At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead food & beverage operations during events and peak periods while maintaining high standards.
- Company: Dynamic visitor attraction focused on seasonal catering and guest experience.
- Benefits: Flexible hours, hands-on leadership experience, and opportunities for growth.
- Why this job: Join a vibrant team and make a real impact in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in food & beverage operations and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Ideal for those who thrive in busy, collaborative settings and enjoy seasonal work.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
This role works closely with the Head of Food & Beverage to ensure our catering operation performs at its best during peak periods and events, while remaining well-run and well-prepared for the rest of the year. It combines hands-on delivery with planning and systems. You will spend most of your time on the ground with teams, with some office time each week to review performance, maintain systems, and prepare for upcoming events.
This is a hands-on food & beverage leadership role in a highly seasonal, tourism-led visitor attraction. Around 70% of the year focuses on supporting the Head of Food & Beverage to deliver the day-to-day operation across the farm, including busy school holiday periods. This includes maintaining standards, systems, stock control, training, and continuous improvement across multiple outlets. The remaining 30% of the year is spent delivering catering operations during major events, working alongside the Head of Food & Beverage and the wider management team. These are high-pressure periods where you are visible, decisive, and leading from the front. This is not a desk-based role. It is practical, operational, and people-focused, balanced with regular office time to keep systems running well. You will report to and work closely with the Head of Food & Beverage and play a direct role in shaping the visitor experience.
Contract & hours
- Full-time role (part-time options considered)
- Up to 40 hours per week, averaged across the year
- Hours vary with seasonality and trading demands
- Weekend working required
- Evening event work currently includes:
- 68 evenings between May and July
- Selected evenings in October (Pumpkin Nights)
- Selected dates late November/December (Christmas Experience)
What the role involves
- Events (approx. 30%)
- Working with the Head of Food & Beverage to deliver catering operations during events and peak periods
- Leading on the ground during busy trading
- Supporting real-time team deployment
- Maintaining food quality, speed, hygiene, and guest experience under pressure
- Working closely with duty managers and operations to keep days running smoothly
- Supporting daily food & beverage delivery across the main season (Feb-Oct)
- Maintaining standards across all outlets
- Supporting stock, equipment, and facilities management
- Assisting with menu delivery, presentation, and waste control
- Training and developing team members
- Helping build flexible, multi-skilled teams
- Spending regular office time maintaining systems and preparing for events
- 4 grab-and-go outlets (Stone baked pizzas, Gourmet hot dogs, Pasties, Sandwiches/Salads, Cold and Hot Drinks)
- 1 scoop ice cream outlet
- Event-specific outlets (menus vary by event)
- The number of outlets in operation changes with demand
Experience & capability
Attitude matters more than polish. We can train skills; we can't train mindset. Ideally, you'll bring:
- Experience in food & beverage operations
- Good understanding of food hygiene and catering health & safety
- Experience leading or supervising teams
- Confidence in visitor-facing, high-footfall environments
- Comfort working in seasonal operations
- Events experience is helpful but not essential
This role will suit someone who:
- Enjoys hands-on, collaborative leadership
- Is comfortable balancing planning with delivery
- Brings calm and clarity during busy periods
- Leads by example
- Cares about standards, cleanliness, and teamwork
- Enjoys developing people
- Is physically capable and enjoys an active role
- Adapts well to variation and seasonal change
This role is unlikely to suit someone who:
- Is looking for fixed, predictable hours year-round
- Prefers a predominantly desk-based or strategic-only role
- Is uncomfortable working weekends, school holidays, or peak periods
- Wants minimal involvement during busy trading or events
- Struggles with pace changes or operational pressure
Our approach
We value collaboration, ownership, and accountability. Managers work closely together, plan ahead, and support each other to deliver great outcomes. This role offers scope to grow as our food & beverage operation and events continue to expand. Leadership here is hands-on, practical, and collaborative.
Food & Beverage Manager (Events & Seasonal Delivery) in Exeter employer: Pennywell
Contact Detail:
Pennywell Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Food & Beverage Manager (Events & Seasonal Delivery) in Exeter
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the venue and its vibe! Spend some time visiting the place where you want to work. This will help you understand the atmosphere and the type of events they host, which is super important for a Food & Beverage Manager.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Attend industry events or local meet-ups related to food and beverage. Chat with people in the field, share your passion, and don’t be shy about mentioning your interest in the role. You never know who might have a lead!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your hands-on experience! When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers, highlight your practical skills and any past experiences that relate to busy environments. They’ll love hearing about how you’ve thrived under pressure.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team and ready to dive into the action!
We think you need these skills to ace Food & Beverage Manager (Events & Seasonal Delivery) in Exeter
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for food and beverage shine through! We want to see that you genuinely care about delivering great experiences, especially in a hands-on role like this.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight any relevant experience you have in food and beverage operations. Whether it's leading a team or managing events, we want to know how your background aligns with what we're looking for!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your skills and experiences are easy to understand. This will help us see how you can fit into our team!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can't wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pennywell
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your food and beverage knowledge, especially around hygiene and safety standards. Familiarise yourself with the types of outlets you'll be overseeing and think about how you can maintain high standards during busy periods.
✨Show Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led teams in high-pressure situations. This role is all about hands-on leadership, so be ready to discuss how you motivate and develop your team while keeping operations running smoothly.
✨Emphasise Flexibility
Since this role requires working during peak times and events, highlight your adaptability. Share experiences where you've successfully managed changing demands or worked outside of typical hours, showing that you're comfortable with the seasonal nature of the job.
✨Engage with the Visitor Experience
Think about how you can enhance the visitor experience through food and beverage offerings. Be prepared to discuss ideas for improving service quality and guest satisfaction, as this will show your commitment to the role and its impact on the overall experience.