Job Description

Rathfinny Wine Estate

Position: Front of House Manager - Flint Barns

Location: Rathfinny Wine Estate, Alfriston, BN26 5TU, East Sussex

Salary dependent upon experience + Pension, Medical health insurance, Service charge, wine allowance, wine training, discount on food and wine, and 25 days holiday a year.

Rathfinny Wine Estate is a family-owned business that was established in 2010 to produce world-class sparkling wine from our 600-acre Estate near Alfriston in East Sussex. Located in the South Downs of Sussex and 30 minutes from Brighton, the 93 Ha vineyard is just three miles from the English Channel and lies on the same band of chalky soil that forms the Paris Basin. Recognised as an innovator in this exciting new-world region, we achieved our B Corp accreditation in 2022. We have a hotel, a cellar door shop and two restaurants on the vineyard.

We are excited to offer an outstanding opportunity for an experienced Front of House Manager to join the Flint Barns at Rathfinny Wine Estate, working under Executive Chef Chris Bailey, this role provides the chance to make your mark, helping us elevate our established offering to new heights.

Our business combines accommodation, relaxed yet high-quality dining, and fine wine, with a variety of experiences across the year. We are seeking someone with strong hospitality expertise, ideally with both hotel and restaurant experience, to help us strengthen and grow our operation.

The offer varies throughout the year with breakfast, dinner, and Sunday lunch service Wednesday to Sunday for 40-80 guests. During the summer, we also introduce an alfresco kitchen service accommodating up to 80+ covers.

Our short set menus are crafted from the finest seasonal produce sourced from small farms and change regularly. As a certified B Corp, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do.

The role's key requirements are to oversee the daily operations & ensure the exceptional hospitality experience for all guests visiting Rathfinny Wine Estate, This includes maintaining consistently and high- standards across food, beverage & accommodation service. All team members are also expected to be ambassadors for Rathfinny, sharing insights into our wider business operations and English Wine industry to guests.

We are seeking someone to help lead our Front of House team and shape the future of the restaurant alongside Executive Chef Chris Bailey.

Looking ahead, there will be exciting opportunities for development and training as the business grows, including plans to enhance our restaurants and hotel on the vineyard. We are looking for a proactive individual with a strong work ethic, high standards, and--most importantly--exceptional attention to detail.

Culture and conduct

At Rathfinny Estate we are committed to producing exceptional wines and experiences, enjoying the world over, that reveal the character of our family Estate in Sussex, using methods that are kind to our land, people, community, and wider environment.

To deliver this commitment we foster an environment of high-performance and a culture of excellence which drives the production of exceptional quality products which are safe, legal, authentic as well as providing excellent customer service.

Staff responsibilities include:

Commit to continuous improvement in all areas of quality, safety, authenticity, and compliance. Use their skills, knowledge, and experience to suggest solutions and enhance processes. Work with enthusiasm, professionalism, and a positive attitude. Treat colleagues with respect, kindness, and fairness. Be friendly, approachable, and supportive with both the team and guests. Communicate openly while acting ethically, honestly, and responsibly.

Core duties will include:

Overseeing the multiple food offerings at the Flint Barns, while coordinating with the Guest Relations Manager on accommodation. Leading, training, and developing the Front of House team, including managing rota's. Working within set budgets and contributing to financial planning. Collaborating with the Executive Chef to deliver outstanding service that highlights the vineyard. Strengthening and developing the existing offering, including sourcing high-quality suppliers and ingredients. Supporting the drinks programme at Rathfinny in partnership with our onsite experts (wine knowledge is an advantage, though training will be provided). Creating a professional, positive, and enjoyable environment for both staff and guests. Ensuring strict compliance with food hygiene standards, health and safety regulations, and maintaining accurate legal records. Supporting colleagues across the estate when required, as teamwork is central to our culture at Rathfinny.

Skills:

Strong leadership and team management. Excellent time management and organisational skills. Creativity, innovation, and a progressive approach. Exceptional customer service skills. Meticulous attention to detail. Michelin star/plate experience (advantageous). Excellent communication skills, with confidence engaging the public. Willingness to learn about viticulture and winemaking. Basic computer literacy. Ability to work collaboratively, flexibly, and supportively with others.
The role will be based at Rathfinny Wine Estate, which is one mile south of Alfriston, BN26 5TU. Due to the remote location being able to drive to work is beneficial although car sharing with other staff may be an option.

B Corporation (B Corp)

Actively participate in B Corp certification and the adoption of the highest standard in social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. Teams will decide their annual targets and as a member of that team, you will be expected to show how you have contributed to them. Personal targets towards our mission are encouraged but these are not discussed and assessed in the same way.

Everyone is welcome:

Rathfinny is an equal opportunities employer and actively supports Human Rights, and all Equality legislation. Our ethos is to respect and value people's differences, to help everyone achieve more at work as well as in their personal lives so that they feel proud of the part they play in our success.

We believe that all decisions about people at work should be based on the individual's abilities, skills, performance and behavior and our business requirements. We are committed to the fair treatment of our staff, potential staff, or users of our services, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependents, age, physical/mental disability, or offending backgrounds.

If an applicant, either external or a current employee, needs any specific help to enable them to apply for a role they should make this clear as part of their application.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Benefits:

Company pension Employee discount Free parking On-site parking Private medical insurance
Work Location: In person