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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.

 

We're opening a new shop in Chelsea and are looking for warm and welcoming booksellers to work alongside our friendly, fun and book, wine and coffee-loving team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a love of books, a vibrant and warm personality, an eye for detail and a sense of creativity to be part of the next chapter in BookBar's story: creating a brand new bookish social hub in West London.​

 

Whilst you can scroll down to read full job descriptions 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.

Assistant Manager
BookBar Chelsea

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Duties and responsibilities

  • Supporting the Manager to ensure the daily operations of the bookshop and wine/coffee bar run smoothly including:

    • Helping to create a positive, enthusiastic, kind and inclusive workplace culture.

    • Implementing regular returns and stock takes.

    • Implementing the administration of BookBar’s monthly subscription programme and BookBar’s monthly Book Club.

    • Implementing shop displays and marketing strategies such as Book and Wine of the Month to the shop.

    • Placing daily replenishment stock orders for books, and wine, coffee, stationery supplies etc, where necessary.

    • Helping the Manager to ensure that all policies and best practices are being adhered to by the team and maintaining the high standards of customer service, hygiene and practices expected, including carrying out regular fire and safety checks.

    • Assisting with staff training.

    • Overseeing the BookBar enquiries email and ensuring queries are answered promptly, politely and in a manner that reflects the BookBar brand values.

    • Supporting the Manager to solve issues that arise in the shop and coordinating with contractors to ensure issues are resolved.

  • Customer service duties including:

    • Looking after customers, welcoming them to the space and creating the warm and welcoming environment that we pride ourselves on.

    • Serving customers at the till.

    • Recommending books.

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

  • 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, social media and email.

    • Picking, wrapping and posting online customer orders.

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

    • Managing and promoting regular events, book clubs and book launches.

  • Deputising for the Manager, responsible for customer and staff safety, wellbeing and happiness, dealing with any issues that arise in store when the Manager is not present. Ensuring all policies and best practices are being adhered to by the team and maintaining the high standards of customer service, hygiene and practices expected.

  • Covering emergency sickness etc. in the team, including covering shifts yourself (for which you would receive time in lieu).

  • Any other duties that involve the day to day smooth running and development of the shop.

 

Essential skills

  • At least one year Senior Bookselling/Assistant Manager experience and three years bookselling experience.

  • Experience in and knowledge of the book industry and current trends and new titles, as well as a general understanding of key backlist titles.

  • An enthusiastic, personable, approachable, positive, friendly, helpful and social personality, in line with the BookBar brand.

  • A team-driven approach.

  • Strong team management skills.

  • Strong organisational and administrative skills.

  • Strong customer service skills.

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

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Desired skills

  • Speciality coffee barista experience / hospitality experience.

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Hours

40 hours a week (including one hour lunch break). This role will require regular weekend and evening shifts.​

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Pay

Circa £35,000 per annum, including 28 days paid annual leave (inclusive of Bank Holidays), depending on experience. Benefits include staff discount on all BookBar products excluding subscription services.

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Location

Will be required to work from BookBar, 11 Chelsea Manor Street, London, SW3 3TW, with some external events across London, and occasional cover at BookBar Islington.

 

To apply, please fill in the application form in the 'Apply Now' link below by the end of day (11:59pm) on Sunday 13th April 2025. Due to a high volume of applicants, we may be unable to contact all unsuccessful candidates.

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Senior Bookseller and Barista
BookBar Chelsea

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Duties and responsibilities

  • Customer service duties including:

    • Looking after customers, welcoming them to the space and creating the warm and welcoming environment on we pride ourselves.

    • Serving customers at the till

    • Recommending books

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

  • 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.

    • 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.

 

Essential skills​

  • At least one year of bookselling experience.

  • 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.

  • There will be occasional solo work, so a responsible personality and ability to respond to problems quickly, carefully and responsibly is required.

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Desired skills

  • Speciality coffee barista experience / hospitality experience.

​

Hours

Full time (40 hours a week, including a one hour lunch break).​

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Pay

Circa £32,000 per annum, including 28 days paid annual leave (inclusive of Bank Holidays), depending on experience. Benefits include staff discount on all BookBar products excluding subscription services.

​

Location

Will be required to work from BookBar, 11 Chelsea Manor Street, London, SW3 3TW, with some external events across London, and occasional cover at BookBar Islington.

 

To apply, please fill in the application form in the 'Apply Now' link below by the end of day (11:59pm) on Sunday 13th April 2025. Due to a high volume of applicants, we may be unable to contact all unsuccessful candidates.

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Bookseller and Barista
BookBar Chelsea

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Duties and responsibilities

  • Customer service duties including:

    • Serving customers at the till

    • Recommending books

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

  • 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.

  • Deputising for the Manager and Assistant Manager, responsible for customer and staff safety, wellbeing and happiness, dealing with any issues that arise in store when the Manager/Assistant Manager is not present. Ensuring all policies and best practices are being adhered to by the team and maintaining the high standards of customer service, hygiene and practices expected.

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

  • Covering emergency sickness etc. in the team, including covering shifts yourself (for which you would receive time in lieu).

 

Essential skills​

  • 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.

  • There will be occasional solo work, so a responsible personality and ability to respond to problems quickly, carefully and responsibly is required.

​

Desired skills

  • Speciality coffee barista experience / hospitality experience.

​

Hours

Various role available, ranging from 16-24 hours a week (plus extra shifts to cover events, holiday, sickness and at busier periods).  The job will require regular evening and weekend work.​

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Pay

£14/hour

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Location

Will be required to work from BookBar, 11 Chelsea Manor Street, London, SW3 3TW, with some external events across London, and occasional cover at BookBar Islington.

 

To apply, please fill in the application form in the 'Apply Now' link below by the end of day (11:59pm) on Sunday 13th April 2025. Due to a high volume of applicants, we may be unable to contact all unsuccessful candidates.

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