Events and Wine Club Manager

We are looking for an energetic, commercially minded and entrepreneurial Events & Wine Club Manager to help develop the next stage of Oastbrook’s events and hospitality business.

Oastbrook is an award-winning, family-owned vineyard and winery in the beautiful Rother Valley near Bodiam Castle. Alongside producing our own wines, we welcome visitors for vineyard tours and tastings, events and stays, giving us a unique setting in which to create memorable experiences.

The Opportunity

This is a varied, hands-on role with real scope to make an impact. You will take responsibility for developing our events business, focusing on private celebrations, corporate hospitality, wine dinners, tastings, vineyard experiences and our own programme of events. We also host occasional weddings and bespoke celebrations.

Alongside this, you will help grow and support the Oastbrook Wine Club, creating experiences for existing members while encouraging more visitors and customers to become long-term members and advocates.

You’ll work directly with the owners and have the freedom to develop new ideas, build relationships and identify opportunities to grow this part of the business.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Generate and convert new event enquiries
• Develop private events, corporate hospitality and vineyard experiences
• Create new event concepts, tastings and wine dinners
• Manage events from initial enquiry through to successful delivery
• Build relationships with businesses, event planners, tourism organisations and hospitality partners
• Grow Wine Club membership and convert more visitors and customers into members
• Look after existing members and develop exclusive events and experiences
• Encourage member referrals, retention and engagement
• Work with the owners on events and Wine Club marketing
• Ensure events are properly costed, well organised and commercially successful

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role will be measured by growth and customer experience.

We want to see:

• Increased event enquiries, bookings and revenue
• A strong pipeline of private and corporate events
• Successful new events and experiences that attract people to Oastbrook
• Growth in Wine Club membership
• Strong Wine Club member engagement and retention
• More repeat visits, referrals and long-term customer relationships
• Events that are well run, profitable and consistently receive positive feedback

Who We’re Looking For

• We’re less concerned about your exact background than your attitude, commercial instinct and ability to make things happen.
• You may come from events, hospitality, hotels, restaurants, visitor attractions, wine tourism or another premium customer-facing business – or perhaps you’ve run a business yourself.
• You’ll be proactive, creative, organised and hands-on. You’ll enjoy meeting people, building relationships and selling, while being comfortable taking ownership and working independently.
• You’ll understand the importance of balancing great hospitality with commercial success.
• Wine knowledge is an advantage but isn’t essential; we’ll help you develop your knowledge of Oastbrook and our wines.
• Some evening and weekend work will be required.
• This is an opportunity to have real influence within a small, ambitious independent business, working closely with the owners and seeing the direct results of your work.
• We’re looking for someone who wants to build something, not simply manage something.