Bartender

Responsibilities

• Make drinks in accordance with our menu specifications, including mixing cocktails and hot drinks such as lattes with coffee art.
• Carry out bar set up at the start of a service, including preparing garnishes, glassware and cleaning duties. At the end of your shift ensure the bar has been fully cleaned down and prepared ready for the following shift.
• Have a comprehensive knowledge of food and beverage menu options to be able to offer guests recommendations, including understanding the allergens present.
• Drive sales through service and sincere guest recognition. Be proactive in assisting the bar floor team if required.

Requirements

• A minimum of two years working as a Bartender.
• A strong foundation of knowledge in how to make classic cocktails.
• Understanding of the responsible sale of alcohol, although full training will be provided.
• Be an outgoing personality with effective communication skills.
• Ability to work at pace and be physically active for the duration of your shift.
• Willing and able to pour, serve and sell alcohol. Be able to be physically active in your role, standing for much of your shift and working at pace.
• An enthusiastic individual who will promote our culture of positivity.
• Be task oriented with great pride for the work you do and attention to detail.
• Flexible with shift patterns and available around the needs of our business.
• Demonstrate having researched our brand and a genuine desire to be part of our team.

Company Information

Dakota is a growing UK-based lifestyle brand with six locations, soon growing to seven. We are known for our stylish hotels, bustling brasserie Grills, upscale wine & cocktail bars, and above all, our team.

Dakota’s story started with two boutique hotels on the outskirts of Edinburgh, in South Queensferry, and Glasgow, in Eurocentral. We have now expanded into prime city centre locations in Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle (and more in the pipeline!). Dakota is synonymous with delivering attentive and genuine guest service. We attract hard‑working individuals who are passionate about working to the highest standards with colleagues who are, quite simply, great to work alongside! Our team members are not just recruited due to their skills and experience, but also due to their individualities and flair. We believe that recruiting team members whose personalities embody our culture and have an enthusiastic attitude is the key to creating a great place to be, for both our team and our guests. Our brand has been voted within the top 15 hospitality employers of the year for the past three years, and our HR team won \’People Team of the Year\’ 2022, so we must be doing something right! We are driven to be our best selves, with learning, development and internal progression opportunities being at the core of how we keep our team motivated.

Our location, 8 Russell St, Leeds LS1 5RN, ideally located on Greek Street, we are just a 5‑min walk from Leeds Train Station. We are also easily accessible by bus, close to the East Parade bus link and within a 10‑min walk from Leeds Bus Station. We are an 94‑bedroom luxury hotel boasting a destination cocktail bar with a champagne room, and brasserie‑style grill.

Job Details

The role carries a permanent contract of a minimum of 40 hours per week, working any five days out of seven including working weekends. Indicative earnings are £13.65 per hour (inclusive of the anticipated tronc payment), paid weekly, which equates to £28,500 per annum. Estimated start date 29th January 2026.

Benefits

• 40 per cent off stays at any Dakota.
• 25 per cent off drinks and dining at any Dakota.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program, which includes free private mental health support and counselling sessions, video GP consultations and private prescription services.
• Access to daily rewards to be cashed out for shopping vouchers.
• Access to discounted gift card platform.
• Support from our in‑house Mental Health Champions.
• Additional holiday day on the first anniversary of your employment.
• Family‑friendly flexible working options.
• Meals on duty and uniforming.
• £150 bonus to recommend a friend to join our team.
• £10 bonus every time you are mentioned on TripAdvisor.
• Free bi‑annual eye testing for users of display screen equipment.
• Accredited, certified compliance training given on employment such as in Food Hygiene, Alcohol Responsibility, Data Protection, and Health & Safety.
• Access to a suite of external, certified resources via our Learning Management System.
• Supportive continuous professional development culture with an annual appraisal and objectives, or a Personal Development Plan.
• Opportunities to undertake both internal and external training courses, including potential for in‑house Apprenticeships.
• Full terms on our benefits can be found in our Handbook.