Head Chef

Smyth & Co; London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Ownership over menu and kitchen direction

Collaborative and supportive environment

Tightly-knit team prioritising quality and wellbeing

Job summary

A creative Modern British restaurant in Central London is seeking a Head Chef to lead a small kitchen team. This role involves developing a seasonal menu, overseeing kitchen operations, and ensuring high service standards. Ideal candidates will have strong leadership skills and a passion for Modern British cuisine. The salary ranges from £50,000 to £55,000 per year, including service charge.

Qualifications

• Solid experience as a Head Chef or Senior Sous in a high-quality restaurant.
• Genuine passion for Modern British cuisine and seasonality.
• Demonstrated leadership and strong organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a tight-knit team of chefs.
• Develop a Modern British menu based on seasonality.
• Oversee daily kitchen operations and maintain high standards.

Skills

Leadership

Creativity

Organizational skills

Passion for Modern British cuisine

Job description

Overview

Head Chef – Modern British Restaurant, London (Small Team, Creative Focus)

Location: Central London

Salary Range: £50,000–£55,000 per annum (inclusive of service charge/tronc)

Team Size: Approximately 7 chefs

Concept: Intimate, seasonally inspired Modern British cuisine in a relaxed and personal setting

Why Join Us?

Join a passionate, small-scale kitchen dedicated to celebrating British produce with creativity and care—ideal for an experienced chef looking to shape the culinary identity closely, not scale with it.

What You’ll Do

• Lead, inspire, and manage a tight-knit brigade of seven chefs, ensuring smooth and creative service
• Develop and curate a Modern British menu, driven by seasonality, local ingredients, and culinary innovation
• Oversee daily kitchen operations: costing, ordering, planning rotas, and maintaining high service standards
• Serve as both mentor and creative lead—hands-on in service and behind the scenes

What We’re Looking For

• Solid experience as a Head Chef or Senior Sous in a high-quality, ingredient-focused restaurant
• A genuine passion for Modern British cuisine, seasonality, and local sourcing
• Demonstrated leadership and strong organizational skills—able to manage operations end-to-end
• Creativity balanced with consistency—someone ready to uphold culinary standards while injecting personality into dishes

What We Offer

• Salary of £50–55k, including service charge or tronc
• Ownership over the menu and kitchen direction—your creativity, your vision
• A collaborative and supportive environment with room to innovate
• A tightly-knit, respectful team prioritising both quality and wellbeing

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Art/Creative

Industries

• Hospitality and Restaurants