At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the guest experience and hosting in a vibrant restaurant environment.
- Company: Join Medlock Square, a dynamic destination for culture and entertainment.
- Benefits: Enjoy private medical insurance, generous holiday allowance, and complimentary meals on shift.
- Other info: Great career development opportunities in a lively atmosphere.
- Why this job: Shape memorable experiences in a fast-paced, exciting hospitality setting.
- Qualifications: Experience in premium hospitality and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Medlock Square marks a bold new chapter in the evolution of the Etihad Campus — a vibrant, year‑round destination for culture, leisure and entertainment, set alongside two global icons: the Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City Football Club, and the landmark Co‑op Live arena. Named after the River Medlock that runs beneath the site, the development celebrates Manchester’s industrial heritage while shaping its next era of city‑defining experiences. Manchester is known worldwide for its sport, music and entertainment — and Medlock Square will build on that legacy, creating a landmark home for exceptional shared moments and elevating the city’s position as one of Europe’s most dynamic, fast‑growing destinations.
At the heart of this new district will be an extraordinary food and beverage offer: from relaxed coffee houses and all‑day dining to flagship restaurants and premium culinary experiences. Designed to serve both everyday visitors and major event audiences, Medlock Square will deliver high‑quality hospitality all week long and across the events calendar.
As Head Host, you will lead the guest arrival and hosting experience across our premium restaurant environments, shaping the first and last impression of our brand. This is a role rooted in elevated, lifestyle-led hospitality — creating a sense of welcome that feels personal, intuitive and effortless. You will set the tone from the moment a guest arrives, curating a seamless journey that reflects the quality and ambition of our venues.
However, this role also requires agility. On event and matchdays, the environment transforms — shifting into a dynamic, high-volume VIP hospitality operation. You will lead this transition, ensuring that even at scale, the experience remains polished, controlled and guest-focused.
Working closely with Restaurant Managers, Reservations, and Front of House teams, you will balance precision and personality — delivering both refined dining experiences and exceptional large-scale service.
You will be responsible for:
- Guest Experience & Hosting Leadership: Lead the hosting function across restaurant venues, delivering a confident, warm, and highly polished guest welcome. Act as the face of the venue, creating a strong sense of arrival while building meaningful guest relationships and delivering personalised experiences for both returning and VIP guests.
- Reservations & Guest Flow Management: Own and lead the SevenRooms platform as a key commercial and operational tool, ensuring effective management of reservations, table configurations, pacing, waitlists, cancellations, and guest communications. Use data and reporting to forecast demand, maximise covers, enhance guest experiences, and support wider business objectives.
- Matchday & Event Operations: Lead the transition from premium dining to high-volume VIP hospitality during matchdays and major events, ensuring guest experience remains seamless in fast-paced environments. Maintain strong floor presence while coordinating with operational teams to manage guest flow, service standards, and operational delivery.
- Leadership, Training & Culture: Lead, coach, and inspire the host team to deliver consistently high standards while embedding a modern luxury hospitality approach. Support recruitment, onboarding, training, and development, acting as a role model for service excellence, professionalism, and brand representation.
- Standards, Presentation & Environment: Maintain exceptional presentation standards across all guest arrival points while creating a welcoming and energetic front-of-house environment. Drive consistency in service style, communication, and overall guest interaction.
- Collaboration, Commercial Awareness & Compliance: Work closely with Restaurant Managers, Events, Bars, Marketing, and Guest Experience teams to deliver a joined-up guest journey and support activations, loyalty initiatives, and commercial performance. Ensure all guest data, reservations, and front-of-house operations are managed in line with GDPR, health & safety, and company procedures.
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
- Essential: Experience in a senior host, maître d’, or guest experience leadership role within premium or lifestyle hospitality environments. Strong understanding of front-of-house operations and guest journey management. Exceptional interpersonal skills, with a natural presence and ability to engage a diverse guest profile. Highly organised, with the ability to manage reservations, flow, and pressure in fast-paced environments. Proven experience leading and developing teams. Calm, composed, and solutions-focused, particularly in high-pressure service moments.
- Desirable: Experience within luxury, lifestyle, or members’ club environments (e.g. Soho House-style service). Experience in high-volume, event-led or stadium hospitality environments. Familiarity with reservations platforms (e.g. OpenTable, SevenRooms or similar). Experience managing VIP guests and premium service environments.
Why Join Us?
- Private Medical Insurance (Vitality) – including Virtual GP access and rewards
- Group Life Assurance – 4x salary paid to your nominated beneficiary
- Birthday Day Off – an extra day to celebrate
- Complimentary Meals on Shift – breakfast, lunch, fruit and hot drinks
- Access to discounted Tickets at Co-op Live subject to availability
- Employee Assistance Programme & Wellbeing Platform – including counselling support
- Employee Discounts Platform (Blackhawk) – cashback and savings across major retailers
- Company Pension Scheme
- Generous Holiday Allowance – plus bank holidays
- Career Development Opportunities – with progression across the campus
Head Host in Manchester employer: Eastlands Venue Services Limited
At Medlock Square, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that celebrates Manchester's rich heritage while shaping its future. As the Head Host, you will enjoy a range of benefits including private medical insurance, generous holiday allowances, and career development opportunities, all within a dynamic environment that values personal growth and teamwork. Join us in delivering unforgettable experiences in one of Europe's most exciting hospitality destinations, where your contributions will be recognised and rewarded.
Contact Details:
Eastlands Venue Services Limited Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Host in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the venue! Before your interview, take a stroll around Medlock Square and soak in the atmosphere. Familiarising yourself with the space will help you speak confidently about how you can enhance the guest experience.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend events at Medlock Square. Building relationships can give you insider info and might just land you a recommendation when applying through our website.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your personality! When you get the chance to meet the team, let your authentic self shine through. Remember, as Head Host, you’ll be setting the tone for guest experiences, so they’ll want to see that warm, welcoming vibe in you.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for the fast-paced environment! Brush up on your skills for managing high-volume situations, especially during matchdays. Share examples of how you've handled similar scenarios in the past to show you’re ready for the challenge.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Host in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Personality:When writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to see who you are beyond your experience. Use a friendly tone and share a bit about what makes you passionate about hospitality.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to tailor your application to the Head Host role specifically. Highlight your relevant experience in premium or lifestyle hospitality environments and how it aligns with our vision at Medlock Square.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that get straight to the heart of your qualifications and experiences without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Medlock Square.
How to prepare for a job interview at Eastlands Venue Services Limited
✨Know the Venue Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you research Medlock Square and its offerings. Familiarise yourself with the types of dining experiences they provide and the overall atmosphere. This will help you demonstrate your passion for the role and show that you understand the brand's vision.
✨Showcase Your Guest Experience Skills
As a Head Host, your ability to create a warm and welcoming environment is crucial. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully managed guest interactions, especially in high-pressure situations. Highlight how you’ve built relationships with guests and ensured their needs were met.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Qualities
The role requires leading a team, so be ready to discuss your leadership style. Share specific instances where you've trained or inspired a team to deliver exceptional service. Emphasise your ability to maintain high standards while adapting to fast-paced environments, especially during events.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Reservation Systems
Since you'll be managing the SevenRooms platform, it’s beneficial to have a basic understanding of reservation systems. If you have experience with similar platforms, mention it. If not, do a bit of research to show your willingness to learn and adapt to new tools.
