Deli Chef

Houston & Hawkes; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Birthday off

Enhanced parental leave

Free meals on duty

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

CODE Hospitality membership

Foodie Socials

Career progression

Christmas party

Job summary

Houston & Hawkes in London is seeking a Commis Chef to join a prestigious client site. You will learn from an experienced kitchen team, develop foundations, and gain hands-on experience across both retail food and fine dining hospitality.

This role is ideal for someone with real potential, curiosity, and passion for food who wants to build a long-term career as a chef while working Monday to Friday and earning £32,000 per year.

Qualifications

• Some professional kitchen experience or relevant culinary training.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with experienced chefs to learn techniques and professional standards.
• Prepare fresh ingredients and support high-quality dishes from scratch.
• Gain hands-on experience across retail and fine dining hospitality.
• Support preparation and delivery of seasonal dishes and menus.
• Learn about presentation, flavour, consistency and attention to detail.
• Develop knife skills and cooking methods.
• Maintain a clean, organised kitchen and follow safety standards.

Skills

Kitchen experience

Culinary training

Ambition to grow

Curiosity to learn

Job description

COMMIS CHEF

Houston & Hawkes | London | £32,000 per annum | Monday to Friday

A brilliant first step for a talented chef who is serious about building an exceptional career in food.

Houston & Hawkes is looking for an ambitious Commis Chef to join one of our prestigious London client sites. Working alongside an experienced and talented chef, you’ll have the opportunity to learn every day, develop strong foundations and gain valuable experience across both vibrant retail food and refined fine dining hospitality.

This is more than simply a Commis Chef position. It’s an opportunity for someone with real potential, curiosity and passion to learn from an experienced kitchen team, develop their technique and begin building a career they can be proud of. You’ll work with fresh ingredients, learn different styles of service and be encouraged to grow your confidence, creativity and skills.

THE ROLE

• Work closely with experienced chefs, learning strong kitchen techniques and professional standards
• Prepare fresh ingredients and support the production of high-quality dishes from scratch
• Gain hands-on experience across both retail food and fine dining hospitality
• Support the preparation and delivery of seasonal dishes, working lunches and hospitality menus
• Learn about presentation, flavour, consistency and the detail behind exceptional food
• Develop your knife skills, preparation techniques and understanding of different cooking methods
• Support the kitchen team throughout preparation and service
• Help with stock rotation, deliveries and keeping ingredients organised correctlyTake pride in maintaining a clean, organised and professional kitchen
• Learn and follow excellent food safety, allergen, hygiene and health and safety standards

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• Some professional kitchen experience or relevant culinary training
• A genuine ambition to build a long-term career as a chef
• A real passion for food and a strong desire to learn
• Curiosity, enthusiasm and an interest in developing new techniques and skills
• A positive attitude and willingness to listen, learn and take feedback
• Good basic kitchen skills and an understanding of professional kitchen standards
• A strong work ethic and pride in doing things properly
• Good organisation, reliability and attention to detail
• A team-focused approach and the confidence to ask questions and keep developing
• An interest in both modern retail food and fine dining hospitality

WHY JOIN HOUSTON & HAWKES?

• £32,000 per annum
• Monday to Friday
• The opportunity to learn directly from an experienced chef and talented kitchen team
• Excellent exposure to both retail and fine dining hospitality
• A supportive environment where your development and progression genuinely matter
• Birthday off every year
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Free meals on duty
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• CODE Hospitality membership
• Foodie Socials bringing our chefs together to explore new flavours, techniques and ideas
• Ongoing learning, development and genuine career progression
• Summer Awards Party celebrating our people and achievements
• An unforgettable Christmas Party at one of London’s outstanding venues

ABOUT HOUSTON & HAWKES

Houston & Hawkes is an award-winning independent caterer creating vibrant, creative and exceptional food and hospitality experiences across some of the UK’s most prestigious client sites.

We’re a Certified B Corp, recipient of the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development 2026 and proud to be ranked No. 14 in The Caterer’s Best Places to Work in Hospitality.

If you are serious about becoming a great chef and want the training, experience and support to build an exciting career, we would love to hear from you.