Head Chef

Hand Picked Hotels; Stratford-upon-Avon; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Share of service charge

28–33 days holiday including bank hols

Uniform and meals on shift

Spa access

Job summary

Hand Picked Hotels is seeking a passionate Head Chef for Ettington Park Hotel & Spa in Stratford-upon-Avon. Lead the culinary team to deliver exceptional dining experiences, shaping menus that reflect luxury, seasonal ingredients and British provenance.

The role requires strong leadership, strategic kitchen management, and a commitment to service excellence. The Head Chef will drive training, supplier relations, and cost control while maintaining the hotel’s reputation for outstanding quality

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Head Chef in luxury hotel or fine dining.
• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Experience designing seasonal, high-quality menus.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen operations and oversee menu development across outlets.
• Maintain high standards of presentation, flavour and consistency.
• Manage suppliers, stock, and costs to maximize profitability.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety and food safety standards.

Skills

Leadership

Team Management

Menu Design

Food Safety

Cost Control

Education

Culinary Degree or equivalent

Job description

Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 8BU

Salary: Highly Competitive + service charge + excellent colleague benefits

Job Type: Full-time | Permanent | 5 days out of 7

Come and join our Team...

We are currently seeking a passionate and enthusiastic Head Chef at Ettington Park Hotel & Spa, part of Hand Picked Hotels.

- Ettington Park Hotel & Spa

Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 8BU

Salary: Highly Competitive + service charge + excellent colleague benefits

Job Type: Full-time | Permanent | 5 days out of 7

Come and join our Team...

We are currently seeking a passionate and enthusiastic Head Chef at Ettington Park Hotel & Spa, part of Hand Picked Hotels.

Tucked within a secluded Shakespearian landscape, Ettington Park Hotel & Spa offers a truly extraordinary place to grow your hospitality career. This Neo-Gothic masterpiece, set within 40 acres of parkland and woodland near Stratford-upon-Avon, blends dramatic architecture with discreet luxury - creating a workplace that is as inspiring as it is unique.

As part of our team, you’ll help bring the hotel’s rich heritage and quiet elegance to life for every guest. From welcoming visitors who come to explore our manicured gardens and historic ivy-clad ruins, to supporting the fine dining experience where candlelight, our personalised service, with an emphasis on service excellence & consistency, and menus celebrating the best of British provenance take centre stage, your role will help shape moments our guests never forget.

If you’re passionate about hospitality, thrive in a supportive environment, and enjoy making a real difference to someone’s stay, Ettington Park Hotel & Spa offers an inspiring place to grow your career.

What will the role involve?

The role of Head Chef at Ettington Park Hotel involves leading the delivery of an exceptional culinary experience for guests, ensuring that all menus reflect creativity, quality, and seasonal diversity. The Head Chef will design and oversee dishes that complement the hotel’s luxury offering, providing expert leadership in the kitchen and maintaining outstanding standards of presentation and flavour.

As Head Chef your role will focus on supporting and developing the culinary team through training, guidance, and inspirational leadership. Responsibilities also include managing kitchen operations, maintaining strong relationships with suppliers, monitoring stock and costs, and creating bespoke menus across the hotels outlets that enhance the overall guest experience and uphold the hotel’s reputation for excellence in luxury hospitality.

This is a full-time role working 5 days out of 7 including weekends on a rota basis, 45 hours per week, which may vary depending on business.

What’s in it for you?

• A highly competitive salary plus a share of service charge.
• A welcoming, inclusive culture where long-term friendships and diversity are celebrated.
• Ongoing career development with in-house and external training, including apprenticeships and industry-recognised courses.
• 28 days holiday per year including bank holidays, increasing to 33 days including bank holidays with length of service.
• Uniform and meals on shift provided.
• Complimentary spa access (*restrictions apply).
• Free onsite parking (where applicable).
• Access to wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Company pension, enhanced sick pay & Life assurance scheme.
• Online retail discount platform offering thousands of savings with high street retailers and restaurants as well as a health and well-being platform.
• Discounted stays in our hotels and on food, drink, spa treatments & products.
• Annual loyalty awards (like afternoon teas and overnight stays).
• Introduction bonus for new colleague recommendations.
• Colleague of the Month awards, which leads to our annual awards ceremony.
• Regular team gatherings and appreciation events.

Are you Hand Picked?

• We are looking for active and enthusiastic candidates that have a willing attitude and a welcoming and friendly nature. We work as a team to ensure our hotel operates smoothly and our guests are receiving a high-quality, personalised, and magical experience that they remember, recommend and return to time and time again.
• You will have significant experience leading high-performing professional kitchens, ideally supported by advanced culinary or hospitality qualifications. As an Executive Head Chef, you will demonstrate exceptional leadership, strategic kitchen management, and a strong commitment to culinary excellence and innovation.
• You will bring outstanding organisational and operational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and a genuine passion for delivering exceptional food and hospitality experiences while mentoring and developing your team.
• We want people that are passionate, showing the ability to go above and beyond naturally, that take pride in delivering consistently high standards and pay attention to all the details, with a focus on service, excellent and consistency as the everyday.

Who We Are…

Hand Picked Hotels was founded in 2001 by owner and Chairman, Julia Hands MBE, and today still remains a family-owned group which has 21 unique luxury country houses and coastal retreats, each hand picked for their individuality. Architecturally distinctive and quintessentially British, every hotel boasts an extraordinary location from Scotland to the Channel Islands, offering breathtaking views from vast countryside to expansive beaches, to lush woodlands.

Dedicated to creating unique and enchanting stays, curated personalised service runs through the heart of every hotel. Whilst each hotel is individual, each property fulfils the company values of family, individuality, community and care, with a team commitment to aiming higher and delight their guests with magical experiences that offer a true escape from the every day.

Hand Picked Hotels are committed to protecting the environment for a sustainable future, and all of our hotels have received the ‘Green Tourism’ accreditation. A Recognition of our progress in reducing energy use and waste, supporting biodiversity, and sourcing responsibly from local and ethical partners.

If you're an experienced Head Chef looking to work in a luxury hotel, take the next step in your career with Ettington Park Hotel & Spa.

Hand Picked Hotels is an Equal Opportunities employer. Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.