Head Chef

Upham Head Office; Havant; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing hospitality group in the United Kingdom is seeking an inspiring Head Chef to join their innovative team. This role focuses on leading the kitchen, ensuring high standards in food quality and safety, while training and developing a skilled kitchen brigade. The ideal candidate will bring proven leadership experience, a passion for food, and a commitment to maintaining cleanliness and compliance. Join a supportive family culture where your culinary talents can flourish and contribute significantly to the growth of the business.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Bonus potential

Free meal on shift

Discounts on dining and hotel stays

Award-winning training and development

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or strong Sous Chef ready to step up.
• Genuine passion for producing great food using quality ingredients.
• Strong focus on cleanliness, food safety, and legal compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire the kitchen team to deliver high-quality food.
• Ensure compliance with food safety legislation and allergen controls.
• Manage kitchen rotas in line with labour budgets.

Skills

Leadership

Food Quality

Training and Mentoring

Organisational Skills

Cleanliness

Job description

Join the Upham Inns Family and Lead From the Kitchen

An exciting new chapter is underway at Upham Inns. Following recent acquisitions and continued growth across our pub family, we’re expanding our kitchen leadership teams and are now looking for an inspiring, hands‑on Head Chef to help shape the future of our food.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a growing, people‑first business where food quality, standards, and development truly matter. Our pubs are evolving, our ambitions are big, and we’re looking for a Head Chef who is passionate about great cooking, proud to lead and develop chefs, and committed to running a clean, safe, and legally compliant kitchen.

If you love producing consistently excellent food, building strong kitchen teams, and creating an environment where chefs can learn, grow, and succeed, this could be the role for you.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary to be discussed at interview, plus bonus potential & Tronc
• Flexible shifts where possible – balance matters
• Free meal on shift – great food fuels great chefs
• Up to 50% off food when dining with up to 6 guests
• 33% off hotel stays across our collection
• Award‑winning training and development, including clear progression opportunities
• Wage streaming service – access your pay when you need it
• Salary Extras Portal – discounts at Asda, Aldi, B&Q, H&M, Clarks, Tesco & more, plus Cycle2Work
• Service Awards & Birthday Gift – because you matter
• £1,000 refer‑a‑friend & chef recruitment incentives

About the Role

Being a Head Chef with us is about more than delivering great dishes. It’s about setting standards, developing people, and creating a kitchen culture built on pride, professionalism, and teamwork.

You’ll take ownership of food quality and consistency, lead from the front during service, and play a key role in training and mentoring your brigade. You’ll also ensure the kitchen operates to the highest standards of cleanliness, safety, and legal compliance, every single day.

Head Chef Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire the kitchen team to deliver consistently high‑quality food
• Train, coach, and develop chefs at all levels, building strong future talent
• Ensure food preparation and service meet company specifications and brand standards
• Maintain excellent hygiene, health & safety, and food safety standards at all times
• Ensure full compliance with food safety legislation, allergen controls, and due diligence
• Oversee ordering, stock control, portioning, and wastage management
• Manage kitchen rotas in line with labour budgets
• Work closely with the General Manager to deliver a seamless guest experience
• Drive a positive, professional, and supportive kitchen culture

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a Head Chef who leads with skill, pride, and purpose:

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or strong Sous Chef ready to step up
• A genuine passion for producing great food using quality ingredients
• A strong focus on cleanliness, food safety, and legal compliance
• Confidence in training, mentoring, and developing chefs
• Organised, calm under pressure, and detail‑focused
• Commercial awareness around GP, stock control, and labour
• Flexible to work up to 48 hours per week, including evenings, weekends, and bank holidays
• Right to Work in the UK

Why Join Us?

At the heart of Upham Inns is a strong family culture. When you join us, you become part of a supportive, hands‑on business that genuinely cares about its people.

We invest in developing our chefs, taking time to understand their goals and helping them progress. As our business continues to grow, so do the opportunities to move forward in your career, whether that’s developing your own kitchen team, stepping into multi‑site roles, or supporting future openings.

Our pubs are known for warm hospitality and seriously good food, delivered by teams who take pride in what they do.

It’s an Exciting Time to Join Us

We’re growing, investing, and raising the bar across our kitchens and we want passionate chefs to grow with us.

If you’re ready to lead a kitchen you can be proud of, develop chefs, and deliver food that guests return for time and time again, we’d love to hear from you.

Let us be part of your next chapter.