Head Chef

Urban Pubs & Bars Ltd; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Training & development

Staff discounts

28 days holiday

Cycle-to-work

Employee assistance

Referral bonus

Wage access

Birthday day off

Career progression

Job summary

Urban Pubs & Bars Ltd is a London-based group seeking a Head Chef to lead one of our busy, high-volume kitchens across our London brands. You’ll own the kitchen, coach a talented team and shape the menu with fresh, seasonal ingredients.

We offer a competitive salary, bonus potential, training and development, and staff discounts as we continue to grow across Salt Yard, Bat & Ball, and related venues.

Qualifications

• Head Chef experience in pub/restaurant settings.
• Strong knowledge of ingredients, seasonality and modern cooking techniques.
• Excellent leadership and team development skills.
• Proven ability to manage GP, ordering and stock control.
• Food Hygiene qualifications essential.

Responsibilities

• Run a busy kitchen and coach a high-performing team.
• Develop menus, maintain exceptional standards and GP.
• Manage ordering, stock control and waste.
• Collaborate with General Manager across venues.

Skills

Head Chef experience

Hospitality leadership

GP & stock control

Food hygiene cert

Strong communication

Organisational skills

Food knowledge

Seasonal cooking

People development

Modern cooking techniques

Job description

Head Chef – Urban Pubs, Bars & Restaurants – Multiple Brands – London

Pubs Salt Yard Restaurants Bat & Ball – Quality, Food & Growth

We're growing, and we're looking for brilliant Head Chefs to join us across our family of venues. From modern British pubs and destination neighbourhood locals, to the food-led world of Salt Yard and the high-energy competitive socialising experience of Bat & Ball, there are plenty of different kitchens to get stuck into. We're a 100% fresh food business and take real pride in what comes out of our kitchens. Food is at the heart of what we do — from seasonal dishes and quality pub classics to our much-loved Sunday roasts, which are regarded as some of the best in the areas where we operate. Our commitment to food has also been recognised recently, with the group winning Best Food Offering across a 50+ site field, as well as recognition at the Publican Awards 2026. Each brand has its own personality, but the ambition is the same: great people, great food, brilliant guest experiences and kitchens that perform. We're after Head Chefs who want to take ownership, build teams, develop dishes and make a kitchen their own.

You'll be the sort of person who...

• Genuinely loves food — you're passionate about ingredients, seasonality, flavour and putting great food on the plate.
• Lives and breathes hospitality. A busy Saturday service, a full restaurant and a team firing on all cylinders gets you excited, not flustered.
• Takes real pride in the details — from a beautifully cooked pub classic and a standout Sunday roast to seasonal small plates, fresh pasta, quality produce and food that people come back for.
• Believes in fresh food and proper cooking. You're proud to work in a 100% fresh food business where quality starts with the ingredients.
• Knows how to run a busy kitchen and can prove it — great food, happy chefs, strong GP and consistently high standards.
• Leads from the front. Your team see you, trust you and want to follow you through a busy service.
• Is commercially minded — understanding that great food needs to taste brilliant, look brilliant and make commercial sense.

What you'll actually do.

Run your kitchen like it's yours. Build, coach and look after a brilliant kitchen team. Keep the food offer exciting, seasonal and relevant while maintaining exceptional standards every day. Own your kitchen's GP, manage ordering and stock, control waste and keep your operation running efficiently. Work closely with the General Manager to make the whole venue perform, while developing your team and creating food that guests genuinely want to come back for. Whether you're leading a pub kitchen, a Salt Yard restaurant or a Bat & Ball venue, you'll be the person making the food happen day to day — with the freedom to bring your ideas, experience and creativity to the business.

Where could you fit in?

• Urban Pubs, Bars & Restaurants – modern British pubs, bars and neighbourhood venues built around quality food, drink and genuine hospitality.
• Salt Yard – distinctive Spanish and Italian-inspired restaurants, known for seasonal small plates, charcuterie, wine and a lively London dining experience.
• Bat & Ball – high-energy competitive socialising, combining games and entertainment with food, drinks and big nights out.

What we're Looking For:

• Put your heart on your sleeve: take ownership, be bold and run the kitchen as if it's your own.
• Stay cool under pressure — calm, composed and unflappable.
• Proven experience as a Head Chef, ideally within a quality pub, restaurant or high-volume hospitality environment.
• Strong knowledge of food, ingredients, seasonality and modern cooking techniques.
• A genuine passion for creating great dishes and delivering consistently high food standards.
• Strong understanding of kitchen financials, GP, ordering, stock control and waste management.
• Strong communication and organisational skills, with an approachable leadership style.
• Superb food quality and service standards.
• Entrepreneurial flair and a genuine passion for people development.
• Love to train, mentor and grow a high-performing kitchen team.
• Food Hygiene qualifications are essential, with relevant kitchen management qualifications a plus.

What's In It For You.

• Competitive salary plus bonus.
• Opportunities across a growing portfolio of pubs, restaurants and competitive socialising venues.
• Join a food-led business with a proven track record, including recent recognition for Best Food Offering across 50+ sites and at the Publican Awards 2026.
• Comprehensive training and ongoing development to accelerate your career.
• Clear paths for progression, with regular openings and opportunities to step up.
• Employee discounts across our pubs, bars and restaurants.
• Strategic autonomy: make meaningful decisions, own your results and be fearless.
• Continuous team trips, management incentives and socials in a warm, family-like culture.
• 28 days' holiday.
• Employee Assistance Programme via Licence Trade Charity.
• Lucrative referral scheme: earn up to £1,000 per successful referral.
• Access to Stream to draw wages as needed.
• Birthday day off on us.
• Cycle-to-work scheme.
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption pay.
• Workplace nursery benefit.
• Length-of-service recognition rewards.

Ready to lead something brilliant?

If you're bold, food-obsessed, people-centric and commercial, with a genuine passion for exceptional hospitality, we'd love to meet you. Tell us what kind of kitchen gets you excited — whether that's a brilliant pub, a standout restaurant or a venue where the competition is part of the experience — and let's find the right opportunity for you.

Experience: Required
Employment: Full-time
Salary: up to £55,000 yearly

About Urban Pubs & Bars Ltd:

Urban Pubs and Bars