Head Chef Food Led Pub

Craft Locals; Rickmansworth; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing group of people-focused pubs in the UK seeks an exceptional Head Chef to lead their kitchen. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of delivering high-quality food while fostering a positive kitchen culture. You will work closely with the General Manager to create thoughtful, seasonal menus, and manage a motivated team. This position offers a strong emphasis on work-life balance, supportive management, and a performance-related bonus.

Benefits

50% off food

20% off drinks

28 days holiday

Performance-related kitchen bonus (OTE £5,000)

Qualifications

• Proven experience running a busy, quality-focused pub.
• A passion for food and well-kept beer (especially cask).
• Strong people leadership and recruitment skills.

Responsibilities

• Leading a fresh-food kitchen, delivering consistently high standards.
• Managing, training, and developing a strong kitchen team.
• Working closely with the General Manager and FOH to deliver great guest experiences.

Skills

Leadership in kitchen management

Quality food delivery

Financial management

People leadership

Organizational skills

Job description

Food-Led Pub | Fresh Food | People-First Leadership

We’re looking for an exceptional Head Chef to lead the kitchen in one of our food-led pubs — someone who cares deeply about quality, seasonal produce, and building a calm, well‑run kitchen where people enjoy coming to work.

This role suits a confident, experienced Head Chef who enjoys delivering great pub food at pace without compromising standards. You’ll work closely with the General Manager to create menus that are thoughtful, seasonal, and right for the pub, while leading and developing a motivated kitchen team who take pride in their kitchen and what they put on the plate.

You’ll be supported by a hands‑on head office team and clear systems that make compliance and admin straightforward — allowing you to focus on food, people, and consistency.

About you

You’re an experienced General Manager who:

• An experienced Head Chef who takes pride in delivering consistent, high‑quality food
• Passionate about seasonal pub cooking, quality ingredients, and well‑executed menus
• A calm, organised leader who enjoys developing and motivating a kitchen team
• Commercially aware, with confidence managing GP, labour, and compliance
• Collaborative in approach, working closely with the General Manager, HQ and FOH team
• Standards‑driven, with a strong eye for detail and presentation
• Comfortable using systems and structure to run an efficient, compliant kitchen
• Committed to creating a positive kitchen culture where people enjoy coming to work

What you'll be doing

• Leading a fresh‑food kitchen, delivering consistently high standards
• Managing, training, and developing a strong kitchen team
• Working closely with the General Manager and FOH to deliver great guest experiences
• Managing GP, labour, and compliance with confidence and care
• Building relationships with local and trusted suppliers
• Running an organized, efficient kitchen using digital systems and best‑practice processes

What’s in it for you

• A supportive, hands‑on head office team that helps you succeed
• Clear structure, realistic expectations, and room to do things properly
• Company incentives and perks
• 50% off food and 20% off drinks across all venues
• 28 days holiday
• Training and communication via AllGravy
• WSET opportunities
• Genuine progression within a small, growing group (currently three sites)
• Tips: Share of card tips (£2,000+ expected)
• Work/life balance: Fair, sustainable rotas — we work to live, not live to work
• Performance‑related kitchen bonus (OTE £5,000)

What we’re looking for

• Proven experience running a busy, quality‑focused pub
• A passion for food and well‑kept beer (especially cask)
• Strong people leadership and recruitment skills
• Confidence in financial management and commercial decision‑making
• High standards and a genuine eye for detail

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

About Us

Craft Locals is a growing group of people-focused pubs, dedicated to delivering exceptional food, well‑kept cask ale, and memorable guest experiences. We believe great pubs start with great teams, and we invest in our people — giving them the support, training, and tools they need to shine.

We’ve built systems that make running a pub straightforward and compliant, so our teams can focus on what really matters: welcoming guests and delivering an outstanding experience. From reservations to stock, scheduling to events, we use a suite of best‑in‑class tools — including AllGravy, MarketMan, Harri, S4Labour, Lightspeed, Trail, FoodAlert and SevenRooms — to simplify operations and keep everything running smoothly.

At Craft Locals, we’re proud to combine a love of people, food, and drink with smart systems and strong support — creating pubs that teams enjoy working in and guests love visiting.