Front of House Supervisor
Also advertised as: Floor Supervisor, Front of House Supervisor, Front of House Team Leader, Head Waiter/Waitress, Restaurant Supervisor, Service Supervisor
Leads the waiting and reception team to deliver a smooth guest experience.
What the job involves
Front of house supervisors organise table bookings, manage waiting staff during service and step in when guests need extra attention. You train new starters, resolve minor complaints on the spot and keep the pace of service consistent even when it is busy. It is usually the first supervisory step for people who started as waiting staff.
Typical responsibilities
- Supervise waiting and reception staff during service
- Manage table bookings and seating plans
- Train new front of house staff
- Resolve guest complaints on the floor
- Support the manager with rotas and stock checks
Common employers
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Pub groups
- Event venues
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£21,000 – £24,000 a year
With experience
£25,000 – £30,000 a year
Typical hours
Shift work including evenings and weekends
Working environment
Restaurant or hotel floor, on your feet
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
steady
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Customer service
- Team coordination
- Multitasking
- Conflict resolution
- Booking systems
Transferable skills you may already have
- Waiting or bar experience
- Working under pressure
- Team communication
Requirements employers ask for
- Customer service
- Team coordination
- Multitasking
- Conflict resolution
- Booking systems
- GCSEs including maths and English
- Level 2 Food Safety
- Level 2 Food Safety
Useful but not essential
- Waiting or bar experience
- Working under pressure
- Team communication
- Personal Licence for venues serving alcohol
Helpful qualifications
- Personal Licence for venues serving alcohol
Licences and checks
- Level 2 Food Safety
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Hospitality Team Member (Level 2)
- Hospitality Supervisor (Level 3)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Hospitality and catering
Where this career can lead
next
Restaurant Manager
next
Assistant General Manager
next
Hotel Duty Manager
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Quick step up from waiting roles
- Sociable, fast-paced work
- Clear next step into management
What people find hard
- Evening and weekend work is standard
- On your feet for full shifts
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a front of house supervisor?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a front of house supervisor earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £21,000 to £24,000 a year, rising towards £30,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Waiting or bar experience, Working under pressure, Team communication.
Related careers
Bar and Waiting Staff
Serves food and drink, looks after guests and keeps service running smoothly.
Chef
Prepares and cooks food to standard, and helps run the kitchen section.
Hotel Manager
Runs a hotel: guest experience, staff, revenue, standards and budgets.
Events Coordinator
Plans and delivers events, from logistics and suppliers to the day itself.
Restaurant Manager
Runs the daily operation of a restaurant, from staffing to customer experience and profit.
Sous Chef
Deputises for the head chef, running sections of the kitchen and supervising chefs.
Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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