Southsea Beach Café is a much-loved independent seafront restaurant known for relaxed coastal dining, quality food, great coffee, and a welcoming atmosphere for locals and visitors alike.
As the business prepares for an exciting new chapter beyond this site, we are looking for an experienced and passionate General Manager to lead the café through its final season of trading until the end of December 2026, ensuring outstanding service, strong team leadership, and a memorable guest experience throughout.
This is a unique opportunity to take ownership of a busy, established venue for a defined period, with potential opportunities to be considered for future projects within the wider business.
The role
You'll take full responsibility for the smooth, profitable, and inspiring day-to-day running of the café, leading from the front on service while supporting the team through a successful final trading period.
Key responsibilities
* Oversee daily operations across floor, bar, and kitchen alongside the Head Chef
* Deliver exceptional guest experience and maintain strong local reputation
* Lead, train, and motivate the management and front-of-house teams
* Manage rotas, labour control, and staffing performance
* Drive sales, profitability, and KPI performance
* Support private hires, events, and seasonal activity
* Maintain full compliance with health & safety and licensing standards
* Work closely with owners during the final phase of trading and transition period
What we're looking for
* Proven experience as a General Manager or strong Assistant Manager in hospitality
* Calm, organised, hands-on leader with excellent service standards
* Strong financial awareness (labour, GP, and cost control)
* Passion for team development and positive culture
* Excellent communication and problem-solving skills
* Flexibility for weekends, evenings, and peak seasonal periods
What we offer
* Salary around £40,000 per year (DOE)
* The chance to lead a well-known seafront venue through its final season
* Opportunity to be considered for future roles within upcoming business projects
* Staff food, discounts, and team socials
* A beautiful seaside place to work each day
Apply
Please send your CV and a short introduction telling us why you'd love to lead Southsea Beach Café for its final chapter.
Job Types: Full-time, Temporary
Contract length: 8 months
Pay: £40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
* Employee discount
Work Location: In person