Head Bartender - Cocktails & Events

53rd Floor Sky Lounge, Wardian, Canary Wharf E14. Full-time | Tips & Service Charge | Immediate start. Most bars have a view or a community. The Observatory has both - 53 floors above London. The Observatory is a Sky Bar & Restaurant on the 53rd floor of Wardian, looking out over Canary Wharf and the whole of London. It's one of the highest bars in the city - and it's exclusively for the developments residents & their guests. That last part is what makes this job different from every other Head Bartender role you'll scroll past today (well maybe the views as well). You're not serving a queue of strangers. You're looking after a community of around 1,500 residents & their guests who treat this as their local, their living room and their party venue. Regulars come in weekly. You'll know their names, their drinks and their birthdays. It has the feel of a private members' club, without the stiffness. We're looking for someone to take real ownership of it.

THE ROLE

You'll help run The Observatory Bar day to day - leading the small team, keeping cocktail and service standards high, and being the face residents come to. Alongside that, the venue hosts a busy year-round events calendar: birthdays, engagements, weddings, seasonal parties and private hires, plus the events we programme ourselves. To be clear about the events side: you're the host, not the event planner. Our dedicated events team handles the logistics, the planning and the bigger productions. Your part is being the person residents talk to, helping shape the drinks and the feel of the night, and delivering it brilliantly on the day. If you've worked functions or private hires before, you'll be right at home. If you're a superb bartender who's keen to grow into that side, we'll teach you.

Responsibilities

• Lead from the front behind the bar, delivering excellent cocktails and genuine hospitality.
• Take ownership of the running of the bar - standards, stock, ordering, prep and organisation.
• Build real relationships with residents and be their first point of contact for bookings.
• Look after resident celebrations and private hires from enquiry through to the night itself.
• Lead, train and develop the team.
• Work with our events team on the larger bookings and the annual events calendar.
• Grow the events side of the venue and get residents using the space more.
• Work with senior management on drinks menus, and where The Observatory goes next as we enter an exciting new chapter.

WHAT YOU'LL GET

• Tips and service charge on top of your pay.
• Sociable hours. We open at 4pm on weekdays and midday at weekends. No breakfast shifts, no 3am finishes, no split shifts.
• Genuine ownership of a unique venue rather than one site among many.
• Room to grow. We're a multi-site London group - Supershakes, Beringers, Lockdown, The Eleventh Hour - and we'd far rather promote from within than recruit in.
• Involvement in menu development, supplier tastings and the events programme.
• Staff food and drinks on shift, plus discounts across all our venues.
• Support from an experienced events and senior hospitality team.
• A team that actually enjoys working together.
• days holiday.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• Solid bartending experience, ideally with time in a management or senior role.
• Strong cocktail knowledge and consistency under pressure.
• Some experience of events, functions or private hires - or real appetite to learn it.
• A natural host who genuinely likes people and remembers them.
• Organised, proactive and comfortable owning a space.
• Calm and confident through a busy service.
• Someone who cares about the details, because our regulars notice them.
• And honestly: we're looking for someone who wants to stay. Building a relationship with a community of regulars takes time, and it's the best part of this job - but only if you're here long enough to enjoy it. If you're looking for somewhere to settle, put your stamp on and grow with, this is it.

WHY THIS ONE

There aren't many jobs like this in London. One shift you're making cocktails for a couple who come in every Friday. The next you're helping them plan their engagement party, 53 floors above the city. If that sounds like the kind of place you'd like to run, we'd love to meet you.

About The Bull Group

The Bull Group - small, ambitious & loads of fun! With 8 great venues + an action packed events calendar (beer festivals, live music, fitness events, Pride & more). We're all about our people. Come join a team that's going places!

Experience: Required

Employment: Full-time

Schedule: 3:30pm - 12am

Salary: £15 – £19 hourly

Benefits: Service Charge & Tips

Starting time: Immediate start!