Premium Hospitality Manager - Manchester

Lead exceptional guest experiences at AO Arena. As a Premium Hospitality Manager in The Mezz, you'll oversee either the restaurant or bar operation, leading teams and delivering first-class service in one of Manchester's most exciting live event environments. If you're a confident hospitality leader who thrives under pressure and loves creating memorable experiences, we'd love to hear from you.

The Venue

A true powerhouse of live entertainment, AO Arena is one of the world's most iconic indoor arenas, welcoming more than 30 million fans since 1997. From era-defining music moments to major sporting spectacles, the arena sits at the heart of Manchester's global reputation for live events. Following a 50 million transformation, AO Arena continues to set the standard for live entertainment both in Manchester and on the world stage.

The Role

As a Premium Hospitality Manager, you will lead the delivery of exceptional guest experiences within The Mezz, AO Arena's premium hospitality offering. Responsible for overseeing either the restaurant dining room or bar operation during event days, you'll ensure service is seamless, efficient, and consistently delivered to the highest standards. This is a hands-on leadership role where you'll coordinate teams, manage guest expectations, drive service excellence, and ensure every event runs smoothly from opening through to close. This is a casual, event-based position, offering flexible shifts around AO Arena's live events calendar. Shifts are available primarily during evenings, weekends, and event days, making this an ideal opportunity for hospitality professionals seeking flexible work in a dynamic environment.

The Responsibilities

• Lead service delivery within either the restaurant or bar operation, ensuring a premium guest experience throughout the event.
• Act as a visible and approachable leader on the floor, supporting teams and maintaining high service standards.
• Deliver pre-event briefings and oversee opening and closing procedures.
• Coordinate seating plans and guest allocations, taking into account VIP requirements, reservations, and special requests.
• Build positive relationships with guests, resolving issues quickly and delivering effective service recovery when required.
• Ensure smooth communication and coordination between front-of-house teams, kitchen, bar, hosts, and premium hospitality colleagues.
• Oversee accurate order taking, service timing, allergen management, licensing compliance, and Challenge 25 procedures.
• Maintain exceptional standards of presentation, cleanliness, ambience, and event readiness across all guest areas.
• Complete shift reports, incident logs, and guest feedback summaries, escalating operational issues where necessary.
• Support team development by coaching colleagues and leading by example during service.

What we're looking for

• Previous leadership experience within premium, high-volume hospitality environments such as restaurants, hotels, stadiums, arenas, or bars.
• Strong floor management skills with the ability to lead teams during busy event operations.
• Excellent guest service and relationship management capabilities.
• Confident decision-maker with experience handling guest complaints and service recovery.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of licensing requirements, Challenge 25, allergen management, and health and safety standards.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and adapt to fast-paced service environments.
• Availability to work flexible, casual shifts, including evenings, weekends, and major event days.

What's in it for you?

• Competitive Rate of Pay - Earn a strong hourly rate for your work.
• Flexible Working - Choose shifts that fit around your lifestyle and commitments, helping you maintain a great work-life balance.
• Fortnightly Pay - Get paid every two weeks for the shifts you've worked.
• Sociable Workforce - Join a diverse and friendly team from across the city.
• Opportunities to Grow - Gain valuable experience in the live events industry and access to opportunities across Legends Global.

Recruitment Process Outlined

As part of the application, candidates will be asked to record a short video response to a couple of questions, allowing us to get to know you beyond your CV. Applications and videos will be reviewed by the Legends Global team, with successful candidates invited to an induction and interview at AO Arena. Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks. These may include verification of identity, proof of address, right to work, employment history, qualifications, and where relevant to the role, a basic or enhanced DBS check. All checks will be carried out in line with data protection law and we will only request information that is necessary for the role.

Inclusive Workplace

At Legends Global, we are committed to leading the entertainment industry towards a greener, faster, and more innovative digital future. There's never been a better time to join our team. We aim to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers, and suppliers. Join us and make a significant impact from day one. We are committed to active inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunities. This commitment begins with our recruitment and selection process. We welcome discussions about flexible working arrangements. If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of our recruitment process, please let us know in your application. We are dedicated to providing a fair and transparent assessment process and will do our utmost to accommodate your needs.

If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to ensure it is considered. We will continue to review applications on a rolling basis and may close the advert before the closing date.