The Caterpillar Club is seeking a Venue Manager to lead one of Sydney’s most distinctive late-night venues, built on live music, premium drinks and late-night energy. This role is ideal for a hands-on hospitality leader with strong beverage knowledge, experience in nightlife or entertainment-led venues, and a passion for building high-performing teams and memorable guest experiences.
Swillhouse is an independent hospitality group creating venues with distinct identities and lasting relevance. Across restaurants, bars and late-night music rooms, each space is shaped by craft, atmosphere and a deep attention to detail.
Our venues are only as strong as the people behind them. We care about how the work is done — leadership that’s present, standards that matter, and teams who take pride in their role and the experience they deliver every day.
The Caterpillar Club is Sydney’s underground bar built on sound, energy, and staying up to catch the final set. Live bands take the stage and DJs spin till close, no laptops, no autoplay, just records and the people who know how to play them. Caterpillar Club is a temple for crate diggers, soul lovers, and late-night dancers – a sunset to late-night scene that welcomes all.
About the Role
Reporting directly to the General Manager, you will lead one of Sydney’s most distinctive late-night venues, balancing exceptional hospitality, premium beverage experiences and the unique operational demands of live entertainment and late-night trade.
- Leading the venue end-to-end, setting the tone for service, culture and performance
- Being present on the floor, driving service standards and guest experience during peak periods and late-night service
- Overseeing beverage performance, supporting product direction and maintaining exceptional standards across cocktails, spirits, wine and drinks service
- Supporting the delivery of exceptional live entertainment experiences, working closely with venue and music programming teams
- Building, mentoring and leading a high-performing team, with a focus on accountability and development
- Maintaining strong operational systems, processes and compliance across the venue
About You
You’re a hands-on venue leader with strong operational foundations and a genuine depth of knowledge across cocktails, spirits and drinks-led service.
- Proven experience leading premium, high-volume bars, nightlife venues or entertainment-led hospitality operations
- A strong beverage background with deep knowledge across cocktails, spirits and wine
- Experience operating within fast-paced late-night environments
- The ability to build, inspire and hold teams to a high standard
- Strong commercial acumen, with a clear understanding of cost control and performance drivers
- High attention to detail across both product and service
- A calm, grounded leadership presence with strong emotional intelligence
- A genuine passion for hospitality, music, nightlife culture and delivering memorable guest experiences
Why Join Us
- Be part of a high-performing hospitality group where venues have distinct identities
- Ongoing learning through regular venue trainings, masterclasses and group-wide development sessions
- A strong commitment to physical and psychological safety, with clear pathways to speak up and be supported
- Access to 24/7 confidential wellbeing support through Sonder, including mental health, medical and safety services
- Generous staff discounts across Swillhouse venues for all team members
- Access to lifestyle and wellbeing partnerships, including fitness, recovery, and workwear discounts
Next Steps
If this sounds like the right fit, we’d love to hear from you! Apply now and be part of a group that takes hospitality and its people seriously.
