What is the greatest difficulty when trying to get hired in the UK hospitality?

The most common obstacle is usually the presentation of soft skills (such as Flexibility and Adaptability) and proving the actual status of the Right to Work in the UK. It is important to optimize your CV to fit the employer in terms of their specific needs including the exact keywords in order to beat ATS filtering.

Do I require Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate?

In the majority of Food and Beverage (F&B) and Catering Experience positions (Back of House, some Front of House), it is strongly suggested, because it demonstrates that you have adhered to the UK Food Safety / Hygiene regulations and saved the employer time in training.

Is application in London or regional city better?

London has the greatest amount of positions (particularly Luxury Hotel and Fine Dining) but other regional cities, such as Manchester and Edinburgh, have good demand with lower cost of living. Compare by searching based on geo-targeted keywords (e.g., "Sous Chef Manchester") and comparing.

How to Apply for Hospitality Jobs in the UK

The UK’s hospitality sector is a powerhouse, contributing billions to the economy and employing 2.7 million people as of mid-2025. It’s a dynamic and resilient industry, but securing your ideal role—from a Front of House position in London to a Chef de Partie role in Manchester—requires a highly tailored and strategic approach.

Your UK Hospitality Job Search

Do you find it hard to attract the attention of the best hotel, restaurant or pub in the UK? It does not matter what you know but the way you put it across. Customer service and flexibility are the two key elements in a market that prioritizes these two essential hospitality skills, which means that your application needs to demonstrate these competencies instantly.

Target Right UK Hospitality Roles

An effective job hunt starts with specificity. Target specific, high-demand areas, and use the exact terminology that the employers are searching.

In-Demand UK Hospitality Roles (2025)

According to the current market tendencies, the high demand continues in the following regions, particularly in such major regional cities as London, Edinburgh, and Manchester:

Culinary: Chef positions (Sous Chef, Chef de Partie) are also always sought after because of an industry shortage that has gained publicity.1
Front-of-House (FOH) and Management: Skilled Front of House Team Members, experienced Restaurant Manager, and Duty Manager will be essential in upholding the quality of service delivery.
Niche Services: Specialised and talented Mixologist/Bartender service especially in the luxury hotel and high volume bar.
Back-of-House (BOH): Catering and Housekeeping Assistants: The work-horse of the hotel and contract catering.

Navigate Visas and UK-Specific Compliance

In the case of foreign applicants, the compliance is an uncompromising procedure that defines your Right to Work in the UK.

Immigration and Compliance Checklist

Right to Work: This has to be proven during the application or interview process. In case of sponsored jobs, look up companies that have a Sponsor Licence.
DBS Check: A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check (a UK criminal record check) will be needed in positions that involve children, vulnerable adults, and control of sensitive situations.
Qualifications: State any applicable UK qualifications such as an NVQ or Apprenticeship in either catering or hospitality.3 Managerial positions, a Hospitality Management Degree is a good thing to have.
Licensing: You need or must have a Personal Alcohol Licence, should you be seeking an employment in the management of a pub or a bar.

Learn the Interview in the Hospitality

It is in the interview that you demonstrate your people skills and proactive position.

STAR Method Behavioural Question Method

The STAR technique is extensively used to determine your performance in the past and predict future performance by UK recruiters:

Situation: Establish the scene (founded e.g.: A customer has complained loudly about their food being cold in a very busy Saturday night service).
Task: Tell me what you wanted to achieve (e.g. My task was to solve the conflict quickly and make sure that the customer left leaving).
Action: Explain what you had done ( e.g. I apologised as soon as possible, took the dish away and offered a free drink in replacement and some priority re-order ).
Result: Provide the good outcome (e.g. the customer got disarmed, complimented my Problem-Solving skills, left a 5 stars review where they talked about my Attention to Detail)

Visuals & Engagement

Memorize your responses, smile, look in the eyes, and show the welcoming and outgoing behavior which is characteristic of great hospitality.

Use Top UK Job Boards/Networking

Although the use of the major job sites is efficient, niche industry boards and direct company career pages can prove to be more efficient.

Niche Sites: Caterer.com, Hospitality Jobs UK.
Direct Approach: Find large hotel chains (ex: IHG, Marriott, Whitbread) and trends in restaurant chains; Sponsored Job opportunities are usually the first listed on their career sites.
Networking: Go to LinkedIn and search Hospitality Recruiter UK or Talent Acquisition Specialist at the companies of your interest.

Pass the Trial Shift and Follow Up

In a lot of hospitality work within the UK, you may also be required to do a short and unpaid or paid trial shift to see how you handle when under pressure.

Trial Shift Focus: Teamwork, Adherence to Health and Safety, and Initiative: Find tasks without being required to demonstrate that you are able to work independently.
Follow-Up: Within 24 hours, send a professionalized, personalized, Thank You email. Restatement of your enthusiasm and mentioning a particular positive experience or activity during your trial shift is a good display of Communication Skills and Attention to Detail.

FAQs

What is the greatest difficulty when trying to get hired in the UK hospitality?

The most common obstacle is usually the presentation of soft skills (such as Flexibility and Adaptability) and proving the actual status of the Right to Work in the UK. It is important to optimize your CV to fit the employer in terms of their specific needs including the exact keywords in order to beat ATS filtering.
Do I require Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate?

In the majority of Food and Beverage (F&B) and Catering Experience positions (Back of House, some Front of House), it is strongly suggested, because it demonstrates that you have adhered to the UK Food Safety / Hygiene regulations and saved the employer time in training.
Is application in London or regional city better?

London has the greatest amount of positions (particularly Luxury Hotel and Fine Dining) but other regional cities, such as Manchester and Edinburgh, have good demand with lower cost of living. Compare by searching based on geo-targeted keywords (e.g., “Sous Chef Manchester”) and comparing.

Final Thoughts

With the hospitality industry being a diverse, fast-paced, and rewarding career path, working on the ATS-Friendly formatting, mastering the NLP keywords that recruiters search, and beginning your next role with your true passion to Customer Service and Teamwork, you will easily outperform the rest of the competition and make a new job. The best competitive advantage that you have is your hard work in preparation of the UK application process.

Dynamic Disclaimer

This job information is shared for educational and informational purposes only. The UK job market and immigration rules are subject to frequent change. Please verify all job details, salary expectations, and visa requirements directly from the official employer or UK government website before applying.