Restaurant General Manager

Company values and behaviours
The post holder will be expected to operate in line with our company core behaviours & values, which are to be:
* Motivated: Positive, enthusiastic, and always engaged in whatever we do.
* Dedicated: Committed to being the best and producing the best.
* Commercial: Aware of our business, our impact, and our value.
* Visionary: Constantly looking at how we can adapt, improve, and innovate our Industry. Creating a winning experience for our colleagues and customers through our work environment, training, and people management.
* United: Always working together as part of a team, valuing our people and their contribution to our success.
* Knowledgeable: Experts in our field, always striving to understand our industry better.
Key responsibilities
This is a once in a career opportunity to launch Kent’s next iconic dining destination from the ground up, playing a defining role in shaping its identity, reputation, and long-term success.
As Restaurant General Manager, you will set the vision and lead the creation of a high‑performing, values driven team, delivering an experience that establishes a new benchmark for gastropub hospitality.
Drawing on the provenance, quality, and ambition of our award‑winning wine estate, you will create a destination that attracts guests from across the region and beyond, recognised for excellence in food, drink, service, and atmosphere.
This role offers the chance to build a lasting legacy, shape a venue renowned for being truly best in class, and a proud reflection of the standards, ambition, and reputation of MDCV UK.
Why You’ll Love This Role:
You will be leading a dynamic and fast-growing venue with the autonomy to shape high service standards, guest experience, and commercial outcomes.
This is an opportunity to build a flagship dining destination on a world class wine estate.
The venue will craft Kents best meals, from locally sourced suppliers, as well as from its own land. This is more than a management role, it's the chance to begin something from scratch, and to nurture growth.
You will be responsible for:
* Ensuring that The Lion is one of the foremost and top rated restaurants in Kent and the UK
* Overall venue leadership and performance, setting the tone on the floor and ensuring an exceptional, consistent guest experience at every service.
* Leading, coaching, and developing the front of house team, embedding outstanding service standards, deep product knowledge, and a strong, positive team culture.
* Maintaining uncompromising operational standards across cleanliness, presentation, brand alignment, and guest-facing areas, reflecting the quality and values of the Silverhand brand.
* Driving seamless collaboration with the kitchen, ensuring smooth service flow, clear communication, and a unified approach to hospitality.
* Taking full responsibility for staffing rotas, labour planning, and team deployment to ensure the right people are in the right place at the right time.
* Owning stock control and procurement, including ordering, deliveries, stock takes, and waste reduction, with strong commercial awareness and accountability.
* Managing booking systems, POS platforms, and guest management tools, ensuring service efficiency, accurate reporting, and maximised revenue opportunities.
* Acting as the senior point of contact for guests, professionally handling enquiries, feedback, and service recovery while continuously identifying opportunities for improvement.
* Leading the delivery, overseeing FOH preparation, team coordination, and hosting to ensure a polished and memorable guest experience.
* Monitoring daily and weekly financial performance, analysing sales and service trends, and proactively identifying opportunities to grow revenue and enhance guest spend.
* Ensuring full compliance delivery with all licensing, health & safety, food safety, and operational documentation requirements.
* Working collaboratively across departments and sites, contributing to wider business objectives, brand consistency, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Please note: The responsibilities listed above are not intended to be exhaustive. You may be required to undertake additional duties as reasonably necessary to meet the evolving needs of the business.
Requirements
* Minimum 3 5 years’ management experience in a high performing restaurant.
* Proven track record of leading teams in a high quality, guest‑focused environment.
* Proactive and goal-oriented with a track record of achieving financial and guest service targets.
* High standards of presentation, service delivery, and guest interaction.
* Strong operational experience, including compliance, stock, and financial control.
* Excellent communication skills and an ability to motivate and coach teams.
* Secure with weekend working as a necessity for the role.
* Strong problem solving skills, able to act decisively under pressure.
* Confident using hospitality systems (EPOS, booking systems, MS Office).
* High degree of professionalism and discretion in handling confidential information.
* Ability to work independently and complete assigned tasks within identified timeframes.
Benefits: PERKBOX, Employee assistance program, Confidential finacial advisory support, Doctor on call service. Company pension plan, generous company discounts.Being able to work in the beautiful surrounding of the Kent Countryside on an estate that hold's the National Nature Reserve status. Generous holiday allowance.
*We are a forces friendly employer