2nd Chef

British Garden Centres; Haxby; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

50% meal discount at BGC restaurants

20% discount at BGC stores

Discounts at Leisure Park

Job summary

British Garden Centres is seeking a skilled 2nd Chef to prepare meals to menu standards and ensure timely delivery. You will work in a fast-paced kitchen with a focus on carvery, allergens, and portion control, while maintaining cleanliness and food safety.

The role offers 35 hours per week, full-time, including weekends, in a well-established family business with 50% meal discount and employee benefits. Applications close soon.

Qualifications

• Experience in a commercial catering environment.
• Knowledge of carvery and scale of meat portions.
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.
• Knowledge of HACCP and allergen controls.
• Understanding of meat weights and portion control.
• Professionalism and reliability under pressure.
• Ability to stay calm and manage time effectively.
• Basic food hygiene Level 2 qualification.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook and present food quickly and to a high standard.
• Work safely around kitchen equipment and maintain hygiene.
• Maintain food orders and stock levels.
• Keep kitchen clean, hygienic and tidy at all times.
• Monitor portion sizes and waste; assist in carvery preparation and cleaning.
• Complete relevant paperwork and records as required.

Skills

Commercial catering experience

Knowledge of carvery

Teamwork & communication

HACCP

Allergen controls

Meat weights & portion control

Calm under pressure

Time management

Food hygiene Level 2

Job description

Location: Irton

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Full Time

Hours per Week: 35 Hours per Week Including Weekends

About Us

British Garden Centres is the UK’s largest family owned garden centre group, with 80 centres nationwide. Founded by the Stubbs family, the business has grown rapidly through significant expansion and acquisitions, evolving from its first site at Woodthorpe Garden Centre into a national brand.

The group now includes garden centres, restaurants, nurseries and distribution centres, employing more than 3,500 colleagues across the UK. Despite its scale, British Garden Centres maintains strong family values, a community focus, and a commitment to providing a welcoming and supportive environment for both customers and employees

At British Garden Centres not only do we aim to deliver a great experience in our centres, but we go above and beyond in creating an exceptional dining Experience too.

We are looking for a skilled 2nd Chef to prepare delicious meals according to the menu. You will cook dishes that will delight our customers with their taste and timely delivery.

An excellent 2nd Chef must be able to follow instructions in cooking and delivering well-prepared meals. They must be deft in moving around the kitchen and apt in multi-tasking. Experience in using various ingredients and cooking techniques is also important.

The goal is to help preserve and enhance our reputation so we can expand our clientele.

If you are looking for a role where you are given the opportunity to take pride in your work, where you can create your own ideas for specials and home baking, then we would love to hear from you.

Skills needed:

• Experience of working in a commercial catering environment
• Knowledge of carvery
• Excellent communication skills and able to work as part of a team.
• Knowledge of HACCP
• Knowledge of allergens, meat weights and portion control
• Professionalism and reliability.
• Remains calm under pressure
• Good time management
• Level 2 basic food hygiene

Duties include:

• Prepare, cook, and present food quickly and efficiently to a high standard.
• Work safely around the kitchen equipment.
• Maintain accurate food ordering and stock levels.
• Assist in keeping the kitchen clean, hygienic, and tidy at all times.
• Monitor portion size and waste.
• Preparation of carvery.
• Cleaning of carvery.
• Completing relevant paperwork & records as required.

What we offer:

No evening work, split shifts or unsociable hours, year-round business.

Security of working in a well-established expanding family business.

Rate of pay negotiable, dependent upon skills and experience.

Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day & Easter Sunday

50% meal discount at any BGC restaurant & 20% discount at any BGC store, discount rates available at our Leisure Park.

Applications close – Tuesday 20th October 2026

If your application is successful, someone from the management team will be in touch with you.