Head Chef F&B · Olympia

Utilita Arena; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted tickets

25 days annual leave

Life Assurance

Pension 5%

Healthshield

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Eye care vouchers

Cycle to Work

Employee Referral Scheme

Job summary

Legends Global is seeking a Head Chef to lead all culinary operations within the Heritage Halls, delivering world-class food experiences for conferences, exhibitions, banquets, VIP events and live cooking stations.

You will ensure exceptional quality, innovation, food safety compliance, cost control and seamless coordination with event and operations teams. Join a dynamic, international culinary team at Legends Global.

Qualifications

• Experience managing statutory requirements and compliance.
• Thorough knowledge of food hygiene and health and safety regulations.
• Experience leading and developing a large kitchen team.
• Experience delivering excellent customer care.
• Budget and cost management experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all kitchen operations for the halls, exhibitions, banquets, and special events.
• Plan and execute high-volume, multi-outlet food production with premium quality standards.
• Design diverse, innovative menus suited to international clientele and event themes.
• Ensure timely service during live events, gala dinners, and VIP functions.
• Create seasonal, international, and customised menus.
• Incorporate modern culinary trends, sustainability, and local sourcing.
• Maintain exceptional food presentation and plating standards.
• Manage tasting sessions for clients, organisers, and stakeholders.
• Lead, train, and inspire a large kitchen team.
• Prepare duty rosters aligned with event schedules.
• Ensure effective communication between kitchen, service, and event teams.
• Ensure full compliance with health and safety requirements.
• Implement sustainability and waste-reduction initiatives
• Manage food costs, labour budgets, and inventory control
• Monitor wastage, portion control, and yield management
• Prepare culinary reports and forecasts for management
• Handle feedback and complaints professionally

Skills

Statutory compliance

Food hygiene & safety

Team leadership

Customer care

Budget/cost management

Cross-functional collaboration

IT experience

Education

Basic food hygiene certificate

Job description

About Legends Global

Legends Global is redefining excellence in sport, entertainment and live events. With unrivalled expertise and international reach, we provide end-to-end solutions – from venue development and event programming to revenue strategy and hospitality.

We take a 360‑degree, data‑driven approach across Partnerships, Hospitality, Merchandise and Attractions, working with leading clients to deliver outstanding experiences that resonate worldwide.

Our organisation is committed to fostering an inclusive and forward‑thinking environment where diversity drives innovation and collaboration. Guided by our values of Align, Scale, Connect, Team and Win... we create a culture where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

The Venue

Olympia is one of the UK’s leading event destinations, hosting exhibitions, conferences, live entertainment, sporting events, and corporate functions. Technology is at the heart of every event, with reliable connectivity and resilient infrastructure critical to delivering exceptional experiences for organisers, exhibitors, visitors, and employees.

About the Role

The Head Chef is responsible for leading all culinary operations within the Heritage Halls, delivering world‑class food experiences across conferences, exhibitions, banquets, VIP events, and live cooking stations. The role ensures exceptional quality, innovation, food safety compliance, cost control, and seamless coordination with event and operations teams.

What we can offer

Hosting events is what we do best, and we want our People to experience that too- enjoy access to discounted tickets to unleash your superfan for all your favourites.

• You will work hard at Legends Global , but you will be rewarded with lots of time to relax and rest with 25 days annual leave
• We understand that you have a life outside of work and want to ensure that your loved ones will always be taken care of whilst you’re contributing to our success with Life Assurance policy.
• A healthy contribution of 5% Pension so that your golden years are spent ticking off the items on your bucket list.
• Got a dental bill? Need to book a counselling session? Or even help with Physio costs? With the support of Healthshield; Legends Global will support with these unexpected costs. For you and any children.
• We understand that from time to time you might need a bit of support to get you back to feeling your best, so we have teamed up with AXA Health to provide our people with an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support mental health in the workplace.
• We are visionaries: both physically and metaphorically! When you join Legends Global you will be entitled to eye care vouchers and a contribution towards any glasses you require.
• Pedal your way to a greener, healthier commute—join our Cycle to Work scheme and turn every ride into a win for you and the planet
• Great people know great people! Refer a friend through our Employee Referral Scheme and get rewarded for helping us build an amazing team

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all kitchen operations for the halls, exhibitions, banquets, and special events
• Plan and execute high‑volume, multi‑outlet food production with premium quality standards
• Design diverse, innovative menus suited to international clientele and event themes
• Ensure timely service during live events, gala dinners, and VIP functions
• Create seasonal, international, and customised menus
• Incorporate modern culinary trends, sustainability, and local sourcing
• Maintain exceptional food presentation and plating standards
• Manage tasting sessions for clients, organisers, and stakeholders
• Lead, train, and inspire a large kitchen team
• Prepare duty rosters aligned with event schedules
• Ensure effective communication between kitchen, service, and event teams
• Ensure full compliance with health and safety requirements
• Implement sustainability and waste‑reduction initiatives
• Manage food costs, labour budgets, and inventory control
• Monitor wastage, portion control, and yield management
• Prepare culinary reports and forecasts for management
• Handle feedback and complaints professionally

We are looking for someone with

• Experience in the management of statutory requirements.
• Have a thorough understanding of food hygiene and health and safety regulations and as a minimum, hold a basic food hygiene certificate.
• Experience of leading and developing a team.
• Experience of providing excellent customer care.
• Experience of budget/cost management.
• Experience of working with colleagues at all levels throughout a company.
• IT experience

Recruitment Process Outlined

• 1st Stage- First interview
• 2nd Stage- Second in person interview

Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory pre‑employment checks. These may include verification of identity, proof of address, right to work, employment history, qualifications, and—where relevant to the role—a basic or enhanced DBS check. All checks will be carried out in line with data protection law and we will only request information that is necessary for the role.

Inclusive Workplace

At Legends Global , we are committed to leading the entertainment industry towards a greener, faster, and more innovative digital future. There’s never been a better time to join our team. We aim to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers, and suppliers. Join us and make a significant impact from day one.

We are committed to active inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunities. This commitment begins with our recruitment and selection process. We welcome discussions about flexible working arrangements.

If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of our recruitment process, please let us know in your application. We are dedicated to providing a fair and transparent assessment process and will do our utmost to accommodate your needs.