Head Chef

British Garden Centres; Little Budworth; Remote; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

No evenings or unsociable hours

Family business benefits

50% meal discount

20% store discount

Discounts at Woodthorpe Leisure Park

Job summary

British Garden Centres is seeking a Head Chef to lead the catering team at our Tarporley location. The role covers menu creation, food ordering, stock control, and ensuring high standards of quality and nutrition across meals served to guests.

You will manage kitchen operations, train and motivate staff, and deliver a first-class culinary service in a fast-paced environment. Experience in carvery and HACCP knowledge are highly valued.

Qualifications

• Experience in a busy kitchen.
• Ability to create dishes while following specs.
• Carvery experience is advantageous.
• Knowledge of HACCP.
• Ability to manage multiple orders.
• Professionalism and reliability.
• Remain calm under pressure.
• Good time management.
• Level 3 basic food hygiene is advantageous.
• Ability to coach and develop a team.
• Stock and waste management experience.

Responsibilities

• Managing duties in the kitchen and overseeing the team.
• Coaching team and pushing sales.
• Taking deliveries and ensuring correct stock levels.
• Food preparation, production of specials, and fast, high-quality service.
• Monitor portion sizes and waste.

Skills

Busy kitchen experience

Creative cooking

Carvery experience

HACCP knowledge

Multitasking

Professionalism

Calm under pressure

Time management

Food hygiene Lv3

Coaching team

Stock management

Job description

Location: Tarporley

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Full Time

Hours: 35 Hours Per Week Including Weekends

We are seeking a Head Chef with flair and enthusiasm to join our existing Catering Team in providing good quality and tasty meals to our guests. You will be ensuring fresh and nutritious meals are served by maintaining the highest standards.

You will have management responsibility for the efficient operation of the kitchen. This includes helping creating menus, food ordering, stock control etc., together with ensuring that all kitchen policies and procedures are up to date and staff are compliant with them. Equally important is the training, motivation and inspiration of the kitchen team to deliver a first-class culinary service.

Experience in a similar role essential, we would love to hear from you.

What we offer:

• No evening work, split shifts or unsociable hours, year-round business.
• Security of working in a well-established expanding family business & the associated benefits
• Rate of pay negotiable, dependent upon skills and experience.
• Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day & Easter Sunday
• 50% meal discount at any BGC restaurant & 20% discount at any BGC store, additionally discount rates available for Woodthorpe Leisure Park.

Skills needed:

• Experience of working in a busy kitchen.
• Creative at making dishes but also able to work to specs.
• Experience of cooking carvery is an advantage.
• Knowledge of HACCP.
• Able to manage multiple orders.
• Professionalism and reliability.
• Remain calm under pressure.
• Good time management.
• Level 3 basic food hygiene is an advantage.
• To be able to coach and develop a team.
• Stock and waste management experience.

Duties include:

• Management duties.
• Coaching team.
• Pushing sales.
• The taking of deliveries.
• Food preparation.
• Producing specials.
• Prepare, cook, and present food quickly and efficiently to a high standard.
• Monitor portion size and waste.

If you have passion, can work equally well as part of a team or independently, are up for a challenge and thrive in a fast-paced work environment, then we would love you to become part of our work family.

Applications close – Thursday 1st October 2026

Due to the high volume of applications, if your application is successful, someone from the management team will be in touch