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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage the exciting new Freight Newcastle venue, ensuring exceptional guest experiences.
- Company: Join a game-changing food market that blends dining with entertainment.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of a unique culinary experience and shape the future of the venue.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in senior venue management and strong commercial acumen required.
- Other info: Opportunity to launch a new venue and build a high-performing team.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 65000 £ per year.
Salary: £60,000 - £65,000
Location: Freight Newcastle, Eldon Square, NE1
Working week: 45 hours per week over 5 days, by way of rota - weekends and evenings required
Start date: February / Early March 2026
Freight Island is one of the most exciting, forward-thinking and disruptive food markets in the world - it’s a game changer and most importantly, it has a soul. Blurring the lines between a food hall and a festival, Freight’s unique set up reflects the times. An urban oasis where guests can enjoy delicious food, great drinks and live entertainment. We specialise in curating an evolving calendar of residencies and menus that span emerging local talent and nationally recognised names, keeping the experience fresh and engaging.
The Role
Freight Newcastle (expected to open late Spring 2026) is seeking a commercially astute, senior General Manager to take full ownership of the venue’s performance. As the most senior leader on site, you will have end-to-end accountability for the venue’s P&L, including revenue growth, margin delivery, cost control and overall commercial performance. This is a true leadership role: setting strategy, making decisions, and leading the venue to deliver both exceptional guest experience and sustainable profitability. Reporting into the Managing Director, you will define and execute the site strategy, translating business objectives into clear commercial and operational direction for your leadership team. You are not here to manage day-to-day tasks — you are here to own outcomes.
Key Responsibilities (but are not limited to)
- Full P&L ownership for Freight Newcastle, with accountability for revenue, margins, labour, stock and operating costs.
- Set, own and deliver against revenue targets and margin expectations.
- Lead budgeting, forecasting and financial planning, ensuring strong commercial visibility and control.
- Identify and deliver new revenue opportunities across events, programming, partnerships and commercial initiatives.
- Act with authority and confidence in commercial decision-making as the senior leader on site.
Strategy & Senior Leadership
- Own and deliver the site strategy, aligned to Freight’s wider vision and tailored to the Newcastle market.
- Provide clear leadership, direction and pace to the senior management and leadership team.
- Act as the final decision-maker for operational, commercial and people matters at site level.
- Build a culture of accountability, high standards and commercial ownership across the venue.
Operations & Guest Experience
- Ensure Freight Newcastle consistently delivers a high-quality guest experience.
- Oversee complex, multi-department operations through strong leadership rather than micromanagement.
- Maintain full compliance with licensing objectives, food safety, health & safety and legal requirements.
- Ensure operational excellence supports, rather than constrains, commercial performance.
People, Culture & Performance
- Build, lead and retain a high-performing senior management and leadership team.
- Set clear expectations and hold leaders accountable for delivery, standards and engagement.
- Own workforce planning, labour strategy and rota efficiency to ensure performance within budget.
- Champion Freight’s culture, creating a positive, inclusive and high-energy working environment.
- Develop internal talent while addressing performance issues decisively and fairly.
What Success Looks Like (First 12 Months)
- Full ownership of the site P&L, delivering against agreed revenue, margin and cost targets.
- A confident, capable leadership team operating with clarity, autonomy and accountability.
- A clear, embedded site strategy balancing guest experience, commercial growth and operational control.
- Improved forecasting accuracy and commercial insight across labour, stock and revenue.
- Freight Newcastle recognised as a market-leading food, drink and events venue in the region.
Skills & Experience
- Minimum 5 years’ senior venue management experience within hospitality, food & beverage or event-led environments.
- At least 3 years’ bar operations experience.
- Proven experience managing full site budgets and P&L responsibility.
- Strong commercial acumen with confidence in senior decision-making.
- Natural leader with presence, credibility and the ability to influence at all levels.
- Personal Licence holder with strong knowledge of licensing and compliance.
- Comfortable operating autonomously as the senior leader on site.
- Experience launching a new venue.
Interview Process
- Video call with our Head of People
- Video call with our Associate Director of Marketing and General Manager of Freight Island Manchester
- In-person interview with our Directors
General Manager employer: Freight Island
Contact Detail:
Freight Island Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land General Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend events, and engage with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company, understand their values, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. Practise common interview questions and be ready to showcase your leadership skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your personality! Employers want to see the real you, so let your passion for the role shine through. Share your vision for the venue and how you plan to create an unforgettable guest experience.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Freight Newcastle team. Don’t miss out!
We think you need these skills to ace General Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role and the unique vibe of Freight Newcastle shine through. We want to see how you connect with our mission and values, so don’t hold back!
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored specifically for the General Manager position. Highlight your relevant experience in hospitality and venue management, especially any P&L ownership or leadership roles you've had. We love seeing how your background aligns with what we’re looking for!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the good stuff without unnecessary fluff.
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’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining the Freight family!
How to prepare for a job interview at Freight Island
✨Know Your Numbers
As a General Manager, you'll be responsible for the P&L. Brush up on your financial knowledge and be ready to discuss how you've managed budgets and driven revenue growth in previous roles. Be prepared to share specific examples of how you’ve improved margins or controlled costs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires strong leadership skills. Think about your management style and how you build high-performing teams. Prepare to discuss how you've fostered a positive culture and held your team accountable while ensuring operational excellence.
✨Understand the Market
Freight Newcastle is all about innovation in the food and drink scene. Research the local market and be ready to talk about trends, potential partnerships, and how you can contribute to making Freight a leading venue in the region. Show them you’re not just a manager, but a visionary.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities. Think of scenarios related to guest experience, compliance issues, or financial challenges. Prepare structured responses that highlight your decision-making process and the outcomes of your actions.
