Head Chef

Only Chefs Ltd; Bolney; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discount

Wine education training

Pension contributions

25 days annual leave (including your b

Birthday off

Enhanced parental leave

Job summary

Bolney Wine Estate in the English countryside is seeking a Head Chef to lead our kitchen, shaping the culinary vision across our restaurant, café, tours and events.

You will design seasonal menus that highlight local produce and pair with our award-winning wines, while inspiring and developing a high-performing team. A proactive leader with strong food safety knowledge will thrive in this hands-on role delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading a professional kitchen in a hospitality setting.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Passion for seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and wine pairing.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety legislation and kitchen compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the culinary vision across our restaurant, café, tours and events.
• Design seasonal menus that showcase local produce and local wines.
• Develop innovative dishes and guest experiences in the visitor offer.
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing kitchen team.
• Plan rotas and manage staffing to support business needs.
• Oversee budget, food costs, labour costs and supplier relationships.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Food safety knowledge

Budget management

Team coaching

Education

Level 3 Food Safety & Hygiene qualification

Job description

We're hiring a Head Chef to join our team! This is an exciting opportunity to lead the culinary vision at Bolney Wine Estate, creating exceptional food experiences that showcase the very best of English wine and local produce. At Bolney Wine Estate, we're passionate about delivering outstanding hospitality. From our restaurant and café to our tours and events, food plays a vital role in creating memorable experiences for every guest.

What you'll be doing:

• Lead the culinary vision across our restaurant, café, tour experiences and events
• Design seasonal menus that showcase local produce and complement our award-winning wines
• Develop innovative dishes and food experiences that enhance our visitor offering
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing kitchen team
• Plan rotas and manage staffing to support business needs
• Ensure the highest standards of food safety, hygiene, health & safety and legal compliance
• Manage kitchen budgets, food costs and labour costs to achieve agreed financial targets
• Oversee purchasing, ordering and stock management, minimising waste and maintaining product quality
• Build strong relationships with suppliers, with a focus on sourcing high-quality local ingredients
• Work collaboratively with the General Manager, Front of House, Events and Finance teams to deliver exceptional guest experiences
• Drive continuous improvement and identify opportunities to enhance sustainability across the kitchen operation

What we're looking for:

• Proven experience leading a professional kitchen in a high-quality hospitality environment
• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Passion for creating exceptional food using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients
• Excellent knowledge of food safety legislation, kitchen health & safety and compliance
• Commercial awareness with experience managing food costs, labour and budgets
• A collaborative approach and ability to work across multiple departments
• Level 3 Food Safety & Hygiene qualification
• Full UK driving licence and ability to travel to our rural location
• WSET qualification (or equivalent) and a passion for wine are desirable
• A proactive, positive attitude and commitment to delivering outstanding guest experiences

What we offer:

• Competitive salary + tips + performance related bonus
• Generous staff discount
• Opportunities for training and development, including wine education
• Enhanced pension contributions
• 25 days' annual leave, plus your birthday off and the option to buy and sell leave
• Enhanced parental leave
• Income protection
• Life assurance
• EV salary sacrifice scheme
• Private health cover
• Employee assistance programme

We welcome applications from candidates who do not meet 100% of the requirements.