Solo Bar & Restaurant jobs

Wine Bar & Front of House Associate

We’re looking for a warm, reliable and experienced front-of-house team member for socialbar in Saxmundham.

socialbar has been open for just over a year and is continually evolving. By day, we’re an independent speciality coffee shop and café. In the evening, we are developing it into a more distinctive wine, cocktail and food-led venue, with a growing focus on low-intervention wines and an evolving small-plates menu alongside our hand-stretched pizzas.

We have also recently opened tap.social, our sister site directly opposite. The two venues are closely connected but have different identities:

• socialbar: wine, cocktails and food
• tap.social: independent draught beer and a relaxed taproom atmosphere

We are looking for someone who takes a particular interest in helping us develop socialbar’s evening offer while occasionally working across both sites.

The person we’re looking for

This is not an entry-level hospitality role. Neither do we expect you to be a sommelier or wine expert.

You should already have some genuine interest in wine and enough knowledge to hold a friendly conversation with customers about what they enjoy. You might understand the basics of grape varieties, regions, acidity, body, tannin or sweetness, or already have some awareness of organic, biodynamic and low-intervention wines.

We are not looking for someone who simply recognises a few familiar wine names and would like to learn about the subject eventually. We are looking for someone whose interest already exists and who would enjoy developing it further.

You should also:

• Have relevant bar, restaurant or front-of-house experience
• Be aged 18 or over. The role may include keyholding, opening and closing and running a shift independently
• Have the confidence, presence and sound judgement to deal calmly and firmly with any challenging customers or situations
• Be warm, confident and attentive with customers
• Care about food, ingredients and provenance
• Be comfortable recommending wines and cocktails
• Work well when busy and use initiative when quiet
• Be happy serving, clearing, restocking and keeping the venue looking good
• Be interested in helping a growing independent business develop

For the right person, the role could grow into greater responsibility, including helping with events, tastings, drinks development and eventually supervising some services.

Working pattern

Available shifts are likely to fall within:

• Thursday: 4.30pm–10.30pm
• Friday: 4.30pm–10.30pm
• Saturday: 4.30pm–10.30pm

Depending on experience, availability and preferred hours, the successful candidate may work some or all of these shifts across socialbar and tap.social.

We also hold occasional events on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday evenings, so some additional availability for events would be helpful.

We may introduce Sunday opening in future, likely from 11.30am–4.30pm.

Additional hours may also be available at The Royal Oak in Laxfield. Reliable transport is essential for anyone wishing to work there.

Next steps

We usually start with a short phone call, then meet in person if it feels like a good fit.

Pay: £13.00-£14.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Company events
• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Sick pay

Application question(s):

• Tell us about a wine you’ve enjoyed recently. What made it interesting or memorable to you?
• People increasingly care about where their food comes from and how it is produced. What appeals to you about helping customers in Suffolk make the same connection with wine?

Work Location: In person