Front of house staff ensure a seamless and quality customer experience for guests at venues including restaurants, bars and gastropubs.

They manage bookings, greet guests, escort them to tables and are there to resolve any customer issues or complaints.

Front of house managers and supervisors are also responsible for overseeing teams of staff with tasks including rostering and performance appraisals.

This detailed guide offers everything you need to know about front of house roles, including a job description, information about current salaries and essential qualifications and skills needed.

What does a front of house staff member do?

To translate the job description into simple language, here is a list of the tasks and responsibilities that front of house staff will deliver in an average working week;

• Greeting customers on arrival – Manning the entrance to the venue and welcoming guests as they arrive, before showing them to their seats
• Delivering exceptional service – Exceeding the expectations of customers throughout their visit, including taking orders, providing recommendations and responding to queries promptly
• Resolving complaints – Handling customer complaints directly or escalating to supervisors when needed
• Managing reservations – Receiving and recording incoming reservations in person, by email and telephone
• Liaising with other teams – Working closely with team members in other areas of the business, to create a seamless experience for the customer, e.g. kitchen staff