Head Chef

Hollybank Trustees Ltd; Harrogate; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days holiday

Share of tips

Uniform provided

Free car parking

Staff discount

Job summary

Fodder – the Great Yorkshire Food Hall in Harrogate is seeking an experienced, hands-on Head Chef to lead a busy kitchen and champion Yorkshire produce. You will shape a growing café offer, lead from the front, raise standards and inspire the team.

As Head Chef, you’ll run day-to-day operations, develop seasonal menus with the Catering Manager, manage costs and ensure top food safety and hygiene. The role offers a 40-hour week, 5 days out of 7, and great benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a busy kitchen as head chef or sous-chef.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills.
• Passion for local Yorkshire produce.
• Excellent food safety and hygiene standards.
• Ability to manage costs, stock, wastage and margins.

Responsibilities

• Run day-to-day kitchen operations.
• Develop seasonal menus with the Catering Manager.
• Lead and train a kitchen team with confidence and positivity.
• Manage food and labour costs, wastage, margins and stock.
• Maintain high standards of food safety, allergens and hygiene.
• Support events and keep service running smoothly.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Staff coaching

Menu development

Local produce focus

Food safety & hygiene

Cost control

Communication

Job description

Location: On site / Harrogate, UK
job type: Permanent / Full-time
Sector and subsector: Hospitality | Chefs
Annual Salary range:from £ 37,000.00 to £ 40,000.00
Salary details: Plus a share of tips

Head Chef – Bring the Heat to Fodder

Lead a growing kitchen. Champion Yorkshire produce. Create food people come back for.

Fodder – the Great Yorkshire Food Hall is on the lookout for a talented, hands-on Head Chef with the energy, ideas and drive to take our kitchen into its next exciting chapter.

This is not just another Head Chef role. It's a chance to lead a busy, ambitious kitchen, shape a growing café offer and put the very best Yorkshire food and drink at the heart of every menu. We are looking for someone to lead from the front, raise standards, and bring the team with them.

The opportunity

As Head Chef, you'll run the day-to-day kitchen operation, create consistently excellent Yorkshire dishes, and lead a team that is proud of what it produces. You'll work closely with the Catering Manager to develop seasonal menus, support events, manage food and labour costs, reduce waste, and keep service running smoothly - all while maintaining excellent food safety, allergen, and hygiene standards.

We're looking for someone who

• Thrives in a busy kitchen and knows how to keep standards high under pressure.
• Can lead, coach, and motivate a kitchen team with confidence and positivity.
• Loves fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients - especially Yorkshire produce.
• Brings strong menu ideas and the practical skills to deliver them consistently.
• Understands the commercial side of a successful kitchen, including stock, wastage, margins, and team planning.
• Communicates clearly, stays organised, and keeps service moving.
• Takes pride in food safety, allergen awareness, and excellent hygiene standards.

What makes this role stand out?

• A genuine opportunity to shape the future of a much-loved Yorkshire food destination.
• The chance to work with brilliant local farmers, producers, and seasonal ingredients.
• A 40-hour week, working 5 out of 7 operational days.
• 30 days' holiday for full-time staff, staff discount, share of tips, uniform provided and free car parking.
• No regular evening work, apart from occasional events.
• The feel-good factor of knowing Fodder's profits support the charitable work of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

Ready to make your mark?

If you're an experienced Head Chef who wants more than a standard kitchen job - if you want to lead, create, inspire, and be part of something with real Yorkshire purpose - we'd love to hear from you.

Bring your passion, your standards, and your best ideas to Fodder.