Assistant Manager
2 days ago
£30000–£32000 yearly
Full-time
London
THE ROLE This is a hands-on operations role for someone who does not need to be told what needs doing — they have already done it. You will be the backbone of the floor: making sure service runs tightly, guests feel genuinely welcomed, and every inch of the venue is something we are proud of. On the nights Nico (GM/Owner) is not there, you are the one holding it together — including leading the kitchen pass when needed. You will work directly with Nico on the stuff that makes a business actually function: compliance, ordering, rotas, paperwork. The unglamorous bits. The bits that matter. If you want to manage from a distance, this is not your role. If you want to actually run a venue, it probably is. WHAT YOU WILL ACTUALLY DO Hosting & the guest experience – Set the tone from the moment someone walks in — because the first 30 seconds is everything – Hold the room together during busy service, managing covers, pacing and the energy of the floor – Handle complaints the right way: calm, quick, with genuine care — and escalate when it actually warrants it – Manage reservations and walk-ins with SevenRooms and whoever comes through the door Service & operations – Open and close to standard, every time – Keep the team briefed, in position, and performing to what Kuhaku is — not just what any bar is – Step in where needed during service, bar or floor, without being asked – Lead the kitchen pass in Nico's absence — keeping communication tight between kitchen and floor and making sure every dish lands right Venue standards & cleanliness – Maintain a high cleanliness standard across front of house, bar, toilets and back of house at all times – Run daily checks, own the standards, and hold the team to them — without being a jobsworth about it – Flag maintenance issues early and coordinate fixes before they become a problem Consumables & ordering – Manage and order all consumables — cleaning supplies, packaging, sundries, small kit — so we never run out of anything embarrassing – Keep storage organised, maintain par levels, and track spend – Flag any discrepancies or odd costs to Nico without being chased Compliance & paperwork – Hold a valid personal licence — or be actively working towards one (essential within six months) – Ensure we operate within our premises licence at all times: challenge policies, age verification, hours – Maintain food safety records, temperature logs, cleaning schedules and COSHH documentation – Support DPS compliance and handle any council or local authority communications with appropriate seriousness – Assist with rota collation, payroll admin and basic HR paperwork as needed WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR You do not have to love Japanese culture or cocktails (although it helps). You do have to love running a room well. Experience – At least one year in a supervisory or management role in hospitality — floor, not desk – Comfortable hosting, directing a team, and dealing with difficult moments without losing your cool – Experience with compliance, licensing and the paperwork that comes with running a licensed venue The person – Organised. You do not let things slip through the cracks and you do not need reminding twice – A natural host — you genuinely enjoy people, and it shows – Calm under pressure. Saturday at 9pm should make you sharper, not slower – Proactive. If something needs doing, you do it. If something is wrong, you say so – Honest and reliable. Small team, high trust. That is the deal. – Comfortable with admin and paperwork — it is not glamorous, but neither is a compliance fail Useful but not required – Personal Licence holder – Experience with SevenRooms, TheFork/EatClub or Square POS – Any genuine interest in Japanese food and drink culture – Food Safety Level 2 or above WHAT WE OFFER A real leadership role in a venue with a real identity. You will have a direct relationship with the owner, genuine input into how the venue runs, and room to grow as the business does. – £30,000+ per annum, dependent on experience – Plus tronc – Direct access to Nico — decisions get made, not deferred – A team with more personality than most bars in London have combined – A venue with an identity worth protecting — and a community growing around it – Room to develop as we do
2 Neal's Yard, WC2H 9DP, London
