At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead our café operations, manage events, and create a welcoming atmosphere.
- Company: Join a vibrant community-focused bookshop and café in Manchester.
- Benefits: Enjoy a £30k salary, holiday entitlement, staff discounts, and a unique 'Reading Day'.
- Other info: Flexible hours with opportunities for creativity and team leadership.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the community while sharing your love for books and coffee.
- Qualifications: 2+ years of café management experience and a passion for customer service.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Location: House of Books & Friends – 81 King Street Manchester M2 4AH
Hours: Full Time – Permanent
Salary: £30k
About House of Books & Friends
House of Books & Friends is more than a bookshop and café, we are a vibrant Community Interest Company in the heart of Manchester city centre, our mission is to address loneliness and social isolation. We bring people together through books, conversation, great coffee, and memorable events. From carefully curated shelves and cosy reading corners to bustling Afternoon Teas and community gatherings, we create a welcoming and inclusive space.
We are now looking for an experienced, energetic Café and Catering Manager to lead our café operations and play a key role in our continued growth.
The Role
As Café and Catering Manager, you will lead on the daily running of our busy café while working closely with our bookshop and events teams. This is a hands-on, shop-floor-based role where leadership, creativity and commercial awareness are equally important.
Key Responsibilities
- Operations
- Oversee all café activities including food & beverage preparation, service, and cleanliness
- Manage stock levels, ordering, supplier sourcing, and negotiations
- Maintain and enforce health & safety standards and ensure compliance with legislation
- Keep all paperwork up to date and aligned with regulations
- Develop innovative, costed ideas to broaden services and product offerings
- Key holding duties (opening and closing)
- Support shop floor operations across both the bookshop and café, including serving and phone enquiries
- Events
- Organise and deliver our popular Afternoon Tea events, generating and implementing new ideas with minimal direction
- Collaborate with the events team to deliver high-quality room hire and catered events
- Create clear systems and procedures to enable smooth event delivery
- Further develop catering options from standardised to bespoke packages for a range of budgets
- Undertake hosting duties where required
- Customer Experience
- Create a warm, welcoming atmosphere with exceptional service
- Manage enquiries, feedback, and complaints professionally and efficiently
- Team Leadership
- Train, supervise, and motivate café staff, future line management responsibility.
- Foster a positive, collaborative working environment
- Financial Management
- Manage budgets, revenue, expenses, and profitability
- Implement cost controls without compromising quality
- Analyse sales data, identify trends and key seasonal opportunities
- Develop strategies to increase revenue and meet targets
- Menu Development & Marketing
- Collaborate on menu updates ensuring consistent quality
- Adapt offerings based on seasonality, dietary needs, and customer preferences
- Support promotional campaigns and monitor competitor activity
- Create and implement creative and new revenue streams for the cafe
About You
- Proven experience (at least 2+ years) as a shop floor-based Café/Catering Manager (or similar hospitality leadership role) – only people with this experience will be considered for the role.
- Strong knowledge of café operations, food safety, and customer service
- Experience training and managing a team
- Confident using POS systems and standard office software
- Flexible to work weekends and holidays as required
- A genuine interest in books and the literary world
What We Offer
- £30,000 salary
- Holiday entitlement
- Pension scheme
- Staff discount
- Health cash plan
- A book on your birthday
- One paid “Reading Day” per year to catch up on your reading
If you bring energy, enthusiasm, and a love of people — and want to be part of a growing organisation that makes a real difference in the community — we would love to hear from you.
To apply: Please submit your CV along with a cover letter explaining why you are the perfect fit for the Café and Catering Manager role to recruitment@houseofbooksandfriends.com
Café and Catering Manager in Manchester employer: House of Books & Friends
At House of Books & Friends, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture in the heart of Manchester. As a Café and Catering Manager, you will not only lead a passionate team but also contribute to our mission of combating loneliness through community engagement, all while enjoying benefits such as a competitive salary, holiday entitlement, and unique perks like a paid 'Reading Day' and a book on your birthday. Join us in creating memorable experiences for our customers and making a meaningful impact in the community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Café and Catering Manager in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the café scene in Manchester! Visit local cafés, chat with staff, and understand what makes them tick. This will not only give you insights but also help you connect with potential colleagues and show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Attend local events or workshops related to hospitality and catering. Meeting people in the industry can lead to valuable connections and even job leads. Plus, it shows you're proactive and passionate about your career.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions specific to café management. Think about how you would handle customer complaints or manage a busy service. We want to see your leadership skills shine through!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Café and Catering Manager in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your cover letter, let your love for books and community shine through. We want to see how your passion aligns with our mission at House of Books & Friends!
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights your relevant experience in café and catering management. We’re looking for specific examples that showcase your leadership skills and operational know-how.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your key achievements and skills are easy to spot!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently!
How to prepare for a job interview at House of Books & Friends
✨Know Your Café Operations
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of café operations, food safety, and customer service. Be ready to discuss your previous experiences managing a café or catering team, and think about specific examples where you improved service or efficiency.
✨Show Your Creative Side
Since the role involves developing innovative ideas for events and menu offerings, come prepared with a few creative concepts. Think about how you could enhance the Afternoon Tea experience or introduce new catering options that align with the community's needs.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Be ready to talk about your experience in training and motivating staff. Share examples of how you've fostered a positive work environment and handled any challenges with team dynamics. This will show that you can lead effectively in a busy café setting.
✨Understand Financial Management
Familiarise yourself with basic financial management principles, as you'll need to manage budgets and profitability. Be prepared to discuss how you've previously analysed sales data and implemented cost controls without compromising quality.
