Head Chef

Hand Picked Hotels Ltd; Worcester; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday

Uniform provided

Free onsite parking

Wellbeing support

Pension scheme

Discount platform

Discounted stays

Job summary

Hand Picked Hotels is seeking a Head Chef for Buckland Manor Hotel, a luxury country house in the Cotswolds. You will lead an exceptional culinary team, craft menus aligned with seasonal produce, and ensure outstanding presentation and flavour across outlets.

You will mentor, train and develop staff, manage kitchen operations, control stock and costs, and build bespoke menus that elevate the guest dining experience while upholding the brand’s standards of excellence.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading high-performing professional kitchens.
• Strong leadership, strategic kitchen management and mentoring ability.
• Advanced culinary or hospitality qualifications preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of an exceptional culinary experience reflecting creativity and seasonality.
• Design and oversee dishes that complement the hotel’s luxury offering and oversee kitchen standards.
• Provide expert leadership, training and inspirational guidance to the culinary team.

Skills

Leadership

Kitchen management

Training

Menu design

Culinary excellence

Education

Advanced culinary or hospitality qualifications

Job description

Hand Picked Hotels

Head Chef –Buckland Manor Hotel

Location: Worcester, Worcestershire, WR12 7LY

Salary: 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 Buckland Manor Hotel, part of Hand Picked Hotels.

Buckland Manor is renowned for creating exceptional guest experiences through outstanding service, attention to detail, and warm hospitality. Working here means becoming part of a dedicated team committed to excellence, helping to deliver memorable stays, special celebrations, and outstanding dining experiences in one of the Cotswolds' most beautiful country house hotels.

Set within 10 acres of beautifully maintained gardens in the picturesque Cotswold village of Buckland, Buckland Manor provides a stunning and tranquil working environment. From welcoming guests and delivering exceptional dining experiences to supporting special occasions and events, your contribution will play an important role in creating unforgettable moments for our guests.

If you're looking for a role where you'll be valued, supported, and part of a friendly and professional team in a charming luxury country house setting, Buckland Manor could be the perfect place for you.

What will the role involve?

The role of a Head Chef at Buckland Manor 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 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..
• Uniform and meals on shift provided.
• 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.
• 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.

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