Head Chef

Freixenet-Copestick; Haywards Heath; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

25 days' annual leave

Private health cover

Enhanced pension contributions

Job summary

Bolney Wine Estate is seeking an exceptional Head Chef to lead the kitchen and shape the future of food across the estate, aligning with our award-winning wines. You will develop seasonal menus and create memorable guest experiences that celebrate local produce.

You will oversee a high-performing team, manage costs, ensure food safety, and collaborate with winery, vineyard, and FOH to deliver unique wine-and-food experiences. This role offers growth and development in a celebrated estate.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership of a professional kitchen in a quality hospitality setting.
• Strong people management skills with ability to develop others.
• Passion for seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and exceptional food.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety legislation, kitchen health & safety, and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing kitchen team and culture.
• Shape and evolve seasonal menus that showcase Sussex produce and complement Bolney wines.
• Collaborate with General Manager, Front of House, Winery and Vineyard teams to create seamless wine-and-food experiences.
• Plan rotas and manage staffing to meet business needs throughout the year.
• Oversee purchasing, stock management, and control food costs and waste.
• Drive sustainability and low-waste cooking across all kitchen operations.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Team leadership

Seasonal cooking

Food safety knowledge

Cost control

Collaboration

Education

Level 3 Food Safety & Hygiene

Job description

We're looking for an exceptional Head Chef to join the team at Bolney Wine Estate. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of food at one of England's leading wine estates. At Bolney, we believe great wine deserves great food – not fine dining for its own sake, but generous, seasonal cooking that celebrates the land around us and creates memorable experiences for every guest.

Working alongside the General Manager and collaborating closely with our Front of House, Winery and Vineyard teams, you'll play a central role in defining what food looks like at Bolney as we continue to evolve into one of the UK's most exciting wine tourism destinations. From our restaurant and café to vineyard events, tours and seasonal experiences, you'll help create a food offering that brings our award-winning wines to life and help establish Bolney as one of England's leading wine and food destinations.

If you're passionate about exceptional local produce, inspired by English wine, and excited by the opportunity to build something special, we'd love to hear from you.

What you'll be doing

As Head Chef, you'll lead our kitchen team while helping shape the future of food across the estate. You'll:

• Work alongside the General Manager to shape and develop Bolney's evolving food proposition, creating memorable dining experiences that bring our wines to life and enhance every guest experience.
• Create and continually evolve seasonal menus that celebrate the very best produce from Sussex and the South East, with every dish thoughtfully designed to complement and showcase our award-winning wines.
• Take inspiration from the changing rhythms of the vineyard to create memorable food experiences, from relaxed lunches and café favourites to vineyard events, harvest celebrations, wine dinners and private events that guests return for time and again.
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing kitchen team, creating a positive culture where people can thrive.
• Plan rotas and manage staffing levels to support the changing needs of the business throughout the year.
• Ensure the highest standards of food safety, hygiene, health & safety and legal compliance.
• Manage food costs, labour budgets and kitchen performance to achieve agreed financial targets.
• Oversee purchasing, ordering and stock management, minimising waste while maintaining exceptional product quality.
• Become part of the Sussex food community by building relationships with local farmers, growers, fishermen and artisan producers, sourcing the very best seasonal ingredients.
• Work collaboratively with the General Manager, Front of House, Winery and Vineyard teams to create a seamless connection between wine, food and place.
• Champion thoughtful, sustainable and low-waste cooking, making the most of the incredible produce available on our doorstep.
• Continuously look for new opportunities to enhance our hospitality offering and create experiences that delight our guests.

What we're looking for

We're looking for someone who combines strong culinary leadership with creativity, curiosity and a genuine passion for hospitality.

You'll have:

• Proven experience leading a professional kitchen within a high-quality hospitality environment.
• Strong leadership and people management skills with the ability to inspire and develop others.
• A passion for creating exceptional food using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety legislation, kitchen health & safety and compliance.
• Commercial awareness with experience managing food costs, labour and kitchen budgets.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to work closely with teams across the estate.
• Level 3 Food Safety & Hygiene qualification.
• A full UK driving licence and the ability to travel to our rural Sussex estate.
  

We're also looking for someone who:

• Is excited by English wine and believes food should help guests better understand and enjoy it.
• Is naturally curious about ingredients, local producers and seasonality, always looking to discover and learn.
• Enjoys working across restaurant service, café operations, events and visitor experiences rather than a traditional hotel kitchen.
• Is collaborative, humble and motivated by the opportunity to help build something special as part of a wider leadership team.
• Enjoys engaging with guests and is happy to step out of the kitchen from time to time to share the story behind the food, ingredients and their connection to our wines.
• Holds a WSET qualification (or equivalent), or is enthusiastic about developing their wine knowledge.

Why this role is different

This isn't just another Head Chef position. It's an opportunity to shape a growing food proposition at one of England's leading wine estates, working alongside passionate people who are redefining what English wine tourism can be.

You'll enjoy:

• A rare opportunity to influence and develop our food offering as the estate continues to grow.
• Working in a beautiful vineyard setting with one of England's most respected wine producers.
• Collaborating closely with our winery, vineyard and hospitality teams to create truly unique guest experiences.
• The freedom to create seasonal menus, vineyard events and food experiences that evolve throughout the year.
• Opportunities for training and development, including wine education and the chance to deepen your understanding of English wine.
• A healthier work-life balance than many traditional restaurant or hotel kitchens.

What we offer

• Competitive salary, plus tips and a performance-related bonus.
• Generous staff discount.
• Opportunities for training and development, including wine education.
• Enhanced employer pension contributions.
• 25 days' annual leave, plus your birthday off and the option to buy and sell annual leave.
• Enhanced parental leave.
• Income protection.
• Life assurance.
• EV salary sacrifice scheme.
• Private health cover.
• Employee Assistance Programme.

We know that great candidates don't always tick every box. If you're excited by the opportunity but don't meet every requirement, we'd still love to hear from you.