General Manager - Luxury Country House Hotel
South West England | Competitive Salary + Performance Bonus + Benefits
An opportunity for an experienced hotel General Manager to lead a distinctive luxury hospitality business through its next stage of development.
JWR is recruiting a General Manager for a privately owned country hotel in the South West. Combining individual accommodation, quality food and beverage and leisure facilities, this is a business where personal service, attention to detail and strong leadership matter.
We are seeking a proven hotelier who can balance a visible presence with guests and colleagues with the commercial discipline needed to deliver sustainable results.
The Opportunity
As General Manager, you will lead the hotel's daily operation, bringing departments together to deliver a consistently high standard of hospitality.
Working closely with ownership and senior stakeholders, you will develop your Heads of Department, strengthen operating standards and drive guest satisfaction, team engagement and financial performance.
This position would suit an established General Manager from a quality four-star or five-star hotel, ideally with experience in an independent country house, boutique hotel or leisure-led property.
Key Responsibilities
Lead all hotel departments, including Front Office, Reservations, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Kitchen and Leisure.
Deliver a welcoming, polished guest experience, taking personal ownership of service standards and guest feedback.
Coach and develop Heads of Department, setting clear objectives and building accountability.
Oversee budgets, forecasting, payroll and departmental costs, taking action to improve profitability.
Work with sales, marketing and revenue colleagues to develop occupancy, average room rate and additional revenue.
Ensure effective planning for seasonal demand, private bookings and group business.
Lead recruitment, induction, training and succession planning to build a capable, engaged team.
Review operating procedures and hotel systems to improve consistency and efficiency.
Manage supplier relationships, purchasing and stock control to protect quality and value.
Work with maintenance teams to maintain presentation, asset condition and operational reliability.
Ensure robust health and safety, food safety, fire safety, allergen and licensing compliance.
Provide clear performance reporting and practical recommendations to ownership.
About You
You will bring:
Proven experience as a Hotel General Manager, with a strong background in quality hospitality.
Ideally, experience within a luxury country house hotel, independent hotel or boutique property.
A track record of leading multiple departments and developing effective management teams.
Strong financial understanding, including P&L management, budgeting and labour cost control.
Confidence overseeing both accommodation and food and beverage operations.
A natural ability to engage with guests and deliver thoughtful, personal service.
Sound judgement, attention to detail and a calm approach to operational challenges.
Experience using hotel property management systems, EPOS and performance reporting.
Flexibility to work according to the needs of the business and the right to work in the UK.
The Package
Competitive salary.
Performance-related bonus.
Enhanced pension scheme.
Private medical and dental insurance.
Annual performance review.
TPBN1_UKCT
General Manager in Dorchester employer: James Webber Recruitment
As an Interim Operations Manager at our prestigious 4-star hotel, you will be part of a dynamic team that values excellence and innovation in hospitality. We offer competitive salaries, opportunities for career advancement within a thriving company, and exclusive benefits such as discounted room rates for you and your friends, all within a supportive and collaborative work culture that prioritises employee growth and satisfaction.
