Hostess

Role Overview

As the first and last face a guest encounters at The Social House, the Restaurant Hostess shapes how the whole dining experience begins and ends — running the reservation book, reading the room, and making arrivals feel expected rather than merely processed. The job blends guest relations with floor logistics: you decide who is seated where and when, keep server sections evenly loaded, and pass real-time information to the service and management teams so nothing stalls between the door and the table. Handled well, this role quietly removes the unexplained waits, uneven sections and impersonal greetings that turn a promising meal into a forgettable one.

Key Responsibilities

• Greet arriving guests warmly, address returning guests by name wherever you can, and send everyone off with a sincere farewell.
• Own the reservation book end to end — take bookings by telephone, and record names, contact details, seating preferences and special occasions accurately.
• Seat walk-in guests calmly alongside existing bookings, quote realistic wait times instead of vague ones, and keep waiting guests informed and comfortable while they wait.
• Allocate tables using reservations, floor plans, server rotations and current table availability so one section is never overloaded while another sits idle.
• Watch the floor continuously to anticipate which tables are about to turn, and keep servers, supervisors and managers briefed on availability and service flow.
• Coordinate VIP arrivals, celebrations, large parties and special seating requests, communicating the details to the team in advance.
• Stay fluent in the restaurants' menus, current promotions and experiences, understand common dietary requirements, and know the point at which a question should be handed to the service or culinary team.
• Collect guest feedback before people leave, flag any unhappiness to the relevant manager straight away, and keep the host station, menus and all guest-facing materials clean, current and correctly presented in line with The Social House's presentation and grooming standards.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A Diploma in Hotel Management, or a Certificate or Diploma in Food & Beverage Service from a recognised hospitality or tourism institution; a related degree is an added advantage.
• Previous experience as a Restaurant Hostess, Host, Restaurant Receptionist or a comparable guest-facing hospitality position.
• Experience in a 4- or 5-star hotel, premium restaurant, lifestyle hotel or high-volume quality dining environment is strongly preferred.
• Excellent spoken communication, with the confidence to engage guests both face to face and over the telephone.
• A polished, professional personal presentation that reflects the venue's standards.
• A naturally warm, outgoing and expressive manner, plus the ability to remember faces, names and individual guest preferences.
• Strong organisational skills, close attention to detail, and the composure to make quick decisions during busy service periods.
• Hands-on familiarity with POS terminals, digital reservation platforms or table management systems.
• Solid teamwork and communication skills, and a genuine interest in food, restaurants, people and hospitality.
• Availability to work evenings, weekends and public holidays according to the operational rota.