Head Chef

Corecruitment; Watford; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Temporary accommodation

Bonus on targets

Tips

Job summary

Corecruitment is seeking a Head Chef to lead the kitchen of a quality pub operation in Hertfordshire. Expect a seasonal, produce-led menu with strong local following and room for growth.

You will manage menu writing, GP, labour and stock, and train the team to deliver consistent pub dishes with warmth and approachability.

Qualifications

• Experience as a Head Chef or strong Senior Sous Chef in a quality pub, gastro pub or relaxed restaurant.
• Background in fresh food kitchens with strong seasonal menus.
• Ideally experience in a 1 AA Rosette, 2 AA Rosette, Bib Gourmand or quality-led pub environment.
• Strong team leadership and training skills.
• Good menu writing ability.
• Clear understanding of GP, labour, stock, ordering and kitchen standards.
• The confidence to improve systems without losing the identity of the pub.
• A genuine passion for British pub food done properly.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen operations and maintain high pub standards.
• Train and develop the kitchen team with structured leadership.
• Create and update menus reflecting seasonal produce and commercial sensibility.
• Control GP, stock, and labour costs while keeping quality.
• Deliver consistent pub dishes with care, imagination, and consistency.

Skills

Head Chef

Team Leadership

Menu Writing

Kitchen Standards

Pub Food Experience

Job description

Head Chef

Quality Food-Led Country Pub

Hertfordshire

Salary: £45,000 to £48,000

Tips: Around £5,000 to £6,000 per year

Bonus: 10% to 15% based on targets

Accommodation: Temporary accommodation available if needed

We are working with a beautiful food-led country pub in Hertfordshire that is looking for a strong Head Chef to lead the kitchen and help move the business forward.

This is a 2 AA Rosette pub operation with a strong local following, rooms, and a well-established reputation for seasonal, produce-led pub food. The food is not fine dining, but standards matter. The offer needs to resonate with proper pub cooking, done with care, consistency and imagination.

The heart of the menu needs to stay strong.

A Sunday roast that people come back for.

Seasonal specials that show personality.

Menus that feel fresh, well-written and commercially sensible.

This is a brilliant role for a Head Chef who understands what makes a great pub kitchen work.

The business is currently doing around £22,000 to £24,000 per week, with scope to grow towards £30,000 per week. Sundays are already a major part of the offer, with around 200 covers for roast service.

The right person will bring structure, confidence and energy.

You will need to be hands-on, calm under pressure and comfortable leading from the front. This role is not about overcomplicating the food. It is about delivering great pub dishes with consistency, training the team properly, and building a kitchen culture that can grow.

The ideal Head Chef will have:

• Experience as a Head Chef or strong Senior Sous Chef in a quality pub, gastro pub or relaxed restaurant
• A background in fresh food kitchens with strong seasonal menus
• Ideally experience in a 1 AA Rosette, 2 AA Rosette, Bib Gourmand or quality-led pub environment
• Strong team leadership and training skills
• Good menu writing ability
• A clear understanding of GP, labour, stock, ordering and kitchen standards
• The confidence to improve systems without losing the identity of the pub
• A genuine passion for British pub food done properly

This would suit someone from a quality independent gastro pub, a premium pub group, or a relaxed food-led restaurant where standards matter but the atmosphere stays warm and accessible.

The package:

• £45,000 to £48,000 basic salary
• Around £5,000 to £6,000 per year in tips
• Bonus on top, based on performance targets
• Temporary accommodation available if needed
• Strong platform to grow the food sales
• Well-known pub with a strong reputation
• Opportunity to put your stamp on the menu and kitchen culture

This is a great opportunity for a Head Chef who wants ownership, creativity and the chance to lead a proper pub kitchen with genuine room to grow.