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Jobs at BookBar

BookBar is an independent bookshop, wine bar, events and social space, which brings people together through books. We're a vibrant and innovative brand, always seeking new ways to make books appealing and fun.

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Whilst you can scroll down to read full job description below, regardless of the position, we are looking for the following values in our team members:

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  • People-loving - BookBar prides itself on being a welcoming, warm and friendly space, and we want any person who steps through the doors, comes to an event, or interacts with our team to feel welcome and accepted. BookBar is not just a bookshop but a bar too and it feels like your most well read friend's living room. Everything we do at BookBar is about celebrating the social side of reading, and our team set that social dynamic and help people to feel at ease.

  • Book-loving - Do you love books? Do you want to share your love of books with others? Do you pride yourself on being the perfect book-matchmaker? We'd love to hear from you.

  • Team-oriented - We're a small team and we care about one another, are kind to one another and have a lot of fun along the way.

  • Enthusiastic - Passion is infectious and our team of book-lovers are an enthusiastic bunch. Whether you're into fiction in translation, the perfect coffee pour, or the most exquisite wine and book pairing, we're here for it and love hearing you share that with customers and one another.

  • Organised - Bookselling and hospitality do require a lot of moving parts (from serving coffee and recommending to regular admin throughout a shift) so our team needs to be able to organise their time well and adapt to differently paced tasks.

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Does this sound like you? Scroll down to learn more about the positions you can apply for.

Barista and Bookselling Assistant
BookBar Chelsea

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​We are looking for book-loving baristas to join us to help support on the hospitality and bookselling sides of the business at our West London bookshop. If you are enthusiastic about books, love people, and can whip up a delicious flat white, we'd love to hear from you.

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Duties and responsibilities

  • Customer service duties including:

    • Making and serving coffee, wine and other refreshments to customers

    • Serving customers at the till

    • Recommending books

    • Gift wrapping

  • Daily bookshop administration including:

    • Booking in new stock, putting new orders onto the system and processing returns.

    • Tidying shelves and displays, regular cleaning of glasses, tables and bar area throughout the day, including end of day cleaning routine.

    • Answering customer enquiries in person and by website, phone, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and email.

    • Picking, wrapping and posting online customer orders.

    • Administration relating to BookBar’s monthly Book Club and Subscription service.

    • Supporting with stock orders, deliveries and stock takes on F&B, food and administrative products.

  • Working at off-site and in-store events.

  • Keeping up to date with current titles and recommending books to customers.

  • Maintaining high standards of customer service and food hygiene and safety.

  • Covering emergency sickness etc. in the team.

 

Essential skills​

  • Speciality coffee barista experience of at least 6 months in a speciality coffee shop within the last 2 years.

  • Love of people and an enthusiastic, personable, approachable, positive, friendly, helpful and social personality, in line with the BookBar brand.

  • Love of reading and a desire to keep up to date with publishing trends and new titles, as well as develop a general understanding of key backlist.

  • Ability to work evenings and weekends.

  • Desire to learn more about the bookselling and publishing industry and to develop bookselling skills.

  • Strong organisational and administrative skills.

  • Ability to work in an active retail environment.

  • Strong customer service skills.

  • Desire to work in a close-knit team.

  • Creativity in considering new and exciting ways to sell books, and a desire to be part of an innovative brand.

  • High standards of hygiene.​

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Hours

We are offering a minimum of 24 hours a week, with the opportunity to take on more hours at busy periods and to cover events, holiday and sickness. The job will require regular evening and weekend work, including at least one weekend shift a week (and sometimes two) and two evenings a week (usually ending at 9:30pm).​

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Pay

£14.80/hour

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Location

You will be required to work from both BookBar Chelsea, 11 Chelsea Manor Street, London, SW3 3TW and with occasional emergency/holiday cover at BookBar Islington, 166 Blackstock Road, London, N5 1HA and some external events across London.

 

To apply, please fill in the application form in the 'Apply Now' link below by the end of day (11:59pm) on Tuesday 20th January 2025. Due to a high volume of applicants, we may be unable to contact all unsuccessful candidates.

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