Head Chef – Luxury Hotel, 3 AA Rosette Kitchen

The Monogram Collective; Newbury; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days holiday

Training and development from day one

Employee events and celebrations

Inhouse employee app

Healthy meals on shift

Employee Assistance Programme

Financial Wellbeing App

Pension contributions

Job summary

The Vineyard Hotel is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead the kitchen brigade and deliver exceptional dining across our five‑star destination in Newbury. Reporting to the Executive Chef, you will drive culinary vision, lead a brigade, and ensure consistency, innovation, and luxury in every dish.

You will develop seasonal menus, manage costs, maintain HACCP compliance, and mentor a high‑performing team to uphold The Vineyard Hotel’s renowned standards and guest experiences.

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef within a luxury hotel or high‑quality restaurant.
• Exceptional culinary and technical expertise.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Experience leading busy kitchen operations.
• Strong IT and systems skills.
• Excellent organisational, planning, and communication skills.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, food safety legislation, and allergen management.
• Strong commercial awareness.
• A passion for seasonal produce, innovation, and luxury hospitality.
• High attention to detail.
• The ability to work effectively under pressure.
• A positive, proactive, solutions‑focused approach.
• A commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day operation of the kitchen brigade across all dining experiences.
• Deliver departmental budgets and achieve financial objectives.
• Manage food costs, purchasing, and stock control through the procurement system.
• Monitor labour costs, gross profit, and kitchen expenditure.
• Support supplier negotiations and purchasing decisions.
• Recruitment, onboarding, succession planning, and colleague development.
• Develop seasonal menus, tasting menus, and signature dishes.
• Deliver and enhance the standards expected of a 3 AA Rosette operation.
• Deputising for the Executive Chef during periods of absence.
• Lead kitchen operations for the gastronomic restaurant, breakfast, lounge dining, private dining, weddings, conferences, banquets, wine dinners, and special events.
• Ensure consistency, quality, and presentation meet luxury standards.
• Support smooth service during busy periods.
• Ensure all dishes are produced to specification and served promptly.
• Monitor portion control, food quality, and minimise waste.
• Maintain communication with Front of House teams during service.
• Ensure all dietary requirements and allergens are managed accurately and safely.
• Develop and create seasonal menus and wine‑pairing experiences.
• Lead with a focus on guest experiences and high standards.

Skills

Head Chef exp

Luxury hotel experience

Leadership

Culinary excellence

HACCP knowledge

Allergen management

Budget & cost control

Commercial awareness

Seasonal produce

Pressure management

Communication

Education

Professional Cookery qualification or equivalent

Food Safety Level 3

Tools

IT systems

Job description

The Vineyard Hotel is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead the kitchen brigade and deliver exceptional dining across our five‑star destination in Newbury. Reporting to the Executive Chef, you will drive culinary vision, lead a brigade, and ensure consistency, innovation, and luxury in every dish.

You will develop seasonal menus, manage costs, maintain HACCP compliance, and mentor a high‑performing team to uphold The Vineyard Hotel’s renowned standards and guest experiences.