Help bring Rathskellar to life.
Hidden beneath The Grove Hotel, something special is taking shape.
This fall, we’re opening Rathskellar 1854, a cocktail bar with old-world soul, modern edge, unforgettable hospitality, and a vibe you’ll want to come back for.
We’re creating the kind of place where one drink quietly turns into three.
Our Founding Lead Bartender is in place. Now we’re building the team around him.
We’re looking for an experienced Bartender who loves the craft, knows their way around a great cocktail, and understands that what happens across the bar matters just as much as what goes into the glass.
Someone who notices the details.
Someone who remembers names.
Someone who can handle a busy Friday night without losing their cool or their personality.
Most importantly, we’re looking for someone who genuinely enjoys hospitality and wants to be part of building Rathskellar from the very beginning.
About Rathskellar 1854
Rathskellar 1854 is more than a cocktail bar.
It’s a place built around conversation, craftsmanship, and connection.
Inspired by the history of The Grove Hotel and the tradition of hidden cellar taverns, Rathskellar blends timeless hospitality with a fresh perspective. Every detail has been intentionally considered, from the atmosphere and music to the cocktails and guest experience.
We’re not trying to be the busiest room in town. We’re working to become one of the most memorable.
The Opportunity
As a Bartender at Rathskellar 1854, you’ll work alongside our Founding Lead Bartender and be part of the team bringing the bar to life from opening day.
This is a hands-on hospitality role. You’ll prepare and serve classic and signature cocktails with consistency and care, get to know the people sitting across the bar, and help create the warm, polished and unpretentious service Rathskellar is being built around.
You’ll also be part of the work that happens before the first guest arrives and after the last one leaves: prep, opening and closing, restocking, organization, inventory support and keeping the bar exceptionally clean and ready for service.
We’re looking for an experienced bartender who can confidently handle the bar when our Founding Lead Bartender isn’t there, while also being comfortable taking direction, working collaboratively and contributing to the standards we’re establishing together.
What You’ll Help Build
Your role will include:
- Memorable guest experiences that keep people coming back
- Consistent, beautifully executed classic and signature cocktails
- A bar that is organized, polished and ready for service
- Strong opening, closing, prep and restocking routines
- Thoughtful standards for glassware, garnish and presentation
- A collaborative relationship between bartenders, servers and culinary
- Knowledge and enthusiasm around our cocktail, spirits, wine, beer and food programs
- A service culture that feels elevated without ever feeling stuffy
- The personality and culture of Rathskellar from day one
Who You Are
You might be the perfect fit if you:
- You have at least two years of professional bartending experience
- You have a solid understanding of classic cocktails, spirits and proper bartending techniques
- Cocktail-focused experience is strongly preferred
- You genuinely enjoy looking after people
- You’re comfortable behind a busy bar and know how to stay organized when things get moving
- You care about the details, even the ones guests may never consciously notice
- You’re dependable, accountable and comfortable working as part of a small team
- You’re curious and want to continue learning about cocktails, spirits, wine and hospitality
- You’re available to work evenings, weekends and holidaysYou hold a valid Smart Serve certification
Attitude, curiosity, and a genuine passion for hospitality matter just as much.
Bonus Points If You Have
- Experience in a cocktail-focused bar, upscale restaurant, winery or similar hospitality environment
- Experience opening a new restaurant or bar
- Wine, beer or spirits education or certifications
- Experience with inventory, bar prep and organization
- A genuine interest in cocktail history, technique and continued learning
What We Offer
- Part-time employment, with the potential for the role to evolve as Rathskellar grows
- Starting hourly wage plus participation in gratuities
- Compensation negotiable based on experience
- Training and continued development alongside our Founding Lead Bartender
- The opportunity to be part of a brand-new cocktail concept from opening day
- Opportunities to expand your cocktail, spirits, wine and hospitality knowledge
- Opportunities for growth within Rathskellar and The Grove Hospitality Group
- A supportive, collaborative environment where personality, initiative and great hospitality matter
About The Grove Hospitality Group
The Grove Hospitality Group is an independent, locally owned collection of hospitality experiences based in Kingsville and Colchester, Ontario.
We’re passionate about creating places people genuinely enjoy spending time in.
We believe hospitality should be memorable, genuine, and just a little unexpected.
We work hard.
We laugh often.
We care deeply about our guests and each other.
If that sounds like the kind of place you’d enjoy being part of, we’d love to hear from you.
How to Apply
Think you’d fit behind the bar at Rathskellar?
We’d love to hear from you.
Apply through Indeed or send your résumé and a brief introduction to [email protected].
Tell us a little about your bartending experience and why Rathskellar caught your attention.
Applications will be reviewed as they’re received. While only those selected for an interview will be contacted, we genuinely appreciate everyone who takes the time to apply.