General Manager – Flukes

Big Penny Social, Walthamstow (E17 6AL)

Salary: £50,000 

45 hours flexible across seven days

Shifts mainly Wednesday to Sunday, with occasional additional hours as required

Always wanted to run a stylish bar with soul?

Dream of owning a dive bar… but with serious backing?

Love immersive spaces, getting people together and making people feel something?

If so, please read on…..

This is not a standard GM role.

This role is for someone who lives and breathes hospitality and knows that great experiences don’t happen by accident.

The Venue

Flukes is the newest addition to Big Penny Social, a competitive socialising space done differently. 

Inspired aesthetically by traditional social clubs and pool halls, Flukes blends pool, electric shuffleboard, AR darts and karaoke rooms with a cocktail bar and private bar, all overlooking one of London’s biggest social venues.

Who Do We Need?

Flukes is designed for serious personality and style, a place for people to let loose and celebrate. 

We need the right GM to bring this place to life, uphold exceptional standards, and define the Flukes experience for staff and guests.

Flukes is a sub-brand of Big Penny Social, but this will be your domain. You’ll be the face of the space, shaping the atmosphere, leading the team and creating an experience people genuinely want to come back to.

Your personality, warmth and presence are not just a “nice to have”, they are central to the role, as is your previous management experience in a hospitality venue.  You’ll be an inspiring leader who loves managing and developing people, and getting the best out of your team.  Clearly, it goes without saying that you’ll be passionate about hospitality and creating the best customer experiences possible.  

The Role

As General Manager – Flukes, you’ll have full responsibility for the day-to-day running of the Flukes games hall, bars and kitchen, while working closely with the General Manager of Big Penny Social.

You’ll balance creativity and character with excellent operational standards, delivering a standout guest experience in a fast-paced, exciting environment.

What you’ll be doing:

• Owning the end-to-end operation of Flukes
• Creating a personable, fun and memorable guest experience every day
• Hiring, training and leading the Flukes team, bringing the brand to life through people
• Building rotas, controlling GP and labour, and managing guest feedback
• Ensuring fast, friendly service by coordinating bar, kitchen and BOH teams
• Maintaining high standards of professionalism, safety and diligence throughout the space
• Monitoring staffing levels to deliver great service while hitting labour KPIs
• Integrating Flukes into the wider Big Penny Social operation
• Supporting the wider venue when required, including holiday and absence cover

Who we’re looking for:

You’ll thrive in this role if you:

• Have management experience in a competitive socialising venue
• Are known for having a big personality and natural presence
• Are an inspiring leader who loves managing and getting the best out of people
• Genuinely love hospitality and looking after guests
• Deliver fantastic service without being brash or transactional
• Are commercially aware and results-driven
• Communicate clearly and listen well
• Think on your feet and solve problems before they escalate
• Bring energy, initiative and a consistently positive attitude

About Big Penny:

Big Penny is on a mission to enrich society by providing places where people come together, and community spirit comes alive.

We are a growing events and hospitality company with a much loved flagship site in Walthamstow - Big Penny Social, and a bar at City Airport – Big Penny Brews. Flukes sits upstairs at our Walthamstow venue.

In short,  this is a rare opportunity to:

• Run and shape a venue, not just manage one
• Put your personality at the heart of a brand
• Build something distinctive, warm and memorable
• Be backed by an established, values-driven business

If you want a role where your presence truly matters, we’d love to hear from you.