Host in Southampton

Second Nature is part of Lamington Group. We design and run hometels, places that are practical but still feel good to stay in, built around how people actually travel and live. Feeling properly looked after matters too, so our teams pay attention to what guests actually need, not what a script tells them to do. We’re looking for people who care about the work in front of them and the people around them.

WHO YOU ARE

Five things we hire for. These are the Second Nature values. We use them across every role in the Group, from Maintenance to Front of House to the kitchens. If three or more of these sound like you on a good day, this is your kind of place.

• Use Instinct. A guest arrives tired from travel. You see it in their face and change how you act, warmer, slower. You work out what they’ll need next, like the key, the WiFi, or a local restaurant tip, before they ask.
• Own It. You own the guest’s first moment. You don’t make excuses about late arrivals or system problems. You make sure they feel welcomed and cared for, no matter what happened before they arrived.
• Include All. You remember faces and names. You make guests from every background feel like they belong at Second Nature. You’re genuine, not scripted, and guests can tell.
• Stay Curious. You learn the neighbourhood, the local events, the hidden gems. You help guests discover them without slowing them down. You’re warm, and you keep it brief.
• Think Big. You’re not just checking people in. You’re creating the first part of someone’s Second Nature story. What you do shapes whether they come back or forget us by next month.

We don’t hire for a hotel‑industry background. We can teach you the systems. We can’t teach you how to read a room.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

On a good day, you might…

• Welcome every guest when they arrive and leave, setting a warm, professional tone from the start.
• Handle check-in smoothly, doing the paperwork while making sure the guest doesn’t feel like paperwork.
• Work behind the bar when the shift needs you: taking food and drink orders, serving guests, and making drinks, including cocktails.
• Move easily between front desk and food and beverage duties across a shift, wherever you’re needed most.
• Answer questions about the local area, events, and the building with real enthusiasm, not a script.
• Spot what a guest needs before they ask, and act on it: remembering a preference, flagging a concern, quietly sorting a problem.
• Report maintenance or cleaning issues straight away, and keep the front office and bar area tidy and welcoming.
• Pass guest information to the team, like special requests, feedback and issues, so nothing gets missed between shifts.
• Handle guest concerns calmly, take ownership, and know when to bring in your manager.
• Help with phones, mail, and parcels, and support events or busy check-ins when the team needs an extra pair of hands.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

Experience that fits the role.

• Experience looking after people day-to-day, whether that’s in hospitality, retail, care work, or anywhere else you deal with the public face to face. No hotel background needed, we’ll teach you the rest.
• Comfortable picking up bar and food service skills, from taking orders to making drinks and cocktails, even if it’s new to you.
• A track record of giving people a genuinely good experience, not just a polite one.
• Comfortable with basic admin and using the phone.
• Warm and naturally friendly, with a good memory for names and preferences.
• Calm under pressure, even with a difficult guest, and happy to act without being told.

WHAT YOU'LL LOVE WORKING HERE

What you get back.

• Team that means it. You’ll work with people who see a warm welcome as everyone’s job, not just yours.
• Leaders are hands‑on, with regular check-ins on how you’re doing and where you want to go.
• Growth that’s real. We promote from within. Your path might go from Host to Senior Host, to Front of House Supervisor, or into other roles across the business.
• Learning, built in. Proper training from day one, including bar and food service skills, plus skills that will help you wherever you go next.
• Time off that respects you. More annual leave the longer you stay, company benefits, two paid volunteer days a year, and a Company Sick Pay Scheme.
• Stay with us, on us. Friends-and-family rates across our hometels and the wider group, plus one free stay on us.
• The day-to-day. Pension contributions, wellbeing support, a Cycle to Work scheme, and gym access at our properties.

WE CLOSE THE LOOP

Every applicant hears back from us, yes or no. We don’t ghost.

FOR EVERYONE

A note on inclusion. Second Nature and Lamington Group are equal opportunities employers. We hire on attitude and ability. We welcome applications from every background, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief. If you need any adjustments to take part in our hiring process, tell us when you apply. We’ll work with you.