CAREERS AT CHESTER ZOO

Food & Beverage Assistant - Events

Job reference:001655

Salary:12.71 per hour

Closing date:28/04/2026

Department:Food & Beverage

Location:Chester

Employment type:Permanent

Hours Per Week:Multiple contracts available

Job Description

We’re looking for Events Team Members to join our Food & Beverage team at the UK’s number 1 zoo!

Multiple positions available - permanent 20 hour contract and temporary minimum 8 hour contract. Additional hours potentially available during busy periods. Please state in your cover letter, which role you would prefer to be considered for.

As part of our Events Team, you’ll play an important role in delivering exceptional service across our stunning wedding and events space The Square and our award-winning British gastro-pub, The Oakfield. With exciting plans for 2026 and beyond, there’s never been a better time to join us!

The Role
As an Events Team Member, you’ll support the smooth running of weddings, parties, conferences, and other exciting events at the zoo. You will also support operations within our award-winning gastro pub, The Oakfield. Your role will be hands-on, varied, and focused on ensuring every guest enjoys a world-class experience.Duties include:
• Assisting with event set-ups and pack downs, including laying tables, arranging furniture, and preparing event spaces to a high standard
• Welcoming guests in a warm and professional manner, providing excellent customer service throughout their visit
• Supporting food and beverage service, including serving meals and drinks, replenishing stations, and clearing tables efficiently
• Assisting bar operations where required, including preparing and serving beverages in line with licensing regulations
• Maintaining high standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and presentation across all event and service areas
• Supporting the delivery of weddings, corporate events, and private functions, ensuring timelines and guest expectations are met
• Working closely with colleagues and management to ensure events run smoothly from start to finish
• Supporting day-to-day service and guest experience at The Oakfield gastro pub, including food service, bar support, and maintaining a welcoming environment

The Package
You’ll be working a variety of shifts, including during our core zoo opening hours, as well as early morning or evening work for events such as weddings and corporate functions or late-night opening.
• Multiple contracts available (permanent & temporary)
• £12.71 per hour
• Working hours vary based on contract, 5 out of 7 availability. Will include weekends, bank holidays and evenings. Additional hours potentially available during busy periods and overtime will be paid.
• Annual leave which is accrued based on days worked
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off, plus multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family
• Free travel to and from work on the X1 bus service from Chester and Ellesmere Port
• Healthcare plan and employee assistance programme (dependant on contract)
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks
• Pension scheme (dependant on contract)
• Subsidised staff canteen
• Online Discount/Cashback scheme
• Free entry to affiliated zoo’s and collections through BIAZA including Blue Planet Aquarium

Our Requirements
• Excellent customer service skills, ideally gained in a similar environment such as an event space
• Excellent communication skills and teamwork
• A good level of numeracy and literacy, to help with taking orders, reading menus and processing payments
• Cash handling experience
• Ability to think on your feet and adapt to a multitude of difference scenarios
• A keen eye for detail and passion for high standards
• Due to licencing requirements, you must be aged 18 or older

Desirable Requirements
• Bar and/or barista experience would be desirable

What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?

Well, where do we start? Here goes…
We’re a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal welfare experts, marketeers, visitor experience professionals, environmental policy influencers; the list goes on. Each and every one of us is on a mission to make Chester Zoo the best in the world, and our planet a better place.

As the UK’s biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans, and there’s always lots going on here. We’re an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of over 600 permanent and up to 500 temporary team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us for the long term on our exciting journey.

Our working environment could not be more different from a typical place of work – where else can you see critically endangered orangutans, rare giraffes and tigers on your lunch break?

We recommend that if you do wish to be considered that you submit your application as promptly as possible as shortlisting and interviews may be taking place whilst the advert is live. We reserve the right to close our vacancies earlier than the listed date.