Head Chef

Acorn Pubs; Ham; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Package up to £60k including TRONC and

profit share

Free meals on shift

30% discount for you and family

Nest pension

Life assurance

Perks on Tap

Cycle to work scheme

Electric vehicle scheme

£1,000 referral bonus for new Managers

Wagestream - flexible pay

Job summary

Acorn Pubs is launching a flagship site and invites a Head Chef to lead the kitchen from day one. You will shape the food offer, build and mentor a brigade, and set the standards for a high-performing kitchen in a transformed pub. The role offers creative autonomy within a supportive Brunning & Price/Acorn Pubs framework.

You will own the kitchen operation, collaborate with the General Manager, and craft an exceptional, seasonal menu that reflects the new identity while driving business results.

Qualifications

• Experience as head chef, chef manager, kitchen manager or senior sous chef in a busy, premium fresh food environment.
• Ability to lead a kitchen team, develop menus and set kitchen standards.
• Strong business acumen with stock, GP and labour control awareness.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen operation and build a high-performing brigade.
• Shape the menu, establish kitchen culture and standards from day one.
• Collaborate with the General Manager to deliver an outstanding guest food experience.
• Take ownership of the kitchen in a new flagship pub and apply your own mark.
• Drive exceptional, generous, seasonal cooking and ensure consistency.

Job description

Create the food story. Build the kitchen. Make your mark.

This is not an opportunity to inherit a kitchen. It’s an opportunity to create one.

The Crooked Billet is entering an exciting new chapter as part of Acorn Pubs, within the Brunning & Price family.

Following a significant investment, the pub is being transformed into a brand-new flagship site — and we’re looking for an ambitious, creative and passionateHead Chefto lead the kitchen and help shape what comes next.

This is your chance to write the food story from the very beginning.

A kitchen with your name on it

There’s something incredibly exciting about joining a business at the point where the plans are still being written.

The Crooked Billet is receiving significant investment, creating a beautifully transformed pub with a fresh identity, a new food and drinks offer and big ambitions.

As Head Chef, you’ll be at the centre of that transformation.

You’ll have the opportunity to help shape the menu, build your brigade, establish the kitchen culture and set the standards that will define the food operation from day one.

We want someone who can look at a blank canvas and see the possibilities.

Someone who understands that great pub food doesn’t need to be complicated — it needs to be exceptional, generous, seasonal and cooked with care.

You’ll take ownership of the kitchen operation, working closely with the General Manager and wider team to create an outstanding food experience for our guests. Most importantly, you’ll have the freedom to make your mark.

You might already be a Head Chef looking for your next big challenge, or a talented Sous Chef ready to take that next step.

What matters is that you have the ambition to create something special.

Why this opportunity?

Because you’re joining at the beginning.

The investment is happening now.

The kitchen is being created now.

The team is being built now.

And the food story is yours to help write.

You’ll have the creative opportunity and autonomy that comes with a new flagship site, combined with the support and backing of Acorn Pubs and Brunning & Price.

That means you can build something with your own personality and standards, while having an established hospitality business behind you.

And as part of Brunning & Price, you’ll also have access to development, training and opportunities to progress your career across the wider group.

This is bigger than the next job.

It’s an opportunity to build a kitchen you can be proud of.

To create a food offer people talk about.

To develop a team and watch them grow.

To help establish a new flagship pub from day one.

And ultimately, to put your stamp on The Crooked Billet.

If that sounds like the kind of challenge you’ve been waiting for, we’d love to hear from you.

The Crooked Billet

A new chapter. A new kitchen. Your opportunity to write the food story.

Our Offer

• Package up to £60kincluding TRONC and profit share

The Extras

• We know you work hard so we feed you well - free meals on shift, choose from the menu!
• 30% discount for you, your friends and family across Acorn Pubs, Brunning & Price and our group including wagamama and selected airport pubs and restaurants.
• It’s never too early to start saving for the future with a NEST pension.
• Protection for your family with life assurance.
• Great discounts via Perks on Tapsaving you money on everyday purchases and more.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Electric vehicle scheme.
• £1,000 referral bonus for introducingnew Managers or Chefsto the company.
• Wagestream - use flexiblepay to choose when to get paid.

Your Wellbeing – it’simportant to us!

• Free 24-hour confidential legal and information helpline for you and your family.
• Bespoke wellbeing support offering free counselling for all crew.
• Access to health checks and virtual GP appointments.
• Discounted gym membership.
• Plenty of social get togethers – it’s not all work and no play.
• Recognition platform with regular thankyous.

We want you to grow with us!

• Superb internal and external development programmes to support your progress.
• Advanced Leadership Skills course enhancing self-awareness and soft skills.
• Regular days out and events around fresh seasonal produce.
• We encourage movement between our pubs so you can have a long-term career with us.

About you...

Our kitchens are dynamic, fast paced, and high volume so you will have experience of being a head chef, chef manager, kitchen manager or senior sous chef in a busy, premium fresh food environment. You will be responsible for the food culture within your pub, working closely with the pub manager to drive the business forward, helping to formulate seasonal menus with our Executive Chefs. We are looking for a confident leader who will nurture their team and create an inclusive and supportive environment. You’ll also need excellent business acumen to manage a well-run kitchen, keeping on top of your stock, GPs and labour controls.

About Acorn Pubs...

• A collection of 10 pubs, 6 of which have bedrooms.
• Our wider company, Brunning and Price, includes 79 pubs across the country.
• A company with heart, where individuality, personality and diversity are encouraged.
• A company committed to reducing our carbon footprint, working sustainably and supporting our local communities.
• @brunningandpricecareers