Head Chef

Bella Italia Gateshead; Mount Pleasant; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Quarterly bonus and Tronc

Wages paid on or before payday

50% food & drink discounts

Fully funded apprenticeships (Level 4)

Wellbeing support

Staff events & competitions

Job summary

Bella Italia in the United Kingdom is looking for a Head Chef to lead a fantastic kitchen team, deliver outstanding guest experiences, and drive the restaurant's performance.

You will work closely with management, uphold the highest hygiene standards, mentor staff, and make commercially minded decisions to improve profits while creating a welcoming, energetic kitchen culture.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a kitchen team.
• Strong hospitality leadership.
• Commercial awareness and ability to drive efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen operations with the management team.
• Ensure guests receive exceptional dining experiences and dishes are cooked to high standards.
• Maintain the highest levels of cleanliness and kitchen hygiene.
• Create a fun, motivating team environment and nurture talent.
• Be commercially minded by analysing profit & loss to drive efficiency.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Guest experience

Financial awareness

Job description

At Bella Italia, we believe that the best moments in lifeare spent with loved ones—sharing food, friendship, laughter, and the joy ofthe Italian table. If you have a passion for pizza, pasta, and leading afantastic team, then this is the job for you!

Come and be part of the BellaItalia family as a Head Chef.

Why Join Bella?

We know that happy teams create the best experiences, so weoffer:

• Competitive Package – 45-hour contract quarterly bonus and opportunity to earn Tronc
• Place for Everyone – We celebrateindividuality and believe our differences make us stronger. Whoever you are, ifyou bring passion and leadership, there’s a place for you in our kitchen!
• Amazing Discounts – 50% off food and drinkacross all Big Table Group brands and 25% for friends & family.
• Career Growth – Fully funded apprenticeships inHospitality Management (Level 4).
• Salary Sacrifice Scheme – Make the most of tax-efficient savings on National Insurance, pension contributions, and a range of lifestyle benefits.
• Wellbeing & Support – Our Employee Assistance Programme includes a24/7 virtual GP, mental health support, healthcare cash plan, dental plan, asecond medical opinion service, and more.
• Perks & Rewards – Access to wages beforepayday, discounted gym memberships, and savings on theme parks, shopping, andmore!
• TeamCompetitions & Events – Win a trip to Italy, team parties, and even achance to win e-points to spend on your favourite retailers.

What You’ll Do as a Head Chef:

• Work closely with the management team to achieverestaurant goals.
• Lead the guest experience by ensuring every dishis cooked to perfection.
• Maintain the highest standards of cleanlinessand kitchen hygiene.
• Create a fun, motivating team environment, witha focus on developing and nurturing talent.
• Be commercially minded—analysing profit &loss accounts to make strong financial decisions and drive efficiency.

Who We’re Looking For:

If you’ve got a real love for hospitality, enjoy bringing people together, and thrive in the buzz of a fast‑paced, guest‑first environment, you might just be the perfect fit for us.

At Bella Italia, our teams are like family. We put people at the heart of everything we do, creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where you can be yourself, feel supported, and grow your career. If you need any reasonable adjustments during the hiring process, just let us know – we’ve got you.

Thinking about using AI tools for your application? They can be great for getting started, but what really makes an application shine is you, your energy, experience, personality, and leadership style.

What’s the process?

Application → CV review → friendly phone chat → first‑stage interview → second‑stage interview → offer and onboarding.

At Bella Italia, we don’t just look for experience – we look for people with a genuine love for hospitality who care about their teams and our guests. If that sounds like you, we’d love to welcome you to the family.

Join the Bella Italia family today and work somewhere awesome! Don’t just take our word for it we’re proud to be named in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026.