Job Ref: DAK1250
Branch: Dakota Edinburgh
Location: Dakota Edinburgh, South Queensferry
Salary/Benefits: Earnings are £16.35 per hour, including average anticipated tronc
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time
Shift pattern: Usually shifts will be working any 5 days out of 7, including evenings and weekends.
Hours per week: The role carries a permanent contract with typical hours 35- 40 hours per week
Posted date: 08/06/2026
Closing date: 10/07/2026
We are seeking a hospitality professional with strong leadership skills and a passion for beverage and cocktails to join our team for the role of Head Bartender.
PRIMARY ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES
* Support management in supervising and providing direction to our bar tenders, bar floor team, and hosts, ensure consistently high standards.
* Implement training plans and deliver on-the-job training to drive the smoothest, most polished levels of service.
* Deliver beverage-focused training, continuously developing the teams’ product knowledge to better enhance the guest experience.
* Support the commercial operation of the bar, including conducting stock take and placing beverage orders.
* Lead by example through a hands-on approach to service and hosting, consistently upholding it at all times
* To have a comprehensive knowledge of food and beverage menu options to be able to offer guests recommendations, including understanding the allergens present.
APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS
The successful applicant will have/be::
* At least 3 years’ experience working in a full-service, high-end restaurant and/or bar.
* At least 1 years’ experience training others in a Bar or Restaurant environment.
* Experienced in overseeing bar operations, team, and customer service
* Strong knowledge of classic cocktails, wines and spirits is essential.
* An enthusiastic individual who will promote our culture of positivity.
* Be task oriented with a great pride for the work they do and attention to detail.
* Flexible with shift patterns and available around the needs of our business.
* An enthusiastic individual who will promote our culture of positivity.
* Successful candidates must demonstrate having researched our brand and a genuine desire to be part of our team.
WHAT WE OFFER
In addition to being part of a culture infused with positivity and opportunity for ongoing development, tangible benefits you could enjoy when you join our team include:
FINANCIAL
* Special discounts on stays and dining at any Dakota
* Bonuses to recommend a friend to join our team and every time you are mentioned on Trip Advisor
* Additional holiday day on the first anniversary of your employment
* Meals on duty and uniforming
WELLBEING
* Access to our Employee Assistance Program which includes free private mental health support and counselling sessions, video GP consultations and private prescription services, as well as access to daily rewards to be cashed out for shopping vouchers
* Support from our inhouse Mental Health Champions
* Family-friendly flexible working options
* Participation in meaningful initiatives such as Macmillan Cancer Support Coffee Morning and the Walk for Wellbeing, Supporting causes that matter while connecting with colleagues
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
* Accredited, certified compliance training given on employment
* Access to a suite of external, certified resources via our Learning Management System
* Supportive continuous professional development culture with an annual appraisal and objectives, or a Personal Development Plan
* Opportunities to undertake both internal and external training courses, including potential for in-house Apprenticeships
Full terms on our benefits can be found in our Handbook.
ABOUT DAKOTA HOTELS
Dakota is a growing UK-based lifestyle brand, known for our stylish hotels, bustling brasserie Grills and upscale cocktail Bars. Dakota’s story started with two boutique hotels on the outskirts of Edinburgh, in South Queensferry, and Glasgow, in Eurocentral. We have now expanded into prime city centre locations in Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, and Newcastle with more in our pipeline.
Dakota is synonymous for delivering attentive and genuine guest service. We attract hard-working individuals who are passionate about working to the highest standards and have been voted within The Caterer’s Top 15 Best Employers in Hospitality for the last five years in a row. We were also featured within the Top 10 employers in the 2024 Sunday Times Best Places to Work in the UK, as well as being awarded the Spotlight Award for Best Places to Work for LGBTQIA+ employees.
As recent winners of The Cateys ‘People Team of the Year’, we have award-winning internal training programmes within Dakota Academy fostering continuous development and ongoing training. As a result, over 75% of our leaders have been promoted internally and, for four consecutive years, a member of our team has won a prestigious Acorn Award awarded by The Caterer to the ‘Top 30 under 30’ in the industry, demonstrating our success in developing talent.
APPLY
Please send us your up to date CV.
Our location, Ferrymuir, Queensferry, South Queensferry EH30 9QZ is easliy accessible by train (15min walk frim Dalmeny Train Station) and bus (frequent stops at Ferrymuir Retail Park) We also offer complimentary parking for both team and guests. We are a 130-bedroom botique hotel with a destination cocktail Bar and brasserie-style Grill, as well as three events spaces.