Head Chef - Gainsborough

Lounge Underwear Ltd.; Gainsborough CP; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-known dining establishment in Gainsborough is seeking an experienced Head Chef with a passion for real cooking and strong leadership skills. The ideal candidate will manage kitchen operations, maintain high food standards, and foster a supportive team environment. You'll be responsible for training staff, preparing dishes, and ensuring kitchen efficiency. With benefits that include 50% off food and drinks and a competitive holiday package, this is a great opportunity for a culinary leader to thrive.

Benefits

Overtime pay for extra hours

Staff food on every shift

50% off food and drinks from day one

Paid breaks

28 days paid holiday pro rata

Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

Company pension scheme

Career progression opportunities

Tips shared equally across the team

Qualifications

• Experience as Head Chef, Kitchen Manager, or Sous Chef.
• Ability to manage kitchen operations through clear KPIs.
• Experience in delivering training for kitchen teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen team from the front, maintaining high food standards.
• Ensure each dish is prepared to specification in a clean space.
• Report on kitchen metrics such as GPs and labour costs.

Skills

Fresh ingredient handling

Food preparation (hot/cold)

Leadership in kitchen

Hygiene practices

KPI management

Training and recruitment

Job description

Responsibilities & Qualifications

• You are probably an existing Head Chef, Kitchen Manager or Sous Chef looking for your first step into a Head Chef role. You will have experience of working with fresh ingredients and be able to demonstrate good chef/kitchen skills (food prep hot and cold, cleaning, knife skills, good hygiene practices).

• Your work ethic is rolling your sleeves up and getting stuck in, leading from the front and playing an active role in delivering excellent kitchen and food standards as part of a high‑performing team.

• Familiar with managing through clear KPIs and making decisions considering labour, stock, food safety requirements and other factors.

• You have worked in kitchen environments where reporting on various metrics including GPs, labour/house and food preparation is required.

• You have demonstrated successful delivery of training and recruitment for kitchen teams including apprentices, K.P.s, chefs, junior sous chefs and sous chefs.

• We love real cooking, customers love real cooking – you will be doing it with us, fresh, customer‑led and with high‑quality ingredients.

• You will be part of a dedicated, supportive team, working from our flexible all‑day menu to give people food that makes their day. You’ll be responsible for making each dish to spec, in a clean and safe kitchen, and ensuring all prep and par is completed for each shift. You’ll be helping every customer leave happy thanks to the great food.

Benefits

• Overtime pay for every hour worked over contracted hours!
• Staff food on every shift
• 50% off food and drinks (including alcohol) from day one at all three of our brands – Lounge, Cosy Club and Brightside
• Paid breaks
• 28 days holiday (inclusive of Bank Holidays) pro rata
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay after 2 years service
• The most talked‑about staff party in hospitality – Loungefest!
• Competitions and incentives (like jetting off on an all expenses paid trip with one of our suppliers)
• Company pension scheme
• Long service awards
• Power over your pay with Wagestream
• Emotional and practical support via the Licensed Trade Charity
• Great opportunity for personal development and career progression in a fast‑growing business
• Achievable bonuses
• Tips shared equally across the team, based on hours worked
• Christmas and Boxing Day off!