Local theatre to stage auditions for 50 new jobs for Hampton Hill’s newest bar and restaurant

The widely reported acquisition of the former Refectory premises on Hampton Hill’s High Street (No 92) by one of the UK’s most-respected and fast-growing pub groups, Oakman Inns, promises a new start for the building in mid-November following a planned investment of over £1.1m to transform it into The Beech House Bar & Restaurant.

For the company’s CEO, Peter Borg-Neal, a lifelong RFC devotee and former chairman of Tring RFC, acquiring premises so near to his spiritual home at Twickenham is almost a dream come true.

“Over the years I’ve been to Hampton Hill so many times that it’s like a second home. With such a friendly atmosphere and strong sense of community, we felt this was the ideal spot for us to introduce our fifth Beech House Bar & Restaurant concept.”

The Beech House, where “Barcelona Tapas bar meets Parisian Bistro”, will be open all day from breakfast, and the local community can expect an attractive and comfortable bar area with plenty of seating and a 90-cover restaurant incorporating an open theatre-style kitchen and authentic wood-fired pizza oven serving a wide range of drinks and freshly prepared, seasonal food.

For many South-West Londoners, regardless of age, The Beech House might also be responsible for a first job, a change of career, an apprenticeship or a future in management. The company is widely recognised as having a caring and supportive culture, where everyone works hard at developing themselves and their teams.

New General Manager, James Bird, is looking for a new team of up to fifty motivated and finely-tuned people - full and part-time. He said: “We have launched a recruitment drive in and around Hampton to fill the different roles with exactly the right people to start their training programme in October. We’re staging our recruitment days on the 23rd and 28th September next door at the Hampton Hill Theatre.”

James added: “We’re a people business and good customer contact and a desire to be helpful and friendly are skills born out of confident, valued, happy, well-trained teams who are always trying to be the best they can be. We’re looking for people with flair, who enjoy life and understand how to ensure our guests enjoy theirs too. We have multiple opportunities - craft-based or working in one of the support functions ranging from Management, Front of House and Bar teams to Chefs and kitchen support roles.”

The pub group, which employs just over 1,000 people, offers an Apprenticeship scheme, and HR Director, Jill Scatchard, urges those who are looking for an alternative to working in an office to consider the hospitality industry as a career choice. She explained: “If you enjoy working in a team – but dislike the idea of working 9-5 or you want to develop a range of skills that will guarantee you employment almost anywhere in the world, then an Apprenticeship with our company is worth considering.”

She added: “I think jobseekers will be surprised when they hear what a job with Oakman means and why we are in the Top 20 of the Sunday Times 100 Best UK Companies to Work For and secured a Best Companies 3 Star “extraordinary” accreditation which recognises the highest standard of workplace engagement. We’ve received many awards for our bespoke Career Development and Training Programme and the fact that we provide attractive rewards and benefits as well as career guidance to each individual means that every one of our growing team is encouraged to progress in a role best suited to them and can take responsibility should they wish to.”

James Bird, who has worked for Oakman Inns for five years, said: “Oakman Inns is a great company to work for and when I started I really didn’t think I had much of a future. But they’ve helped me to develop an enormous number of skills and are giving me a rewarding career that will stand me in good stead for the rest of my life. There aren’t many people of my age who manage £million budgets, have responsibility for the welfare of dozens of staff whilst ensuring that all their customers are having a truly enjoyable experience. Oakman has given me that.”

When it re-opens in mid-November, The Beech House in Hampton Hill will become Oakman Inns’ 25th venue.

Recruitment days are: Sunday 23rd September and Friday 28th September from 10am to 6pm - Hampton Hill Theatre, 90 High St, Hampton Hill, Hampton TW12 1NZ