Dominic Holmes

General Manager – Food & Beverage
Hilton Hull
(Marco Pierre White Restaurant & City Lounge Bar)

• Full operational responsibility for two high-profile outlets: Marco Pierre White Restaurant and City Lounge Bar, delivering premium guest experiences aligned with Hilton brand standards.
• Lead, manage, and develop a team of 20+ employees, including front-of-house, bar, and kitchen teams.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance management, building a high-performing and engaged workforce.
• Create and manage staff rotas, ensuring optimal labour deployment while controlling payroll costs and meeting business demands.
• Full accountability for payroll, labour budgeting, and cost control, ensuring financial targets and margins are achieved.
• Manage all day-to-day operations, ensuring service excellence, compliance, and smooth coordination between kitchen and service teams.
• Drive training and development programmes, ensuring consistent service standards, brand compliance, and team progression.
• Oversee financial performance, including revenue growth, cost control, forecasting, and KPI delivery.
• Ensure full compliance with health & safety, food hygiene, licensing, and Hilton corporate policies.
• Act as the primary point of contact between hotel leadership, brand partners, and operational teams.
• Lead guest experience strategy, handling feedback, resolving issues, and maintaining high customer satisfaction scores.
• Support menu execution, promotions, and events to maximise covers, average spend, and brand presence within the city.

Owner & Founder, Cincin Bar
Darwen, UK

I built Cincin from scratch, turning a hidden gem in the backstreets of Darwen into a buzzing local bar. The place wasn't established, and the location wasn't exactly easy to spot, but I was determined to make it work. I handled everything—from the renovations to running day-to-day operations—creating a welcoming spot where locals and visitors could come together.

Thanks to hard work, creative marketing, and a lot of passion, Cincin became a success. I managed to grow a loyal customer base and was able to use the success of the bar to buy my first home. The business is still doing great today, and I’m incredibly proud of how far it’s come.

Some highlights:

• Built and launched a bar in a challenging location, making it a local favorite.
• Ran all aspects of the business, including staff management, marketing, and customer service.
• Developed creative marketing strategies to attract and keep customers coming back.
• Achieved personal goals, like buying my first home, thanks to the business’s success.

Deputy Manager, Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza
York, UK

I was part of the team that opened the Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza store in York, taking the site from an empty building to a fully operational, busy restaurant. I was heavily involved from the very start—helping with the setup, furniture, and overall look of the space, right through to recruiting and training the team.

As Deputy Manager, I supported the day-to-day running of the restaurant, making sure service was smooth, standards were high, and the team felt supported. The opening was a huge success, and the store performed really well from launch, building a strong reputation locally.

Key responsibilities and achievements:

• Helped open a brand-new Rudy’s site from scratch.
• Involved in recruitment, onboarding, and training of staff.
• Supported daily operations, service, and shift management.
• Helped create a positive team culture in a fast-paced environment.
• Played a key role in a successful store launch and ongoing performance.

• Assisted in managing day-to-day operations and strategic planning
• Maintained high standards of customer service, managing staff and overseeing inventory control
• Organised promotional events that boosted customer numbers and overall venue reputation.
• Addressed customer issues with compassion and professionalism, ensuring swift, successful resolution.
• Monitored health and safety measures for guaranteed compliance.
• Coordinated hiring, recruitment and training strategies to build successful administrative team.

• Led operations, including staff management, customer service, and financial oversight
• Developed policies and procedures that improved service delivery and operational efficiency
• Managed comprehensive marketing strategies to enhance customer base.
• Resolved internal staff conflicts to mutual benefits of all parties involved.

• Supported the General Manager in all aspects of restaurant management
• Played a key role in staff training and managing inventory
• Coordinated events and promotions, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Carefully managed and recorded cash and credit transactions, diminishing financial discrepancies.
• Completed opening and closing procedures multiple times per week, completing reporting and security tasks.
• Oversaw daily operations of store, including inventory and supply restocking, cash-handling and assisting customers.

• Managed store inventory by directing routine stock control procedures to maximise sales opportunities.
• Greeted customers and offered assistance with selecting merchandise, finding accessories and completing purchases.
• Listened to customer needs and preferences to provide targeted advice, increasing sales opportunities.
• Worked energetically to maintain efficient operations during peak trading hours.
• Shelved and merchandised new products in visually appealing, organised displays to engage customers.
• Operated cash registers with accuracy and processed cash and card transactions.
• Followed company procedures and guidelines for smooth retail operations.