Chef

National Trust; Royal Tunbridge Wells; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Substantial pension up to 10%

Free entry to National Trust places

Season ticket loan

Rental deposit loan

EV car lease scheme

Discounts (gym, shopping, cinema)

Holiday allowance up to 32 days

Flexible working when possible

Employee assistance programme

Free parking at most Trust places

Job summary

Scotney Castle, part of the National Trust, is seeking a professional chef to join a small, friendly kitchen team. You will prepare and serve freshly made seasonal dishes from scratch, following the National Trust Cookbook, and ensure high standards of food hygiene for visitors.

Working hours are typically 9am to 5pm, 37.5 hours per week, with monthly rotas in a permanent role. An immediate start may be possible, and interviews are planned for early November at Scotney Castle in Tunbridge Wells.

Qualifications

• Experienced as a professional chef or cook, with a passion for food and a friendly and positive attitude.
• Confident about following recipes and batch-cooking, and willing to learn.
• Aware of health and safety compliance.
• Happy working within a team, and good at communicating with people.

Responsibilities

• Kitchen focus: work within our National Trust Cookbook to prepare delicious food from scratch using fresh, seasonal ingredients.
• Food will be served directly to visitors.
• Help to build a great place to work by showing empathy and supporting team members.
• Maintain high standards of food hygiene and COSHH procedures.

Skills

Professional chef

Teamwork

Batch cooking

Food safety

Job description

Summary

Looking for a chef role without late nights or split shifts? Join our team at Scotney Castle, where you'll prepare and serve freshly made seasonal dishes, soups, cakes, sandwiches and light lunches, alongside carefully selected bought-in products in a friendly, supportive kitchen. Working alongside two other chefs, you'll play a key role in delivering quality food for our visitors while enjoying a healthy work-life balance, with typical hours of 9am to 5pm and monthly planned rotas. Because we are in a rural area, please think about how you’d be able to get here for work, before applying for the job.

Benefits

We want to help you look after the things that matter to you, such as saving for your future, getting a discount on your weekly shop, or encouraging you to find a work-life balance. Please read our package, below, to see what benefits we offer you.

Hours

37.5 hours per week

Salary

£27,612 per annum

Duration

Permanent

Interview date

4th, 5th and 6th of November, but can be flexible to accommodate candidates' availability

Potential start date

Flexible, could accommodate an immediate start.

What it's like to work here

Scotney Castle is one of the National Trust's most loved places, with its romantic moated castle, beautiful gardens and stunning estate attracting visitors throughout the year. As part of our food and beverage team, you'll play an important role in helping people make the most of their day, serving freshly prepared food in a unique setting that connects people with nature, beauty and history.

Working here means being part of a supportive team that cares about creating memorable experiences for everyone who visits. You'll work closely with colleagues and volunteers, sharing ideas, developing your skills and taking pride in delivering high quality food made with care.

At the National Trust, we're passionate about looking after special places for ever, for everyone. Whether you're preparing dishes for a busy lunchtime service or helping develop seasonal menus, you'll know that your work contributes to something bigger, helping us generate the income that supports the conservation of Scotney Castle and the wider work of the Trust. Life at the National Trust is built on collaboration, belonging and a shared sense of purpose, giving you the opportunity to grow while making a meaningful difference every day.

What You'll Be Doing

Your main focus is the kitchen, a busy and creative hub. You’ll be working within the framework of our "National Trust Cookbook" to prepare delicious food from scratch using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Your food will be served directly to visitors.

You’ll help to build a great place to work, which includes showing empathy and giving support to team members when needed. The aim is to foster a positive spirit where everyone is focussed on giving the best possible service to visitors.

By maintaining high standards of food hygiene and COSHH procedures, you’ll minimise risks to visitors, staff and contractors.

We’ll give you an induction that fits the job, and training in allergens and food safety, plus any mentoring needed to help you in your role. You can sign up for further professional training and development if you wish.

Who We're Looking For

• Experienced as a professional chef or cook, with a passion for food and a friendly and positive attitude.
• Confident about following recipes and batch-cooking, and willing to learn.
• Aware of health and safety compliance.
• Happy working within a team, and good at communicating with people.

The package

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places

National Trust place

Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 8JN

Documents

Chef - B.pdf

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Closing Date

1st November 2026

Equal Opportunities Statement

The National Trust celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a fair and equal society, free from discrimination. You can read more about our commitment to inclusion and diversity here.

Safeguarding Statement

The National Trust is committed to a safe recruitment processes to help the organisation attract and appoint the right staff/volunteer for the role and responsibilities as set out in the vacancy advert. We will not accept applicants who are not suitable to work with children, young people or adults at risk. If you have any questions around your suitability for this vacancy, please contact the people service centre.