Overview
Location: On-site in Knutsford, Cheshire, North-West England (not remote).
Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere is one of the North West’s most distinguished luxury destinations. Nestled in the heart of the Cheshire countryside and surrounded by a championship golf course, the resort combines Fairmont’s world-renowned elegance with the warmth and character of its local heritage. Renowned for exceptional service and attention to detail, Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere offers guests an indulgent escape featuring world-class spa experiences, exceptional dining, and outstanding leisure facilities. Whether visiting for relaxation, celebration, or business, Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere is dedicated to creating unforgettable moments and delivering the very best in 5-star luxury hospitality.
Your Purpose Will Be The Assistant Restaurant Manager (Wine) serves as the primary floor leader and beverage specialist for Gordon Ramsay at the Mere. This role is responsible for ensuring the seamless execution of the Ramsay service sequence while driving the restaurant’s profitability through an expert, curated wine program. You will act as the “visual anchor” of the dining room, mentoring the team in both service mechanics and sophisticated wine storytelling.
Responsibilities
* Act as the visual presence and lead authority in the restaurant in the absence of the Restaurant Manager, ensuring the standard of excellence is met at every touchpoint.
* Run the shift and allocate daily roles to team members, ensuring that all opening, service, and closing procedures are carried out with precision.
* Represent the restaurant in departmental meetings and briefings, ensuring alignment with the wider resort's goals.
* Be precise in executing guest orders and handling complaints immediately, ensuring guest recovery aligns with luxury hospitality standards.
* Maintain operational stock levels for the restaurant, with specific accountability for the wine cellar, inventory rotation, and high-value beverage ordering.
* Maintain an exhaustive knowledge of the breakfast, evening, and bar menus, with an expert-level command of the wine list to provide bespoke pairing recommendations.
* Take every opportunity to upsell premium vintages and lead the team in daily sales initiatives, focusing on increasing the average check through wine pairings.
* Ensure all wine-related documentation, including bin end lists and daily beverage reports, are completed accurately.
* Hold pre-shift briefings that include training sessions, educating the team on new vintages, tasting notes, and professional pouring techniques.
* Communicate professionally with all colleagues and the back-of-house team, fostering a culture of mutual respect and high-speed efficiency.
* Maintain the detailed cleanliness standards of the dining room and service areas to ensure an “audit-ready” environment at all times.
* Be strictly accountable for all monies and financial payments while on shift, ensuring precise reconciliation of wine sales.
* Remain aware of daily and upcoming business for the resort, adjusting stock levels and staffing roles to meet forecasted demand.
Please note that Flexibility and multi-skilling are valued; you may be asked to perform different tasks from time to time to meet guest and colleague needs.
Qualifications
* Proven experience in an Assistant Restaurant Managerial (Wine) role, ideally within a luxury or high-volume environment.
* Qualification in Hospitality Management/Food & Beverage preferred
* Additional certification(s) in Food & Beverage will be an advantage
* Experienced in all aspects of restaurant and banquet service.
* Minimum 2 years of relevant experience in a similar capacity with proven records in delivering results
* Excellent reading, writing and oral proficiency in English
What is in it for you? / Benefits
* Exclusive Discounts:
* Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, Spa and Golf discount
* Fairmont, Raffles, and Accor Hotels (friends and family rates are included)
* 20% off food and beverage in on-site restaurants
* Colleague restaurant
* Being part of The Mere Team – our culture is unique!
* You will benefit from training and development opportunities
* Competitive salary and benefits including pension
* 28 days of holiday including public holidays
* 1-5 days service award based on length of service
* Special rates for Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere colleagues and their friends & family and discount across Accor hotels worldwide
* And last but not least you will get to work with a team of EXTRAORDINARY people
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