General Manager
General Manager – The Ragged Robin, Godalming
We have an exceptional opportunity for an experienced and commercially driven General Manager to lead our thriving Ragged Robin in Godalming.Now successfully open and going from strength to strength, The Ragged Robin is nestled in the charming town of Godalming, set against the stunning backdrop of the River Wey and rolling meadows. The business features a 150-cover restaurant and bar serving exceptional food and drink, 150 external covers for al fresco dining in picturesque surroundings, and 19 boutique bedrooms offering a stylish countryside retreat.As one of our flagship Pubs with Rooms within the award-winning Heartwood Collection — home to Brasserie Blanc and Heartwood Inns — The Ragged Robin combines fresh, seasonal food with warm hospitality and exceptional standards. Our businesses sit at the heart of their communities, and our continued success is driven by passionate, like-minded individuals who create unforgettable guest experiences.
The Role
This is a high-impact leadership role for a commercially astute operator who can drive sales, maximise profitability and continue the impressive growth trajectory of the business.
You will take full accountability for performance across all areas of the site including food, beverage service and rooms ensuring operational excellence while building, developing and inspiring a high-performing team.
You will be confident analysing KPIs, identifying opportunities, and implementing clear commercial strategies to grow revenue across all streams, including rooms. A strong understanding of cost control, payroll management and revenue optimisation is essential.
The Ideal Candidate will:
Be highly commercial and financially astute, with a proven track record of driving sales growth and profitability
Have strong people management skills and experience leading large, diverse teams
Be confident managing HR matters, including recruitment, performance management, succession planning, engagement and employee relations
Have experience running a site with accommodation and a solid understanding of rooms revenue management and yield
Demonstrate the ability to oversee a busy, multi-faceted operation while maintaining exceptional standards
Be a visible, hands-on leader with energy, warmth and presence
Thrive on motivating and empowering teams to deliver outstanding guest experiences
Have proven experience delivering sustained business growth, achieving budgets and maintaining strong staff retention
This is an exciting opportunity to lead an already successful and growing business with significant further potential.
If you are a driven and ambitious General Manager looking to take ownership of a flagship site within a respected and expanding collection, we would love to hear from you.
General Manager – What We Offer:
Competitive salary plus Tronc and quarterly bonus
Private Healthcare with Bupa
Employee Assistance Programme with Hospitality Action
28 days holiday including Bank Holidays
Option to buy an additional 5 days holiday per year
The Pantry – hundreds of retailer and experience discounts through Reward Gateway
Stepping Stones – our industry-leading training and development platform supporting progression
Coaching and Mentorship programme to support your career development
Enhanced Maternity & Paternity package
50% off food across all Heartwood Collection sites
20% Friends & Family food discount
Discounted rooms at our Inns
A thoughtful birthday gift
Long Service Recognition Awards
Refer a Friend bonus up to £1,500
Instant access to earned pay through EarlyPay
Cycle to Work Scheme
About Heartwood Collection
Heartwood Collection is one of the UK’s fastest-growing premium casual dining groups, home to the award-winning Brasserie Blanc and Heartwood Inns brands. Backed by Alchemy Partners since 2022, we operate 50 sites nationwide and are on an ambitious growth journey including a rapidly expanding rooms business set to exceed 300 bedrooms by 2027.
We are proud of our family culture, collaborative spirit and appetite for growth. This is an exciting time to join a business where commercial thinking, strong leadership and data-driven decision-making play a critical role in shaping long-term success.