Head Chef

The Gantry; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted stays across Cairn hotels

Food & beverage discounts

Wellbeing resources

Career development programmes

Long service awards

Refer a friend scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Health Care Cash Plan

Job summary

The Gantry London, Curio Collection by Hilton, part of Cairn Group, is seeking a Head Chef to lead the kitchen operations for meetings and events. You will work with Cairn Group’s central Food and Beverage team to craft menus, build a skilled brigade and uphold safety and standards.

You will own kitchen operations, cost control, and staff development, driving exceptional guest experiences in a busy, event-driven setting.

Qualifications

• Proven Head Chef or senior kitchen lead background in hotels, quality restaurants or events.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, allergens and HACCP standards.
• Experience building menus and delivering events and meetings food offers.
• Demonstrated ability to manage food cost, labour and inventory.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen operation across Meeting Space, Union Social and in-room dining.
• Develop commercially strong menus for meetings, events and banquets.
• Ensure food safety, allergen management and audit readiness.
• Build a structured training plan for the brigade and develop future kitchen leaders.
• Control costs, purchasing, stock and waste.
• Collaborate with central F&B teams on seasonal menus and concepts.

Skills

Leadership

Food safety

Menu development

Cost control

Training & development

Event delivery

Job description

Location: The Gantry London, Curio Collection by Hilton

Department: Kitchen
Hours: 40 hours per week
Days: Five days out of seven

Salary: £60-£65k depending on experience

Employment Type: Permanent, full time

Join Cairn Group – Where People Drive Hospitality Forward, Together

At Cairn Group, we're passionate about creating memorable guest experiences, and it all starts with our people

We’re looking for an inspiring and people focused Head Chef to lead the next phase of The Gantry’s culinary operation, with a particular focus on our growing meetings and events business.

Working closely with Cairn Group’s central Food and Beverage team, you will develop commercially strong menus, build a skilled and confident brigade, and ensure food safety, allergen management and operational standards remain at the heart of everything we deliver

About the Role

As Head Chef, you will take ownership of the day to day kitchen operation while working closely with Cairn Group’s central Food and Beverage team to develop and deliver menus that reflect the needs of our guests, our event diary and The Gantry’s identity

You will:

• Lead the kitchen operation across our Meeting Space, Union Social and in room dining

• Build a strong food offer for our meeting spaces, private dining, receptions and celebrations

• Work closely with the meetings and events team from initial enquiry through to event delivery

• Collaborate with Cairn’s central Food and Beverage team on seasonal menus, event packages and new concepts

• Own kitchen standards, food safety, allergens, HACCP and audit readiness

• Build a structured training and development plan for every member of the brigade

• Develop future kitchen leaders and create clear succession within the team

• Control food cost, labour, purchasing, stock and waste

• Lead from the kitchen during key services and major events

• Create a culture of accountability, consistency and continuous improvement

Make Every Moment Matter

Every day is different, but every day you'll have the opportunity to make a positive impact. You will:

• Lead and inspire a team that delivers exceptional guest experiences

• Create a welcoming environment where guests feel valued

• Support the development and growth of team members

• Drive service standards and operational excellence

• Build positive relationships across the hotel

• Help shape a culture where people can perform, grow and succeed

Bring Your Personality. We'll Help You Build Your Career.

We're looking for people who:

• Have a proven Head Chef or strong Senior Sous Chef background within a hotel, quality restaurant or events operation

• Understand Meetings, Events and volume event delivery

• Are confident managing food safety, allergens and kitchen compliance

• Can demonstrate strong food costing, gross profit and labour management

• Have successfully trained and developed a kitchen brigade

• Are comfortable working collaboratively within an agreed group food direction

• Lead by example and take ownership

• Build positive relationships across kitchen, food and beverage, sales and events

• Perform confidently in a busy and evolving hotel.

• Want to continue developing their leadership career

If you enjoy creating exceptional food experiences, building strong teams and helping shape a growing hotel operation, we'd love to hear from you

Why Cairn Group?

Our People First culture combines ambitious standards with genuine support, creating an environment where individuals are trusted to perform, encouraged to grow and recognised for the contribution they make. We believe success is built through collaboration, accountability and a shared commitment to excellence, giving our people the foundation to build long term careers with purpose

What you'll enjoy as part of the team

At Cairn Group, we recognise that our people are at the heart of our success. That's why we offer a range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, reward your contribution and help you build a rewarding career with us

As part of the Cairn team, you'll enjoy:

• Discounted stays across our hotels and venues

• Food, beverage, spa and leisure discounts

• Access to retail, entertainment and lifestyle discounts

• Leadership and career development programmes

• Long service awards recognising your commitment and contribution

• Refer a friend scheme

• Employee Assistance Programme offering confidential support whenever you need it

• Health Care Cash Plan

• Meals on duty

• Wellbeing resources and support

• Opportunities to develop and progress across our diverse hospitality portfolio

We're committed to creating an environment where people feel supported, valued and empowered to grow. Whether you're starting your career or taking the next step in leadership, Cairn Group offers the opportunity to build a career with purpose, alongside a team that's stronger together

About The Gantry London, Curio Collection by Hilton

The Gantry London, Curio Collection by Hilton is an award winning urban resort and design led hotel in the heart of Stratford, East London. Contemporary design, art and vibrant social spaces run throughout the hotel, alongside destination dining, rooftop experiences and dedicated spaces for meetings and events, all moments from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Join us and help create exceptional experiences every day