Head Chef

Greeneking; Sidcup; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33% off food & drink

15% off for friends & family

Greene King Inns: 50% off stays

25% off for friends & family

Employee Assistance Programme

Wagestream pay access

Retail discounts

Job summary

The Jolly Fenman in Sidcup, part of Greene King, is seeking a Kitchen Manager/Head Chef to own the kitchen, lead from the front and drive the food offer in a busy pub environment.

You will manage the kitchen team, ensure high standards, cater for buffets and wakes, control stock and costs, and work with front-of-house to deliver a superb guest experience while upholding food safety.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a kitchen team in a fast-paced pub/restaurant environment.
• Hands-on leadership style with the confidence to lead from the front.
• Passion for quality food, consistency and presentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate the kitchen team to perform at their best.
• Deliver meals to a consistently high standard across pub classics, seasonal dishes and desserts.
• Organise and deliver quality buffet food for wakes and gatherings.
• Plan prep and service to cope with busy periods and events.
• Manage stock, ordering, waste, labour and costs to support strong commercial performance.
• Maintain food safety, allergen management and kitchen compliance.
• Collaborate with the General Manager and front-of-house to deliver a great guest experience.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Front-of-house collaboration

Food presentation

Stock control

Allergen awareness

Job description

What's the opportunity?

The Jolly Fenman is a welcoming, family-friendly pub in Sidcup, popular with locals, families and sports fans alike. With Sky Sports and TNT Sports showing the latest action, plus pool tables, darts and arcade games, there's always something happening.

Our spacious beer garden can accommodate over 200 customers, with heated cover to keep guests comfortable whatever the weather. Alongside our regular food menu, we also cater for buffets and wakes, giving our kitchen team the opportunity to deliver food for a range of occasions and create a welcoming experience for guests when it matters most.

As Kitchen Manager / Head Chef, you'll take ownership of the kitchen, lead from the front and help drive the success of our food offer.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Leading your team: Motivate, coach and develop your kitchen team, creating a positive environment where everyone can do their best work.
• Delivering great food: Ensure every dish is prepared to a consistently high standard, from hearty pub classics and seasonal favourites to indulgent desserts.
• Catering for every occasion: Organise and deliver quality buffet food for wakes and other gatherings, ensuring everything runs smoothly and guests are well looked after.
• Managing a busy kitchen: Plan ahead, organise prep and service, and make sure the kitchen is ready for busy periods and special bookings.
• Taking control of costs: Manage stock, ordering, waste, labour and food costs to support strong commercial performance.
• Maintaining high standards: Ensure food safety, allergen management and kitchen compliance are always a priority.
• Working as one team: Partner with the General Manager and front-of-house team to deliver a great guest experience and identify opportunities to grow food sales.

What we’re looking for

We're looking for someone with previous experience as a Kitchen Manager, Head Chef or in a similar senior kitchen role, ideally within a busy branded pub or restaurant environment.

You’ll bring:

• Experience leading a kitchen team in a fast-paced setting.
• A hands-on leadership style and the confidence to lead from the front.
• A passion for quality food, consistency and great presentation.
• Strong organisation and the ability to plan for busy services and buffet bookings.
• Good commercial awareness, including stock control, waste and labour management.
• A sound understanding of food safety, allergens and kitchen compliance.
• The ability to motivate your team, solve problems and remain calm under pressure.

What’s in it for you?

At Greene King, we believe in rewarding our teams and helping them build careers they can be proud of.

• Career development: Training, apprenticeships and opportunities to progress across Greene King.
• Discounts: 33% off food and drink in our pubs, plus 15% off for friends and family.
• Greene King Inns: 50% off stays and 25% off for friends and family.
• Wellbeing support: Access to our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Family-friendly benefits: Enhanced policies to support you through life's important moments.
• Recognition: Recommend a friend and earn up to £1,500.
• Financial wellbeing: Access to Wagestream to help manage your pay.
• Extra savings: Retail discounts, including Superdrug and Three Mobile.

Greene King is one of the UK's leading pub companies and brewers, with over 220 years of history and a team of around 39,000 people. We're passionate about pouring happiness into lives and becoming the pride of great British hospitality.

CREATING PLACES WHERE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME, SAFE AND THAT THEY BELONG

We aim to embed inclusion into every decision we make - across our people, customers, communities, suppliers, and operations. We want to create a culture where everyone feels welcome, valued, and able to thrive.