
- Ensuring compliance with food safety and operational procedures
- Working collaboratively with wider operational teams across the Centre
- Supporting café service and customer engagement
- Using ordering systems and basic IT systems effectively
We are looking for somebody with:
- Experience in a catering, hospitality, café, or kitchen leadership role
- Strong organisational and time management skills
- Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities
- A proactive and hands-on approach to leadership
- The ability to remain calm and effective during busy operational periods
- A passion for hospitality and guest experience
- Good awareness of food hygiene and kitchen safety practices
Qualifications & Experience:
- Relevant catering or culinary qualifications are desirable
- Level 2 Food Hygiene qualification beneficial
- Experience managing or supervising small teams preferred
Additional Experience That Would Be Valuable:
- Café or hospitality experience
- Barista or coffee-making knowledge
- Experience within visitor attractions, outdoor venues, education, or conferencing
- Awareness of sustainable or environmentally conscious catering practices
Why Join the Anderton Centre?
The Anderton Centre is an Outdoor Learning and Conferencing Centre delivering adventurous outdoor education, residential experiences, wellbeing programmes, and corporate development activities. We are proud of the environment we have created, both for our visitors and for our staff. Located within stunning natural surroundings, our team plays a genuine role in helping people grow in confidence, resilience, and wellbeing every day. We have been recognised through multiple industry awards, including winning the Most Treasured Team award at The Freshies Awards for two consecutive years. This is an opportunity to join a supportive and ambitious team within an organisation that is continuing to grow and evolve alongside the wider University of Greater Manchester group.
What We Offer:
- Supportive and welcoming team culture
- Ongoing training and development opportunities
- Opportunities for career progression
- Staff uniform provided
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Bike to work scheme
- 50% discount on Adventure Club
- Free onsite parking
- Staff social events
- The opportunity to work in an exceptional outdoor environment
Cafe & Catering Manager in Chorley employer: Anderton Centre c/o University of Greater Manchester
The Anderton Centre is an exceptional employer that fosters a supportive and welcoming team culture, offering ongoing training and development opportunities for career progression. Located in the stunning natural surroundings of Lower Rivington Reservoir, employees enjoy a unique work environment that promotes personal growth and wellbeing, alongside generous benefits such as a bike to work scheme, staff discounts, and social events.
Contact Details:
Anderton Centre c/o University of Greater Manchester Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Cafe & Catering Manager in Chorley
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the Anderton Centre! Research their mission, values, and what makes them unique. This will help you tailor your approach and show genuine interest during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current or former employees on LinkedIn. They can provide insider tips and might even put in a good word for you!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for situational questions. Think about how you’d handle busy periods in the café or lead your team through challenges. Use real examples from your past experience to showcase your skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our fantastic team at the Anderton Centre.
We think you need these skills to ace Cafe & Catering Manager in Chorley
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:Let your love for hospitality shine through in your application. We want to see how your enthusiasm for creating great food experiences aligns with our mission at the Anderton Centre.
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in catering and leadership roles. We’re looking for someone who can lead a team, so showcase any supervisory or management experience you have!
Be Creative:Don’t be afraid to show off your creativity! Whether it’s in menu planning or customer engagement, we want to know how you can bring fresh ideas to our café and kitchen operations.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Anderton Centre c/o University of Greater Manchester
✨Know Your Menu
Before the interview, take some time to research and think about menu ideas that could fit the café's unique environment. Be ready to discuss how you would cater to different dietary needs and create seasonal dishes that reflect the local area.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led a team in a busy kitchen or café setting. Highlight your approach to mentoring staff and maintaining high standards under pressure, as this role requires strong leadership skills.
✨Emphasise Your Passion for Hospitality
During the interview, express your enthusiasm for creating memorable food experiences. Share stories that demonstrate your commitment to customer service and how you’ve gone above and beyond to ensure guest satisfaction.
✨Be Ready for Practical Questions
Expect questions about food safety, hygiene practices, and stock management. Brush up on relevant regulations and be prepared to discuss how you would handle specific scenarios, such as managing a busy service or dealing with dietary restrictions.
