Front of House Catering Assistant

**JOB DESCRIPTION**
**LOWTHER CASTLE AND GARDENS**

**The Challenge**

Lowther Castle & Gardens is a prizewinning visitor attraction with over 110,000 visitors annually. Castle ruins, 130 acres of gardens, a huge adventure playground and a permanent historical exhibition await visitors from far and near. The venue is constantly being improved and for every visitor, there is always something new to see and enjoy.

**Job title**
Front of House Catering Assistant

**Period of Contract**
Flexible hours

**Responsible to**:
Visitor Services Manager - Catering Supervisors

**Responsible for**:
Catering and food outlet areas

**Based at**:
Lowther Castle and Gardens, Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 2HH

**Hourly rate**:
£10.25

**Overall purpose and key objectives**
As a catering assistant, you will be responsible and accountable for assisting in the running and daily operations in our café and catering department, ensuring our visitors enjoy an exceptional experience and helping to reinforce the reputation of Lowther Castle café as a food destination.

**Main Duties**
You will work as part of the catering team to deliver the following:

- Assist in the day-to-day operations of the café ensuring a consistently high quality of food and drink is served at all times.
- Ensure all café areas including the entrance, outdoor courtyard and (when needed) toilets are clean and tidy at all times. Promote and take steps to maintain cafe cleanliness. Ensure the Food Hygiene, Health and Safety and COSHH regulations are followed at all times.
- Promote and deliver a high standard of customer service.
- Maintain high standards sales, service, quality, appearance and cleanliness.
- Ensure you are fully compliant with licensing, food safety, health and safety, fire, GDPR and other relevant legislation at all times
- Assist with the setting up service counters, serving food and clear down of area afterwards within the main café area and other event spaces
- Assist with the cleaning of all crockery, cutlery and service utensils within the kitchens
- Ensure displays, fixtures, fittings and premises are maintained in accordance with the cleaning schedule
- Contribute towards the delivery of hospitality and events around site including the set-up, service and clear down as required
- Deal with customer queries or requests in a polite and efficient manner
- Present a smart, professional appearance and good personal hygiene
- Attend meetings and training sessions as required
- Report any incidents of accident, fire, theft, loss or damage and act as appropriately
- Carry out any reasonable request from any member of the Management team within the general scope and purpose of the job

This job description outlines the principal responsibilities and duties of the post holder. It is not meant to be, nor is it, an exhaustive list of specific responsibilities and duties. The post holder will be expected to undertake any other duties which could reasonably be expected as being within the remit of the post and which arise out of changes of legislation, regulations, orders, rules and working practices, methods and procedures and reviews as directed from time to time

**PERSON SPECIFICATION**
**EXPERIENCE**
- Experience of working in a similar role
- Ability to deliver consistently high customer service with a desire for continuous improvement
- Previous experience of compliance with industry standards in health and safety, food hygiene, COSHH and PPE requirements
- Experience with Food Allergies, Special Diets and Labelling
- Food service and preparation

**SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS**
- Excellent communication skills to enable effective dialogue with colleagues, staff, visitors
- Organised and self-motivated, with a proven record for meeting targets and deadlines
- Able to perform well and remain professional whilst under pressure
- Dedicated team-player, who strives for excellence and leads by example
- Displays a smart and professional appearance, representing the visitor attraction in a positive manner
- Well-developed problem-solving skills
- Enthusiastic, with an eagerness to learn new skills and a commitment to personal continuous professional development
- High level of accuracy and attention to detail
- Self-motivated, confident, focused, honest and reliable
- Adaptable and flexible with working patterns when required
- Reasonable physical fitness in line with working in a catering environment
- Strong inter-personal and communication skills
- Good level of organisation
- Willingness to develop through further training
- Ability to prioritise tasks during busy periods
- Security conscious at all times
- GCSE (A-C) or equivalent in English and Maths, and a good general education
- Basic or intermediate Food Hygiene Certificate
- Health and safety, risk assessment and COSHH awareness training

**BENEFITS**
- Confident, focused and resilientdiscounts
- Free car parking
- Free entry to Lowther Castle & Gardens with friends and family

**AS AN EMPL