Assistant Head Sommelier

Set within a 375-acre estate on the banks of the River Tees, Rockliffe is a five-star resort that blends heritage, luxury and natural beauty. Located in the quiet village of Hurworth, in the heart of the Tees Valley and close to the borders of County Durham and North Yorkshire, it offers a peaceful countryside setting with exceptional facilities.

Surrounded by sweeping views and beautifully kept gardens, the resort features elegant bedrooms and a sense of quiet luxury, shaped by a warm northern spirit. Guests can enjoy an award-winning spa, play on the longest golf course in the UK and experience refined fine dining, all within a restored eighteenth century estate designed for both relaxation and indulgence.

Job Purpose:

Rockliffe is entering an exciting new chapter. Under the culinary direction of James and Maria Close, the resort is undergoing a major transformation, with ambitious new food and beverage concepts that will redefine the guest experience.

Alongside this transformation, we're creating a wine programme that we believe has the potential to become one of the most exciting and respected in the UK.

This isn't simply an opportunity to manage an established wine list. It's a chance to help build, shape and grow a programme from the ground up—working with exceptional wines, passionate people and a team that shares a genuine love for hospitality.

Day to day you will cover three very different venues; Rialto – our vibrant all-day Italian-American restaurant and the heart of the wine programme, with a particular focused on Italy and North America. Ro – a Japanese-inspired cocktail bar where wine, sake, premium spirits and beautifully crafted cocktails come together. The Morning Room – offering a refined take of the British afternoon tea experience with English sparkling wines and speciality teas. Every venue offers its own style of service, giving you the opportunity to develop across a broad range of hospitality experiences.

Key Responsibilities:

• Creating memorable guest experiences through genuine hospitality
• Recommending wines and building thoughtful food pairings
• Supporting service across all three venues
• Managing stock and cellar organisation (high level organisational skills are vital)
• Helping develop our wine lists
• Training and inspiring the wider front-of-house team
• Become an ambassador for our wine programme

Who We're Looking For:

Qualifications are important, but they're not what will get you this job. We're looking for someone with real passion. Someone who gets excited talking about wine. Someone who enjoys learning, teaching and making wine accessible to guests. Someone who understands that hospitality always comes before ego.

Ideally, you'll have:

• Experience in quality restaurants or luxury hospitality
• Strong wine and food pairing knowledge
• Excellent service standards and attention to detail
• The ability to remain calm and organised during busy service
• WSET Level 3, CMS Introductory or Certified, ASI Level 2 or equivalent (preferred, not essential)

Why Join?

To be part of a fantastic food and beverage team within a premium hospitality environment during an exciting period of transformation and growth.

Benefits:

• A Day in the Life of a Guest Stay (Overnight Stay within the First 6 Months)
• Pension Scheme (Aegon)
• Hospitality Rewards Scheme
• Life Assurance (Legal & General)
• Private Medical Insurance (WPA)
• Selected Discounts Across the Resort
• Enhanced Annual Leave for Long Service
• Annual Leave – 20 Days plus Bank Holidays
• Employee Assistance Programme (Hospitality Action)
• Staff Meals
• Uniform Laundry Service

“Our success is dependent on every single individual in our team”