Head Chef

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Chipperfield; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training and apprenticeships

Employee discounts

Wagestream – access to your pay

Employee Assistance Programme

Maternity & paternity policies

Refer a Friend bonus up to £1,500

Job summary

The Two Brewers in Chipperfield, part of Greene King, is seeking an experienced Kitchen Manager or Head Chef to lead the kitchen team and drive high standards. You’ll own kitchen operations, manage stock, costs and safety, and work closely with the General Manager to grow the business during a busy pub and hotel season.

You’ll bring a proven track record in a pub or hotel kitchen, lead from the front, coach your team, and help prepare for a forthcoming refit while maintaining excellent guest

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading a busy kitchen in pub/hotel environments.
• Experience owning kitchen operations and leading a team.
• Strong leadership and communication skills to motivate staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen team from the front and set clear expectations.
• Maintain high standards of food quality, presentation and service.
• Coach, develop and manage the kitchen team.
• Control stock, ordering, rotation and wastage.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Communication

People management

Food safety

Stock management

Cost control/GP

Job description

• Salary for Advertising: £34,000 - £38,000 + Bonus
• Dept. L4/House: Two Brewers (Chipperfield) - 06251

Company Description

Ready to lead a strong kitchen into its next chapter?

If you're an experienced Kitchen Manager or Head Chef who knows how to lead from the front, bring a team together and maintain exceptional standards, we have an exciting opportunity for you at the Two Brewers in Chipperfield.

Set in the beautiful village of Chipperfield, the Two Brewers is a Grade II listed country pub and hotel full of character, history and opportunity.

With 20 hotel bedrooms, around 80% occupancy and a busy pub operation, food is at the heart of what we do. We're looking for an experienced chef who can take ownership of the kitchen and help drive the business forward.

Job Description

Why the Two Brewers?

The Two Brewers combines everything you want from a traditional country pub — great food, welcoming hospitality and plenty of character.

From hearty pub classics and our popular Sunday roasts to relaxed drinks in the beer garden, we’re proud to offer our customers a genuine home-away-from-home experience.

Our kitchen already has a strong and experienced team who know their roles and understand the operation. What we’re looking for now is the right leader to bring everyone together, maintain our standards and take the kitchen into its next chapter.

And with a refit planned for Period 1 next year, this is an exciting time to join the business and play an important part in what comes next.

Qualifications

What’s the opportunity?

As Kitchen Manager / Head Chef, you’ll take ownership of the kitchen and be responsible for leading the team and maintaining the standards our customers expect.

You’ll:

• Lead the kitchen team from the front and set clear expectations.
• Bring the team together, creating a positive, focused and high-performing kitchen culture.
• Maintain consistently high standards across food quality, presentation and service.
• Coach, motivate and develop the kitchen team.
• Ensure everyone understands their responsibilities and works effectively together.
• Take ownership of kitchen operations and ensure every service runs smoothly.
• Manage stock takes, ordering, stock rotation and wastage.
• Maintain excellent food safety, hygiene and health & safety standards.
• Monitor food costs and GP to ensure the kitchen operates commercially.
• Work closely with the General Manager and wider management team to drive the business forward.
• Ensure the kitchen is fully prepared for busy pub and hotel trade.
• Help maximise opportunities across pub dining, hotel guests and Sunday roasts.
• Lead busy services confidently and remain calm and organised under pressure.
• Bring fresh ideas and experience to help develop the food operation.
• Play a key role in preparing the team and kitchen for the upcoming refit.

This is not about coming in and changing everything for the sake of it. The team is already strong — they need an experienced leader who can bring them together, set the direction and drive the kitchen forward.

We’re looking for an experienced Kitchen Manager / Head Chef who:

• Has proven experience leading a busy kitchen.
• Ideally has experience within a pub, hotel or similar food-led hospitality environment.
• Is confident taking ownership of the kitchen and leading a team.
• Leads from the front and is comfortable being hands‑on during service.
• Has a firm but fair approach to leadership.
• Has strong communication and people‑management skills.
• Knows how to motivate, coach and develop a kitchen team.
• Takes pride in maintaining consistently high standards.
• Has excellent knowledge of food safety, hygiene and health & safety.
• Is confident managing stock, GP, ordering, rotation and wastage.
• Is organised and able to plan effectively around busy services.
• Is commercially aware and wants to help grow the business.
• Has the experience and confidence to make decisions and set clear expectations.
• Wants to develop their career and make a genuine impact with Greene King.

Lead the team. Raise the standards. Shape what comes next.

The Two Brewers already has a strong foundation and an experienced kitchen team. Now we need someone who can provide the leadership to bring it all together.

With a busy pub and hotel operation, around 80% occupancy across 20 bedrooms and a refit on the horizon, there’s plenty of opportunity for the right person to make their mark.

If you’re an experienced Kitchen Manager or Head Chef who is ready to take ownership, lead from the front and drive the kitchen forward, this could be your next move.

Additional Information

And there’s plenty in it for you...

• Training and development at every level, including apprenticeships.
• 33% employee discount and 15% discount for loved ones across Greene King brands.
• 50% employee and 25% loved ones discount at Greene King Inns and hotels.
• Employee Assistance Programme supporting mental health, wellbeing and financial/legal advice.
• Enhanced family-friendly maternity and paternity policies.
• Menopause Friendly Employer.
• Refer a Friend scheme – earn up to £1,500.
• Wagestream – access to your pay as you earn.
• Retail discounts, including up to 30% at Superdrug and Three Mobile.

Bring your experience. Lead the team. Take the Two Brewers forward.

CREATING PLACES WHERE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME, SAFE AND THAT THEY BELONG

We aim to embed inclusion into every decision we make – across our people, customers, communities, suppliers, and operations. We want to create a culture where everyone feels welcome, valued, and able to thrive.

If you’re ready to lead a strong kitchen team, maintain exceptional standards and help shape the next chapter of a much-loved country pub and hotel, we’d love to hear from you.