General Manager

General Manager – The Royal Oak, Duddington

Who we are

Stephen James Inns – independent places, thoughtful hospitality.

We're a small, independent hospitality group of country pubs (some with bedrooms), wine shops and bars. Being independent means we're not a faceless chain – we know our team by name, we value everyone's ideas, and we care about creating great places to work as much as great places to eat, drink and stay. Our focus is simple: good food, well-kept drinks and warm, thoughtful hospitality for every guest who walks through our doors.

The role

We're looking for a warm, guest-focused General Manager to lead The Royal Oak in Duddington (PE9 3QE), a country pub with 7 bedrooms. You'll be fully responsible for running the pub day to day and will become the face of the business, building relationships with our locals, diners and overnight guests. You'll work closely with our Operations team to guide and lead the business, and our central team will support you with marketing, sales and operations. We're a people business, so we want a GM who leads from the front and is on the floor with the team. If you love great service and want to make a business your own, we'd love to hear from you.

Full-time, salaried position – working 5 days out of 7.

Salary: £45,000 – £50,000 per year OTE (including tronc).

What you'll be doing

• Taking full responsibility for the day-to-day running of the pub and its 7 bedrooms
• Working with our Operations team to guide and lead the business
• Being the face of The Royal Oak, building strong relationships with guests and the local community
• Setting the service standard and making sure the whole team keeps to it
• Leading from the front on the floor, with a focus on excellent service and a warm, welcoming manner
• Driving revenue growth and spotting new opportunities for the business
• Managing recruitment, inductions, appraisals and reviews to build and keep a great team
• Overseeing staff rotas, holidays and day-to-day people management
• Training, coaching and developing the team, including your Assistant Manager
• Maximising bookings through our management booking system, and making sure bedroom check-in and check-out runs smoothly and to a high standard
• Managing stock, ordering and costs to keep the business on track
• Making sure the building is kept immaculate at all times
• Working with our central team on marketing, sales and events
• Attending management meetings and contributing ideas to help grow the group

What we're looking for

• Previous General Manager or senior management experience in hospitality is essential
• A natural, hands-on leader who is customer focused and happiest on the floor
• Strong commercial awareness, with a track record of growing revenue
• Confident with recruitment, appraisals and developing a team
• Most importantly, a positive attitude and a genuine passion for hospitality
• High standards, well organised, with a good eye for detail
• Confident with tills, cashing up, booking systems and basic financial reporting
• Great communication skills with guests, the team and the wider business
• Flexibility to work a variety of shifts, including breakfasts, evenings, weekends and bank holidays

What we offer

• Tronc system for excellent tips
• Support from our central marketing, sales and operations team
• Staff meals when on duty
• Free parking
• Generous staff discounts across our sister sites
• Education and training opportunities to help you develop your career
• Staff parties
• A positive, encouraging working environment

If you're passionate about great hospitality and want to lead a team that takes pride in what it does, apply today – we'd love to hear from you.

Pay: £45,000.00-£50,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person