Hospitality Manager F&B · AO Arena

The Venue

A true powerhouse of live entertainment, AO Arena is one of the enigmatic indoor arenas on the planet, welcoming more than 30 million fans since 1997. From era‑defining music moments to major sporting spectacles, the arena sits at the heart of Manchester’s global reputation for live events. Following a £50 million transformation, AO Arena continues to set the standard of live entertainment both in Manchester and on the world stage.

The Role

As Hospitality Manager, you’ll be at the heart of delivering unforgettable premium experiences at AO Arena, bringing exceptional service, operational excellence and genuine hospitality to every guest.

Leading Mezz Restaurant, Mezz Bar and The Beautiful North, you’ll inspire and develop high‑performing teams to consistently raise the bar, exceed guest expectations and bring our hospitality spaces to life.

Combining a passion for people with strong commercial and operational leadership, you’ll drive performance, champion world‑class standards and create memorable experiences that keep our guests coming back.

The Responsibilities

• Deliver exceptional premium hospitality experiences, championing a culture of service excellence across all AO Arena hospitality spaces and ensuring every guest journey reflects our premium standards.
• Lead the day‑to‑day operation of Mezz Restaurant, Mezz Bar and The Beautiful North, ensuring each space is fully prepared, staffed, stocked, presented and ready to deliver seamless service across event and non‑event days.
• Create memorable guest experiences, building relationships, resolving issues quickly and using guest feedback and satisfaction scores to continually evolve and improve our hospitality offering.
• Recruit, inspire and develop high‑performing hospitality teams, creating a positive and inclusive culture through regular coaching, training, performance reviews, succession planning and hands‑on leadership.
• Drive operational excellence through collaboration, leading event briefings and planning while partnering with culinary, retail, events and venue operations teams to maintain exceptional standards of cleanliness, presentation, safety and overall venue readiness.

What we’re looking for

• Proven hospitality leadership experience within premium food and beverage, high‑volume operations, large‑scale events or venue environments, ideally within arenas, stadiums or live entertainment.
• An inspirational people leader with experience motivating, coaching and developing high‑performing teams while championing exceptional customer service.
• Strong operational expertise, with the ability to maintain premium standards in fast‑paced environments alongside excellent organisation, problem‑solving, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience across premium hospitality operations, including dining, bars, VIP experiences or hospitality memberships. A Personal Licence and Food Safety or Health & Safety qualifications would be advantageous.
• A flexible, hands‑on approach, with the ability to work evenings, weekends and event schedules while consistently delivering exceptional experiences.

What can we offer?

25 Days Annual Leave – Work hard, rest well.

Life Assurance – Peace of mind knowing your loved ones are protected.

5% Pension Contribution – Helping you prepare for a bright future.

Healthshield Cover – Support with dental, physio, counselling and more for you and your children.

Employee Assistance Programme – AXA Health support whenever you need it.

Eye Care Support – Vouchers and contributions towards glasses.

Cycle to Work Scheme – A greener, healthier commute.

Employee Referral Scheme – Recommend great people and get rewarded.

Recruitment Process Outlined

• 1st Stage -Intro with Talent Team
• 2nd Stage -Interview with Director of Food & Beverage, AO Arena

Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory pre‑employment checks. These may include verification of identity, proof of address, right to work, employment history, qualifications, and—where relevant to the role—a basic or enhanced DBS check. All checks will be carried out in line with data protection law and we will only request information that is necessary for the role.

Legends Global is redefining excellence in sport, entertainment and live events. With unrivalled expertise and international reach, we provide end‑to‑end solutions – from venue development and event programming to revenue strategy and hospitality.

Our organisation is committed to fostering an inclusive and forward‑thinking environment where diversity drives innovation and collaboration. Guided by our values of Align, Scale, Connect, Team and Win... we create a culture where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Inclusive Workplace

At Legends Global , we are committed to leading the entertainment industry towards a greener, faster, and more innovative digital future. There’s never been a better time to join our team. We aim to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers, and suppliers. Join us and make a significant impact from day one.

We are committed to active inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunities. This commitment begins with our recruitment and selection process. We welcome discussions about flexible working arrangements.

If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of our recruitment process, please let us know in your application. We are dedicated to providing a fair and transparent assessment process and will do our utmost to accommodate your needs.

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