Head Chef

Hickory's Smokehouse; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Hickory's Smokehouse as a Head Chef and lead our dedicated team in one of the busiest restaurants in Cardiff. With a salary of up to £45,000 per year and a host of benefits, including excellent training opportunities and a work-life balance pledge, this role promises to be both rewarding and exciting. Apply now and become part of our award-winning Smokehouse group.

Benefits

Tip Jar plus uncapped bonus

£250k bespoke built kitchen

Excellent training & progression opportunities

Birthday reward meal

Free smokin’ BBQ on shift

Christmas Day off work

Paid occasion days off

25% discount for you & 5 friends

Road trips to Southern States, Europe & UK

Wellbeing support & wellness programme

Fundraising activities for Cash For Kids

Up to £500 through the refer a friend scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in working in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
• Ability to lead a team of chefs effectively.
• Passion for BBQ and delivering high-quality food.

Responsibilities

• Running and managing a bespoke kitchen.
• Delivering an authentic BBQ menu.
• Leading the team to ensure food quality.

Job description

Start an exciting new chapter in your hospitality career at Hickory's Smokehouse - We arethrilled to have been recently crowned the‘Best Pub Employer’ for 2025 at The Publican Awards!

Join us as a Head Chef and we can offer you a generous package of up to £45,000 per year including Tip Jar plus uncapped bonus!

We’re looking for a Head Chef to lead our passionate brigade of BBQ enthusiasts, you will be responsible for running our bespoke kitchen, and delivering the very best food that our Smokehouse can offer. You will be working with and leading the team to deliver authentic fresh food-based BBQ menu in one of the busiest restaurants in town.

As the fastest growing, Southern style Smokehouse group in the UK with an award-winning Hickory’s Training Academy, we can offer you amazing opportunities as we expand. And, we have a company culture that really cares & embraces work-life – balance.

We are really going places – and we want to take you with us.

Thank You’s & Benefits:

• A generous Head Chef package of up to £45,000 per year including Tip Jar plus uncapped bonus!
• The chance to work in one of our £250k bespoke built kitchens, with authentic smokers imported all the way from USA
• Excellent training & progression opportunities – through our award-winning Hickory’s Training Academy
• Birthday reward meal on us for you & your friends - every year
• Free smokin’ BBQ on shift – team food & drinks menu
• Christmas Day off work - every year
• Moments that matter – paid occasion days off (Wedding day, kid’s first day at school, moving into first home & more)
• Team Player card – 25% discount for you & 5 friends in all Hickory’s (rising to 50% for loyal service)
• Road trips to the Southern States, Europe & UK and stacks of enrichment opportunities
• Wellbeing support & 24-hour access to our wellness programme, plus a Wellbeing Champion in each restaurant to support you
• Our pledge to a work-life balance – monitoring & managing through our Red Zone
• A chance to ‘give a bit back’ with fundraising activities for Cash For Kids
• Up to £500 for you – through the refer a friend scheme

If that sounds good or does it leave you wanting to find out more? Click ‘apply’ now and you could be our next Head Chef.

REF: INDSP CFNO