Head Chef

British Garden Centres; Ambleside; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

No evening work

Split shifts

Year-round business

Meal discount 50% at BGC restaurants

Store discount 20%

Job summary

British Garden Centres is seeking a Head Chef to oversee the kitchen operations across its expanding family business. The role includes menu planning, food ordering, stock control, and ensuring policies are up to date while inspiring and training the kitchen team.

We offer a negotiable salary based on experience, with a permanent, full-time contract (40 hours per week, including weekends) and a supportive team environment within a well-established group.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Controlling and directing the food preparation process.
• Polishing dishes before they reach the customer.
• Managing and working closely with other Chefs of all levels.
• Determining food inventory needs, stocking, and ordering.
• Ensuring the kitchen meets all sanitary and food safety guidelines.
• Responsible for health and safety and food hygiene practices.
• Team management and high attention to detail.
• Experience with kitchen equipment and COSHH awareness.

Skills

Kitchen experience

Creative dishmaking

Multi-order management

Professionalism

Calm under pressure

Time management

HACCP knowledge

Food hygiene level 2 (adv)

Job description

Location: Hayes

Contract type: Permanent.

Hours: Full Time

Hours: 40 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 Head Chef to manage the efficient operation of the kitchen this includes helping decide which Chefs special to have available, food ordering, stock control etc., together with ensuring that all kitchen policies and procedures are up to date and staff are compliant with them. Equally important is the training, motivation, and inspiration of the kitchen team to deliver a first-class culinary service.

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.

We would love to hear from you. Salary negotiable on experience.

What we offer:

• No evening work, split shifts or unsociable hours, year-round business.
• Security of working in a well-established expanding family business & the associated benefits
• 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, additionally discount rates available for Woodthorpe 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:

• Controlling and directing the food preparation process.
• Approving and polishing dishes before they reach the customer.
• Managing and working closely with other Chefs of all levels.
• Determining food inventory needs, stocking, and ordering.
• Ultimately responsible for ensuring the kitchen meets all regulations including. sanitary and food safety guidelines.
• Being responsible for health and safety.
• Being responsible for food hygiene practices.
• Team management.
• High level attention to detail.
• Experience of kitchen equipment.
• Awareness of Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) and chemical safety.

If you have passion, can work equally well as part of a team or independently, are up for a challenge and thrive in a fast-paced work environment, then we would love you to become part of our work family.

Applications close –Tuesday 25th August 2026

Due to the high volume of applications, if your application is successful, someone from the management team will be in touch with you, thank you.