Front of House Manager
4 days ago
London
The Birds Nest, Brixton is looking for a confident, experienced Front of House Manager to take ownership of our restaurant and bar service. This is a hands-on leadership role with genuine operational responsibility. You will lead the front of house team, own service standards, manage the floor during service, and be the operational point of contact when senior management is not on site. You will be involved in running service yourself, greeting guests, managing sections and communicating with the kitchen and bar, but your primary responsibility is to ensure the entire front of house operation runs to a high standard, consistently, every shift. We are looking for someone who takes ownership without being told, spots problems before they escalate, and holds the team to high standards through their own example and clear direction. Key Responsibilities: Service Leadership • Lead and own the restaurant floor during service, • Manage section allocation so every team member has clear ownership and accountability, • Act as the primary point of communication between floor, kitchen, bar and management during service, • Support the team with greeting guests, taking orders, running food and drinks, clearing and resetting tables, • Monitor guest experience across the whole restaurant at all times, • Keep service calm, structured and professional under pressure, • Make sure staff are working with urgency, staying in section, and meeting service standards, • Handle guest issues calmly, professionally and to resolution, • Conduct pre-service briefings and ensure the team is fully prepared before service begins, • Check bookings, large groups, allergies, dietary requirements and special requests before every service Operational Ownership As Front of House Manager, you will take full responsibility for opening, during-service and closing standards. Some tasks will be delegated to the wider team, but ownership of standards and follow-through sits with you. You will own and maintain key operational documents, including: • Opening Checklist, • During-Service Cleaning Checklist, • Closing Checklist, • Handover Notes, • Incident Notes, • Maintenance Notes, • Delegate tasks appropriately and follow up to ensure nothing is missed, • Report service issues, incidents, maintenance problems and operational concerns to senior management, • Identify recurring issues and proactively work to resolve them, • Maintain cleanliness and organisation throughout the restaurant at all times Team Management • Provide clear direction and support to the front of house team during and outside of service, • Support the onboarding and training of new team members, • Set and maintain high standards of conduct, presentation and service, • Be a consistent, steady presence that the team can rely on What We Are Looking For: • Proven experience in a front of house management or senior supervisory role, • Confident leading a team during service, including during high-pressure periods, • Calm, composed and authoritative under pressure, • Highly organised and proactive: someone who acts without being prompted, • Comfortable giving clear direction to other members of staff, • Warm, professional and genuinely guest-focused, • Strong communicator across floor, kitchen and bar, • High standards on cleanliness, structure and attention to detail, • Comfortable being hands-on whilst still maintaining overview of the floor, • Serious about service quality and consistent operational standards Experience Required: • Previous front of house management, floor management, restaurant supervisor or senior front of house leadership experience required (minimum one year in a lead role), • Strong table service experience in a restaurant or bar environment, • Experience in a fast-paced, high-volume hospitality setting, • Solid understanding of sections, service flow, guest experience and team communication, • Confidence handling guest complaints and supporting junior team members, • Experience owning and maintaining operational checklists, handover notes and shift documentation Hours: This is a full-time role of around 40 hours per week, generally across Tuesday to Saturday. Evening and weekend availability is essential, including Friday and Saturday closes. Exact shifts may vary depending on business needs, events and private hires. Occasional additional hours may be available during busy periods, private hire bookings or special events. Any overtime will be agreed in advance. Benefits: • 75% staff discount on food, • 50% discount on drinks, • 50% discount on Rooftop Saunas sessions, subject to availability and booking policies, • Opportunity to take real ownership in a growing independent restaurant, • Supportive, hands-on management team, • A role where your leadership and standards will directly shape the guest experience Salary: £16.00 per hour plus tips Location: The Birds Nest, Brixton 6 Canterbury Crescent London SW9 7QD
