ABOUT DORSET HOUSE
Dorset House is a five-bedroom boutique bed and breakfast on the Jurassic Coast in Lyme Regis a Grade II Listed Georgian building that has been welcoming guests for years. Under new ownership in 2026, we are relaunching with a refreshed identity, new systems, and a renewed commitment to the things that made this house special and gained a loyal guest base in the first place.
We are not a wellness retreat or a rustic country house. What we offer is a beautifully kept Georgian townhouse, an award-winning four-course breakfast made from local and seasonal ingredients, and genuine, unhurried, indulgent hospitality. Guests come to rest, eat well, walk the coastal path, take a dip in the sea, and hunt for fossils. They leave wanting to come back.
The house and brand are being refreshed ahead of reopening. The person we hire will be part of building what Dorset House becomes.
THE ROLE
This is a hands-on, varied role at the heart of a small, high-quality operation. You will work directly alongside the owner and be the second person guests encounter sometimes the first. You will be expected to use your judgment, take ownership of problems, contribute ideas, and care about the details as much as we do.
This is a salaried position, not hourly. We are not looking for someone to clock in and clock out. In peak season, it will be full-on. In winter, it will be quieter. We are looking for someone who takes pride in the work regardless of the pace.
We are open to candidates at different stages of their career. The role has a clear minimum scope guest welcome, breakfast service, housekeeping, day-to-day operations but for the right person it is also a platform. If you arrive with the aptitude and the ambition, there is genuine opportunity to grow into broader responsibility over time: for how the house runs, how guests experience it, and how the operation develops.
What You Will Do
Guest welcome & check-in
Welcome and check in guests when the owner is not available confidently, warmly, and in a way that sets the tone for their stay
Offer arriving guests tea, coffee or a drink making them feel immediately at home
Handle any guest questions, requests or minor issues with calm good judgment
Breakfast service
Assist with morning breakfast service front of house, not heavy cooking; opportunity to work alongside the owner on recipe development and take on cooking in the future
Help prepare and plate elements of our four-course breakfast under the owners direction
Ensure the breakfast room is set up, presented, and cleared to a high standard
Housekeeping & turnovers
Manage the cleaning and turnover of guest rooms between stays either doing it yourself in quieter periods or coordinating cleaners at peak times if needed
Maintain the standard and presentation of all guest-facing areas of the house
Ensure linen, towels and amenities are stocked and refreshed
Operations & coordination
Manage ordering of breakfast supplies, guest amenities, cleaning products and package materials
Coordinate laundry collection and return
Liaise with tradespeople and contractors for routine maintenance visits
Keep the house running smoothly on a day-to-day basis flag anything that needs attention
Familiarity with booking software to assist with guest preparations and check-ins is a plus
What We're Looking For
We are not looking for a CV full of hotel management roles. We are looking for a specific kind of person who wants to help us build Dorset House.We also take transferable skills seriously. If you have spent years running a demanding household, managing a community project, working in events, or doing anything else that required warm people skills, high standards and operational reliability we want to hear from you.
Essential
Warm, natural hospitality you make people feel welcome without thinking about it
High standards and genuine attention to detail
Reliable and self-directed you see what needs doing and do it
Calm under pressure and good at problem-solving on your feet
Strong organisational skills you can manage multiple things at once
Comfortable with physical work turnovers and cleaning are part of this role
Lives in or has strong local knowledge of Dorset / Devon
Desirable
Experience in hospitality, events, catering or a similar guest-facing role
Confidence serving drinks basic cocktails, wine, tea and coffee service
Food hygiene certificate (or willingness to obtain one)
Familiarity with booking systems or similar platforms
Experience coordinating contractors or household staff
A genuine interest in food and provenance
Appreciation of genuine partnership and teamwork
Why This Role is Unusual
Most hospitality jobs at this level are in large hotels with layers of management, shift rotas, and limited autonomy. This is not that.
You will work directly with the owner no middle management, no corporate reporting
You will have genuine input into how the house runs and feels
Dorset Houses peak season is June to September with strong Spring and Autumn shoulder seasons winter is genuinely quieter, not just a different kind of busy
The breakfast alone is worth experiencing locally sourced, proper cooking, four courses. You will know where everything comes from.
Lyme Regis is one of the finest small towns on the English coast. If you love the sea, the coast path, and a town thats proud of its independent shops this is an extraordinary place to work.
Package & Practicalities
Salary: £28,000 £32,000 per annum, depending on experience
Contract: Permanent, full-time salaried position
Start date: Mid-May to 1stJune 2026 exact date flexible for the right candidate
Probation: 3-month probationary period with a formal review
Holiday: 28 days per year including bank holidays (pro-rated for start date)
Hours: Seasonal fuller in summer, lighter in winter. Salaried, not hourly.
Pension: Auto-enrollment workplace pension (3% employer contribution)
Location: Dorset House, Lyme Regis. On-site presence required during open season.
A Note on Housing
We know that finding accommodation in Lyme Regis can be difficult and expensive, particularly for someone relocating. We are happy to discuss this honestly and help where we can including local knowledge, contacts, and flexibility on timing. Please dont let housing uncertainty put you off applying; its a conversation worth having.
HOW TO APPLY
We are not looking for a cover letter that lists your qualifications. We are looking for a short note that tells us who you are, what draws you to this role, and why you think youd be good at it. Honest and specific beats polished and generic every time.
Please send your note and a CV or brief work history to us. We will acknowledge all applications and aim to be in touch within two weeks. First conversations will be by phone or video call; we will invite shortlisted candidates to visit the house before any offer is made.
Dorset House is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and will consider reasonable adjustments for any stage of the process.
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