We'reHiring

General Manager

Salary:
Circa £43,000 plus bonus, depending on experience

Contract and hours:
45 hours per week, including evening and weekend working

Reports to:
Business owners

An exceptional bar needs exceptional people

Milk Thistle needs someone who makes guests feel genuinely welcome, gives the team confidence and understands what makes a great hospitality business succeed.

Set across four floors of a historic building in central Bristol, Milk Thistle brings together distinctive surroundings, expertly crafted cocktails and intimate spaces for private celebrations. Recognised among the UK’s Top 50 Cocktail Bars, it is a venue with a strong identity and a reputation worth protecting.

We’re looking for an experienced General Manager who can build on that reputation while bringing fresh ideas, sound judgement and an absolute commitment to brilliant hospitality.

The role

This is a hands-on leadership role at the heart of  Milk Thistle.

Working closely alongside the long-standing owner and Spirit of Bristol Gin’s Master Distiller, you will be their trusted right-hand person in the venue: taking ownership of the day-to-day operation while collaborating closely on its direction, standards and future development.

You will lead the team, set the standard for service and ensure that every guest who walks through the door receives an exceptional experience, whether they are visiting for one cocktail, celebrating a special occasion, attending a private event or returning as a regular.

A genuine passion for spirits, cocktails and hospitality is essential. We want someone who is excited by the craft, curious about what is happening in the drinks world and able to share that enthusiasm with both the team and our guests.

You will also play an important role in representing Milk Thistle beyond its doors: building relationships across Bristol, championing the venue within the city’s hospitality community and helping bring our personality to life through events, partnerships and social media.

What you’ll be responsible for

• Delivering exceptional hospitality. Set an uncompromising standard for guest service across the venue. Make sure every guest feels recognised, looked after and valued, with the team paying attention to the details that turn a good night into a memorable one.
• Creating personalised guest experiences. Lead the integration and day-to-day use of SevenRooms, helping the team make better use of guest preferences, booking history and visit information so that returning guests receive an increasingly personal experience every time they visit.
• Leading and developing the team. Recruit, induct, coach and support the bar and front-of-house teams. Lead from the floor, run effective briefings and regular training, provide clear feedback and create an environment where people feel confident, knowledgeable and proud of the venue they represent.
• Being passionate about spirits and cocktails. Work closely with the bar team and senior leadership on drinks development, menu ideas, product knowledge and training. Maintain exceptional standards of preparation, presentation and consistency while encouraging curiosity and creativity across the team.
• Working closely with the owners. Act as the key operational link between the ownership team and the venue, communicating clearly, taking responsibility and turning ideas into action. You will be trusted to run the business day to day while contributing your own ideas and perspective to its future.
• Managing commercial performance. Take ownership of venue performance against agreed budgets. Monitor sales, gross profit, labour costs, stock and wastage, maintain accurate reporting and use the numbers to make sensible decisions that improve the business without compromising the guest experience.
• Growing private bookings and experiences. Develop opportunities around private hire, tastings, masterclasses, celebrations and events. Make sure enquiries are converted effectively and every event is delivered to the same high standard as the bar itself.
• Being an ambassador for Milk Thistle. Represent the venue within Bristol and the wider drinks and hospitality community. Build relationships with local businesses, suppliers, brands and industry partners and look for opportunities for Milk Thistle to take part in relevant events, collaborations and city-wide initiatives.
• Supporting our social presence. Work with the wider team to generate ideas and opportunities for engaging social media content. You do not need to be the person in front of the camera, but you should be comfortable helping organise shoots, creating moments worth talking about and making sure the character of the venue comes through in our channels.
• Keeping the operation safe and well organised. Oversee opening and closing procedures, venue presentation, maintenance and supplier relationships. Maintain licensing, responsible-service, food-safety and health-and-safety standards and make sure the team understands its responsibilities.

About you

You will already have successful management experience within a quality cocktail bar, premium drinks-led venue or comparable hospitality business.

You understand cocktails and spirits, and your interest goes beyond simply knowing the menu. You enjoy learning about producers, ingredients, techniques and trends, and you are able to inspire that same enthusiasm in others.

Most importantly, you believe in exceptional hospitality.

You understand that every guest matters and that the smallest details can shape their experience. You are naturally attentive, confident with people and comfortable creating the kind of atmosphere that encourages guests to return again and again.

You are also a strong leader. You know how to build trust, set clear expectations, develop people and step in when support is needed. You can move comfortably between hosting guests on the floor and working through budgets, rotas, stock or performance reports.

You will be commercially aware, organised and confident taking responsibility, but equally comfortable working collaboratively with the owners and senior team.

Experience with SevenRooms or another guest-management platform would be valuable, as would experience with private events, premium spirits, cocktail-menu development, partnerships or venue marketing.

Above all, we are looking for someone who cares deeply about hospitality, understands what makes a great bar special and wants to become an important part of Milk Thistle’s next chapter.

The opportunity and package

This is an opportunity to take a leading role in one of Bristol’s most distinctive cocktail bars, working closely with experienced owners and drinks professionals while having genuine influence over the venue’s future.

Alongside a salary of circa £43,000 plus bonus, the package includes [holiday entitlement, pension arrangements, staff benefits, training and development opportunities and any additional incentives].

As leaders in the world of craft spirits there will be opportunities to expand your knowledge with distillery and brand visits, as well as working alongside the leadership and marketing teams to try new things and ensure the venue is on the Zeitguist while maintaining a classical focus. 

To apply

Send your CV and a short introduction to pete@spiritofbristol.com. 

Tell us why Milk Thistle appeals to you, what great hospitality means to you and give us an example of how you have improved the guest experience, developed a team or helped a venue perform better.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds who meet the requirements of the role. Please let us know about any adjustments you may need during the recruitment process.

Closing date: 07/11/2026