General Manager

"Hospitality expert, paddle tennis enthusiast"

You bring your expertise, enthusiasms, and curiosities; and we’ll provide you with a space to play.

• Full Time – Permanent Contract
• £50,000 - £60,000/annum, depending on experience
• Onsite Role
• Based at Mad Swans in the Mendips (Bristol)

Mad Swans is looking for a General Manager to lead the team here in the Mendips. The General Manager role will primarily be responsible for the Restaurants, Bars and Cabin Accommodation but will also oversee the whole site and other areas within Mad Swans.

Mad Swans in the Mendips is located in Farrington Gurney near to Bristol & Bath.

Full Address: Marsh Lane, Farrington Gurney, Bristol, BS39 6TS.

What we do

We are experts in our field, committed to creating boundary-pushing social spaces that spark meaningful connections through play in nature.

This summer, we’re opening our first countryside hangout for mavericks. The unruly. The friendship groups you wish you were in. The families you want to hang out with. For evenings that go on forever. And weekends that become folklore. Come for a good time. Come for a long time. Come for a breath of fresh air. Whoever you are. Come as you are.

Social play spanning Padel Tennis, Pickleball, Darts, Shuffleboard and Golf gives guests the chance to explore one game or sample them all, across a few hours, a day, or a long weekend. We’re all about great food, which is why we’ve teamed up with experts in their field to create two distinct dining experiences and endless ways to enjoy them. The Potting Shed proudly boasts a menu of refreshing takes on Brasserie classics while, in The Hangout, the focus is on shareable plates with no compromise on flavour. But wherever guests find themselves, from course to court, the meadow to the orchard, they’re never far from a plate of something delicious to satisfy any craving. And, for evenings that go on forever, an Eco Cabin for the night is only a starlit walk through the wilderness away.

What we can do for you

We understand that there’s more to life than work, which is why our roles are designed to allow exploration, from long-time passions to brand-new intrigues.

We believe that to be interested is to be interesting – that means industry-leading training within and outside of your specified job role. If you have a question, we want to provide you with the tools to answer it. As we make our start in the world, our team need to be able to wear a few different hats, which we treat as an opportunity, allowing you to take considered detours into topics of interest, in the pursuit of a broader, richer perspective.

And out of hours, our guests’ playground is yours too. Enjoy the wide variety of green spaces, and the games they host, at an exclusive rate. You’ll have the opportunity to get involved in all things Mad Swans, from padel lessons to cocktail workshops, after all, we want you to be as excited by our product as we are.

What there is to it

You’ll play a central part in leading our front-of-house operations – overseeing the Restaurants, Bars and Cabin Accommodation, guiding your team to ensure smooth, high-quality service across every shift from day one.

The key duties and responsibilities of this role will include:

Overseeing the daily operations of the Restaurants, Bars, Event Spaces and Eco-Cabins ensuring seamless service

• Taking overall responsibility for the whole site
• Delivering an amazing guest experience
• Proactively upsell within the Restaurants, Bars and Eco-Cabins and maximise sales revenue
• Promoting our Mad Swans Loyalty Programme (Topflight)
• Assisting with guest enquiries and act as a key point of contact for guests interested in booking any overnight accommodation, tables in the restaurant or any sports activities
• Ensuring the whole site is clean, tidy and well-presented at all times
• Executing promotions, offers, special events and seasonal offerings to drive revenue
• Managing and overseeing the Assistant General Manager, The Hangout & Hospitality Manager, Reception & Housekeeping Manager and Maintenance Manager
• Ensuring all areas of the site are well presented, following all standard operating procedures and delivering excellent guest service
• Ensure team scheduling is in line with bookings, forecasted volume and payroll budgets
• Recruiting and training new team members to a high standard
• Conducting regular team meetings, performance reviews and ongoing team development to create a high performing team
• Working closely with the team and being very hands on during busy periods to ensure a smooth service
• Achieving revenue and profitability targets by managing budgets, controlling costs, and maximizing sales

Handling guest complaints and feedback, ensuring any issues are resolved promptly to ensure guests have a positive experience

This is a full-time (48 hours a week) permanent position and will work any five days out of seven. The salary for this role is circa £50,000 - £60,000 /annum.

Location – this is an onsite role and will be located at Mad Swans in the Mendips, Marsh Lane, Farrington Gurney, Bristol, BS39 6TS.

Working Hours – shift times will vary throughout the week; however, the regular operational times will be from 6.00 am to 11.00-12.00 pm.

Working Days – this role will work any five days out of seven and will involve working on weekends on a regular basis. Working hours will vary in line with the operating calendar and needs of the business.

Who we’re looking for

We are looking for a General Manager who is:

• A proven and inspirational leader who leads from the front
• Experienced and has previously worked in a Restaurant, Bar, or Hotel
• Able to take full ownership of the whole site and proactively drive continuous improvement
• Passionate about delivering a high level of guest service
• Able to lead, motivate and inspire a team
• Focussed on health and safety, employee engagement, the guest experience and cleanliness of the whole site
• Experienced in managing their own P&L
• Excited about being part of a new concept, new brand and new opening
• Happy to be hands-on and assist with the day-to-day duties and operation
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office and operating systems such as ResDiary
• An excellent communicator
• Highly organised and able to multi-task
• Confident, outgoing and well-presented
• Self-driven and highly motivated
• Proactive, positive and resilient by nature
• Solutions driven
• Comfortable working in a very fast paced environment

Please note, you must be eligible to work in the UK as we are unable to sponsor any work permits or visas.

What is in it for you

• Tips & Service Charge
• Free Parking
• Free Employee Meal whilst on shift
• Wage Stream – access your pay for hours worked before pay day
• Employee Discounts on Food, Sports, Activities, Cabins and in the Retail Shop
• Reward & Recognition Initiatives
• Team Social & Well-being Activities & Events
• Employee Referral Scheme Bonus
• Mad Swans Water Bottle
• Mad Swans Hoodie
• Plant your own tree at Mad Swans

How to Apply

If you believe you have what it takes to come on-board and would like to be part of something new and exciting, we would love to hear from you. Please simply apply by hitting the apply button.

Recruitment Agencies

We are not working with any recruitment agencies at this time. As such, we do not accept any speculative CV’s and/or candidate profiles and are, therefore, unable to consider these.