At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a brand-new café, ensuring smooth operations and exceptional service.
- Company: Join Compass Group UK & Ireland, a leader in the food service industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, discounts, wellness classes, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values your unique talents and growth.
- Why this job: Shape a new café culture and create a welcoming space for customers.
- Qualifications: Experience in café management or fast-paced food environments is essential.
The predicted salary is between 34000 - 34000 £ per year.
Location: Sainsburys Southampton
Contract: Full-time
Employer: Compass Group UK & Ireland
£34,000 per annum - 5 out of 7 days - 40 hours per week
A brand-new café. A blank canvas. An opportunity to build something special from day one. Simple moments, made special. Great coffee. Freshly baked pastries. Proper food done well. Taste Café is about creating the small, everyday moments people genuinely look forward to — a quick coffee that turns into a catch-up, a bite to eat that hits the spot, and a space that feels easy, comfortable, and just right. This is a new café opening within a busy retail environment — fast‑paced, full of energy, and with huge potential. From day one, it’s a place designed to feel local, welcoming, and worth coming back to.
The Role
This is a start‑up opportunity within an established business. As Café Manager, you’ll play a key role in bringing a brand-new site to life — setting standards, building a team, and shaping how the café looks, feels, and operates from the very beginning. If you’ve managed a café, retail unit, or fast‑paced food operation before, this is your chance to truly make it your own. You’ll lead from the front, set the tone, and turn a brand‑new café into a space people love — from the first morning coffee rush to the final close‑down of the day.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Leading the day‑to‑day running of a newly opened café, keeping everything smooth, organised and on point
- Recruiting, training and developing a strong team that delivers great service (and enjoys doing it)
- Setting and maintaining high standards across food, coffee and presentation
- Managing stock, performance and operational processes
- Creating a space that feels warm, relaxed and welcoming from day one
- Embedding consistency — because the little details matter
- Ensuring Health & Safety standards are always met and maintained
About You
If you’ve run a café, retail unit, or fast‑paced food environment, you’re well‑suited to this role — especially if you enjoy building teams and shaping operations. You’ll also be:
- A hands‑on leader who sets the pace and leads by example
- People‑focused — great with both your team and your customers
- Organised, proactive and calm under pressure
- Passionate about good food, great coffee and doing things properly
- Comfortable taking ownership and continuously improving performance
Why This Role?
This isn’t just another café management role. It’s a chance to open a new site, shape the culture, and create a destination — somewhere customers return to for the coffee, the food, and the atmosphere. You’ll have real ownership, support from a wider business, and the opportunity to build something that genuinely feels like yours from the ground up.
We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:
- Contributory pension scheme
- Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
- Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
- Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
- Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
- Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
- Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
- Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
- You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families
About Us
As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses. Compass Group UK & I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!
Cafe Manager in Southampton employer: Chartwells Independent
Compass Group UK & Ireland is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to manage a brand-new café in the vibrant retail environment of Sainsbury's Southampton. With a strong focus on employee growth through comprehensive training programmes and a supportive work culture that values diversity and individual contributions, you will have the chance to create a welcoming space while enjoying competitive pay and a generous benefits package, including discounts on groceries and travel. Join us to build something special from the ground up and make a meaningful impact in your community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Cafe Manager in Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the café scene in your area! Visit local cafés, chat with managers, and understand what makes them tick. This will give you insights into what works and what doesn’t, plus it shows your passion for the industry.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Attend industry events or join online groups related to café management. Building connections can lead to opportunities and insider info that might not be advertised.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your personality during interviews! As a Café Manager, you’ll need to create a welcoming atmosphere, so let your passion for good food and great coffee shine through. Be yourself and connect with your interviewers.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, you’ll find all the latest openings and updates about our cafés, making it easier for you to land that dream job.
We think you need these skills to ace Cafe Manager in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your love for coffee and food shine through! We want to see how excited you are about creating a welcoming café atmosphere and making those everyday moments special for our customers.
Be Specific About Your Experience:Share concrete examples from your previous café or retail management roles. We’re looking for details on how you’ve built teams, set standards, and created a great customer experience. The more specific, the better!
Keep It Organised:Make sure your application is well-structured and easy to read. Use clear headings and bullet points where necessary. We appreciate a tidy presentation, just like we aim for in our café!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to shape a brand-new café.
How to prepare for a job interview at Chartwells Independent
✨Know Your Café Vision
Before the interview, think about how you would bring the café to life. Be ready to share your vision for creating a warm and welcoming space that customers will love. This shows your passion and understanding of what makes a café special.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a hands-on leader, it’s important to demonstrate how you lead by example. Prepare examples of how you've successfully built and motivated teams in previous roles. Highlight your people-focused approach and how you ensure everyone enjoys delivering great service.
✨Emphasise Organisational Skills
In a fast-paced environment, being organised is key. Share specific strategies you’ve used to keep operations smooth and efficient. Discuss how you manage stock and maintain high standards, as this will resonate with their expectations for the role.
✨Passion for Quality
Express your enthusiasm for good food and great coffee. Be prepared to discuss your favourite café experiences and what you believe makes them stand out. This will show that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about the café culture.
