Head Chef

Legends Global (Europe); Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted tickets

25 days annual leave

Life Assurance policy

5% Pension

Healthshield

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Eye care vouchers

Cycle to Work

Employee Referral Scheme

Job summary

Legends Global is seeking a Head Chef to lead all culinary operations within the Heritage Halls, delivering world-class food experiences for conferences, exhibitions, banquets and VIP events. You will drive quality, safety compliance and cost control while coordinating with events and operations teams.

We value innovation, sustainability and a team-focused culture, offering generous leave, health and welfare benefits, and opportunities for professional growth within a global events company.

Qualifications

• Hold a basic food hygiene certificate and manage statutory requirements.
• Experience leading a large kitchen team and guiding staff to deliver quality.
• Proven ability to manage budgets and cost controls in a busy operation.
• Demonstrated commitment to exceptional customer care and service.
• IT literacy and experience with kitchen/ops software.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all kitchen operations for the halls, exhibitions, banquets, and special events.
• Plan and execute high-volume, multi-outlet food production with premium quality standards.
• Design diverse, innovative menus suited to international clientele and event themes.
• Ensure timely service during live events, gala dinners, and VIP functions.
• Create seasonal, international, and customised menus.
• Incorporate modern culinary trends, sustainability, and local sourcing.
• Maintain exceptional food presentation and plating standards.
• Manage tasting sessions for clients, organisers, and stakeholders.
• Lead, train, and inspire a large kitchen team.
• Prepare duty rosters aligned with event schedules.
• Ensure effective communication between kitchen, service, and event teams.
• Ensure full compliance with health and safety requirements.
• Implement sustainability and waste-reduction initiatives.
• Manage food costs, labour budgets, and inventory control.
• Monitor wastage, portion control, and yield management.
• Prepare culinary reports and forecasts for management.
• Handle feedback and complaints professionally.

Skills

Food safety knowledge

Team leadership

Budget management

Customer service

IT skills

Statutory compliance

Education

Basic food hygiene certificate

Tools

Kitchen management software

Job description

About Legends Global

Legends Global is redefining excellence in sport, entertainment and live events. With unrivalled expertise and international reach, we provide end-to-end solutions – from venue development and event programming to revenue strategy and hospitality.

We take a 360-degree, data-driven approach across Partnerships, Hospitality, Merchandise and Attractions, working with leading clients to deliver outstanding experiences that resonate worldwide.

Our organisation is committed to fostering an inclusive and forward-thinking environment where diversity drives innovation and collaboration. Guided by our values of Align, Scale, Connect, Team and Win... we create a culture where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

The Venue

Olympia is one of the UK’s leading event destinations, hosting exhibitions, conferences, live entertainment, sporting events, and corporate functions. Technology is at the heart of every event, with reliable connectivity and resilient infrastructure critical to delivering exceptional experiences for organisers, exhibitors, visitors, and employees.

About the Role

The Head Chef is responsible for leading all culinary operations within the Heritage Halls, delivering world-class food experiences across conferences, exhibitions, banquets, VIP events, and live cooking stations. The role ensures exceptional quality, innovation, food safety compliance, cost control, and seamless coordination with event and operations teams.

We can offer

Hosting events is what we do best, and we want our People to experience that too- enjoy access to discounted tickets to unleash your superfan for all your favourites.

You will work hard at Legends Global , but you will be rewarded with lots of time to relax and rest with 25 days annual leave

We understand that you have a life outside of work and want to ensure that your loved ones will always be taken care of whilst you’re contributing to our success with our Life Assurance policy.

A healthy contribution of 5% Pension so that your golden years are spent ticking off the items on your bucket list.

Got a dental bill? Need to book a counselling session? Or even help with Physio costs? With the support of Healthshield; Legends Global will support with these unexpected costs. For you and any children.

We understand that from time to time you might need a bit of support to get you back to feeling your best, so we have teamed up with AXA Health to provide our people with an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support mental health in the workplace.

We are visionaries: both physically and metaphorically! When you join Legends Global you will be entitled to eye care vouchers and a contribution towards any glasses you require.

Pedal your way to a greener, healthier commute—join our Cycle to Work scheme and turn every ride into a win for you and the planet

Great people know great people! Refer a friend through our Employee Referral Scheme and get rewarded for helping us build an amazing team

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee all kitchen operations for the halls, exhibitions, banquets, and special events
• Plan and execute high-volume, multi-outlet food production with premium quality standards
• Design diverse, innovative menus suited to international clientele and event themes
• Ensure timely service during live events, gala dinners, and VIP functions
• Create seasonal, international, and customised menus
• Incorporate modern culinary trends, sustainability, and local sourcing
• Maintain exceptional food presentation and plating standards
• Manage tasting sessions for clients, organisers, and stakeholders
• Lead, train, and inspire a large kitchen team
• Prepare duty rosters aligned with event schedules
• Ensure effective communication between kitchen, service, and event teams
• Ensure full compliance with health and safety requirements
• Implement sustainability and waste-reduction initiatives
• Manage food costs, labour budgets, and inventory control
• Monitor wastage, portion control, and yield management
• Prepare culinary reports and forecasts for management
• Handle feedback and complaints professionally

We are looking for someone with:

• Experience in the management of statutory requirements.
• Have a thorough understanding of food hygiene and health and safety regulations and as a minimum, hold a basic food hygiene certificate.
• Experience of leading and developing a team.
• Experience of providing excellent customer care.
• Experience of budget/cost management.
• Experience of working with colleagues at all levels throughout a company.
• IT experience

Recruitment Process Outlined:

• 1st Stage- First interview
• 2nd Stage- Second in person interview

Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory pre‑employment checks. These may include verification of identity, proof of address, right to work, employment history, qualifications, and—where relevant to the role—a basic or enhanced DBS check. All checks will be carried out in line with data protection law and we will only request information that is necessary for the role.

Inclusive Workplace

At Legends Global , we are committed to leading the entertainment industry towards a greener, faster, and more innovative digital future. There’s never been a better time to join our team. We aim to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers, and suppliers. Join us and make a significant impact from day one.

We are committed to active inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunities. This commitment begins with our recruitment and selection process. We welcome discussions about flexible working arrangements.

If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of our recruitment process, please let us know in your application. We are dedicated to providing a fair and transparent assessment process and will do our utmost to accommodate your needs.

If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to ensure it is considered. We will continue to review applications on a rolling basis and may close the advert before the closing date.