Job Description
Head Host
Department: Hospitality
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: Medlock Square
Reporting To: Restaurant Manager
Medlock Square marks a bold new chapter in the evolution of the Etihad Campus — a vibrant, year‑round destination for culture, leisure and entertainment, set alongside two global icons: the Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City Football Club, and the landmark Co‑op Live arena.
Named after the River Medlock that runs beneath the site, the development celebrates Manchester’s industrial heritage while shaping its next era of city‑defining experiences. Manchester is known worldwide for its sport, music and entertainment — and Medlock Square will build on that legacy, creating a landmark home for exceptional shared moments and elevating the city’s position as one of Europe’s most dynamic, fast‑growing destinations.
At the heart of this new district will be an extraordinary food and beverage offer: from relaxed coffee houses and all‑day dining to flagship restaurants and premium culinary experiences. Designed to serve both everyday visitors and major event audiences, Medlock Square will deliver high‑quality hospitality all week long and across the events calendar.
About the role
As Head Host, you will lead the guest arrival and hosting experience across our premium restaurant environments, shaping the first and last impression of our brand.
This is a role rooted in elevated, lifestyle-led hospitality — creating a sense of welcome that feels personal, intuitive and effortless. You will set the tone from the moment a guest arrives, curating a seamless journey that reflects the quality and ambition of our venues.
However, this role also requires agility. On event and matchdays, the environment transforms — shifting into a dynamic, high-volume VIP hospitality operation. You will lead this transition, ensuring that even at scale, the experience remains polished, controlled and guest-focused.
Working closely with Restaurant Managers, Reservations, and Front of House teams, you will balance precision and personality — delivering both refined dining experiences and exceptional large-scale service.
You will be responsible for:
Guest Experience & Hosting Leadership
Lead the hosting function across restaurant venues, delivering a confident, warm, and highly polished guest welcome. Act as the face of the venue, creating a strong sense of arrival while building meaningful guest relationships and delivering personalised experiences for both returning and VIP guests.
Reservations & Guest Flow Management
Own and lead the SevenRooms platform as a key commercial and operational tool, ensuring effective management of reservations, table configurations, pacing, waitlists, cancellations, and guest communications. Use data and reporting to forecast demand, maximise covers, enhance guest experiences, and support wider business objectives.
Matchday & Event Operations
Lead the transition from premium dining to high-volume VIP hospitality during matchdays and major events, ensuring guest experience remains seamless in fast-paced environments. Maintain strong floor presence while coordinating with operational teams to manage guest flow, service standards, and operational delivery.
Leadership, Training & Culture
Lead, coach, and inspire the host team to deliver consistently high standards while embedding a modern luxury hospitality approach. Support recruitment, onboarding, training, and development, acting as a role model for service excellence, professionalism, and brand representation.
Standards, Presentation & Environment
Maintain exceptional presentation standards across all guest arrival points while creating a welcoming and energetic front-of-house environment. Drive consistency in service style, communication, and overall guest interaction.
Collaboration, Commercial Awareness & Compliance
Work closely with Restaurant Managers, Events, Bars, Marketing, and Guest Experience teams to deliver a joined-up guest journey and support activations, loyalty initiatives, and commercial performance. Ensure all guest data, reservations, and front-of-house operations are managed in line with GDPR, health & safety, and company procedures.
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
Essential
- Experience in a senior host, maître d’, or guest experience leadership role within premium or lifestyle hospitality environments
- Strong understanding of front-of-house operations and guest journey management
- Exceptional interpersonal skills, with a natural presence and ability to engage a diverse guest profile
- Highly organised, with the ability to manage reservations, flow, and pressure in fast-paced environments
- Proven experience leading and developing teams
- Calm, composed, and solutions-focused, particularly in high-pressure service moments
Desirable
- Experience within luxury, lifestyle, or members’ club environments (e.g. Soho House-style service)
- Experience in high-volume, event-led or stadium hospitality environments
- Familiarity with reservations platforms (e.g. OpenTable, SevenRooms or similar)
- Experience managing VIP guests and premium service environments
Why Join Us?
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Private Medical Insurance (Vitality) – including Virtual GP access and rewards
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Group Life Assurance – 4x salary paid to your nominated beneficiary
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Birthday Day Off – an extra day to celebrate
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Complimentary Meals on Shift – breakfast, lunch, fruit and hot drinks
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Access to discounted Tickets at Co-op Live subject to availability
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Employee Assistance Programme & Wellbeing Platform – including counselling support
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Employee Discounts Platform (Blackhawk) – cashback and savings across major retailers
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Company Pension Scheme
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Generous Holiday Allowance – plus bank holidays
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Career Development Opportunities – with progression across the campus
