Head Chef

The Columbo Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

50% off across Columbo venues

Columbo Academy training

Nest pension

Job summary

The Blues Kitchen – Brixton, part of The Columbo Group, is seeking a Head Chef to lead the kitchen and set the food agenda for a high-volume operation. You’ll own the kitchen, drive quality, and build a strong brigade capable of delivering consistently excellent dishes.

You’ll recruit, develop the team, manage labour and stock, control costs, ensure safety and compliance, and collaborate with senior leadership to grow the business. This is a serious culinary leadership role.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a high-volume kitchen and developing a brigade.
• Proven ability to drive food quality, standards and consistency.
• Strong leadership, people management and decision-making under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the day-to-day running of the kitchen.
• Drive food quality, consistency and standards across every service.
• Lead from the pass and ensure service is calm, sharp and well executed.
• Recruit, train and develop a strong kitchen team with clear progression.
• Manage labour, stock, ordering and kitchen costs to deliver strong commercial performance.
• Own menu execution, food specs and kitchen systems, ensuring proper delivery.
• Maintain excellent food safety, hygiene and compliance standards.
• Build a positive, high-performing kitchen culture rooted in pride and teamwork.
• Work with senior leadership to grow and strengthen the business.

Skills

Leadership

High-volume kitchen

Budget & cost control

Staff development

Food quality

Food safety

Job description

We’re looking for a Head Chef to lead the kitchen at The Blues Kitchen - Brixton.

The Blues Kitchen brings together bold food, world-class music and incredible hospitality, all under one roof. Our kitchens are built around food people genuinely crave. Great steaks, award-winning buffalo wings, fresh ingredients cooked properly, and big flavours done with consistency and care. It’s a high-volume kitchen with high standards, where quality matters on every service.

As Head Chef, you’ll lead from the front. Owning the kitchen, shaping the food culture, developing the team and driving standards across every part of the operation. You’ll be responsible for delivering consistently brilliant food, building a strong kitchen team and running a kitchen that is organised, disciplined and ambitious. This is a role for a serious chef and leader. Someone who loves the craft, knows how to inspire a brigade and wants to build something exceptional.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead and oversee the day-to-day running of the kitchen
• Drive food quality, consistency and standards across every service
• Lead from the pass and ensure service is calm, sharp and well executed
• Recruit, train and develop a strong kitchen team, creating clear progression for your chefs
• Manage labour, stock, ordering and kitchen costs to deliver strong commercial performance
• Own menu execution, food specs and kitchen systems, making sure everything is delivered properly
• Maintain excellent food safety, hygiene and compliance standards
• Build a positive, high-performing kitchen culture rooted in pride, discipline and teamwork
• Work closely with senior leadership to help grow and strengthen the business

What we’re looking for

• Experience as a Head Chef, or an exceptional Sous Chef ready to step up
• Proven leadership in a high-volume, quality-led kitchen
• A genuine passion for fresh food, bold flavours and cooking things properly
• Strong people leadership with the ability to develop and inspire a team
• Excellent understanding of kitchen finance, stock control and labour management
• High standards, strong organisation and attention to detail
• Calm, decisive leadership under pressure
• Someone ambitious who wants to build, lead and grow within a serious hospitality group

Why You’ll Love Working With Us

• 50% off across all Columbo venues, plus free access to our events and festivals
• Training and development through the Columbo Academy
• Hero of the Month recognition including a paid weekend off
• £50 voucher for top drinks seller incentives
• Generous Referral Scheme
• Opportunities for global industry trips for top performers
• Pension scheme via Nest