Head Chef

Castle of Brecon Hotel, Brecon; Brecon; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work-life balance

Weekly tips

Performance bonus

Private Healthcare

Life Insurance

Wellbeing grant

6 weeks' holiday

Discounts at hotels

Annual stay

Career development

Employee assistance

Job summary

The Castle of Brecon Hotel in Brecon, Powys, is seeking a hands-on Head Chef to take full ownership of the kitchen, lead a brigade of 9 chefs and develop seasonal menus using local Welsh produce.

You will drive food quality, cost control and kitchen efficiency, mentoring the team to a high standard while ensuring HACCP and health & safety compliance.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Head Chef in a busy hotel or high-volume hospitality environment.
• Strong background creating and leading menus with Modern British cuisine and seasonal ingredients.
• Experience leading, motivating and developing a brigade of 9+ chefs.
• Passion for coaching, mentoring and training kitchen teams to high standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead, inspire and manage a brigade of 9 chefs.
• Create, develop and implement seasonal menus showcasing local Welsh produce.
• Train, mentor and develop the kitchen team for progression and excellence.
• Maintain exceptional food quality, consistency and presentation across all services.
• Manage kitchen operations including ordering, stock control, GP, food costs and labour budgets.
• Ensure compliance with food hygiene, HACCP and health & safety standards.
• Collaborate with senior management to deliver an outstanding guest experience.
• Foster a positive, supportive and collaborative kitchen culture.

Skills

Head Chef experience

Menu development

Team leadership

Coaching & mentoring

Food cost control

HACCP & safety

Calm under pressure

Driving licence

Job description

Head Chef – TheCastle of BreconHotel

Location: The Castle ofBrecon Hotel, CastleSquare, Brecon, Powys, LD3 9DB

About Us

Nestled within theancient ruins ofan 11th-centuryNorman fortress,The Castle ofBrecon Hotelis the oldesthotel in Walesanda proud memberof the CoachingInn Group. With42 individually designedbedrooms, breathtakingviews across theBrecon Beacons NationalPark and theRiver Usk, anda reputation forwarmWelsh hospitality, weoffer guests anunforgettable dining andhospitalityexperience.

The Role

As Head Chef, you will takefull ownershipofthe kitchen, leadinga brigadeof9 chefsin a fast-paced hotel environment. You'll be responsiblefor developing inspiringseasonal menus, maintainingexceptional food quality, and creating apositive, high-performingkitchen culture.

This is ahands-on leadershiprole for acreative chef witha passion forfresh, locally sourcedfood and provenexperience managing busyhotel kitchens.

WhatWe're Looking For

• Proven experience asaHead Chefwithin a busyhotel or high-volume hospitality environment.
• A strong backgroundincreating and leadingyour own menus, with a flairfor Modern Britishcuisine and seasonalingredients.
• Experience leading, motivatingand developing abrigadeof9 chefs ormore.
• A passion forcoaching, mentoring andtraining kitchen teamsto achieve consistentlyhigh standards.
• Strong commercial awareness, including foodcost control, stockmanagement and labourplanning.
• Excellent knowledge offood safety, HACCPand health & safetylegislation.
• Calm under pressurewith exceptional organisationaland leadership skills.
• A full UKdriving licence andaccess to transportis preferred, as the hotel'slocation requires reliabletravel.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, inspire andmanage a brigadeof 9 chefs.
• Create, develop andimplement seasonalmenus that showcaselocal Welsh produce.
• Train, mentor and developthe kitchen team, encouraging progressionand excellence.
• Maintain exceptional foodquality, consistencyand presentation acrossall services.
• Manage kitchen operationsincluding ordering, stockcontrol, GP, food costs andlabour budgets.
• Ensure full compliancewith food hygiene, HACCP and health&safety standards.
• Work closely withthe senior managementteam to deliveran outstanding guestexperience.
• Foster a positive, supportive and collaborativekitchen culture.

What We Offer

We believe thatlooking after ourpeople is justas important aslooking after ourguests. As ourHead Chef, you'llenjoy a fantasticrangeof benefits, including:

• Work-life balance– We genuinely believein creating ahealthy work-lifebalance andwork together asa team topromote flexibility whereverpossible.
• Weekly tips– 100% of gratuitiesare distributed toourteams every weekthrough ourTipJar Tronc scheme.
• Performance bonus– Opportunityto earn upto20% of yourannual salarythrough our HeadChef bonus scheme.
• Private Healthcare– Helping you takecare of yourhealth and wellbeing.
• Life Insurance– Providing additionalpeace of mindfor you andyour family.
• Annual Health & WellbeingGrant– Supporting your physicaland mental wellbeing.
• 6 weeks' holiday– Giving you plentyof time torest and recharge.
• Food & Accommodation Discounts– Enjoy up to50% off foodacross allCoaching Inn Grouphotels and50% off accommodation.
• £1 Annual Stay–Experience one ofour hotels withour exclusiveannual£1 staybenefit.
• Award-winning CareerDevelopment– Access industry-leadingtraining and developmentprogrammes to helpyou grow yourcareer.
• Employee Assistance Programme– Confidential supportand wellbeing resourceswhenever you needthem.

Join us atThe Castle ofBrecon Hoteland become partof a passionate, family-oriented teamwhere you'll havethe opportunity tolead, inspire, andmake your markin one ofWales' most historichotels.