Author: Naomi Self

Job Title: Café and Catering Manager

Location: House of Books & Friends – 81 King Street Manchester M2 4AH

Hours: Full Time – Permanent

Salary: £30k

About House of Books & Friends

House of Books & Friends is more than a bookshop and café, we are a vibrant Community Interest Company in the heart of Manchester city centre, our mission is to address loneliness and social isolation. We bring people together through books, conversation, great coffee, and memorable events. From carefully curated shelves and cosy reading corners to bustling Afternoon Teas and community gatherings, we create a welcoming and inclusive space.

We are now looking for an experienced, energetic Café and Catering Manager to lead our café operations and play a key role in our continued growth.

The Role

As Café and Catering Manager, you will lead on the daily running of our busy café while working closely with our bookshop and events teams. This is a hands-on, shop-floor-based role where leadership, creativity and commercial awareness are equally important.

Key Responsibilities

Operations

• Oversee all café activities including food & beverage preparation, service, and cleanliness

• Manage stock levels, ordering, supplier sourcing, and negotiations

• Maintain and enforce health & safety standards and ensure compliance with legislation

• Keep all paperwork up to date and aligned with regulations

• Develop innovative, costed ideas to broaden services and product offerings

• Key holding duties (opening and closing)

• Support shop floor operations across both the bookshop and café, including serving and phone enquiries

Events

• Organise and deliver our popular Afternoon Tea events, generating and implementing new ideas with minimal direction

• Collaborate with the events team to deliver high-quality room hire and catered events

• Create clear systems and procedures to enable smooth event delivery

• Further develop catering options from standardised to bespoke packages for a range of budgets

• Undertake hosting duties where required

Customer Experience

• Create a warm, welcoming atmosphere with exceptional service

• Manage enquiries, feedback, and complaints professionally and efficiently

Team Leadership

• Train, supervise, and motivate café staff, future line management responsibility.

• Foster a positive, collaborative working environment

Financial Management

• Manage budgets, revenue, expenses, and profitability

• Implement cost controls without compromising quality

• Analyse sales data, identify trends and key seasonal opportunities

• Develop strategies to increase revenue and meet targets

Menu Development & Marketing

• Collaborate on menu updates ensuring consistent quality

• Adapt offerings based on seasonality, dietary needs, and customer preferences

• Support promotional campaigns and monitor competitor activity

• Create and implement creative and new revenue streams for the cafe

About You

• Proven experience (at least 2+ years) as a shop floor-based Café/Catering Manager (or similar hospitality leadership role) – only people with this experience will be considered for the role.

• Strong knowledge of café operations, food safety, and customer service

• Experience training and managing a team

• Confident using POS systems and standard office software

• Flexible to work weekends and holidays as required

• A genuine interest in books and the literary world

What We Offer

• £30,000 salary

• Holiday entitlement

• Pension scheme

• Staff discount

• Health cash plan

• A book on your birthday

• One paid “Reading Day” per year to catch up on your reading

If you bring energy, enthusiasm, and a love of people — and want to be part of a growing organisation that makes a real difference in the community — we would love to hear from you.

To apply: Please submit your CV along with a cover letter explaining why you are the perfect fit for the Café and Catering Manager role to recruitment@houseofbooksandfriends.pro

Closing date – 28/06/26

We have an exciting opportunity to join our team at House of Books & Friends in Manchester city centre.

We are looking for:

1 x Bookseller/Barista – 10 hours per week over Saturday and Sunday, must be available Saturday & Sunday, with some other availability Monday-Friday.

Immediate start possible. Candidates must be 18+.

House of Books & Friends is an independent bookshop. The bookshop is home to a café serving some of the best coffee and cake the city has to offer, with all of our Booksellers taking on a dual Bookseller/Barista role. Our vibrant events programme represents our diverse local community and social mission, and our Booksellers love getting involved with events.

Formed as a Community Interest Company, we are focused on delivering social good and connecting the local community, in the process combating loneliness and isolation. We work closely with our partner organisations to make sure that the best interests of the local community are always paramount. House of Books & Friends is not just a bookshop, it’s a social movement.

As a House of Book & Friends Bookseller, you’ll be community minded and passionate about books and people. You will also have a wide range of reading interests. Our Booksellers are outgoing, enjoy building relationships and chatting with all customers. You will be the face of our brand and our purpose, and you’ll need to help create a friendly, accepting, and safe space.

This particular role will be highly focused on customer service in the café and bookshop at weekends, the busiest time for our business. We are looking for someone who will thrive in this busy environment.

Key duties:

• Assist customers and answer their enquiries in person, online or over the phone.
• Serve customers in the café and assist with associated cleaning
• Help with events, including our Afternoon Tea creation and service
• Approach customers to discuss and provide book recommendations
• Ensure the bookshop is restocked and maintain high presentation throughout
• Operate tills and stock control systems
• Assist with social media content creation

What we’re looking for:

• Good level of book knowledge and curiosity about the industry
• Basic IT skills
• Bookselling or other retail/hospitality experience
• Able to work alone using own initiative
• Friendly, kind and outgoing
• Confident and able to remain professional under pressure
• Excellent written and spoken English

Benefits

• £13.45 p/hour
• Staff discount
• Healthcash plan
• Season ticket loan scheme
• A book on your birthday

How to apply:

In order to apply for this role please submit your C.V. and a cover letter detailing;

• A bit more about you and your personality
• Why you would be a good fit for the role
• Recommend us a book and tell us why
• Confirmation that you meet the availability requirements, when you would be able to start the role, and any notice period required from your current role.

Please send all applications to recruitment@houseofbooksandfriends.pro

Applications close 14/06/26

We have two exciting opportunities to join our team at House of Books & Friends in Manchester city centre.

We are looking for:

1 x Permanent Bookseller/Barista – 35 hours per week over 5 days, Monday-Sunday

1 x Permanent Bookseller/Barista – 28 hours per week over 4 days, Monday-Sunday

House of Books & Friends is an independent bookshop and is also home to a café serving some of the best coffee and cake the city has to offer, with all our Booksellers taking on a dual Bookseller/Barista role. Our vibrant events programme represents our diverse local community and social mission, and our Booksellers love getting involved with events.

Formed as a Community Interest Company, we are focused on delivering social good and connecting the local community, in the process combating loneliness and isolation. We work closely with our partner organisations to make sure that the best interests of the local community are always paramount. House of Books & Friends is not just a bookshop, it’s a social movement.

As a House of Books & Friends Bookseller, you’ll be community minded and passionate about books and people. You will also have a wide range of reading interests. Our Booksellers are outgoing, enjoy building relationships and chatting with all customers. You will be the face of our brand and our purpose, and you’ll need to help create a friendly, accepting, and safe space.

Key duties:

• Assist customers and answer their enquiries in person, online or over the phone
• Serve customers in the café and assist with associated cleaning
• Approach customers to discuss and provide book recommendations
• Ensure the bookshop is restocked and maintain high presentation throughout
• Operate tills and stock control systems
• Process stock deliveries and returns
• Identify industry trends and possible commercial opportunities
• Develop, plan and lead events such as author events, children’s story times or book clubs
• Assist with social media content creation and scheduling
• Keyholder responsibility – with some occasional lone working

What we’re looking for:

• Good level of book knowledge and curiosity about the industry
• Good IT skills
• Bookselling or other retail/hospitality experience
• Able to work alone using own initiative
• Friendly, kind and outgoing
• Confident and able to remain professional under pressure
• Excellent written and spoken English

Benefits

• £12-13 p/h dependent on experience.  Set to rise in line with the Real Living Wage campaign
• Holiday
• Pension
• Staff discount
• HealthCash plan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan scheme
• A book on your birthday
• One reading day per year – we give you an extra day off each year to catch up on your reading

How to apply:

In order to apply for this role please submit your C.V. and a cover letter detailing;

• A bit more about you and your personality
• Why you would be a good fit for the role
• Recommend us a book and tell us why
• Your availability, any current notice period, and if you have a preference for the 28 or 35 hour position

Please send all applications to recruitment@houseofbooksandfriends.pro

Applications close midnight 07/09/24

Assistant Bookshop Manager – 35 hours per week, Monday-Sunday

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced individual to oversee the daily operations of our busy bookshop. As the Assistant Bookshop Manager, you will be based on the shop floor and responsible for maintaining our high standards of customer service, ensuring smooth workflow, and managing the shop floor team.

Responsibilities:

Operations:

• Supervise and assist in coordinating all activities within the bookshop and café, including rota management
• Book stock management, focusing on speed and accuracy
• Liaise with publishers and other suppliers for ordering purposes
• Implement and enforce health and safety standards, adhering to local regulations
• Ensure paperwork is kept up to date and stay abreast of any changes
• Create and feedback to management ideas for business growth
• Key holding and building safety responsibility
• Shop floor and serving duties across the bookshop and café

Events:

• Work with the Bookshop Manager to plan bookshop, private hire, and author events
• Flow events information to the bookshop team to ensure events are delivered professionally and efficiently
• Facilitate and host events in the bookshop and at external venues

Customer Service:

• Create a welcoming and friendly atmosphere for customers, ensuring exceptional service and satisfaction
• Handle customer enquiries, complaints, and feedback in a prompt and professional manner
• Feedback to the Bookshop Manager and team any opportunities for improvement in service

Staff Supervision and Development:

• Train and supervise all members of the team
• Help create and contribute to a positive work environment, promoting teamwork, and cooperation
• Distribute tasks and priorities to the team from the Bookshop Manager
• Flow information to the team by means of weekly updates
• Use initiative to navigate staffing situations as they arise

Financial Management:

• Implement cost-control measures without compromising quality or customer satisfaction
• Analyse sales data and feedback any opportunities for business growth and improvement to the Bookshop Manager
• Ensure correct operational procedures are being followed across the business

Marketing and Promotions:

• Work closely with the Bookshop Manager to develop effective promotional campaigns and answer press queries
• Monitor competitors’ activities and identify opportunities for improvement
• Assist with monthly planning and curation of social media content

Requirements:

• Proven experience of people management
• Experience working within the book industry
• Proficient in utilising computer systems, point-of-sale (POS) software, and office applications
• Flexibility to work varied shifts, including weekends, evenings, and holidays, as per business needs. Must be available Monday-Sunday inclusive
• Exceptional talent in customer service
• Excellent personal and written communication skills

Desirable:

• Experience of managing volunteers

Benefits:

• £26,000-£28,000 p/a dependent on experience
• Holiday
• Pension
• Staff discount
• HealthCash plan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan scheme
• Staff discount
• A book on your birthday
• One reading day per year – we give you an extra day off each year to catch up on your reading

We are looking for a confident and organised person, with tons of energy and enthusiasm, who loves people and books. If you want to be part of an exciting Community Interest Company and make a difference in your community, we would love to hear from you.

Please submit your CV and a cover letter that includes a book recommendation, your relevant experience, and why you believe you would be the perfect fit for the role.

Please send all applications to recruitment@houseofbooksandfriends.pro

Applications close 29/08/24

We have an exciting opportunity to join our team at House of Books & Friends in Manchester city centre.

We are looking for:

1 x Temporary Bookseller/Barista – 18 hours per week. 3 x 6 hour shifts over Saturday and Sunday, and either Monday or Friday each week.

Immediate start preferred, contract due to end 26/01/25. Candidates must be 18+, and have full availability Monday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

House of Books & Friends is an independent bookshop, and is also home to a café serving some of the best coffee and cake the city has to offer, with all our Booksellers taking on a dual Bookseller/Barista role. Our vibrant events programme represents our diverse local community and social mission, and our Booksellers love getting involved with events.

Formed as a Community Interest Company, we are focused on delivering social good and connecting the local community, in the process combating loneliness and isolation. We work closely with our partner organisations to make sure that the best interests of the local community are always paramount. House of Books & Friends is not just a bookshop, it’s a social movement.

As a House of Book & Friends Bookseller, you’ll be community minded and passionate about books and people. You will also have a wide range of reading interests. Our Booksellers are outgoing, enjoy building relationships and chatting with all customers. You will be the face of our brand and our purpose, and you’ll need to help create a friendly, accepting, and safe space.

This particular role will be highly focused on customer service in the café and bookshop at weekends, the busiest time for our business. We are looking for someone who will thrive in this busy environment.

Key duties:

• Assist customers and answer their enquiries in person, online or over the phone.
• Serve customers in the café and assist with associated cleaning
• Approach customers to discuss and provide book recommendations
• Ensure the bookshop and café are restocked and maintain high level of presentation throughout
• Operate tills and stock control systems
• Assist with social media content creation

What we’re looking for:

• Good level of book knowledge and curiosity about the industry
• Basic IT skills
• Bookselling and/or other retail or hospitality experience
• Able to work alone using own initiative
• Friendly, kind and outgoing
• Confident and able to remain professional under pressure
• Excellent written and spoken English

Benefits

• £12.00 p/hour
• Holiday
• Pension
• Staff discount
• Healthcash plan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan scheme
• A book on your birthday
• Full training will be provided so you can carry out your role effectively

How to apply:

To apply for this role please submit your C.V. and a cover letter, detailing all of the below information:

• A bit more about you and your personality
• Why you would be a good fit for the role
• Recommend us a book and tell us why
• Confirmation that you meet the availability requirements and please provide any notice period required from your current role

Please send all applications to recruitment@houseofbooksandfriends.pro

Applications close at midnight on 27/08/24

We are currently working out the final details of our book club. However, before anything is set in stone, we want to hear from you!

If you’re interested in attending our book club we would appreciate if you could indicate some of your preferences by clicking on the poll below. Feel free to leave a comment if you have any other questions or feedback.

We are officially an accredited Living Wage Employer!

Early in the development of House of Books & Friends we decided to do everything we can to support our Booksellers. The cost of living crisis and dramatic changes in the economy quickly made it clear to us that pay would be a very important factor to our employees. A fair day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.

We hope that placing an emphasis on the financial wellbeing of our Booksellers will also have a good impact on their mental health. While we will be providing mental health awareness training to any Bookseller who would like to undertake it, and an employee assistance helpline for external support, it is also important to recognise the mental toll that financial pressures take.

In the North West, where our bookshop is situated, almost a fifth of jobs do not pay the real Living Wage of £10.90 per hour. When it comes to low pay, we aim to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. We want our Booksellers to feel like they can work, earn and live with dignity.

The Real Living Wage is calculated on how much it costs to buy a basket of everyday goods. It takes into account the cost of living in the UK (with a separate London-weighted wage). Take a look at the video below for a quick rundown of how the Living Wage Foundation do their sums!

 

 

APPLICATIONS HAVE NOW CLOSED – we will be accepting applications until midnight on 30/09/22, any applications recieved after this deadline will not be counted towards this round of recruitment. 

 

We have a number of exciting opportunities for Booksellers to join our team at House of Books & Friends in Manchester city centre.

House of Books & Friends is a new independent bookshop opening in November this year. Our new shop will offer readers a range of captivating books, all curated and selected by our expert bookselling team.

The bookshop will be home to a café serving some of the best coffee and cake the city has to offer.  Our vibrant events programme will represent our diverse local community, featuring everything from book clubs and author events to wine tastings and live music.

Formed as a Community Interest Company, we are focused on delivering social good and bringing the local community together, in the process combating loneliness. We will work closely with our partner organisations to make sure that the best interests of the local community are always paramount. House of Books & Friends is not just a bookshop, it’s a social movement.

As a House of Book & Friends Bookseller, you’ll be community minded and passionate about books, with a wide range of reading interests. You’ll need to be outgoing and enjoy building relationships and chatting with all customers. You’ll be the face of our brand and our purpose, and you’ll need to help create a friendly, accepting, and safe space.

What you’ll be doing:

• Assist customers and answer their enquiries in person, online or over the phone.
• Approach customers to discuss and provide book recommendations
• Ensure the bookshop is restocked and maintain high presentation throughout
• Create and maintain displays
• Operate tills and stock control systems
• Process stock deliveries and returns
• Identify industry trends and possible commercial opportunities
• Develop, plan and lead events such as author events, children’s story times or book clubs
• Assist with social media content creation
• Take responsibility for opening and closing the shop

What we’re looking for:

• Good level of book knowledge and curiosity about the industry
• Basic IT skills
• Bookselling or other retail experience would be desirable but not essential
• Able to work alone using own initiative
• Friendly, kind and outgoing
• Confident and able to remain professional under pressure
• Excellent written and spoken English

Benefits

• Real Living Wage Employer
• Holidays
• Pension
• Staff discount
• Healthcash plan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan scheme
• Staff discount
• Mental health awareness training
• Full training will be provided so you can carry out your role effectively

In order to apply for the role please submit your C.V. and a cover letter detailing;

• A bit more about you and your personality
• Why you would be a good fit for the role
• Recommend us a book and tell us why
• Include your availability, notice period and whether you are interested in a part or full time role.

Interviews will take place week commencing 03/10/22

Please send all applications to thebookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.pro

Applications close 30/09/22