Deputy General Manager

1 AA Rosette Premium Gastropub | Windsor, Berkshire

£45,000 Guaranteed Package | 48 Hours | Clear Route to General Manager

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an ambitious Deputy General Manager to join a successful, established premium gastropub near Windsor.

This is not a role for someone who simply wants to run service. The owners are looking for a commercially minded hospitality manager who wants to understand why the business performs the way it does, develop the team and continually look for ways to improve revenue, labour, guest experience and standards.

The ideal candidate will see this as their final step before becoming a General Manager, with the intention of developing the successful person towards GM level within approximately 6–12 months. transcript_export_20261005T1317… transcript_export_20261005T1317…

The Venue

This is an established 1 AA Rosette premium gastropub combining high-quality British and modern European food with a busy bar, strong wine offering and large garden and terrace.

The site currently trades at around £40,000 net per week, with approximately 65–70% of revenue coming from food, and can serve around 250 guests on a Sunday. transcript_export_20261005T1317… transcript_export_20261005T1317…

The Role

Working as the right hand to the General Manager, you'll have responsibility across the floor, bar, cellar, hosting and wider day-to-day operation.

You'll also be expected to think commercially:

• Leading busy lunch and dinner services


• Managing and developing the front-of-house team


• Driving spend per head through excellent hospitality rather than aggressive selling


• Coaching the team on wine, drinks, dishes and suggestive selling


• Monitoring labour and responding to trading levels


• Using sales data to identify opportunities


• Helping control costs and improve profitability


• Maintaining strong standards across bar, cellar and restaurant operations


• Supporting the GM while taking increasing ownership of the business


• Bringing ideas, energy and a genuine voice to the management team

The owners describe their philosophy as “working on the pub, not just in the pub” — they want somebody who actively improves the operation rather than simply managing whatever happens that day. transcript_export_20261005T1317…

The Package

• £45,000 guaranteed minimum annual package


• £32,000 base salary + £13,000 fixed tronc


• Fixed tronc confirmed in writing


• Potential additional tronc surplus on top


• 48-hour working week


• Typically 5 days on / 2 days off


• Combination of single lunch or dinner shifts and doubles


• Management rota allows regular weekend time off


• Clear progression towards General Manager

The £45,000 minimum package is contractual rather than an estimated OTE. transcript_export_20261005T1317…

The Ideal Candidate

This would particularly suit an experienced Deputy GM, Assistant GM or strong Restaurant Manager from a premium independent restaurant or gastropub.

We're looking for someone who:

• Understands premium restaurant service


• Has strong food and beverage knowledge


• Can lead and motivate a busy team


• Understands labour, revenue and commercial performance


• Enjoys coaching staff rather than simply supervising them


• Is confident making decisions and suggesting improvements


• Wants to progress into their own GM position


• Has the energy and ambition to make a measurable difference

The client is specifically not looking for a long-standing GM stepping backwards. They want someone hungry to progress.

Why This Role?

This is a genuine development role rather than a Deputy GM position where you're only important when the GM goes on holiday.

You'll be encouraged to take responsibility away from the GM, build your commercial skills, introduce ideas and develop towards running your own site.

For an ambitious hospitality manager looking for their final step before General Manager, this is a particularly strong opportunity.