Bar Supervisor

At the heart of Down Hall’s Food & Beverage experience sits The Fox Bar an elegant yet relaxed space where guests come together throughout the day. From a leisurely lunch or afternoon drink to cocktails on the Terrace and the transition into evening service, The Fox Bar should feel effortless, welcoming and distinctly Down Hall.

We are looking for a Bar Supervisor who can bring that experience to life.

This is much more than overseeing a bar. It is about understanding the rhythm of the hotel and creating an atmosphere where exceptional service feels natural. You will take particular ownership of The Fox Bar, the Terrace and our afternoon and lunch service, ensuring that every detail from the presentation of the bar to the warmth of the welcome reflects the standards of a luxury country house hotel.

The Role

As Bar Supervisor, you will be a visible and confident presence throughout service. You will lead from the floor, supporting the team while remaining attentive to the guests around you. During lunch and afternoon service, you will ensure The Fox Bar and Terrace are beautifully presented and ready to welcome hotel residents, spa guests, visitors and those simply joining us for a drink or something to eat. As the day develops, you will help shape the atmosphere of the bar, ensuring the transition from relaxed daytime hospitality into evening drinks and cocktails is seamless.

You will know that memorable hospitality is often created through the smallest details: recognising a returning guest, remembering a preferred drink, noticing when someone needs assistance before they have to ask, or simply taking the time to make somebody feel genuinely welcome.

Your Responsibilities

You will take day to day responsibility for the smooth operation of The Fox Bar, Terrace and associated lunch and afternoon service, maintaining excellent standards of presentation, cleanliness and organisation.

Working closely with the wider Food & Beverage and Kitchen teams, you will coordinate service, reservations, VIP guests, special occasions and dietary requirements while ensuring communication between departments remains clear and effective.

You will lead and develop the team through daily briefings, coaching and hands on support, building their confidence in wines, spirits, cocktails, food menus and luxury service. You will encourage colleagues not simply to take orders, but to engage with guests, make thoughtful recommendations and understand the importance of genuine hospitality.

Most importantly, you will take ownership of the guest experience. When a guest has a request, you will look for a way to make it happen. When something is not quite right, you will take responsibility and resolve it with professionalism, discretion and care.

Our expectations in relation to standards are high, with Service and Hospitality being words we use every day.

Our accolades since have included:

• AA Hotel of the Year 2024/25
• Boutique Hotel of the Year 2026
• 2 AA Rosettes
• AA Merit Score of 90%
• Historic Venue of the Year – The Essex Wedding Awards 2024
• Hotel Venue of the Year – The Essex Wedding Awards 2024
• Luxlife Best Luxury Country House Hotel & Spa of the Year – South East England 2024
• East of England Tourism Large Hotel of the Year 2023
• Muddy Stiletto Large Hotel of the Year 2023
• Luxlife Essex Hotel of the Year 2023
• Finalist – MIA Venue of the Year 2024 & 2025
• Guest Feedback Score of 4.4/5 – 2024

Whilst we are incredibly proud of these achievements, we see them very much as a foundation to build upon.

About You

You will ideally have previous experience within a quality hotel, restaurant, cocktail bar or luxury hospitality environment, together with supervisory or team leadership experience.

You will have a genuine interest in drinks and hospitality, but we are equally interested in your character. We are looking for someone with presence, warmth, attention to detail and an instinct for looking after people.

You should be comfortable leading a busy service while remaining calm and composed, able to motivate a team while setting the standard through your own behaviour.

At Down Hall, we believe luxury is not simply about beautiful surroundings or perfectly presented drinks. It is about how we make people feel.

If you are ready to take ownership of The Fox Bar, develop a talented team and create a bar experience that guests remember long after they leave, we would love to hear from you.

Join Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate and help us make The Fox Bar one of the defining experiences of a stay at Down Hall.

Benefits:

• Company events
• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• Gym membership
• Referral programme
• Sick pay

Work Location: In person