General Manager - New Opening in Ambleside

What makes the perfect pub? It’s great ales, delicious food, a welcoming atmosphere, and the warm welcome from a team that’s at the heart of everything we do. The Inn Collection Group is a multi-award-winning pubs-with-rooms company, proudly located in some of the most outstanding destinations across the North of England and Wales. At ICG, we deliver exceptional hospitality by living and breathing our core values: warmth, customer-obsessed, accountable, delivering results, and Inn It Together — all with the goal of making people happy through heartfelt hospitality.

How we say thank you!

• Celebrate your birthday with an extra paid holiday.
• Build your future with a company that invests in your training and development.
• Take the time you need to rest and recharge with 25 days holiday + bank holidays.
• Enjoy 50% off food at any of our Inns.
• Relax with a stay at any of our Inns during January, February, and March for just £1.
• Take advantage of the chance to explore our beautiful locations, with 1/3 off room bookings all year round.
• Experience a spontaneous trip away with £50 on same day bookings.
• It’s not just for you—your loved ones can enjoy 15% off bed and breakfast too!
• 24/7 confidential support is always there when you need it with our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Contribute to a company that gives back through our Give-inn back scheme.
• Join an award-winning team recognised as the Best Pub Employer at the Publican Awards.
• Enjoy the optional benefit of employee accommodation.

The Wordsworth Inn in Grasmere is preparing to open its doors, and we’re looking for an exceptional General Manager to help shape its future from day one. With 55 bedrooms, 196 internal covers and 148 external covers, this is a substantial, food-led operation with serious ambition, perfectly positioned in the heart of Grasmere. As General Manager, you’ll play a pivotal role in bringing the business to life, setting standards, building a passionate team, and creating an experience that guests return to time and time again. If you love the buzz of a new opening, lead from the front, and take pride in running a commercially successful business with genuine, heartfelt hospitality at its core, we’d love to hear from you.

You’ll Fit Right Inn

As General Manager, you’ll bring your enthusiasm and expertise in food and hospitality to lead the team and ensure every guest feels truly cared for. Working in a fast-paced environment, you’ll need to stay calm under pressure, juggling multiple priorities while maintaining a clear focus on exceptional guest experiences and the commercial success of the business. You’ll work closely with your Regional Operations Director, managing the senior team of assistant managers, head chef, and head housekeeper, while embodying our ICG values.

In this role, you will be accountable for the planning, budgeting, and cost control in line with agreed budgets, building and nurturing the team to meet our high standards. You’ll thrive in a dynamic setting, ensuring that guest satisfaction levels are met even during the busiest times. Guests should always receive the best possible experience from both you and your team. This includes reviewing and implementing business procedures, overseeing financial budgets, and taking care of company expenditure and bills. Your understanding of P&L accounts and labour planning will be key to driving success.

Leading by example, you’ll inspire and motivate the team, creating a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone thrives. From hiring and training to mentoring employees, you’ll foster a culture of growth and development. The role also includes responding to guest needs during the night and occasionally staying on-site to ensure a seamless guest experience, all while demonstrating calm professionalism, even in high-pressure situations.

If you’re passionate about food and hospitality, have a talent for leadership, and are excited to shape a new team, culture, and guest experience from the ground up, we think you’ll fit right inn…

About You

• You’re highly motivated, ambitious, and committed to creating exceptional experiences for our guests from day one.
• You are an experienced leader in the food and hospitality industry, comfortable managing a multi-departmental operation on a large scale.
• Demonstrates your clarity, confidence, and decisiveness.
• You lead by example, staying hands-on when needed while empowering your team to deliver their best work.
• You inspire, motivate and develop teams, fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration.
• You hold a Personal Licence and understand the operational and compliance requirements of running a hospitality business.
• You have the drive and experience to help shape a new operation into a thriving success.
• Your values align with ours.

This role comes with the optional benefit of employee accommodation.