Head Chef

Chestnut; Saffron Walden; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Chestnut is seeking a skilled Head Chef to lead the kitchen at The Cricketers, a renowned country inn. The role involves developing creative seasonal menus, managing staff, and ensuring high culinary standards. Enjoy a supportive team environment with numerous perks and incentives reflecting your valuable contributions.

Benefits

Team and individual incentives

Flexible hours

Opportunity for career growth

Food and room discounts

Exclusive access to discounts hub

High-quality staff food

Nationally recognized qualifications

Employee recognition prizes

Referral scheme

Qualifications

• Experience as a Head Chef required.
• Skilled in menu design and development.
• Ability to mentor and train kitchen staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen team and enhance the guest dining experience.
• Design seasonal menus aligning with Chestnut's vision.
• Manage kitchen operations, including compliance with health regulations.

Skills

Culinary creativity

Team leadership

Inventory management

Cost control

High standards of presentation

Job description

The Cricketers is seeking an experienced, skilled Head Chef to lead the kitchen team. At Chestnut, we pride ourselves on using fresh, locally sourced food, culinary creativity, and delivering an exceptional culinary experience for our guests.

The Cricketers

A member of the Chestnut collection of pubs, inns, and restaurants, we are a 16th Century English country inn in North Essex, close to the borders of Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, boasting lovely walks and cycle routes.

The Cricketers has a superb reputation built over four decades with award-winning food and bedrooms.

Job Requirements

• Design and develop seasonal menus that reflect creativity and align with Chestnut’s vision.
• Recruit, train, and mentor kitchen staff, fostering a collaborative and positive work environment.
• Ensure every dish meets high standards for taste, presentation, and consistency.
• Oversee kitchen operations, including inventory management, cost control, and adherence to health and safety regulations.
• Manage dry stock effectively.
• Work closely with the General Manager to cultivate a positive and motivated work environment, ensuring all team members perform to their best abilities.

Why Join Us?

• Incentives: Enjoy team and individual incentives that reward your hard work, including staff days out and trips abroad.
• Flexible Hours: Maintain a work-life balance with flexible scheduling.
• Tips: Earn tips on top of your competitive hourly pay, with access to Wagestream to track your financial progress.

Perks of Working with Us:

• Be part of a friendly, supportive team and collaborate with staff from other Chestnut properties.
• Additional tips on top of competitive hourly pay.
• Opportunities for growth and development within hospitality careers.
• A vibrant, community-focused work environment.
• Enjoy food and room discounts with friends.
• Access to the exclusive Chestnut Hub offering hundreds of high street discounts.
• High-quality, fresh staff food included.
• Industry-accredited and nationally recognized qualifications.
• Employee reward and recognition prizes.
• Referral scheme earning up to £1500 per referral.

Who are Chestnut?

Located within the East Anglia region, we are a growing group of stunning pubs with rooms and Bottle Shops. We pride ourselves on doing our best for our people. Our team members are at the heart of our success, and we offer flexible hours to accommodate personal commitments.