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What a restaurant manager does
A restaurant manager oversees the running of a restaurant or dining venue: leading the front-of-house team, managing service, handling bookings and ensuring guests have a good experience. The role joins people management with operations.
Managers also handle rotas, training, stock, supplier relationships and compliance with food-safety and licensing rules. They work closely with the kitchen and owners, balancing service quality with the practical demands of running a venue.
Core responsibilities
- Leading and supervising front-of-house staff.
- Overseeing service and guest experience.
- Managing rotas, scheduling and team training.
- Handling bookings, covers and complaints.
- Overseeing stock, ordering and supplier relationships.
- Ensuring food-safety, hygiene and licensing compliance.
- Working with the kitchen and ownership on standards.
Skills and qualities
- Leadership and team management.
- Strong customer-service judgement.
- Organisation and planning under pressure.
- Commercial awareness and attention to detail.
- Clear communication with staff and guests.
- Knowledge of food-safety and licensing rules.
- Calm problem-solving during busy service.
Typical employers and settings
- Restaurants, bistros and gastropubs.
- Hotel and resort dining operations.
- Restaurant groups and chains.
- Event, banqueting and contract catering.
How the role is recruited
- Roles are filled directly, through recruiters or internal promotion.
- Screening looks at hospitality management experience and leadership.
- Interviews assess people management, scenarios and commercial sense.
- Right-to-work and food-safety qualifications are checked.
- Onboarding covers the venue, team, systems and standards.
Documents involved
- A job description setting out responsibilities and reporting lines.
- An employment contract for the management role.
- An offer letter confirming role, hours and start date.
- A reference letter from previous employers.
- Food-safety and licensing certificates where required.
- Right-to-work and identity checks as required.
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