General Manager
3 days ago
Brent
Founding General Manager Sticks & Cones | Marylebone, London Start Date: Early April 2026 Salary: £36,000£38,000 + performance bonus (up to £2,000 annually) About Sticks & Cones Sticks & Cones is a high-quality, ingredient-led independent ice cream shop opening in Marylebone. We create artisan ice cream and ice lollies made from scratch on-site, using carefully sourced ingredients including locally sourced dairy, 100% fruit purées and premium nut pastes. Everything we serve is made with attention to detail and a respect for craft. We believe in simple flavours executed exceptionally well, transparency in ingredients, and thoughtful sustainability in how we source, produce and operate. This is not a large restaurant operation. It is a focused, premium neighbourhood hospitality concept with a small team (3 full-time including the GM, plus part-time support during busy periods), high standards and strong founder involvement. The Founder will be present day-to-day in the early stages, and the role reports directly to them. We are looking for a Founding General Manager who is genuinely excited about quality food, ingredients and sustainability and who wants to help build something special from the ground up. The Role This is a pre-opening and operational leadership role combined with hands-on service leadership. You will help build the operational foundations of the business before launch and then manage day-to-day trading once open. You will lead from the shop floor daily serving customers, supporting the team and setting the tone for hospitality. Because Sticks & Cones is an ingredient-led, made-from-scratch concept, we are looking for a General Manager who takes pride in food quality and understands the value of craftsmanship. You do not need to be a chef but you should be genuinely interested in ingredients, flavour, sustainability and how things are made. As a neighbourhood concept, building genuine relationships with local customers will be central to success. We want a General Manager who can confidently talk about our products, communicate our values, and help create a sense of community around the brand. Key Responsibilities Pre-Opening (April Launch) Support final operational planning and readiness Recruit and onboard a small team in collaboration with the Founder Implement core systems, including EPOS, rota management and stock control processes Establish robust food safety systems, HACCP documentation and hygiene protocols Ensure full compliance with health & safety and Environmental Health requirements prior to opening Support supplier coordination and operational setup Post-Opening Lead the shop floor daily in a highly hands-on, customer-facing role Deliver warm, friendly and memorable customer engagement Build genuine relationships with regular customers and foster a strong neighbourhood community feel Champion local community engagement and help build Sticks & Cones reputation within Marylebone Manage staffing, rotas and labour cost control Monitor daily sales and trading performance Use EPOS and reporting tools to interpret sales patterns and labour efficiency Oversee stock management and inventory control, working closely with production Maintain rigorous food safety, hygiene and cleanliness standards at all times Prepare for and manage Environmental Health inspections Continuously refine service flow, operational systems and team efficiency Experience & Background 24+ years experience as a General Manager or in an equivalent senior hospitality leadership role Strong hospitality background (café, restaurant, dessert concept, premium quick-service or similar) Experience contributing to a new opening or early-stage business preferred Strong knowledge of food safety, HACCP systems and hygiene compliance Confidence managing Environmental Health inspections Proficiency with EPOS systems and scheduling software Ability to interpret sales, labour and performance reporting tools Familiarity with inventory and stock management systems Experience leading small teams in hands-on environments Comfort working closely with a Founder in a collaborative structure Salary & Package £36,000£38,000 depending on experience Performance bonus up to £2,000 annually Early April 2026 start Opportunity to play a foundational role in building a premium independent hospitality brand TPBN1_UKCT