Head Chef - Luxury Banqueting

COREcruitment Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30+ days annual leave

12% employer-funded pension

Private medical insurance

Paid overtime/TOIL

Free meals on duty

Career progression

Supportive kitchen culture

Job summary

COREcruitment Ltd is seeking an experienced Head Chef for a prestigious Central London venue. You will lead the banqueting kitchen, craft beautiful seasonal menus, and work hands-on during service to deliver extraordinary events.

With a strong focus on mentorship, you will develop Sous Chefs and inspire the team to present innovative menu ideas while maintaining exceptional culinary standards across VIP dinners and bespoke dining experiences.

Qualifications

• Experienced Head Chef or strong Senior Sous Chef.
• Background in fine dining, luxury hotels or premium banqueting.
• Passionate about seasonal produce, provenance and presentation.
• A natural leader who genuinely enjoys developing people.
• Happy to put your chef whites on and get involved.
• Creative, organised and confident delivering high-end events.

Responsibilities

• Lead the banqueting kitchen and deliver exceptional events.
• Create beautiful seasonal menus using outstanding ingredients.
• Work hands-on alongside your chefs during service.
• Mentor and develop Sous Chefs, supporting internal progression.
• Encourage your team to create and present their own menu ideas.
• Oversee VIP dinners, tastings and bespoke dining experiences.
• Maintain excellent culinary and operational standards.

Skills

Fine dining

Menu development

Mentoring

Leadership

Event management

Job description

& Fine Dining – Central London

Salary: £60,000 + Exceptional Benefits
Location: Central London
Hours: 40 hours per week | 5 days out of 7 | Just one weekend per month

Imagine leading a kitchen in one of London's beautiful historic Livery Halls, creating exceptional food for prestigious dinners, private celebrations and spectacular events.

I'm recruiting a Head Chef for a stunning, historic venue in Central London, where centuries of heritage meet modern, creative fine dining.

The kitchens are huge, exceptionally well maintained and beautifully organised, with an established brigade, a fantastic working culture and a real emphasis on developing chefs from within.

This is somewhere you can take pride in your food, your team and the environment you work in.

Salary & Benefits

• £60,000 salary
• 30+ days annual leave, including seasonal closures
• 12% employer-funded pension
• Private medical insurance
• Paid overtime / TOIL
• Free meals on duty
• Excellent internal progression and development
• Supportive, well-established kitchen culture

The Operation

• Beautiful historic venue with impressive event spaces.
• Fine dining, seasonal banqueting and bespoke VIP menus.
• Intimate dinners through to grand banquets for 300 guests.
• Larger events accommodating up to 500.
• Spacious, immaculate and exceptionally well-equipped kitchens.
• Independent, in-house catering operation.

The Role

• Lead the banqueting kitchen and deliver exceptional events.
• Create beautiful seasonal menus using outstanding ingredients.
• Work hands-on alongside your chefs during service.
• Mentor and develop Sous Chefs, supporting internal progression.
• Encourage your team to create and present their own menu ideas.
• Oversee VIP dinners, tastings and bespoke dining experiences.
• Maintain excellent culinary and operational standards.

About You

• Experienced Head Chef or strong Senior Sous Chef.
• Background in fine dining, luxury hotels or premium banqueting.
• Passionate about seasonal produce, provenance and presentation.
• A natural leader who genuinely enjoys developing people.
• Happy to put your chef whites on and get involved.
• Creative, organised and confident delivering high-end events.

Typical shifts are 8am–4pm or 1pm–10pm, with approximately one weekend per month shared across the team.

If you're looking for more than just another Head Chef job, this is a rare opportunity to work in a truly special setting, with exceptional benefits, fantastic kitchens and a team that genuinely cares about its people.