Assistant Restaurant Manager in Nottingham

• Bramleys Restaurant | The Orchard Hotel, Nottingham
• Department: Food & Beverage – Restaurant
• Reporting to: Restaurant Manager
• Job Type: Full-Time
• About Bramleys Restaurant

Located within The Orchard Hotel on the University of Nottingham campus, Bramleys is a contemporary dining destination, proudly holding 1 AA Rosette for culinary excellence.

Our ambition is to establish Bramleys as one of Nottingham’s leading dining destinations, recognised for exceptional service, outstanding food and memorable guest experiences.

We are seeking a passionate, motivated and experienced Assistant Restaurant Manager to join our leadership team and play a key role in the continued development and success of our restaurant, private dining and conference operations.

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious hospitality professional who thrives in a dynamic hotel environment, enjoys leading people and takes pride in delivering the highest standards of service.

The Role

As Assistant Restaurant Manager, you will support the Restaurant Manager in overseeing the daily operation of Bramleys Restaurant, while also taking an active leadership role in private dining, conference facilities, meetings and events throughout the hotel.

You will be responsible for ensuring exceptional guest experiences, maintaining consistent service standards, developing team members and ensuring all restaurant and associated event operations run efficiently.

The successful candidate will be a confident, hands-on leader who can take ownership of shifts, manage multiple operational areas and inspire the team to consistently deliver excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Restaurant Manager with the day-to-day management of Bramleys Restaurant.
• Oversee breakfast, lunch and dinner service as required.
• Maintain high standards of service consistent with our AA Rosette recognition.
• Lead restaurant shifts, ensuring smooth operations and exceptional guest experiences.
• Conduct structured team briefings, communicating service expectations, guest requirements and operational priorities.
• Monitor service standards, restaurant presentation, cleanliness and attention to detail.
• Manage guest feedback and resolve concerns professionally and efficiently.
• Support revenue growth through effective upselling, product knowledge and commercial awareness.
• Private Dining & Events
• Coordinate and oversee private dining experiences, special occasions and exclusive events within the hotel.
• Ensure private dining rooms are prepared to the highest standards, including table layouts, place settings, decorations and service equipment.
• Liaise with guests, event organisers and the kitchen team to ensure individual requirements are understood and delivered.
• Review event requirements, menus, dietary needs, timings and service arrangements ahead of each event.
• Lead private dining service, ensuring a seamless and personalised guest experience.
• Coordinate the setup, delivery and breakdown of private dining events.
• Conference & Meeting Room Management
• Take an active role in managing the hotel’s conference, meeting and event facilities.
• Oversee the preparation and setup of conference and meeting rooms in accordance with event requirements and function sheets.
• Ensure rooms are correctly configured for different meeting styles, including boardroom, theatre, classroom, cabaret and private dining layouts.
• Check furniture arrangements, presentation standards, stationery, refreshments and audiovisual requirements.
• Review daily and upcoming conference bookings, ensuring all operational requirements are communicated and actioned.
• Liaise closely with the hotel’s conference, events, reception and kitchen teams to ensure seamless event delivery.
• Coordinate conference refreshments, working lunches, buffets and food and beverage service.
• Conduct room inspections before guest arrival, ensuring all facilities are clean, correctly presented and ready for use.
• Respond promptly to delegate and organiser requests, ensuring a professional and efficient conference experience.
• Supervise room turnarounds, changes in layouts and the breakdown of conference facilities following events.
• OPERA – Hotel Property Management System
• Review hotel bookings, guest information and relevant operational requirements.
• Access and interpret Banquet Event Orders (BEOs) for conferences, private dining and events.
• Coordinate with hotel departments to ensure guest and event requirements are communicated effectively.
• Res Diary – Restaurant Reservation Management
• Manage restaurant reservations, table allocations and seating plans.
• Monitor booking levels, guest preferences, special requests and dietary requirements.
• Optimise restaurant capacity and ensure efficient management of service periods.
• MICROS – Point of Sale (POS)
• Oversee accurate order processing, billing and payment procedures.
• Support team members in the effective use of the POS system.
• Assist with transaction checks, reporting and relevant end-of-shift procedures.
• Lead by example, creating a positive, professional and supportive working environment.
• Assist with the recruitment, induction, training and development of restaurant team members.
• Coach colleagues to improve service skills, product knowledge and confidence.
• Support performance management, regular feedback and team recognition.
• Promote teamwork, accountability and consistent standards across all shifts.
• Assist with staff rotas, deployment and labour management to meet operational requirements.
• Operational Standards & Compliance
• Ensure compliance with food safety, allergen management, health and safety and relevant licensing requirements.
• Maintain accurate communication of dietary requirements and allergens between guests, service teams and the kitchen.
• Support stock control, ordering, inventory management and minimising wastage.
• Ensure restaurant, private dining and conference areas are maintained to a high standard.
• Complete operational checks, administrative duties and relevant reporting.
• Take responsibility for the smooth running of restaurant operations in the Restaurant Manager’s absence.

About You

We are looking for someone who brings enthusiasm, professionalism and a genuine passion for hospitality.

Essential skills and experience

• Previous experience in a restaurant supervisory or management position, ideally within a hotel or quality dining environment.
• Strong food and beverage knowledge with a passion for exceptional service.
• Experience supporting or managing conferences, meetings, private dining or events.
• Confident leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop a team.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple operational priorities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• A hands-on, proactive approach with excellent attention to detail.
• Flexibility to work a variety of shifts, including evenings, weekends and busy event periods.
• A commitment to maintaining high operational standards and guest satisfaction.
• Confidence using hospitality technology and the ability to learn operational systems.
• Previous experience within an AA Rosette or comparable quality restaurant.
• Experience working within a four-star hotel environment.
• Previous experience using OPERA, Res Diary and MICROS, or equivalent hospitality management systems.
• Experience managing conference room setups, Banquet Event Orders (BEOs) and private dining operations.
• Experience training and developing hospitality teams.

Why Join Bramleys?

At Bramleys, we believe exceptional hospitality begins with exceptional people.

You will be joining an ambitious restaurant and hotel team with a shared commitment to raising standards, developing talent and delivering outstanding guest experiences.

We encourage fresh ideas, recognise individual contributions and provide opportunities for professional growth.

This is an opportunity to help shape the future of Bramleys Restaurant and contribute to the wider success of The Orchard Hotel.

If you are a passionate hospitality professional who enjoys leading teams, delivering memorable experiences and making a real difference, we would love to hear from you.

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