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Join our award-winning team here at Down Hall Hotel, Spa and Estate. We are proud to have been recognised as AA Hotel of the Year 2024/2025 in England. Nestled within the Essex countryside, Down Hall Hotel, Spa and Estate is a peaceful countryside retreat and soulful escape, combining historic character with elegant surroundings.

At Down Hall Hotel, Spa and Estate, we believe a great bar experience is about far more than simply serving a drink. From the warmth of the welcome to the smallest detail in presentation, every interaction is an opportunity to create an experience that feels effortless, considered and genuinely personal.

From a perfectly prepared cocktail in Fox Bar, to welcoming guests at a wedding, conference, private dinner or special celebration, our bars play an important part in the Down Hall experience. It is the quality of the drink, the confidence of a recommendation, remembering a guest’s preference and those small moments of genuine hospitality that make an occasion memorable.

Whether our guests are relaxing after a day at the hotel, meeting friends for drinks, attending a conference or celebrating one of life’s special occasions, we want every guest to feel warmly welcomed and genuinely looked after.

We are looking for an engaging, confident and service driven Bartender who will take pride in bringing our Fox Bar and Conference & Banqueting bar operation to life.

Role Overview

As a Fox Bar & Conference and Banqueting Bartender, you will take a hands-on role across Fox Bar and our Conference & Banqueting bars, working closely with the Food & Beverage and Conference & Banqueting management teams.

You will prepare and serve a wide range of beverages, including wines, beers, spirits, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks, while providing knowledgeable, attentive and engaging service.

You will be equally comfortable delivering a relaxed and personal experience in Fox Bar as you are working within the energy and pace of a wedding, conference, private event or large celebration.

This is a role for someone who enjoys being amongst guests, takes pride in their craft and understands that excellent bartending combines product knowledge, presentation, personality and genuine hospitality.

Key Responsibilities

Bar Service: Deliver professional, attentive and efficient bar service across Fox Bar and Conference & Banqueting events, ensuring every guest receives a warm and engaging experience.

Beverage Preparation: Prepare and serve cocktails, wines, beers, spirits, hot beverages and non-alcoholic drinks consistently and to the correct presentation standards.

Guest Experience: Engage naturally with guests, understand their preferences and provide knowledgeable recommendations while ensuring every guest feels welcomed, recognised and genuinely cared for.

Service Excellence: Deliver our luxury service standards with warmth, personality and attention to detail, taking pride in every drink and every guest interaction.

Product Knowledge: Develop excellent knowledge of our wines, spirits, beers, cocktails and other beverages, confidently recommending products and enhancing the guest experience.

Bar Presentation: Maintain exceptional standards of cleanliness, organisation and presentation across all bar and service areas throughout the shift.

Event Service: Support weddings, conferences, private dinners and special events, adapting confidently to different styles of service and varying levels of business.

Daily Briefings: Attend service briefings and ensure you are familiar with VIP guests, functions, special occasions, event requirements and key operational information.

Team Collaboration: Work closely with Food & Beverage, Conference & Banqueting and kitchen colleagues to ensure smooth, efficient and well-coordinated service.

Stock & Waste: Support effective stock control, replenishment and waste management, ensuring bar areas remain fully prepared without compromising quality.

Cash & Payment Handling: Process guest payments accurately and responsibly, following all hotel procedures.

Responsible Service: Ensure alcohol is served responsibly and in accordance with licensing requirements and hotel procedures.

Compliance: Maintain excellent standards of food hygiene, allergen awareness, health & safety and all relevant hotel procedures.

Preparation & Handover: Ensure bars are fully prepared before service, appropriately replenished throughout and correctly closed, cleaned and handed over following service.

Our expectations in relation to standards are high, with Service and Hospitality being words we use every day.

Our Accolades

Our accolades have included:

• AA Hotel of the Year 2024/25
• AA 4 Red Star Hotel
• 2 AA Rosettes
• AA Merit Score of 90%
• Historic Venue of the Year – The Essex Wedding Awards 2024
• Hotel Venue of the Year – The Essex Wedding Awards 2024
• Luxlife Best Luxury Country House Hotel & Spa of the Year – South East England 2024
• East of England Tourism Large Hotel of the Year 2023
• Muddy Stiletto Large Hotel of the Year 2023
• Luxlife Essex Hotel of the Year 2023
• Finalist – MIA Venue of the Year 2024 & 2025
• Guest Feedback Score of 4.4/5 – 2024

Whilst we are incredibly proud of these achievements, we see them very much as a foundation to build upon.

About You

We are looking for someone who understands that exceptional luxury hospitality is ultimately about people.

You will ideally have previous bar or Food & Beverage experience within a quality hotel, bar, restaurant or events environment. Experience of cocktails, wines and spirits would be an advantage, although a genuine enthusiasm to learn and develop your knowledge is equally important.

You will be comfortable working across both a hotel bar and busy Conference & Banqueting events, adapting naturally between an intimate guest experience and the pace of a large wedding or function.

You will be confident, personable and attentive, with a strong eye for detail and the ability to remain organised and composed during busy periods.

Most importantly, you will bring energy, personality, attention to detail and a genuine passion for looking after people.

If you are ready to bring your personality and passion for great bar service to our team and help us continue building on Down Hall’s award-winning standards, we would love to hear from you.

Join Down Hall Hotel, Spa and Estate and help us make every drink, every celebration and every guest experience exceptional.

Benefits:

• Company events
• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Referral programme
• Sick pay

Work Location: In person