Head Chef

Exclusive Hotels; Coventry; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary plus service charge

Bonus scheme

Hotel discounts across Exclusive Coll.

F&B discount 50%

Free meals on duty

Employee assistance program

Hospitality Essentials discounts

Training & progression

Job summary

Ansty Hall, part of Exclusive Collection, seeks a commercially minded Head Chef to lead our culinary operation across the hotel. You will shape the food experience, develop innovative menus using local and seasonal produce, and build a high-performing kitchen team that consistently exceeds guest expectations.

In this pivotal role, you will drive food quality, manage costs, mentor talent and ensure exceptional standards across restaurant dining, weddings and events while collaborating with hotel

Qualifications

• Previous Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef with quality hotel or events-led experience.
• Passion for seasonal, locally sourced produce.
• Proven ability to lead, coach and develop kitchen teams.
• Strong commercial acumen with food cost and labour budgeting.
• Experience delivering restaurant dining alongside weddings and events.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety, allergens and hygiene.
• Creative menu development aligned with current trends.
• Strong organisation and communication skills.
• Resilience to thrive in fast-paced hospitality.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the kitchen brigade to maintain high performance.
• Design seasonal menus reflecting Ansty Hall's character.
• Ensure exceptional food quality and presentation.
• Own kitchen operations for smooth service.
• Manage food costs, stock, purchasing and waste.
• Build relationships with local suppliers.
• Recruit and mentor culinary talent.
• Ensure compliance with food safety and allergen legislation.
• Monitor guest feedback and industry trends.
• Collaborate with GM, Sales, Events and F&B to drive revenue.
• Support weddings, tastings and events.
• Lead by example during busy service.

Skills

Head Chef

Team leadership

Menu development

Food cost control

Food safety

Allergen management

Supplier relationships

Waste management

Job description

Lead the Culinary Experience at Ansty Hall

Ansty Hall, part of Exclusive Collection, is a beautifully restored country house hotel set within stunning grounds on the edge of Coventry. Renowned for its warm hospitality, elegant weddings and events, and commitment to showcasing the very best seasonal produce, Ansty Hall combines heritage, character and contemporary comfort to create memorable guest experiences.

We are seeking an inspiring and commercially minded Head Chef to lead our culinary operation and shape the food experience across the hotel. This is an exciting opportunity for a talented chef who thrives on creativity, leadership and delivering exceptional standards. You'll have the freedom to develop innovative menus, celebrate local and seasonal ingredients, and build a high-performing kitchen team that consistently exceeds guest expectations.

At Exclusive Collection, we value our people and are committed to creating an environment where they can thrive. As our Head Chef, you'll enjoy:

• Competitive salary plus service charge
• An attractive bonus scheme linked to agreed quality, profitability and guest satisfaction targets
• Preferential rates across all Exclusive Collection hotels
• 50% discount on Food & Beverage when dining at our hotels
• Free meals whilst on duty
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing resources
• Exclusive discounts and benefits through Hospitality Essentials
• Excellent training, development and career progression opportunities across the Collection

Key responsibilities

As Head Chef, you’ll be responsible for leading all aspects of the kitchen operation at Ansty Hall. Working closely with the General Manager and wider hotel leadership team, you’ll drive food quality, team performance and financial success across restaurant dining, weddings, private events and meetings.

You’ll lead by example, developing a culture of creativity, accountability and excellence, while ensuring consistency, profitability and an exceptional guest experience.

Our Head Chef will:

• Lead, inspire and develop the kitchen brigade, creating a positive and high-performing team culture.
• Design and deliver seasonal menus that showcase quality ingredients and reflect the character of Ansty Hall.
• Ensure consistently exceptional food quality, presentation and standards across all dining outlets, weddings and events.
• Take ownership of kitchen operations, ensuring smooth service and outstanding execution at all times.
• Manage food costs, stock control, purchasing, labour and waste to achieve budget and profitability targets.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers and champion local, seasonal and responsibly sourced produce wherever possible.
• Recruit, coach and develop culinary talent, supporting succession planning and career progression.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, allergen management, hygiene and health and safety legislation.
• Monitor guest feedback, industry trends and competitor activity to continually evolve and enhance the food offering.
• Work collaboratively with the General Manager, Sales, Events and Food & Beverage teams to drive commercial success.
• Support weddings, tastings, showcase events and guest experiences that help bring the Ansty Hall food story to life.
• Lead from the front during busy service periods, setting the standard for professionalism, organisation and kitchen excellence.

Person Specification

We're looking for a passionate culinary leader who combines creativity with strong commercial awareness and a commitment to developing people. You'll be comfortable balancing operational excellence with innovation and will take pride in creating memorable dining experiences. You'll bring:

• Previous experience as a Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef ready to step into a Head Chef position within a quality hotel, restaurant or events-led operation.
• A passion for seasonal cooking, local sourcing and creating exceptional guest experiences.
• Proven experience leading, coaching and developing successful kitchen teams.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience managing food costs, labour budgets, stock and purchasing.
• Experience delivering high-quality restaurant dining alongside weddings, conferences and events.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety, allergens, compliance and health and safety requirements.
• Creativity and confidence in menu development with a clear understanding of current food trends.
• Strong organisational, communication and problem-solving skills.
• The resilience and adaptability to thrive in a fast-paced hospitality environment.
• A collaborative leadership style and commitment to delivering exceptional results.

This role will require flexibility to work across a seven-day operation, including evenings, weekends and key business periods in line with the needs of the hotel.

Why Exclusive Collection?

We are a certified B Corp committed to sustainability, responsible business and creating a positive impact for our people, communities and environment. We foster a culture where talented individuals can thrive, develop and build rewarding careers.

As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applications from all individuals with the right to work in the UK. Should you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.