Head Chef – Luxury 5 Star Hotel

Trades Workforce Solutions; Reading; On-site; GBP 54,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious 5-star property near Reading seeks a talented Head Chef to lead its renowned kitchen. This unique setting offers organic produce and encourages a farm-to-table dining experience. The ideal candidate brings experience from a high-caliber kitchen, overseeing a team of 17 while designing seasonal menus and upholding exceptional standards. The role offers a salary of £54,000 plus benefits, with a collaborative culinary environment that makes creativity flourish.

Benefits

Generous service charge

Holiday allowance rising with service

Healthcare cover

Life assurance scheme

Discounts on F&B and products

Company sick pay

Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

Free meals on duty

Online discounts

Employee assistant programme

Monthly employee recognition scheme

Qualifications

• Experience from a high-level award-winning kitchen.
• Ability to create seasonal menus using local produce.

Responsibilities

• Lead the hotel kitchen team of 17.
• Design seasonal menus inspired by the estate’s produce.
• Mentor and develop your kitchen team.
• Uphold high standards across every service.
• Work closely with the wider estate for farm-to-table dining.

Skills

Culinary Experience

Food Handling

Restaurant Experience

Kitchen Management Experience

Food Preparation Experience

Kitchen Experience

Food Industry

Cooking

Cost Control

Baking

Sanitation

Leadership Experience

Job description

Job Description

We're proud to be working with one of our longstanding clients, a truly exceptional 5-star property located just outside Reading which is seeking a talented and creative Head Chef to lead their renowned restaurant.

This property is truly unique. Set in beautiful countryside with its own organic farm and gardens providing an abundance of hyper‑seasonal produce. Working here means cooking with ingredients grown just steps away from the kitchen and creating dishes that reflect the very best of each season.

You will bring experience from a high‑level award‑winning kitchen within a multi‑rosette restaurant and/or a luxury 5-star hotel. Due to the hotel’s location you will also need your own reliable mode of transportation.

You'll be wondering what's in it for you as the Head Chef

• £54,000 per annum plus very generous service charge
• Work with the highest quality organic and biodynamic produce
• Holiday allowance rising with service
• Healthcare cover
• Life assurance scheme
• Discounts on F&B and products
• Company sick pay
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Free meals on duty
• Online discounts
• Employee assistant programme
• Monthly employee recognition scheme

Responsibilities as the Head Chef

• Leading the hotel kitchen team of 17, overseeing breakfast, lunch, dinner, in‑room dining and events
• Designing and delivering seasonal menus inspired by the estate’s produce and natural rhythms
• Mentoring and developing your team, fostering a culture of collaboration and respect for ingredients
• Upholding exceptional standards across every service, ensuring consistency and creativity
• Working closely with the wider estate to bring a unique farm‑to‑table ethos to life

This is a rare opportunity to lead a kitchen where the land, the seasons and your creativity come together to create unforgettable dining experiences.

PLEASE NOTE YOU WILL NEED THE RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK TO BE SUITABLE FOR THIS ROLE.

We appreciate that your CV may not be up to date. No problem, send me what you have to or look me up on LinkedIn and send me a message there!

Key Skills

• Culinary Experience
• Food Handling
• Restaurant Experience
• Kitchen Management Experience
• Food Preparation Experience
• Kitchen Experience
• Food Industry
• Cooking
• Cost Control
• Baking
• Sanitation
• Leadership Experience

Employment Details

Employment Type: Full‑Time

Experience: years

Vacancy: 1