Head Chef

Young's Pubs; Exeter; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

A popular pub chain in Exeter is seeking an experienced Head Chef to manage the kitchen and create innovative seasonal menus. The role involves leading the kitchen team, ensuring high standards, and developing optimal food offerings that highlight local produce. Successful candidates will showcase creativity and managerial skills in a vibrant pub environment with close community ties. Benefits include autonomy in menu creation, access to culinary masterclasses, and discounts across all locations.

Benefits

Free meals

20% discount in all pubs

30% discount on overnight stays

Access to culinary masterclasses

Enhanced Company Pension Scheme

28 days holiday per year

Qualifications

• Experience as Head Chef or Sous Chef with strong service delivery.
• Passion for leading and developing a team.
• Ability to manage kitchen staff and training.

Responsibilities

• Create and manage menus using fresh seasonal ingredients.
• Ensure high standards and kitchen management.
• Inspire and develop your kitchen team.

Skills

Inspiring a team

Excellent communication skills

Menu planning and development

Fresh seasonal cooking

Quality food service

Job description

Head Chef - 42k basic plus tronc and tips.

We're looking for an experienced Head Chef to take the helm at the City Gate in Exeter. We are famous for our events spaces - including our hidden garden and cellar bar - and well known for serving fantastic traditional food - proper pub food made with fresh seasonal ingredients. We're looking for a Head Chef that has experience working with fresh food to create comforting classics that showcase the best local produce. We have a whole host of event spaces in the pub, so we are also keen to hear from Head Chef's who have experience delivering menus for all occasions.

You’ll be in charge of writing menus, ensuring high standards in the kitchen, developing the team and looking after all aspects of kitchen management. Alongside our place as a favourite spot for an overnight stay (we have 20 bedrooms) and events, above all else we are a modern community pub. We have close ties with Exeter Football Club and Exter Chiefs and are truly ingrained within our community. We are looking for a proper chef that cooks proper premium dishes that tie in with our proper pub.

Being a Head Chef at Young's

We believe every pub should be different. This means that you’ll be writing your own recipes that match the food vision of your business using fresh seasonal ingredients. The food vision could be all about showcasing local produce, country pub classics, seafood, small plates and sharers, dry‑aged meat - each pub is different and its up to you as head chef to put your own creative stamp on that vision. We work with fresh, seasonal produce, so the menu should constantly evolve to showcase these fantastic ingredients when they are at their best. Premium fresh food crafted by skilled chefs in Premium Pubs.

What we offer our Head Chefs

Head Chefs get to have full autonomy to create

your own menus and specials

• Access to our Apprenticeship Scheme and Development Programmes
• Access to regular culinary masterclasses covering topics such as Game, Butchery and Shellfish
• Access to inspirational food trips with our top quality suppliers
• Regular Chef Forums with other Head Chefs to inspire and develop
• Free meals
• 20% discount in all Young's Pubs and 30% discount on overnight stays in our Pubs with Rooms
• Share save Scheme
• Enhanced Company Pension Scheme
• 28 Days Holiday per year

What we look for in a Head Chef

• This role requires someone that can inspire a team, bring out the potential and lead by example while developing, costing and producing fresh seasonal menus for the variety of revenue streams within the business.
• Have experience championing excellent service through quality food either as a Head Chef or in the position of Sous Chef.
• Demonstrate a passion for leading and developing a team.
• Be an active hands‑on team player with excellent communication skills.
• Be responsible and able to manage the kitchen staff rota, training and all health and safety effectively at all times.
• Be able to demonstrate your creativity and ability to design and deliver new dishes for our menus and daily specials.
• Demonstrate great planning and organisational skills, necessary to maintain effective controls with regard to both GP and labour.
• Have a pro‑active approach to driving sales and delivering growth, through engagement with both kitchen and front of house teams.