The Headland in Newquay is hiring a witch for Halloween

Fancy a job that runs on cackling rather than qualifications? A clifftop hotel in Newquay is putting out one of the more unusual vacancies Cornwall will see this year, and the only interview is a phone video.

A cackle that carries down the corridor

The Headland is searching for a suitably wicked performer to haunt its halls throughout October half-term, as Restaurant RenMor runs its annual Wickedly Witchy Afternoon Brew. The Halloween-themed afternoon tea has become a fixture at the hotel, leaning into its unlikely history as a film set. Whoever gets the job will spend the school holiday swooping through the hotel’s public areas, delighting the children who spot them and giving their parents a friendly fright along the way.

The contract runs from 16 October to 2 November, with the possibility of an earlier appearance at the start of the month. Costume is provided, mask and cape included, so anyone tempted without a wardrobe to match need only bring the voice for it.

The hotel that already knows witches

The Grade II-listed Victorian building overlooking Fistral Beach in Newquay has form for this sort of thing. It served as the principal filming location for the 1990 adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches, starring Anjelica Huston, which arguably makes it the most qualified building in Britain to host one now.

Veryan Palmer, Family Director at The Headland, said the role needs more than a costume. “We take our Afternoon Tea very seriously at The Headland, which is exactly why it needs a witch. We’re looking for someone with real theatrical flair, a cackle that carries down the corridor and the confidence to charm children and unsettle their parents in equal measure.”

How to apply, no CV required

There is no application form and no CV to write. Anyone who fancies their chances should send a 30-second video of their spookiest performance to [email protected]. Whoever makes the hotel’s team jump gets the job. The full job advert has the details, and the Wickedly Witchy Afternoon Brew itself runs from 16 October to 1 November in Restaurant RenMor, with booking details on the hotel’s website.