Waiter / Waitress
11 hours ago
£12.71–£14 hourly
Full-time
South Kensington, London
Summary of Position The Waiter/Waitress owns accurate, attentive table service from first contact through farewell. The role explains the concept, asks the mandatory allergy/dietary question before every order, captures and confirms orders correctly, monitors the guest experience and escalates complaints or safety concerns without exceeding authority. Key Performance Areas (KPAs) · Guest Greeting & Concept · Menu, Allergen & Order Accuracy · POS & Service Execution · Guest Experience Monitoring · Billing, Recovery & Playbooks · Section Readiness & Teamwork Duties & Responsibilities Guest Greeting & Concept · Attend briefing, know the assigned section and verify section/POS readiness. · Reach newly seated guests within 60 seconds under normal conditions and greet to standard. · Explain the Swiss Butter concept accurately and at the right level for the guest. Menu, Allergen & Order Accuracy · Maintain current menu, fact-sheet, LTO and allergen knowledge from the approved source. · Ask the mandatory allergy/dietary question before taking the order on every table; on declaration, record and confirm it and activate PB11 through the approved RM/KM route. · Capture the order precisely, use approved options and verbally confirm the full order back to the guest. POS & Service Execution · Enter the confirmed order in POS immediately; never carry an order verbally to the kitchen or use an unofficial outage workaround. · Serve beverages and support food service to the correct guest/table, announce dishes correctly and never guess who ordered what. Guest Experience Monitoring · Check back within 2 minutes of the first bite, refill water proactively and continuously scan the section for needs. · Escalate complaints and food-safety concerns immediately; do not promise recovery outside published authority. Billing, Recovery & Playbooks · Present the bill only when requested and execute the approved payment, void and discount process. · Execute relevant failure-playbook first actions and remain inside Waiter authority. · Close the experience with a genuine farewell. Section Readiness & Teamwork · Maintain a clean, organized and ready section and coordinate with Runner, Bartender and Shift Leader without blurring role ownership. Additional Responsibilities & Reporting · Undertake responsibilities assigned by the Direct Supervisor. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) · 100% of tables receive the mandatory allergy/dietary question before order taking. · Newly seated tables are reached within 60 seconds under normal conditions. · Orders are read back and entered into POS immediately; no verbal kitchen orders are used. · Guest check-back occurs within 2 minutes of first bite and water is managed proactively. · Complaints and food-safety concerns are escalated immediately through the approved route. · Bills are presented only on request and payment/void/discount controls are followed. Qualifications · Previous front-of-house experience is preferred; internal candidates may progress through the approved Runner pathway. · Be able to communicate and understand the predominant language(s) of the restaurant's trading area. · Be able to work standing for long periods and safely reach, bend, stoop and frequently lift up to 20kg. · Complete the current Waiter Academy and practical certification before independent assignment. Core Competencies · Communication Skills - Communicates clearly, listens actively and escalates accurately. · Attention to Detail - Protects standards by noticing the small things that affect quality and safety. · Teamwork - Works across roles without blurring ownership or authority. · Flexibility - Adapts to live service conditions while staying inside the approved standard. · Accountability - Owns assigned responsibilities and records work truthfully. · Initiative - Acts early on visible needs and risks without improvising beyond role authority. Technical Skills Strong working knowledge of the current menu, allergens, POS flow, table-service standard, guest-recovery escalation and relevant Failure Playbooks. Current Waiter certification is required before independent assignment. Where It Leads Waiter (you are here) > Shift Leader (next) > Assistant Restaurant Manager > Restaurant Manager > Area Manager > Operations Manager > Senior Operations Manager proving assignment > Operations Director To earn Shift Leader: · Assignment Policy: Complete at least one year as a Waiter before permanent promotion unless an approved People OS exception applies; complete the Shift Leader Development Plan. · Swiss Butter Academy: Maintain current Waiter certification and complete Shift Leader learning, practical assessment and certification before independent Shift Leader duty. · Performance: Meet the published People OS promotion performance gate for the relevant cycle. · Dual 80 Principle: Demonstrate at least 80% readiness against the destination-role Responsibility Register, with a named successor at least 80% ready against your current role where a permanent promotion is involved. · Culture: Hold current culture-gate evidence and demonstrate the 5 H's consistently: hunger, hustle, humility, hardiness, heart. · Role Availability & Approval: The destination role must be approved/open and the verified promotion or transfer pack must receive the required approval.