Executive Chef

Auberge du Soleil; Amberley; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A luxury hotel in West Sussex is seeking an Executive Head Chef to lead its culinary operations at Amberley Castle. This role involves developing high-quality dining experiences, coaching the culinary team, and engaging with local suppliers. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record with 4 - 5 AA Rosettes or Michelin star quality. A competitive salary package and various perks such as staff discounts and development opportunities are offered.

Benefits

Great salary package and benefits

Retail and hospitality perks through Perkbox

25% off food & beverage in hotels

Excellent staff rates

Employee Assistance Programme

Free meals during duty

Unique development pathways

Milestone awards

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a high-level chef with 4 - 5 AA Rosettes or Michelin star standards.
• Strong passion for cooking and developing culinary skills in others.
• Ability to engage actively with the team and community.

Responsibilities

• Lead the culinary agenda for Amberley Castle and maintain high food quality.
• Develop and grow the hotel's culinary offerings from breakfast to celebratory meals.
• Collaborate with local communities and suppliers for quality produce.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Michelin star quality food

Coaching and mentorship

Team collaboration

Job description

Company Description

The Brownsword Group has created arguably the most iconic collection of historic countryside and city centre hotels, all wonderful properties set within beautiful grounds and cities, all with their own stories to share. Generosity, quality, and welcoming hospitality is what they do very well. Being exceptional hoteliers has been the core of the operation, creating a successful hospitality business.

Job Description

The Opportunity

A unique opportunity has arisen to leadAmberley Castlekitchen as Executive Head Chef.

Located in the picturesque village of Amberley in the beautiful West Sussex countryside, Amberley Castle is a unique luxury hotel steeped in over 900 years of history. With 4 AA red stars, 3 AA rosettes, and a member of Relais & Châteaux, Amberley Castle gives our team the chance to work in a castle with quality and style.

The kitchen and restaurant have continued to showcase excellence throughout the decades, both nationally and internationally. This is a rare opportunity for someone to be the custodian of Amberley Castles next culinary journey.

We are looking for an outstanding leader, an inspirational figure and culinary expert who has achieved 4 to 5 AA Rosettes; with inspired Michelin star quality food, with ability to coach and develop others to do the same.

Here are some key points about the role:

• Reporting to the General Manager, the incoming Executive Chef will have the opportunity to set the culinary agenda for the hotel, and to make sure our guests have an exceptional food experience, whether it is feasting fireside or celebrating in one of our dining rooms.
• We want to grow and develop our culinary offering, from breakfast through to afternoon tea and celebratory meals, so that flavour and fun are always guaranteed.
• The focus is on quality food and great experiences for our guests.
• We are blessed to be set in the picturesque West Sussex, surrounded by stunning local produce and regional suppliers, as well as having our own kitchen garden.

The type of individual we are seeking:

• An experienced and highly skilled chef , who can ideally cook to 4 - 5 AA Rosette and Michelin star standard.
• Someone passionate, dedicated and full of enthusiasm who can coach and mentor their team.
• A passionate individual who loves to cook, be on the pass at key times with their team and is always pushing to develop their food.
• A team player and leader. Someone who will work with and be part of the seniormanagement team at the hotel to help shape and evolve Amberley Castle unique guest experience.
• A collaborator - keen to get out into the local community and engage with our partners, from local colleges to food shows.

Additional Information

To say thank you, we have many perks:

• Great salary package and benefits.
• Treat yourself once in a while with lots of retail and hospitality perks through our Perkbox platform.
• Excellent discounts across our family of hotels – you will be entitled to 25% off food & beverage in our hotels plus we offer an amazing staff rate of £25 B&B per person across the group & your friends and family get special rates too.
• We understand it’s OK not to be OK, so we offer an externally run confidential helpline for any support you require about anything you might need as part of our Employee Assistance Programme.
• We sustain you physically too, meals when you are on duty are free.
• Everyone can learn and develop - our development pathways are unique to us and are the best in the business.
• We provide lots of opportunity to progress and move up – we have made hundreds of internal promotions, including to General Manager level.
• We like to say a special thank you for every year you are with us - our milestone awards include Champagne, afternoon tea, or dinner for you and someone special. When you reach the big milestones, you receive extra special gifts on top like longer hotel stays, extra days off and a unique gift especially chosen for you.