Restaurant Manager
£43k - £46k/yr
Mid
London, UK
In Person
Food Service & HospitalityFood & Beverage Operations Management
About the job
Requirements
- Previous experience managing a large team in a fast-paced food service environment is essential.
- Health & Safety Level 2/3 skills are required.
- A strong level of written and spoken English is required.
- Organisational skills and the ability to plan ahead are required.
- Strong leadership and communication skills are required.
- Exceptional customer service skills are required.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including SharePoint, Forms, OneDrive, and Outlook, is required.
- A successful record of achieving targets and a results-oriented approach are required.
- The ability to work under pressure with constantly changing priorities is required.
- Accountability for gross profit and financial management is required.
- An analytical approach to problem solving is required.
Responsibilities
- Take responsibility for the smooth and efficient running of the department.
- Manage day-to-day operations to meet customer expectations for quality and standards.
- Assist in producing weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports on service analysis and marketing effectiveness as required.
- Understand departmental key performance indicators and work toward achieving or exceeding them, including Mystery Shopper audits.
- Develop specific goals and plans, prioritise and delegate when required, and organise own workload.
- Continuously assess the performance of staff under supervision to establish training needs.
- Manage marketing in advance, ensure signage is displayed correctly, and send the weekly menu to the client within the agreed timeframe.
- Make sound financial and business decisions; address shortfalls in budgeted gross profit and sales with corrective plans.
- Ensure legal compliance within the department.
- Drive product innovation, stay current with industry trends, and promote sustainability and provenance.
- Develop an annual marketing plan with the Retail Manager.
- Work toward financial targets and forecasts, and address shortfalls, particularly in gross profit and sales.
- Continuously monitor financial performance, including revenue and inventory.
- Ensure excellent customer service, assess customer experience, recommend improvements, and act on concerns with the Retail Manager.
- Monitor customer feedback, handle complaints, and resolve issues promptly with action plans.
- Ensure staff understand their duties and standards, and that pricing, labelling, and menus are accurate and professionally presented.
- Introduce and implement a comprehensive training plan for department staff, particularly for customer service; hold one-to-one meetings and appraisals; prepare development plans for direct reports; and ensure plans are completed.
- Monitor staff development and make recommendations for succession planning.
- Prepare and implement a customer service training plan.
- Hold regular team meetings to communicate targets, standards, company information, and client information in both directions.
- Manage the team within budget constraints, including annual leave and rotas.
- Motivate and lead the team by example.
- Ensure the team is knowledgeable and motivated through effective induction, accurate job descriptions, and on-the-job training.
- Actively participate in the hiring process with the Retail Manager.
- Help ensure front-of-house staff understand their health and safety responsibilities and receive appropriate training.
- Ensure due diligence records are completed accurately and on time and filed; report accidents; ensure legal training is completed; and monitor allergen policy.
Desired Qualifications
- Understanding of environmental, social, and governance regulations and industry initiatives is desirable.
- Understanding current food legislation is desirable.
About the company
WSH is a British holding company that owns a portfolio of brands in the food services and hospitality sector, with contract catering as its main business for clients like businesses and schools. It operates brands such as BaxterStorey, Benugo, and Searcys, delivering tailored meals and service and focusing on fresh, seasonal, locally sourced ingredients while managing costs. Unlike single-brand caterers, WSH uses a portfolio approach with brand specialization across corporate dining, restaurants, and cafes to gain scale in procurement and operations. Its goal is to provide dependable, high-quality food and service to a broad client base, while growing its brand portfolio and improving efficiency for clients and stakeholders.
Company Size
N/A
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Reading, United Kingdom
Founded
2011
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- BaxterStorey won MHRA South Mimms in February 2026, worth £1.0 million including VAT.
- The Open University extended BaxterStorey through January 2028 amid catering transformation uncertainty.
- T-Mobile awarded BaxterStorey a £2.6 million July 2026 contract across four sites.
What critics are saying
- Public procurement churn is rising: Durham retenders in 2026, and universities are extending short bridges.
- CD&R owns WSH, so another acquisition spree can mask margin pressure and integration strain.
- A loss at MHRA, Open University, or T-Mobile would hit BaxterStorey's core revenue immediately.
What makes WSH International Investments unique
- BaxterStorey, Benugo, and Searcys span corporate dining, premium leisure, and heritage hospitality.
- WSH’s 2026 RSPCA Assured milk rollout covered 600+ locations and 4 million litres.
- The Genuine Dining Co. acquisition strengthens scale after 2024, expanding London contract catering.
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Benefits
- Flexible Work Hours