Head Chef - Live in Available

Greene King; Little Bookham; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Live-in accommodation available

Staff discounts

Job summary

Ye Olde Windsor Castle in Little Bookham, Surrey, is seeking a Kitchen Manager to lead the kitchen, maintain high food standards and drive the food-led business forward.

You’ll manage a 50-cover restaurant, oversee stock, cost control and menus, work with the General Manager, and benefit from live-in accommodation plus staff discounts and development opportunities. The role requires hands-on leadership during busy services, coaching the team, and ensuring safety and compliance.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing a kitchen in a busy pub or similar hospitality.
• Strong knowledge of kitchen operations and leading a team.
• Ability to coach, motivate and develop the kitchen team.
• Experience with stock control, stock takes, rotation and wastage.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen team from the front, setting clear expectations and maintaining high standards.
• Take responsibility for the quality, consistency and presentation of every dish leaving the kitchen.
• Build on the recent improvements in kitchen standards and sales.
• Coach, motivate and develop the kitchen team.
• Ensure the kitchen is organised, efficient and ready for every service.
• Maintain excellent food safety, hygiene and health & safety standards.
• Work closely with the General Manager and wider team to drive the food business.

Skills

Kitchen management

People management

Leadership

Communication

Food safety

Stock control

Job description

Why Ye Olde Windsor Castle?

Ye Olde Windsor Castle is a proper country pub, full of character, from its exposed wooden beams and open fireplaces to its beautifully maintained beer garden.

Why Ye Olde Windsor Castle?

Ye Olde Windsor Castle is a proper country pub, full of character, from its exposed wooden beams and open fireplaces to its beautifully maintained beer garden.

Food is at the heart of the business, with a menu built around traditional pub favourites, from classic steaks and pies to fresh Garden Plot Medleys, all focused on delivering great quality to our customers.

The kitchen also has plenty of variety. Alongside our regular food trade, we host wakes, buffets and walking groups, giving you the opportunity to manage different types of service and customer occasions.

The site has recently seen a renewed focus on sales and standards, and we're looking for an experienced Kitchen Manager who can maintain that momentum and continue driving the kitchen forward.

Company Description

Ye Olde Windsor Castle is a proper country pub, full of character, from its exposed wooden beams and open fireplaces to its beautifully maintained beer garden. Food is at the heart of the business, with a menu built around traditional pub favourites, from classic steaks and pies to fresh Garden Plot Medleys, all focused on delivering great quality to our customers. The kitchen also has plenty of variety. Alongside our regular food trade, we host wakes, buffets and walking groups, giving you the opportunity to manage different types of service and customer occasions. The site has recently seen a renewed focus on sales and standards, and we're looking for an experienced Kitchen Manager who can maintain that momentum and continue driving the kitchen forward.

Kitchen Manager – Ye Olde Windsor Castle, Little Bookham

Salary - £32,000 - £36,000 + Bonus

Ready to lead a kitchen with a great reputation and a fresh sense of momentum? If you're an experienced Kitchen Manager who takes pride in great food, strong standards and leading a team, we have an exciting opportunity for you at Ye Olde Windsor Castle in Little Bookham, Surrey. Dating back to the 16th century, this beautiful Grade II listed country pub combines historic charm with a modern, food-led operation. With a 50-cover restaurant, a busy food service and a variety of functions and group bookings, we're looking for someone who can take ownership of the kitchen and continue building on the progress already made.

Additional Information

And there’s plenty in it for you...

• Career development opportunities across Greene King.


• Training and development at every level, including apprenticeships.


• 33% employee discount and 15% discount for loved ones across Greene King brands.


• 50% employee and 25% loved ones discount at Greene King Inns and hotels.


• Employee Assistance Programme supporting mental health, wellbeing and financial/legal advice.


• Enhanced family-friendly maternity and paternity policies.


• Menopause Friendly Employer.


• Refer a Friend scheme – earn up to £1,500.


• Wagestream – access to your pay as you earn.


• Retail discounts, including up to 30% at Superdrug and Three Mobile.

Bring your experience. Lead the kitchen. Build on the momentum.

CREATING PLACES WHERE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME, SAFE AND THAT THEY BELONG

We aim to embed inclusion into every decision we make – across our people, customers, communities, suppliers, and operations. We want to create a culture where everyone feels welcome, valued, and able to thrive.

If you're ready to take ownership of a kitchen, lead a team and help drive the continued success of Ye Olde Windsor Castle, we'd love to hear from you.

Qualifications

What’s the opportunity?

As Kitchen Manager, you'll take ownership of the kitchen and play a key role in the continued success of the pub.

You'll:

• Lead the kitchen team from the front, setting clear expectations and maintaining high standards.


• Take responsibility for the quality, consistency and presentation of every dish leaving the kitchen.


• Build on the recent improvements in kitchen standards and sales.


• Coach, motivate and develop the kitchen team.


• Ensure the kitchen is organised, efficient and ready for every service.


• Manage stock takes, ordering, stock rotation and wastage.


• Maintain excellent food safety, hygiene and health & safety standards.


• Monitor food costs and GP to ensure the kitchen operates commercially.


• Work closely with the General Manager and wider management team to drive the food business.


• Plan and deliver different styles of service, including regular pub trade, wakes, buffets and walking groups.


• Ensure the kitchen is prepared for busy periods and larger group bookings.


• Maintain standards across the 50-cover restaurant.


• Bring ideas and experience to help develop the food offer and grow the business.


• Lead busy services confidently and remain calm and organised when the pressure is on.

Food service currently runs through the day, with the main food trade operating from around 12pm through to 8pm, extending to around 8:30pm at weekends.

We're looking for someone who can confidently take ownership of the kitchen and make sure the standards customers expect are delivered consistently, every day.

What We’re Looking For

• Has proven experience managing a kitchen, ideally within a busy pub or similar hospitality environment.


• Has strong knowledge of kitchen operations and understands what makes a successful food-led business.


• Leads from the front and is comfortable being hands‑on during service.


• Has strong people-management and communication skills.


• Can coach, motivate and develop a kitchen team.


• Takes pride in maintaining high food and kitchen standards.


• Has excellent knowledge of food safety, hygiene and health & safety.


• Is confident with stock control, stock takes, rotation and wastage.


• Understands food GP and the commercial side of running a kitchen.


• Is organised and able to plan effectively for different types of trade.


• Is confident managing larger bookings, buffets and group occasions.


• Has the experience and maturity to take ownership and drive standards forward.


• Wants to make a genuine impact and continue developing their career with Greene King.

Live-in accommodation available

For the right candidate, live-in accommodation is available in a room above the pub.

The accommodation includes:

• A standard double bedroom.


• Separate access to the accommodation.


• Shared bathroom and kitchen facilities with three other team members — two chefs and one FOH Team Leader.

Your kitchen. Your team. Your opportunity.

Ye Olde Windsor Castle has already re-established its sales and standards, and now we're looking for the right Kitchen Manager to build on that progress.

If you're an experienced chef who wants to take ownership, lead a team and make a real difference to a historic country pub, this could be your next move.