Head Chef

Bella Italia; West of England; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

45-hour contract

Quarterly bonus

Tronc eligibility

Employee discounts on food and drink

Job summary

Bella Italia is looking for a Head Chef who can lead a busy kitchen, craft authentic Italian dishes, and inspire a talented team in a fast-paced dining environment.

You will work closely with the management team to hit restaurant goals, maintain the highest standards of food quality and kitchen hygiene, coach staff, and make smart financial decisions to drive efficiency and guest satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Experience leading kitchen teams in a fast-paced hospitality setting.
• Strong understanding of food costs, menu planning, and profitability.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a customer‑facing mindset.
• Ability to coach and develop junior chefs and kitchen staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen team to deliver outstanding guest experiences.
• Ensure each dish is cooked to the highest standard and plated beautifully.
• Maintain strict kitchen cleanliness and hygiene to audit standards.
• Foster a fun, inclusive, and high‑performance team culture.
• Analyze P&L data to drive cost efficiency and profitability.

Skills

Team leadership

Menu development

Financial acumen

Staff training

Food safety & hygiene

Job description

At Bella Italia, we believe that the best moments in life are spent with loved ones sharing food, friendship, laughter, and the joy of the Italian table. If you have a passion for pizza, pasta, and leading a fantastic team, then this is the job for you! Come and be part of the Bella Italia family as a Head Chef.

Why Join Bella?

We know that happy teams create the best experiences, so we offer:

• Competitive Package – 45-hour contract,
  quarterly bonus and opportunity to earn Tronc.
• Amazing Discounts – 50% off food and drink across
  all Big Table Group brands and 25% for friends & family.
• Career Growth – Fully funded apprenticeships in
  Hospitality Management (Level 4).
• Wellbeing & Support – Our Employee Assistance Programme includes a 24/7 virtual GP, mental health support, a second medical
  opinion service, and more.
• Perks & Rewards – Access to wages before
  payday, discounted gym memberships, and savings on theme parks, shopping,
  and more!
• Team Competitions & Events – Win a trip
  to Italy, team parties, and even a chance to win e-points to spend on your
  favourite retailers.

What You’ll Do as a Head Chef:

• Work closely with the management team to achieve
  restaurant goals.
• Lead the guest experience by ensuring every dish is
  cooked to perfection.
• Maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and
  kitchen hygiene.
• Create a fun, motivating team environment, with a
  focus on developing and nurturing talent.
• Be commercially minded analysing profit & loss
  accounts to make strong financial decisions and drive efficiency.

Who We’re Looking For:

If you’ve got a real passion for food, enjoy bringing
people together, and thrive in the buzz of a fast‑paced, guest‑first
environment, you might just be the perfect fit for us.

At Bella Italia, our teams are like family. We
put people at the heart of everything we do, creating a welcoming, inclusive
workplace where you can be yourself, feel supported, and grow your career. If
you need any reasonable adjustments during the hiring process, just let us know
— we’ve got you.

Thinking about using AI tools for your application? They can
be great for getting started, but what really makes an application shine is
you, your energy, experience, personality, and leadership style.

What’s the process?

Application → CV review → friendly phone chat → first‑stage
interview → second‑stage interview → offer and onboarding

At Bella Italia, we don’t just look for experience – we look
for people with a genuine love for hospitality who care about their teams and
our guests. If that sounds like you, we’d love to welcome you to the family.

Join the Bella Italia family today and work somewhere awesome! Don’t just take our word for it we’re proud to be named in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026.