Head Chef

Mint People; Winchester; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Mint People is seeking a confident Head Chef to lead the full-scale hotel kitchen operation in Winchester. The role covers all aspects of catering for the hotel with 81 bedrooms, conference and banqueting, and events, demanding a hands-on leadership approach.

You will manage a kitchen team, oversee menu development, food safety, and cost controls, and work closely with hotel management and front-of-house to deliver exceptional food across breakfast, lunch, and dinner services.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Head Chef within a hotel or high-volume environment.
• Strong background in conference, banqueting, and all-day dining.
• Excellent leadership, organisational, and communication skills.
• Commercially aware with a hands-on management style.
• Passionate about food quality, consistency, and team development.

Responsibilities

• Full responsibility for all kitchen operations across the hotel
• Lead, train, and develop the kitchen brigade
• Deliver consistent, high-quality food across all services
• Menu planning and development for all outlets and events
• Manage GP, food costs, stock control, and ordering
• Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene, and health & safety standards
• Work closely with hotel management, events, and front-of-house teams

Skills

Head Chef experience

Hotel kitchen

High-volume service

Leadership

Job description

Head Chef

Location: Winchester
Salary: £42,000 – £45,000 per annum

We are looking for an experienced and driven Head Chef to lead the entire kitchen operation at our established hotel in Winchester.

With 81 bedrooms, a busy food offering, and a strong conference and banqueting business, this is a hands‑on leadership role suited to a Head Chef who enjoys variety, volume, and building a motivated kitchen team.

The Operation

• 80-bedroom hotel

• Full food operation including:

  • Breakfast service

  • Lunch and dinner service

  • Conference & banqueting

  • Events and functions (some ALC)

• Two large conference suites:

  • One for up to 80 guests

  • One for up to 100 guests

  • Maximum capacity: 200 guests

The Role

• Full responsibility for all kitchen operations across the hotel

• Lead, train, and develop the kitchen brigade

• Deliver consistent, high-quality food across all services

• Menu planning and development for all outlets and events

• Manage GP, food costs, stock control, and ordering

• Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene, and health & safety standards

• Work closely with hotel management, events, and front-of-house teams

The Ideal Candidate

• Proven experience as a Head Chef within a hotel or high-volume environment

• Strong background in conference, banqueting, and all-day dining

• Excellent leadership, organisational, and communication skills

• Commercially aware with a hands‑on management style

• Passionate about food quality, consistency, and team development

What’s on Offer

• Competitive salary of £42,000 – £45,000

• A stable and structured kitchen team

• Varied role covering all aspects of hotel catering

• Opportunity to make a real impact on the food offering

If you are a confident Head Chef looking to lead a full-scale hotel kitchen operation in Winchester, we would love to hear from you.