Summary
More Details
Job title: CATERING MANAGER
Reports to: THEATRE MANAGER
Responsible for: CAFÉ BAR MANAGERS, CAFÉ BAR TEAM MEMBERS
At Hampstead Theatre, we are passionate about creating bold, original, and thought-provoking work in collaboration with outstanding creative talent.
The Catering Manager is central to the smooth running of our Café Bar, which serves high-quality food and drink to theatre audiences and an expanding daytime clientele. This role demands a hands-on leader who can ensure exceptional service, maintain operational efficiency, and drive strong financial performance.
If you share our enthusiasm for ambitious theatre, take pride in delivering a welcoming experience for every visitor, and have the skills to inspire and lead a team, we would love to hear from you.
RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
Operations
- Manage daily opening/closing procedures and stock control.
- Ensure food hygiene, cleanliness, and safety standards are consistently met.
- Deliver hospitality for press nights, hires, and special events.
- Act as Bar Duty Manager for performances and events.
- Support building maintenance in all catering areas and report issues promptly.
- Assist Theatre Manager in identifying hazards and completing suitable risk assessments for all bar related activities.
- Assist Theatre Manager in investigating accidents/incidents/near misses relating to the bar team.
Product & Service
- Develop and maintain a high-quality, profitable product range.
- Ensure the Cafe Bar team delivers excellent customer service aligned with theatre-wide standards.
Team Leadership
- Line manage Cafe Bar Team Members and Cafe Bar.
- Managers ensuring effective recruitment, induction, training, and performance management.
- Schedule staff to meet operational needs while maintaining cost efficiency.
- Foster a collaborative and motivated team culture.
Financial
- Monitor sales, wastage, and profitability.
- Generate regular reports and propose adjustments to improve performance.
Collaboration
- Work closely with the Theatre Manager, Front of House Manager and FOH team to ensure a seamless customer experience.
- Support marketing initiatives to promote catering offerings.
Commercial Support
- Support the delivery of hospitality and fundraising events.
- Oversee bar sales and reconciliation, working with the Theatre Manager to maximise revenue opportunities.
- Ensure Bar staff are briefed on current shows, promotions, and customer-facing initiatives.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
- Commitment to delivering a high-quality, welcoming experience for all customers.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Proven experience in managing or supervising a catering or hospitality team, including recruitment, training, and performance management.
- Ability to motivate and lead a team to deliver excellent customer service.
- Good knowledge of food hygiene, health & safety regulations, and compliance standards.
- Experience in stock control, cash handling, and daily operational procedures.
- Ability to monitor sales, control costs, and improve profitability.
- Highly organised, with strong attention to detail.
- Flexible and adaptable to work evenings and weekends as required.
- Ability to work collaboratively across departments.
- Food Hygiene Level 2 (minimum) or willingness to obtain.
Desirable
- Previous experience in a theatre, arts venue, or similar cultural environment.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Salary: c. £34,700 p.a. depending on experience.
Hours: This is a full-time position based on a 38-hour working week over 5 days. Due to the nature of the role, the Catering Manager will be expected to have good availability to fit Hampstead’s opening hours, 8.30am – midnight, Monday to Saturday, and should expect to work evenings and weekends, including Friday and/or Saturday on a regular basis. Your hours will be assigned based on operational needs as agreed with the Theatre Manager.
Holiday: Generous holiday allowance of 25 days plus Public Holidays.
Notice: One week during three-month probationary period, eight weeks after probation is passed.
Other benefits:
Interest-free season-ticket travel loans.
Complimentary tickets for performances.
After 13 weeks’ service, you will be automatically enrolled in our NOW: Pensions scheme which includes an employer’s contribution of 3% on qualifying earnings.
How to Apply
To apply, please visit our website and download the full job pack.
Organisation
