Head Chef

Houston and Hawkes - Head Office; Greater London; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Birthday off

Free meals on duty

Pension

Life assurance

Employee assistance

Job summary

Houston & Hawkes is seeking a Head Chef to lead a busy London kitchen that blends premium hospitality with retail food OFFERs and fine dining events. You will drive quality, mentor a high-performing team and shape the food culture on site.

The role emphasizes leadership, exceptional presentation, and the ability to manage costs while delivering outstanding experiences for clients and guests across a demanding workplace catering environment.

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Head Chef within premium contract catering, hotels or restaurants.
• Strong retail and hospitality experience.
• A genuine passion for fine dining and exceptional presentation.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills.
• Commercial awareness with experience managing budgets and food costs.
• Creativity, organisation and attention to detail.
• A positive, hands-on approach with a passion for developing other.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operation of a busy kitchen.
• Deliver an exceptional retail food offer with fresh, seasonal menus.
• Create outstanding hospitality and fine dining experiences.
• Inspire, coach and develop your kitchen team.
• Manage food cost, labour and GP performance.
• Build strong client relationships and exceed expectations.
• Maintain the highest food safety and compliance standards.
• Drive innovation and continuously improve the food offer.

Skills

Head Chef experience

Retail hospitality

Fine dining

Leadership

Budgeting

Creativity

Attention to detail

Job description

HEAD CHEF

Monday to Friday | £50,000 | London

Lead an exceptional kitchen where outstanding food, premium hospitality and innovation come together.

Houston & Hawkes is looking for an experienced Head Chef to lead one of our prestigious workplace hospitality sites. This is a fantastic opportunity for a passionate chef with a strong background in retail, hospitality and fine dining, who enjoys creating exceptional food experiences while leading and developing a high-performing team.

This role combines a vibrant retail food offer with premium hospitality and fine dining events, making every day different. You'll have the opportunity to showcase your creativity, deliver exceptional standards and build an outstanding food culture within the site.

THE ROLE

• Lead the day-to-day operation of a busy kitchen
• Deliver an exceptional retail food offer with fresh, seasonal menus
• Create outstanding hospitality and fine dining experiences
• Inspire, coach and develop your kitchen team
• Manage food cost, labour and GP performance
• Build strong client relationships and exceed expectations
• Maintain the highest food safety and compliance standards
• Drive innovation and continuously improve the food offer

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Previous experience as a Head Chef within premium contract catering, hotels or restaurants
• Strong retail and hospitality experience
• A genuine passion for fine dining and exceptional presentation
• Excellent leadership and people management skills
• Commercial awareness with experience managing budgets and food costs
• Creativity, organisation and attention to detail
• A positive, hands-on approach with a passion for developing other

WHY JOIN HOUSTON & HAWKES?

• £50,000 salary plus overtime
• Monday to Friday working pattern
• Birthday off every year
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Free meals on duty
• Pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• CODE Hospitality membership
• Exclusive masterclasses with award-winning chef Sally Abé, offering hands-on learning, fresh inspiration and the opportunity to develop your culinary skills alongside one of the UK's most respected chefs
• Foodie Socials
• Ongoing learning, development and genuine career progression
• Summer Awards Party celebrating our people and achievements
• Christmas Party at one of London's outstanding venues

ABOUT HOUSTON & HAWKES

Houston & Hawkes is an independent, award-winning contract caterer delivering exceptional workplace hospitality across London. As a Certified B Corp, recipient of the King's Award for Enterprise and one of The Caterer's Best Places to Work in Hospitality, we’re committed to creating incredible food, developing talented people and building careers that last.