Venue Manager - College Farm in Cheltenham

Location: College Farm, Stow Rd, Cheltenham GL54 2HN

IMPACT EVOLVE is proud to be working exclusively with Hawkstone to support the search for a Venue Manager to lead the hospitality operation at College Farm.

Hawkstone has had huge momentum over the last 12 months. What started as one of the most talked-about challenger brands in the drinks space has continued to grow quickly, building real traction across retail, hospitality and brand presence. With the business continuing to scale, College Farm is now becoming a much bigger part of that next chapter.

The site already performs well through tours, retail and the current taproom setup, but the plan now is to take it several steps further. The venue is being developed into a more ambitious hospitality destination, with an upgraded tent, expanded shop, food vendors, outdoor spaces and a stronger events programme all forming part of the next phase.

This role is about taking ownership of that hospitality operation and helping shape what it becomes. It is not a maintenance role, and it is not a standard pub GM position. It is a chance to run and grow a multi-faceted venue around one of the most recognisable brands in the UK drinks market. The right person will be commercially sharp, operationally strong, hands-on when needed, and excited by the challenge of building something as it evolves.

• Lead the day-to-day venue operation
• Take ownership of the hospitality side of the College Farm site, overseeing service, standards, team performance and the overall visitor experience.
• Build and develop the team
• Recruit, lead and develop the venue team across hospitality, bar, events and seasonal support, creating a structure that can scale with the site.
• Drive events and programming
• Help build a venue calendar that gives people more reasons to visit, from regular hospitality moments through to private hire, corporate events and seasonal activity.
• Own commercial performance
• Manage the venue with a strong commercial mindset, keeping a close eye on revenue, labour, margins and the operational decisions that drive performance.
• Manage a growing multi-part operation
• Oversee a venue environment that includes hospitality, retail, food vendors and events, making sure it all works together operationally.
• Help shape the next phase of the site
• Work closely with the wider team as the venue develops, contributing to how the operation is set up and how it grows over time.

• Strong hospitality leadership experience
• You may currently be working as a Venue Manager, General Manager or in a similar senior operational role within hospitality.
• Experience in more complex venue environments
• We are especially interested in people who have worked in destination venues, events-led hospitality, brewery or taproom environments, or multi-part hospitality sites.
• Commercial awareness
• You understand how to grow revenue, manage costs and run a venue properly, not just keep service moving.
• Events and experience mindset
• You know how events, programming and venue experience can drive footfall, repeat visits and commercial performance.
• Hands-on, calm and practical
• This is an evolving site in a rural environment, so we need someone who is comfortable dealing with moving parts, solving problems and getting stuck in when needed.

This is a rare opportunity to take on a role with genuine scope. You will be joining Hawkstone at a point where the brand has strong momentum and the College Farm site is becoming a much more important part of the overall business. There is a real opportunity here to put your stamp on a venue, build a team around you and play a central role in shaping a destination hospitality operation from the ground up.

In return, Hawkstone offers a competitive salary, package and the opportunity to be part of one of the most exciting growth stories in the UK drinks space.

The recruitment process will include a screening call and video meeting with IMPACT EVOLVE, followed by an initial interview with Hawkstone and an on-site stage at College Farm. Final-stage candidates will be asked to present a short 30 / 60 / 90 day plan for how they would approach the role.

Hawkstone and IMPACT EVOLVE are committed to fairness and equality for all employees and applicants. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and will provide adjustments or support as needed.

Ready to lead the next phase of College Farm? Apply now to be part of Hawkstone’s next chapter.