Head Chef

Cottons Hotel & Spa; Sworton Heath; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Wage access

Annual leave

Health cash plan

Staff discounts

Employee assistance

Parental leave pay

Apprenticeships

Life assurance

Training programs

Engaging environment

Job summary

Cottons Hotel & Spa in Knutsford-area is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead a diverse kitchen team and deliver dishes to 1 AA Rosette standards and beyond.

You will develop menus, mentor and motivate staff, manage food costs, and ensure top quality across breakfast, lunch, dinner, room service and events. The role requires hands-on leadership, strong collaboration with hotel management, and a passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Head Chef in hotel or high-volume kitchen.
• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Passion for modern, theatre-focused cuisine and trends.
• Experience with cost control and menu planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire the kitchen team to deliver high standards daily.
• Develop menus in line with brand and guest expectations.
• Oversee food cost, portion control, and waste management.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety and allergen management.
• Coordinate with hotel departments for events and room service.

Skills

Leadership

Menu development

Cost control

Staff development

Kitchen operations

Job description

Are you an experienced Head Chef ready for a fresh challenge? This is your chance to showcase your skills in a vibrant, creative environment. You will be fully responsible for a diverse team, serving the highest standard of food seven days per week. Our kitchen can serve over a thousand meals per week including breakfast, lunch, dinner, room service, conference & events. Your day to day;

Key responsibilities

• Inspire and innovate: Work closely with the team to evolve our menus, staying ahead of food trends to deliver exceptional dishes to our guests.
• Lead with passion: Be a hands-on leader, collaborating with key managers like the General Manager, Head of Sales, and Restaurant Manager.
• Nurture future talent: Develop our dedicated kitchen team - the Head Chefs of tomorrow - and guide our front-of-house team in understanding our dishes and stories.
• Drive excellence: Play an active role in cost management, kitchen efficiency, and maintaining the highest standards.
• Expand your impact: Oversee the kitchen operations for our sister food outlet and coffee shop.

About the role

This role is perfect for a driven and experienced Head Chef who's eager to work to 1 AA Rosette standards and beyond.

We're seeking someone with:

• A passion for people development - you'll lead and inspire your team with energy and a personal touch.
• A curious and creative nature that brings theatre to our restaurant.
• A deep understanding and love of food including key trends and a desire to keep our menus fresh and exciting.
• Experience in hotel kitchens and knowledge of hotel food operations is a big plus.

You will be comfortable collaborating with other senior managers in the hotel, sharing best practices in recruitment, retention and developing talented individuals. Someone who can set measurable, challenging goals for all team members, finding ways to improve staff knowledge and their approach, coaching and mentoring all kitchen managers. You will have a grasp of the principles of supply chain management, waste management, sustainable procurement and working practices in the kitchen. Understanding the principles of profit and loss and recognising how you can support the overall financial performance of the business through an efficient operation, building on past experience to achieve annual budgets.

Located just outside of the fashionable town of Knutsford, Cottons Hotel & Spa is an established hotel offering award winning spa and gym facilities, business facilities, comfy bedrooms and a locally sourced menu. With so much going on, no two days are ever the same at Cottons. Owned by Daniel Thwaites with a good network of nearby commuting towns, Cottons Hotel & Spa is perfect for someone looking for a supportive work environment in a busy hospitality venue, surrounded by the lush green Cheshire plains.

Benefits

• A competitive salary, negotiable dependent on experience
• Stream - the ability to access up to 40% of your wages as you earn them each week
• 28 days annual leave (rising to 33 days after 5 years)
• Health cash plan
• Generous employee discounts
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Apprenticeships available
• Life assurance
• Bespoke training programmes accessible to all
• An engaging & supportive work environment