Assistant Head Barista

Prologue is an independent bookshop at Weir Mill in Stockport, complete with a bar, speciality coffee shop and dedicated event space. A new concept for the North, in a huge, dedicated unit, Prologue is fast becoming the go-to destination for book lovers, coffee drinkers and culture seekers across the region.

We’re now looking for an experienced Assistant Head Barista to join our team and help take our café to the next level.

The café is the heartbeat of Prologue during the day: somewhere people come to read, work, meet friends and spend time. This is a senior role with real ownership. You’ll help lead our coffee programme and daytime café offering, run the café day to day, and play a key part in shaping where it goes next.

We’re a young business with big ambitions, and this role comes with genuine room to grow. If you’re an accomplished barista who’s ready for more responsibility and wants to help build something special, we’d love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Help lead the coffee and daytime café programme, taking ownership of quality and standards on the coffee side
• Run the café day to day, leading shifts and taking full charge when the Head Barista isn’t in
• Deliver consistently excellent coffee quality and service standards across the café
• Dial in espresso and keep coffee quality optimal throughout the day
• Work with our coffee supplier on coffee selection, recipes and developing our offering
• Develop and evolve our drinks menu and daytime food offering, including pastries, cakes and light bites
• Build, refine and document the workflows, standards and systems that keep the café running smoothly
• Recruit, train and mentor baristas, setting the standard on every shift
• Manage stock levels and ordering for coffee, milk, food and café supplies
• Help manage relationships with our bakery and café food suppliers
• Keep food displays attractive, well-stocked and maintained throughout the day
• Maintain high standards of food safety, hygiene and stock rotation
• Look after the coffee bar and equipment, monitoring performance and arranging maintenance when needed
• Deliver warm, welcoming service and help create a café atmosphere people want to return to
• Operate our point-of-sale system and keep service smooth during busy periods
• Work closely with the bookselling and bar teams to create a seamless experience across the space
• Support drinks service during evening events when required
• Bring ideas that improve the café experience and contribute to the wider direction of Prologue’s food and drink offering