Chef

British Garden Centres; Whetsted; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

No evening work

Year-round operation

Meal discount 50%

Store discount 20%

Leisure Park discounts

Job summary

British Garden Centres is seeking a Chef to prepare meals to menu standards in a busy kitchen at one of its centres. The role requires flexibility with weekends and the ability to multi-task while maintaining quality and speed.

The successful candidate will have kitchen experience, carvery knowledge, HACCP awareness, and good time management. A supportive, family-run environment with career growth within the group is offered.

Qualifications

• Experience in a busy kitchen.
• Creative with dishes and able to follow specs.
• Carvery experience is an advantage.
• Knowledge of HACCP principles.
• Able to manage multiple orders simultaneously.
• Professional and reliable team member.
• Remains calm under pressure during busy periods.
• Good time management skills.
• Level 2 basic food hygiene is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Take deliveries.
• Prepare and cook food to a high standard.
• Produce daily specials and menu items.
• Prepare, cook, and present food quickly and efficiently.
• Monitor portion sizes and minimize waste.

Skills

Kitchen experience

Creativity in cooking

Carvery experience

HACCP knowledge

Multi-order management

Professionalism

Calm under pressure

Time management

Food hygiene level 2

Job description

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.

We are looking for a skilled 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 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. Flexible with weekends and able to do over time.

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.

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.

Skills needed

• Experience of working in a busy kitchen.
• Creative at making dishes but also able to work to specs.
• Experience of cooking carvery is an advantage.
• Knowledge of HACCP.
• Able to manage multiple orders.
• Professionalism and reliability.
• Remain calm under pressure.
• Good time management.
• Level 2 basic food hygiene is an advantage.

Duties include

• The taking of deliveries.
• Food preparation.
• Producing specials.
• Prepare, cook, and present food quickly and efficiently to a high standard.
• Monitor portion size and waste.

Applications close –Wednesday 25th November 2026