Head Sommelier – Take responsibility for guest service, hospitality standards and events at a premium vineyard setting in Kent.

Platinum Recruitment is working in partnership with a highly regarded English estate, and we have a fantastic opportunity for an Interim Head Sommelier to join the team at their beautiful tasting room and cellar door in Kent on a temporary 3 months basis.

This is a brilliant opportunity for a service-led professional who enjoys more than traditional restaurant service. As Head Sommelier, you will support the Cellar Door Manager with the day-to-day guest operation, taking responsibility for service standards, lunches, private bookings, corporate hospitality and multiple events, while supporting sales and memorable guest experiences.

Why choose this Head Sommelier role?

This temporary, interim role offers the chance to combine wine knowledge with hands-on hospitality leadership. You will be joining a premium, award-winning English vineyard where service excellence, storytelling, guest experience, events and commercial awareness all matter.

You'll be representing a respected estate, engaging with guests who value knowledgeable service, and helping turn polished hospitality into sales, memberships, repeat bookings and memorable visits.

What's in it for you?

Because this role offers more than just a beautiful place to work:

• Temporary role – minimum of 3 months
• Possibility of extension
• Opportunity to work in a premium English vineyard environment
• Exposure to cellar-door sales, lunches, private events and corporate bookings
• A varied role combining service, sales, guest experience and team leadership

What's involved?

As Head Sommelier, you will support the Cellar Door Manager in running the day-to-day guest experience at the estate's tasting room in Kent. You will be visible with guests and the team, ensuring service is warm, knowledgeable, organised and commercially focused.

Key responsibilities include:

• Taking responsibility for guest service across lunches, tastings, retail sales and events
• Supporting the Cellar Door Manager with daily hospitality operations
• Overseeing Cellar Door Hosts and support staff during daily service and event activity
• Managing multiple events, private bookings, walk-ins and corporate hospitality at the same time
• Maintaining smooth service flow across all guest-facing areas
• Using wine knowledge and storytelling to bring the estate, product and setting to life
• Supporting sales, memberships, repeat bookings and customer engagement
• Handling guest feedback, enquiries and service challenges professionally
• Supporting training, product knowledge and performance standards within the team
• Working closely with kitchen, vineyard, production and customer service teams

What we're looking for

The ideal Head Sommelier will have experience in a quality hospitality environment involving service, sales and guest experience. You might come from a sommelier role, premium restaurant, luxury hotel, members' club, vineyard, visitor attraction, events venue or retail background.

You will need:

• Strong wine knowledge and a genuine passion for guest experience
• Previous supervisory, duty management or senior service experience
• Experience taking responsibility for service standards and event delivery
• Confidence overseeing a team across busy service and multiple events
• Excellent communication and people-management skills
• Strong organisation, attention to detail and problem-solving ability
• Commercial awareness, with confidence supporting sales and memberships
• A natural ability to create polished, personal and memorable service
• A calm, professional approach under pressure
• WSET Level 2 or above would be desirable
• Availability to work shifts on Sundays and Mondays

This Head Sommelier role in Kent would suit a professional who enjoys taking responsibility for service, managing varied guest experiences and supporting a premium vineyard setting.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK and be able to travel easily within Kent, as accommodation is not provided for this role.

Please apply below or contact Kevin Thomas at Platinum Recruitment to find out more.

Job Number 936625 INDF&B
Location Kent
Role Head Sommelier

Platinum Recruitment is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.