Head Chef

Little & Large Pub Company; Dorking; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff meals

Staff discounts

Development opportunities

Independent company environment

Job summary

The Running Horses, part of Little & Large Pub Company, is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead the kitchen at our Surrey country pub. You will own the food offering, develop seasonal menus and build a strong kitchen culture.

You will manage day-to-day kitchen operations, control food costs, supervise a team, ensure safety and compliance, and work with front‑of‑house to deliver memorable guest experiences. Salary £50,000 and opportunities for development.

Qualifications

• Experience as Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef in pub/restaurant/hotel.
• Ability to lead and develop a kitchen brigade.
• Strong knowledge of food costs, gross profit, stock control and labour management.
• Calm, organised and hands-on during busy services.
• Attention to detail; allergens and kitchen compliance.
• Ability to create exciting, commercially focused menus.

Responsibilities

• Create and develop seasonal menus using high-quality ingredients.
• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team.
• Deliver consistently excellent food across lunch, dinner, Sunday service, events and hotel breakfast.
• Manage food costs, gross profit, stock levels and supplier relationships.
• Produce accurate recipes, specifications, allergen information and dish costings.
• Manage kitchen rotas and maintain labour costs within targets.
• Recruit, train and retain a reliable kitchen team.
• Maintain highest standards of food safety, cleanliness and compliance.
• Ensure kitchen checks and due‑diligence are completed accurately.
• Collaborate with front-of-house to deliver a seamless guest experience.
• Support private events, weddings and seasonal promotions.
• Reduce waste and improve kitchen efficiency.
• Take pride in presentation and kitchen condition.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Menu development

Food cost control

Labour management

Food safety

Allergen knowledge

Team development

Communication

Job description

The Running Horses is looking for an experienced, ambitious and highly organised Head Chef to lead our kitchen team and take ownership of the food offering at one of Surrey’s most established country pubs.

Set in the beautiful village of Mickleham, The Running Horses is an award‑winning pub with seven individually designed bedrooms, a strong local following and a reputation for quality seasonal food, warm hospitality and memorable Sunday lunches.

This is an exciting opportunity for a talented chef who wants the freedom to develop menus, build a strong kitchen culture and make a genuine impact within a growing independent pub company.

The Role

As Head Chef, you will take full responsibility for the day-to-day running of the kitchen, ensuring consistently high standards of food, presentation, cleanliness and organisation.

You will work closely with the General Manager and the senior leadership team to develop an exciting, commercially successful food offering that reflects the character of The Running Horses.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Creating and developing seasonal menus using high-quality ingredients
• Leading, motivating and developing the kitchen team
• Delivering consistently excellent food across lunch, dinner, Sunday service, events and hotel breakfast
• Managing food costs, gross profit, stock levels and supplier relationships
• Producing accurate recipes, specifications, allergen information and dish costings
• Managing kitchen rotas and maintaining labour costs within agreed targets
• Recruiting, training and retaining a reliable and professional kitchen team
• Maintaining the highest standards of food safety, cleanliness and compliance
• Ensuring all kitchen checks, temperature records and due‑diligence documentation are completed accurately
• Working collaboratively with the front-of-house team to deliver a seamless guest experience
• Supporting private events, weddings and seasonal promotions
• Reducing waste and improving kitchen efficiency
• Taking pride in the presentation, organisation and overall condition of the kitchen

About You

We are looking for someone who is passionate about British seasonal cooking and understands how to deliver excellent pub food consistently and commercially.

The Successful Candidate Will

• Have previous experience as a Head Chef or strong Senior Sous Chef in a quality pub, restaurant or hotel
• Be confident leading and developing a kitchen brigade
• Have strong knowledge of food costs, gross profit, stock control and labour management
• Be calm, organised and hands‑on during busy services
• Demonstrate excellent attention to detail
• Understand allergens, food safety legislation and kitchen compliance
• Be able to create exciting, achievable and commercially successful menus
• Have strong communication and leadership skills
• Take responsibility and lead by example
• Be passionate about creating memorable guest experiences
• Have a positive, professional and solutions‑focused attitude

What We Offer

• Salary of £50,000 per annum
• Creative input into menus and the future direction of the food offering
• Support from an experienced senior leadership team
• Supplier relationships with quality local and national producers
• Staff meals while on duty
• Company discounts across Little & Large Pub Company venues
• Opportunities for professional development and progression
• The opportunity to lead the kitchen at a respected Surrey pub
• A supportive and ambitious independent company environment

About Little & Large Pub Company

The Running Horses is part of Little & Large Pub Company, an independent collection of distinctive pubs, inns and restaurants across London, Surrey and Kent.

We believe that it is the little things that make the large difference. We are passionate about exceptional food, thoughtful hospitality, strong local relationships and creating venues that our teams and communities can be proud of.