Head Bartender in London

Head Bartender – Beringers (London City Island, E14). Full‑time, immediate start. All‑day brasserie & piano bar.

Beringers is an all‑day brasserie and piano bar on London City Island, inspired by Guy Beringer, the inventor of brunch in 1895.

By day it is a buzzing brasserie; by night the lights go down, the piano comes alive, and the bar takes centre stage.

The Role

This is the kind of role that passionate bartenders wait for – a chance to lead a bar from its early days and put your stamp on everything.

You’ll run the show behind the bar: crafting a signature cocktail list, curating the back bar, leading service on live piano nights, and building the kind of drinks programme people cross the river for.

It is a hands‑on leadership role – you’ll be shaking, stirring, and hosting at the heart of the room, not stuck in an office.

The Venue

London City Island is one of London’s most exciting creative neighbourhoods.

Beringers sits at its heart, close to a 5,000‑resident community, the English National Ballet, and the Royal Academy of Music.

Live piano nights and concert nights are intimate, ticketed evenings where the bar is part of the performance as much as the music.

The venue is minutes from Canning Town station (Jubilee & DLR) and surrounded by riverside views.

• What You’ll Do
• Help lead the bar day‑to‑day – service, standards, atmosphere, and pace.
• Create and evolve a signature cocktail menu with the Bar Manager – classics done properly plus your own creations.
• Curate the back bar – spirits, wines, aperitifs, and low/no‑alcohol options – and build supplier relationships.
• Train and develop the bar and FOH team in drinks knowledge, technique, and service style.
• Own stock control, ordering, GP margins, and bar prep systems.
• Be the face of the bar on piano nights, concert nights, and private events.
• Build genuine relationships with Island regulars and the local creative community.
• Work closely with the GM and ownership to shape the bar as the venue grows.
• What We’re Looking For
• Strong cocktail experience – classics nailed, specs tight, and creativity to build your own list.
• Experience leading a bar or supervising a team – Head Bartender, Bar Supervisor, or senior bartender ready to step up.
• Great wine, spirits, and aperitif knowledge – or the hunger to keep learning.
• A natural host – warm, confident, and genuinely great with regulars.
• High standards, clean workflow, and calm under pressure.
• Someone who enjoys the theatre of a great bar, especially one with a live piano.
• What You’ll Get
• Competitive pay plus service charge and tips.
• Real creative ownership – your cocktail list, your back bar, your bar.
• A clear pathway to Bar Manager as the venue expands.
• Staff food & drinks on shift, plus discounts across our group of venues.
• Involvement in events, brand collaborations, menu development, and supplier trips/tastings.
• A supportive, ambitious team that genuinely loves hospitality.

Why Beringers?

Because this is a rare opportunity: a beautiful venue with a built‑in community of thousands of locals, live music, and a bar programme that’s yours to build – all inside one of London’s fastest‑growing creative neighbourhoods.

Salary: £14.5–£17 per hour. Full‑time. Immediate start. Service charge and tips included.

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