New commercial restaurant venture

The University is developing an exciting new commercial restaurant venture with a street-front presence

This restaurant will showcase international food and flavours aligned to the University’s excellence in the education of culinary arts. The University is already engaged with design partners with a view to the restaurant opening in 2025.

Located in the centre of Birmingham, which has a booming culinary scene, the new restaurant (c50 covers) and accompanying wine and cocktail bar will be based at the heart of the University’s internationally renowned Birmingham College of Food, in the centre of the city and benefitting from the University’s excellent practical and educational facilities in food, hospitality and culinary arts. College of Food students are drawn from across the UK and dozens of countries internationally.

This is a unique proposition and opportunity for a creative and commercially minded culinary professional, ideally with new restaurant start-up experience. The University would be particularly interested in working with someone who brings significant innovation and the ability to showcase broader international cuisine, as opposed to a narrow interpretation of world food choice, developing small-plate offerings which incorporate ingredients and flavours from around the world.  

There will be a requirement for the person to be financially, commercially and legally invested in this opportunity, and interested parties will be expected to demonstrate their capacity to do so, but the University will use its resources to provide the necessary capital for the new venture, including the funding of restaurant design, equipment fit-out and marketing. 

It is intended that the restaurant would open c50 weeks of the year as a standalone commercial entity. Whilst not aligned to the University’s culinary arts curriculum calendar, it will have the significant benefits of students who are trained and passionate about the industry as a skilled and attractive workforce which the commercial restaurant could potentially call upon. The College of Food’s academic teams will also be able to provide significant advice and input where appropriate.

The restaurant is likely to appeal to our local community of city-dwellers, professionals and restaurant goers who enjoy good quality food, with a varied and international menu showcasing excellent quality ingredients from around the world, reflecting our international reputation and diverse student community. 

Candidates should submit, in strictest commercial confidence, an expression of interest (maximum of two sides of A4) and an up-to-date CV to the University Secretary and Registrar, Joseph Young, j.young@ucb.ac.uk .

 

These should highlight the following skills and experience:

  • Commercial catering experience and financial acumen 
  • Start-up experience in commercial dining 
  • Understanding of a broad range of international cuisines 
  • Ability to establish loyal customer base year-round 
  • Awareness of social media for the promotion of business 
  • Experience of high-quality wine, spirits, cocktail and beer offers
  • Commercially sourcing and sales of the above.
  • Ability to assemble, lead, manage and develop a team of staff in a 
  • commercial setting. 
  • Brand awareness.
  • High professional standards, with a focus on presentation and staff training. 

You should specifically address your ability to financially and legally be committed to the project.

This role will attract a highly attractive executive commercial salary and benefits package for the right candidate. This includes significant additional bonus payment opportunities. This will be in addition to an annual return on your investment, aligned to achievement of business targets.

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