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- Tasks: Lead the Food & Beverage team in a luxury country hotel, ensuring exceptional service and standards.
- Company: Join a prestigious Farm-to-Fork luxury hotel and wellness retreat in beautiful Dorset.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, relocation support, and a vibrant work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a hands-on leadership role within high-end hospitality.
- Qualifications: Experience in luxury F&B operations and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 43000 - 51000 £ per year.
Oplu is partnering with an exceptional Farm-to-Fork luxury country hotel and wellness retreat to appoint a Head of Food & Beverage (F&B). This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role overseeing daily service delivery across breakfast, lunch and dinner service, as well as bespoke events for private groups, family stays and corporate retreats. The business has a strong concept and offering already in place. The key requirement is now to bring in a confident Food & Beverage leader who will lead from the front, create structure, raise standards, and implement robust SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) to drive consistent service excellence and smooth team performance. The Head of F&B will initially report directly to the General Manager, working closely with the Head Chef and Hotel Manager in weekly operational meetings.
MUST-HAVE REQUIREMENTS
- Proven experience in high-end hospitality Food & Beverage (F&B) operations, ideally within luxury hotels, retreats, private members’ clubs, or premium restaurants
- A hands-on floor leadership style (this is not an office-based management role)
- Strong ability to implement and enforce SOPs, service standards, and operational governance
- Confident people leader, able to coach and develop supervisors while also managing underperformance fairly and decisively
- Excellent planning capability (rotas, prep, service flow, guest volumes, team efficiency)
- Strong communication skills and calm presence under pressure
- Flexibility on working hours, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends as required
NICE TO HAVE
- Background in event service / special occasion dining / retreat programming, confident working with VIP or UHNW-level guest expectations
- WSET Level 2 or similar wine knowledge
- Experience improving service standards in an operation that needs tighter structure and leadership
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Service Leadership & Standards (Hands-On Delivery)
- Lead service from the floor across breakfast, lunch and dinner, ensuring consistent guest experience and presentation standards
- Work alongside the service team, setting pace, tone, and expectations through hands-on leadership
- Create a culture of warm, confident and discreet hospitality aligned with a luxury retreat environment
- SOPs, Governance & Operational Excellence
- Build and implement robust SOPs across service delivery, set-ups, timing, closing procedures and compliance
- Introduce stronger planning and mise-en-place processes to improve efficiency and reduce reactive service issues
- Set and monitor service performance benchmarks (quality, consistency, cleanliness, guest feedback, operational rhythm)
- Team Management & Development
- Lead, nurture and upskill a small service team including multiple supervisors
- Establish clear responsibilities, daily standards and team accountability
- Produce rotas in advance with contingency planning and cost awareness
- Maintain professional communication standards across the team (briefings, handovers, feedback)
- Guest Journey, Events & Bespoke Service
- Manage and coordinate F&B for retreat groups, special occasions and corporate stays
- Bring creativity and flair to events and service moments, without compromising operational discipline
- Liaise closely with the Head Chef on menus, dietary requirements, allergens, and special requests
- Commercial & Stock Responsibility
- Support the General Manager and Head Chef on revenue optimisation and profitability in F&B
- Maintain strong control of stock, procurement, supplier relationships and audit process (food, beverage, OS&E)
- Support upselling of food, beverage, and experiences as appropriate
- Compliance, Health & Safety
- Maintain the highest standards of compliance across service areas in line with FSA / HACCP standards
- Ensure cleanliness, hygiene, food safety, and best practice procedures are consistently upheld
WORKING STYLE & SUCCESS PROFILE
This role will suit a candidate who is:
- Young, driven, energetic and naturally enjoys being front-facing
- A real "lead from the front" operator who thrives in service and enjoys setting standards
- Strong enough to implement structure quickly, but emotionally intelligent enough to bring the team with them
- Comfortable in a demanding hospitality environment where flexibility is expected
- Highly organised and capable of running weekly 1:1 check-ins with the GM, with clear agendas and follow-ups
RELOCATION SUPPORT
Relocation assistance is available where required (staff accommodation or rental support). Please note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within 14 days, please assume your application has not been successful on this occasion.
Head of Food & Beverage employer: Trades Workforce Solutions
Contact Detail:
Trades Workforce Solutions Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Food & Beverage
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research their values, mission, and what makes them tick. This way, when you walk into that interview, you can show them you're not just another candidate but someone who genuinely gets their vibe.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your pitch! You want to nail that first impression, so prepare a quick summary of your experience and how it aligns with their needs. Make it engaging and confident – remember, you're the expert in your own story!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your leadership skills during the interview. Share specific examples of how you've led teams, improved service standards, or tackled challenges in high-pressure environments. They want to see that you can lead from the front!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to ask questions! This shows your interest and helps you gauge if the role is right for you. Ask about their expectations for the Head of F&B and how they envision the team working together. And hey, apply through our website for a smoother process!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Food & Beverage
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for F&B: When writing your application, let your love for food and beverage shine through! Share specific experiences that highlight your hands-on leadership style and how you've created memorable guest experiences in the past.
Be Specific About Your Experience: We want to see your proven track record in high-end hospitality. Make sure to detail your relevant experience in luxury hotels or retreats, and don’t forget to mention any SOPs you’ve implemented that improved service standards.
Tailor Your Application: Take a moment to customise your application for this role. Use keywords from the job description, like 'service excellence' and 'team management', to show us you understand what we’re looking for and how you fit the bill.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at our luxury country hotel and wellness retreat!
How to prepare for a job interview at Trades Workforce Solutions
✨Know Your F&B Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest trends and standards in high-end food and beverage service. Brush up on your knowledge of SOPs and be ready to discuss how you’ve implemented them in past roles. This will show that you’re not just a leader, but a knowledgeable one.
✨Showcase Your Hands-On Leadership Style
Prepare to share specific examples of how you’ve led from the front in previous positions. Highlight moments where your presence on the floor made a difference in service delivery or team morale. This role is all about being hands-on, so demonstrate that you thrive in that environment.
✨Plan for the Unexpected
Given the nature of hospitality, flexibility is key. Think about potential challenges you might face in this role and how you would address them. Be ready to discuss your approach to creating rotas and managing guest volumes while maintaining service excellence.
✨Communicate with Confidence
Strong communication skills are essential for this position. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently, especially when discussing team management and guest interactions. Remember, it’s not just about what you say, but how you say it that can leave a lasting impression.
