Café Assistant

We are looking for Café Assistants to join our team in our purpose-built café in Wimbledon to assist with the preparation and serving of food and drink and welcoming customers to Polka.

Could Polka be looking for you?

• Are passionate about food and delivering excellent customer service.
• Would like to work for a pioneering national theatre for children.
• Are available during the weekends and some weekdays for casual work.

What would you be doing?
You will work, with enthusiasm and energy alongside our Café Chef / Manager in our purpose-built cafe in Wimbledon. Our unique cafe is part of Polka Theatre, which is a registered charity, with any profit going back into the charity’s work. You will be one of the first staff members people see when they visit Polka so, as well as preparing and serving food and making drinks, the role will involve lots of face-to-face communication, answering queries and helping people in a positive way.

We want to help people achieve their potential while working at Polka. We prioritise our mental health and the culture of working at Polka by having regular team days to share and learn from each other and a range of social events. We invest in our people through training opportunities which help us learn and understand more about working together.

Hours:  you need to be available to work weekends with some weekday shifts. Polka Theatre is open Tuesday to Sunday each week and hours are worked according to the needs of the theatre’s venue and performance and schedule and, therefore, no minimum weekly hours. are guaranteed. Schedules are completed two weeks in advance and shift length may vary slightly depending on the length of the performance.

For a Recruitment Pack with more information about who we are and what we’re looking for in this role plus how to apply please visit our website. https://polkatheatre.com/jobs/ We accept audio/video file if you prefer.

Deadline for applications: Monday 27 July 9am

Interviews: week commencing 3 August 2026

Ideal start date: in Aug/ Sep

Polka Theatre is a pioneering and unique children’s theatre venue, staging exceptional productions and developing industry-leading Creative Learning experiences which are accessible for all children to enjoy. In 2024 we won the UK Theatre Award for Most Welcoming Theatre, as well as Merton Best Business. In 2025 we received our first Olivier Award nomination!

Polka’s commitment as an equal opportunities employer means we are keen to encourage applications from people of colour, people across the gender spectrum and people who self-identify as disabled, who are underrepresented in our sector.

Polka is funded by Arts Council England. Registered charity number 256979.