Food and Beverage Assistant

Job Description

Work Where the Mountains Meet the Loch

• Location: Ardgartan Argyll (Loch Long)
• Salary: £12.71 per hour
• Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours
• Days of Work: Vary between Monday and Sunday

We have an exciting opportunity for a Food and Beverage Assistant to join our lovely team at Ardgartan Argyll.

At the edge of the Argyll Forest Park, pine-covered mountains sweep down to meet the shore of Loch Long where 40 cabins sit. A more perfect spot for a forest escape is hard to imagine.

About the Food and Beverage Assistant Role

As our Food and Beverage Assistant, you’ll play a key role in the smooth running of our Forest Retreat, the welcoming hub of Forest Holidays. The Forest Retreat serves as a reception, shop, and café, a place for guests to relax, refuel, and plan their woodland adventures.

Unlike many hospitality roles, we offer a better work/life balance, with shifts starting no earlier than 8 am and finishing by 9 pm. This is your chance to work in a calm, natural setting while still delivering top-quality service to our guests.

You’ll provide friendly, efficient service across retail and café operations, ensuring every guest enjoys the perfect Forest Feeling from start to finish.

Your Responsibilities

• Welcome guests warmly and provide exceptional customer service throughout their stay.
• Prepare and serve food and drinks in our café.
• Maintain cleanliness and hygiene standards in all areas.
• Support stock control, restock shelves, and assist with deliveries.
• Operate tills, handle payments, and follow cash handling procedures.
• Work as part of a close-knit team to ensure smooth daily operations.
• Ensure compliance with all health & safety and food hygiene regulations.
• Assist with the set-up and running of events and activities where required.

What Are We Looking For?

Our ideal Food and Beverage Assistant is friendly, professional, and guest-focused. You bring positivity and passion to everything you do and enjoy working in a team that values nature, service, and community.

We’re looking for someone with:

• Experience in a customer-facing role (hospitality or retail preferred)
• Great communication and interpersonal skills
• A friendly and approachable attitude
• Attention to detail and pride in maintaining high standards
• A flexible approach to working across different tasks and shifts
• A passion for delivering an excellent guest experience
• A love for working in beautiful outdoor settings, come rain or shine!

Who Are Forest Holidays?

We’re a team of 800 people, caring for UK forests and creating unique stays in nature where guests can truly switch off and reconnect.

Why Join Us?

As a valued member of our team, you’ll enjoy a range of fantastic benefits, including:

• Generous holiday allowance – Take the time you need to recharge
• Performance-based bonuses – Earn a 5% bonus (paid quarterly) when customer service targets are met
• Enhanced parental leave – 24 weeks maternity, 3 weeks paternity at full pay
• Long service awards and company events – Celebrate success with your team
• Pension scheme – Secure your future with our company pension
• One full paid day to volunteer – Give back to a cause you care about
• Subsidised meals – Discounted food when working on location
• Health cash plan & life assurance – Covered by the company to keep you protected
• Wellbeing events & activities – Focus on your mental and physical wellness
• Discounts on stays – Discounted and last-minute stays at Forest Holidays and Sykes Cottages for you, your friends & family
• Hundreds of discounts – Save on top brands across the UK

Please note: If successful in the role, any job offer will be subject to pre-employment checks, including a basic criminal record check.

Pay Rates for Aged 16 and 17:

• 16 years: £8.00 per hour
• 17 years: £10.85 per hour

Reasonable Adjustments:

We’re all about diversity, inclusion, and bringing your authentic self to work. Need adjustments for the recruitment process? Just ask, our team is happy to help.