Cook

National Trust; West Horsley; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 10%

Free entry to National Trust places

Season ticket loan

EV car lease

Discounts (gym/shopping/cinema)

Holiday allowance 32 days

Flexible working

Employee assistance programme

Free parking

Job summary

The National Trust is seeking a Cook to join our rural kitchens, preparing fresh, seasonal dishes from scratch and serving them to visitors.

Working within the National Trust Cookbook framework, you’ll measure and mix ingredients, assist with deliveries, and keep the kitchen clean to meet health and safety standards. A online assessment replaces a CV, and the potential start date is 11th October 2026 or earlier; hours are 9:00–15:30/16:00 with shifts including weekends.

Qualifications

• Eligibility to work in the UK

Responsibilities

• Prepare and present delicious food from scratch using fresh, seasonal ingredients.
• Food will be served directly to visitors.
• Follow the National Trust Cookbook framework, measure and mix ingredients.
• Help with deliveries and keep the kitchen clean to stay compliant with health and safety regulations.

Job description

Summary

Do you have a passion for food? The National Trust is renowned for its food and hospitality. We run 185 cafes all over England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and we'd love you to be a part of it.

We’re looking for a Cook to join us. 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

This is a zero-hour contract, meaning wecan’tguarantee a set number of hours each week. While we aim to provide a consistent work pattern, flexibility is needed as schedules may change based on business needs. We’lltry to give as much notice as possible. The role includes weekends and Bank Holidays but does not require evening or split shifts. A cook's shifts is typically 9/10am to 15:30/16:00pm. Working days will differ, but shifts can fall on any day of the week, including weekends.

Salary

£13.25 per hour

Duration

1 year fixed term with the option to extend

Interview date

To be agreed with the candidate

Potential start date

11th October 2026 or earlier

If you have a passion for cooking we want to hear from you. Experience is not essential

For this role, you’ll need to complete our online assessment instead of using a C.V. or online application form. This will help us understand more about your strengths and give you more information on the role.

What It's Like To Work Here

To find out more about what it’s like to work in a food and beverage team for the National Trust, click here to watch our video.

What You'll Be Doing

As a Cook, your focus will be in the kitchen, helping to prepare and present delicious food from scratch using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Your food will be served directly to visitors.

Using the framework of our ‘National Trust Cookbook’, you’ll prepare, measure and mix ingredients. You’ll help with deliveries and with keeping the kitchen clean, to be compliant with health and safety legislation and to make sure that service runs smoothly.

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

• someone who loves good food and has a friendly and positive attitude.
• confident about following recipes and batch-cooking, and willing to learn.
• aware of health and safety compliance.

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.

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.

• 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

Hatchlands Park, East Clandon, Guildford, GU4 7RT

Documents

Cook - Career Level A2.pdf

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Closing Date

20th September 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.