Head Chef

HF Holidays Limited; Keswick; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Live-in accommodation

Pension contributions

Volunteer day

Group life assurance

Cinema discounts

Cycle to work scheme

Discounted gym membership

Virtual GP

Job summary

HF Holidays Limited, Britain's walking holiday co-operative, seeks a Head Chef for Derwent Bank, Portinscale near Keswick, Cumbria. The role runs breakfast, lunch and dinner to high standards for up to guests, with a fixed menu and banqueting style dinner service.

You will manage stock, portion control, food safety, health & safety, and lead a kitchen team to create a great atmosphere and training for junior chefs. Live-in accommodation is available with meals and bills included.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable commercial background as Head Chef and experience leading a kitchen team.
• Knowledge of HACCP, The Food Safety Act and allergen regulations.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as required by hospitality operations.

Responsibilities

• Run and manage a well-organised kitchen for breakfast, lunch and dinner, ensuring high standards.
• Oversee stock control, portioning, and adherence to the central menu and portion targets.
• Monitor food safety and Health & Safety compliance, and train/guide kitchen staff.

Skills

Head Chef leadership

HACCP & Food Safety

Evening & weekend flexibility

Job description

HEAD CHEF

Location: Derwent Bank, Portinscale, Nr Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5TY

Contract: Permanent, Full Time

Salary: £37,132 per annum

Live in: Live in accommodation available inclusive of all bills, 3 meals per day, Laundry & Free Wifi- Private Pod

Job Benefits: 33 Days Holiday pro rata inclusive of bank holidays | Pension Contributions | Volunteer Day | Group Life Assurance | Cinema Discounts | Online Shopping Discounts | Cycle to work Scheme | Discounted Gym Membership | Virtual GP | Health & Wellbeing Support 24/7 Helplines| Exclusive discounts on our holidays for you, your friends and family | Annual familiarization visit at any of our country houses for you and your family

About the role:

Working in ourDerwent BankCountry House we provide a retreat for up to 66guests who stay with us for guided or self-guided walking tour holidays. We always know when and where our guests need serving. We know the number of guests we will be hosting each week, and our mealtimes are fixed. We plan our menus in advance and get pre orders for lunch and dinner. Our 3-course dinner service is served banqueting style and our kitchens closed by 9pm. In your role as Head Chef, you will be responsible for running a well organised kitchen ensuring breakfast, lunch and dinner prep and service are done to our high standards. You will effectively manage stock, portion controls, ensure our centralised menu is adhered to, monitor food safety, oversee health & safety and compliance across the kitchen. You will manage your kitchen team and create a great atmosphere in the kitchen to train and guide your chefs to success.

What are we looking for?

We would love to hear from you if you have these essential skills:

• A demonstrable commercial background as Head Chef - Managing and developing teams
• HACCP, The Food Safety Act 1990 (including Allergen Legislation), The Food and Hygiene Regulations and The Fire Regulations
• Given the nature of our industry, flexibility is key. The role necessitates adaptability to varied working hours, particularly during evenings (9pm finish) and weekends

Desirable skills we look for:

• Experience as a Head Chef in a Country House / Country Hotel
• Experience of cooking and delivering traditional British cuisine

About HF Holidays:

As Britain's only walking holidayco-operative, we are committed to creating meaningful connections through shared experiences in the great outdoors.

With 112 years of history, we bring like-minded people together through more than 260 carefully crafted walking and activity holidays in the UK, Europe, and beyond. We also own and manage16 characterful country housesin the heart of the UK's best-loved national parks landscapes. Supported by 500 strong team who are based both remotely and at our Head Office in Hertfordshire as well as our Houses.