Waiter - Experienced

About The Leicester Arms

A country inn rooted in Kentish hospitality: 11 boutique bedrooms, the Sidney Room for private dining (up to 30 seated), a lively bar, and a dining room focused on seasonal, quality food. Breakfast for hotel guests, relaxed lunches, and polished dinners define our day. The bar is dog-friendly; the dining room is not service needs to reflect that with warmth and clarity.

As an Experienced Waiter, you’ll deliver confident, engaging service across breakfast, lunch, and dinner, championing our “little moments that make the large impact” standard. You’ll read the room, run a tight section, and support seamless service for both restaurant guests and hotel residents.

• Run your section: greet, seat, guide the menu, take orders with accuracy, and pace service to the pass.

• Standards & sequence: water on arrival, coats taken, names learned, table maintenance, swift bill process, sincere goodbyes.

• Product knowledge: talk confidently about our seasonal dishes, provenance, and daily changes; upsell sides, specials, and desserts naturally.

• Drinks & wine: describe by-the-glass options; suggest pairings (including English wines); serve beer and simple cocktails to spec.

• Breakfast service: look after hotel guests with speed and charm; manage coffee orders and dietary notes precisely.

• Private dining & events: set up the Sidney Room to brief, deliver plated or feasting service, manage timings and speeches smoothly.

• Allergen & safety: follow FoodAlert/Alert65 procedures, check dietaries, and escalate to management/chef when needed.

• Systems & admin: use SevenRooms for bookings/guest notes, Quadranet POS for ordering & billing, follow cash and split-bill procedures.

• Clean, reset, replenish: keep the floor, pass, and stations immaculate; open/close to checklist.

• Team play: communicate clearly with the pass and bar; support runners; help train new starters to our service style.

• Experience: 1–2+ years in a quality, food-led pub/restaurant running your own section.

• Guest focus: warm, professional service with natural conversation and attention to detail.

• Speed with control: able to handle busy services while keeping standards high.

• Knowledge: confident with seasonal menus; comfortable recommending wine/beer and aperitifs.

• Precision: accurate ordering, bill handling, and allergen awareness.

• Professionalism: punctual, well-presented, calm under pressure, and solutions-led.

• Barista basics (espresso, milk texturing).

• Wine interest/knowledge.

• Experience with SevenRooms, Quadranet, Alert65/FoodAlert, and CPL e-learning.

• Local knowledge of Penshurst/Tonbridge area to add colour to guest conversations.

• Regular training and development (wine, coffee, service craft; CPL modules).

• Progression across the Little & Large Pub Company.

• Staff meals on duty and team discounts across venues.

• A supportive, hands-on management team and a beautiful village setting.

• Mix of breakfast, split, and straight shifts across the week (including weekends/bank holidays shared fairly).