Chef – Carvery

British Garden Centres; Hitchin; Hybrid; GBP 17,000 - 21,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

No evenings/unsociable hours

Family business security

Negotiable pay rate

Closed holidays

50% meal discount

20% store discount

Job summary

British Garden Centres is seeking a part‑time chef to join our kitchen at Hitchin. You will prepare and serve carvery meals, manage deliveries, and ensure dishes are produced quickly to a high standard. The role requires flexibility with weekends and a strong focus on hygiene and safety.

The ideal candidate has carvery experience, can multitask in a busy kitchen, and is reliable and professional. We offer a supportive family‑run environment with a 20‑hour week, weekend flexibility, and staff

Qualifications

• Experience of working in a busy kitchen.
• Knowledge of HACCP and food hygiene standards.
• Ability to manage multiple orders and stay calm under pressure.
• Creative with dishes while following specs.

Responsibilities

• Preparing and serving on the carvery.
• Taking deliveries and food preparation.
• Producing specials and presenting high‑quality dishes.
• Monitor portion sizes and minimise waste.

Skills

Busy kitchen experience

Carvery cooking

HACCP knowledge

Multitasking

Time management

Calm under pressure

Food hygiene level 2

Professionalism

Job description

Location: Hitchin

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Part Time

Hours per Week: 20 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.

We are looking for a skilledChef to prepare delicious meals according to the menu. You will cook dishes that will delight our customers with their taste and timely delivery. Preparing and serving on the carvery.

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:

• Preparing and serving on the carvery
• 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 – Thursday 3rd September 2026