Head Chef

British Garden Centres; North Benfleet; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

No evenings or unsociable hours

40 hours per week including weekends

Staff discounts: 50% meals, 20% store

Christmas/Bank Holiday closures

Job summary

British Garden Centres is seeking an experienced chef to join our busy kitchen team at Alton. You will oversee food preparation, maintain standards, and support chefs of all levels in a fast-paced environment.

The role requires HACCP and COSHH awareness, 40 hours per week, with no evenings or unsociable hours, and a negotiable salary depending on skills and experience. Applicants should be team players with a passion for quality food.

Qualifications

• Experience of working in a busy kitchen.
• Knowledge of HACCP and COSHH regulations.
• Experience of carvery is an advantage.
• Ability to manage multiple orders and work to specs.
• Professional and reliable with good time management.

Responsibilities

• Controlling and directing the food preparation process.
• Approving and polishing dishes before they reach customers.
• Managing and working with Chefs of all levels.
• Determining stock needs and placing orders.
• Ensuring health and safety and food hygiene practices.

Skills

Kitchen experience

HACCP knowledge

COSHH awareness

Carvery experience

Team leadership

Job description

Location: Alton

Contract type: Permanent.

Hours: Full Time

Hours: 40 Hours Per Week Including Weekends

About Us

British Garden Centres is the UK’s largest family-owned garden centre group, with 80 centres nationwide. Founded by the Stubbs family, the business has grown rapidly through significant expansion and acquisitions, evolving from its first site at Woodthorpe Garden Centre into a national brand.

The group now includes garden centres, restaurants, nurseries, and distribution centres, employing more than 3,500 colleagues across the UK. Despite its scale, British Garden Centres maintains strong family values, a community focus, and a commitment to providing a welcoming and supportive environment for both customers and employees.

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.

We would love to hear from you. Salary negotiable on experience.

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.

Duties include:

• Controlling and directing the food preparation process.
• Approving and polishing dishes before they reach the customer.
• Managing and working closely with other Chefs of all levels.
• Determining food inventory needs, stocking, and ordering.
• Ultimately responsible for ensuring the kitchen meets all regulations including. sanitary and food safety guidelines.
• Being responsible for health and safety.
• Being responsible for food hygiene practices.
• Team management.
• High level attention to detail.
• Experience of kitchen equipment.
• Awareness of Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) and chemical safety.

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 –Tuesday 1st August 2026

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