Food and Beverage Manager

Forest Holidays Group Limited; Coleford; On-site; GBP 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading holiday provider in the Forest of Dean is seeking a Food and Beverage Manager to oversee operations at the Forest Retreat. You'll ensure exceptional service while managing budgets, leading a team, and maintaining high standards. This full-time role offers a competitive salary of up to £31,000, with live-in accommodation available. Enjoy a unique work-life balance, working in a stunning location while focusing on guest satisfaction and team motivation.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Performance-based bonuses

Social events

Pension scheme

Paid volunteer day

Subsidised meals

Wellbeing events

Discounts for breaks

Retail discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in food & beverage or retail management.
• Skills in managing teams and budgets.
• Ability to maintain high service standards.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations at the Forest Retreat.
• Manage the food and beverage department's budget.
• Ensure guest satisfaction and adherence to health and safety.

Skills

Proven experience managing teams

Budget management experience

Strong commercial awareness

Excellent customer service skills

UK driving licence

Positive can-do attitude

Ability to handle high-pressure situations

Creative problem-solving skills

Job description

Overview

🌿Escape to the heart of the Forest of Dean, where your work makes every guest’s woodland stay unforgettable🌿

• Location: Forest of Dean (Coleford, Gloucestershire)
• Salary: Up to £31,000 per annum
• Working Hours: Full-time - 40 hours per week
• Days of Work: Shifts vary Monday to Sunday on Rolling Rota
• Live-in position with on-site accommodation available at a discounted monthly rent

We have an exciting opportunity available for a Food and Beverage Manager to join our Forest of Dean team! Work in one of the UK’s most stunning forest locations, developing your skills while providing outstanding service to our guests. Sheltered beneath the protective canopy of ancient oak woodland or situated in the open meadow at the forest edge, our cabins at Forest of Dean offer an escape from everyday life in one of Britain’s most amazing forests.

About the Food and Beverage Manager role

As our Food and Beverage Manager, you will be a key member of the location management team, reporting directly to the General Manager. You will oversee the operation of our Forest Retreat, the heart of our location, ensuring smooth operations and exceptional service.

Open all year-round, the Forest Retreat serves as a reception, shop, and café, providing a welcoming space for our guests.

Unlike other hospitality jobs, we provide a better work/life balance than most hotels or bars. Our opening hours are location dependent, but with morning shifts starting no earlier than 8am and evening shifts finishing by 9pm, we offer a different experience of working in hospitality.

You will be a role model for the team, leading by example and ensuring high standards of service and professionalism. In this role, you must deliver exceptional customer service, ensuring every guest enjoys the perfect Forest Feeling experience.

Your Responsibilities

As an Food and Beverage Manager, you’ll be key to delivering an exceptional guest journey. Your responsibilities will include:

• Optimising sales whilst delivering exceptional service, meeting financial and guest satisfaction targets
• Ensuring Forest Retreat Health and Safety procedures are carried out and properly recorded
• Supporting and motivating the Retreat Team through regular performance reviews and ongoing training
• Proactively managing guest feedback, ensuring comments and scores are shared regularly with the team
• Managing the departmental budget and working with the wider management team to maximise revenue opportunities
• Acting as Duty Manager, including deputising for the General Manager when required

Live-in Accommodation with this position -Including all utilities, available for a nominal monthly rent, resulting in approximately £10,000 annual savings.

Your Skills & Experience

Our ideal Food and Beverage Manager will be highly organised, able to balance multiple tasks and challenges, and confident in motivating and guiding a team while keeping guest satisfaction as a top priority.

We’re looking for someone with:

• ✅ A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle
• ✅ Proven experience managing teams and budgets within a food & beverage or retail environment (ideally both)
• ✅ Resilience, adaptability, and confidence when handling high-pressure situations
• ✅ A positive, can-do attitude with a willingness to roll up your sleeves and support the team
• ✅ Strong commercial awareness, ensuring the Forest Retreat remains on-brand and successful
• ✅ An articulate, approachable, and guest-focused personality
• ✅ A passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences while driving business success

Who Are Forest Holidays?

We’re a Certified B Corp, recognised as a force for good. Our holidays are good for people and the planet. We’re a team of 800, stewards of 244.5 hectares of forest, managing the land for conservation and creating beautiful spaces for people to stay. Our tucked-away cabin locations are thoughtfully placed to let guests discover the wonders of nature and embrace the Forest Feeling.

Why Join Us?

As a valued member of our leadership team, you’ll enjoy a range of benefits:

• ✈️ Generous holiday allowance – Take the time you need to recharge
• 💰 Performance-based bonuses – Earn a bonus when customer service targets are met
• 🎉 Social events and awards evenings – Celebrate success with your team
• 🔒 Pension scheme – Secure your future with our company pension
• 💛 One full paid day to volunteer – Give back to a cause you care about
• 🍴 Subsidised meals – Discounted food when working on location
• ❤️🩹 Wellbeing events & activities – Focus on your mental and physical wellness
• 🏠 Save on breaks – Enjoy up to 20% off. Friends and family also receive 15% off.
• 🛍️ Hundreds of discounts – Save on top brands across the UK

Reasonable Adjustments

We’re all about diversity, inclusion, and bringing your authentic self to work. Need adjustments for the recruitment process? Just ask, our team is happy to help.

👉 Click ‘Apply’ now to start your journey with us in the Forest of Dean! Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity.