Food & Beverage Manager

Role Overview

Join a Galway hospitality group behind a lively destination venue that includes a 69-bedroom property, a high-energy bar, a design-led restaurant, and a relaxed café. Each space has its own entrance, atmosphere, and following, and the business is looking for an accomplished Food & Beverage Manager to lead service, people, and product across the full operation.

This is not a typical hotel bar role. The venue is positioned as a standalone social spot where people meet friends, begin their night, celebrate special occasions, or stay for brunch and beyond. The goal is to create a place guests actively recommend as a must-visit stop in Galway.

The setting is busy and energetic, with a modern cocktail offer, a creative chef-led menu, strong music, and guests who often stay longer than planned. The manager’s role is to make the experience feel smooth, welcoming, and consistently high quality.

What the Role Involves

• Define and maintain a high standard of service across bar, restaurant, and café.
• Lead a lively, guest-focused team and foster a culture of ownership and pride.
• Work closely with the Head Chef and ownership team to keep the offer fresh and relevant.
• Help position the venue as one of the most recommended hospitality spots in Galway.

Key Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of guest experience across coffee service, brunch, cocktails, and late-night trade.
• Recruit, coach, and develop the F&B team, choosing people with the right mix of personality, attitude, and skill.
• Deliver service that feels polished but relaxed: friendly, efficient, and authentic rather than overly formal.
• Coordinate closely with the Head Chef to ensure food and beverage service work together seamlessly.
• Collaborate with the bar team to refine an ambitious drinks list covering cocktails, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic options.
• Influence the overall feel of the venue, including service pace, lighting, music, and table flow.
• Increase revenue through thoughtful upselling, menu planning, reservations handling, and event support while safeguarding the guest experience.
• Oversee cleanliness, health and safety, licensing, stock control, and cash handling procedures.
• Monitor performance indicators such as covers, average spend, guest feedback, and online reviews, then use the insights to improve results.
• Partner with marketing and management on promotions, collaborations, events, and social content that raise the venue’s profile.

Candidate Profile

• You should be a natural host who makes guests feel comfortable, notices details, and reads the room well.
• A strong interest in current food and drink trends is important, along with the ability to bring new ideas into the operation.
• Previous experience running busy, style-led bar or restaurant businesses in a city or destination setting is preferred.
• This role suits a hands-on leader who stays visible on the floor and supports the team in real time.
• You need to stay composed under pressure and be effective when service is at its busiest.
• Commercial awareness is essential, including understanding gross profit, labour, rota planning, stock, and margin management.
• You should be confident working across departments and communicating clearly with owners and management.
• The opportunity will appeal to someone excited by the chance to shape a flagship Galway venue rather than simply maintain existing standards.

Experience and Requirements

• Proven background as an F&B Manager, Restaurant/Bar Manager, or Assistant F&B Manager in a busy, quality-driven hospitality setting.
• Clear experience in leading teams, training staff, and developing people.
• Strong guest-service orientation with a keen eye for detail and standards.
• Working knowledge of bar operations, cocktails, and wine service.
• Comfort with budgeting, basic P&L, stock control, rota planning, and reporting.
• Understanding of licensing rules, health and safety, and food hygiene requirements.
• Hospitality experience in a hotel environment is welcome, but the key requirement is the ability to manage a destination venue with character and precision.

What’s on Offer

• The opportunity to oversee the full food and beverage experience across the venue, not just one outlet.
• A competitive salary with performance-related incentives.
• Real input into the concept, product, and service style, working with committed owners and a talented Head Chef.
• A supportive team environment with the backing needed to operate to a high standard.
• Strong scope for career growth within an expanding hospitality group.

Additional Information

This is a full-time, on-site position in Galway, County Galway, Ireland. The role sits within a 69-bedroom property that includes multiple hospitality spaces, each with its own identity and customer base.