Bar & Restaurant Manager

We’re preparing to open our largest hotel yet, Dakota Manchester Airport, launching in early summer 2026. This brand-new property will feature our signature Bar & Grill and deliver the exceptional guest experience Dakota is known for.

We are seeking a food and beverage professional with a passion of wines and great service for the exciting opportunity of Bar & Restaurant Manager. This senior role will oversee quality and service standards through all of our F&B operations.

The role carries a permanent contract of 45 hours per week working fully flexible shifts, working any 5 days out of 7 including working weekends. It comes with a competitive salary and a target-based bonus, with a planned start date of 1st May 2026.

Reporting to the Hotel Manager, the role of Bar & Grill Manager is responsible for overseeing the levels of service delivered across all food and beverage areas as well as being a hands‑on operational leader driving excellence within our Bar & Grill team. This role provides room for growth into the role of Food & Beverage Manager. The primary responsibilities of the role include:

• Our F&B operation is the ‘heart and soul’ of our operation. You will be the custodian of this, running and overseeing services across F&B, ensuring the highest levels of service to all guests, delivering on‑the‑job coaching to our team, always having a hands‑on approach to service and hosting, driving standards at all times.
• As a senior manager within the business, work closely with colleagues within the management team, especially our Head Chef. Work with Reception to increase resident to diner ratios and to provide guests with the full Dakota experience.
• Drive the commercial running of F&B operation including managing payroll by overseeing the development of the rota and approving them, managing the bookings diary, sequence of service, as well as driving a culture of sales through service. Maintain and have a full understanding of supplier contracts, overseeing the accurate completion of stock takes and effective orders.
• Be the direct line manager for the Assistant Restaurant Manager and Assistant Bar Manager as well as the F&B seniors. Always be working to develop their knowledge and enthuse the entire team with all your passion for food and beverage.
• Work closely with HR to support the journey of all F&B team members by being involved in the interview process, ongoing training, holding appraisals, and conducting frequent one‑to‑one meetings. Implement training plans and deliver on‑the‑job training to drive the smoothest, most polished levels of guest service throughout the F&B operation.

• Special discounts on stays and dining at any Dakota
• 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
• Additional holiday day on the first anniversary of your employment
• Family-friendly flexible working options
• Meals on duty and uniforming
• Bonuses to recommend a friend to join our team and every time you are mentioned on Trip Advisor
• 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.

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 Manchester Airport coming soon and more in our pipeline.

Dakota is synonymous for…