Head Chef - Mediterranean Restaurant

Hiddenwell; Burton upon Trent; Remote; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Spa Day on work anniversaries

Free staff meals

Pension scheme

Free parking

Discounts across venues

Refer-a-Friend scheme

Job summary

Hiddenwell is launching a new Mediterranean restaurant and seeks an experienced Head Chef to own the kitchen from pre-opening through launch. You’ll shape the food offering, lead a dedicated brigade and build a distinctive Mediterranean identity around seasonal ingredients.

You’ll work closely with the Executive Head Chef and Restaurant Manager to deliver high standards, strong controls and memorable guest experiences in a 60-cover setting.

Qualifications

• Experience in a rosette-level or quality restaurant is highly valuable.
• Excellent understanding of food safety, allergens and kitchen financials.
• Proven leadership with coaching and developing chefs.
• Ability to create and cost menus with seasonal Mediterranean ingredients.

Responsibilities

• Develop creative, seasonal Mediterranean menus that excite guests and are commercially viable.
• Participate in pre-opening activities, menu trials, tastings and service rehearsals.
• Create recipes, specifications, plating standards, portion controls and dish costings.
• Lead the kitchen brigade from the front, maintaining a positive, professional environment.
• Recruit, train, coach and develop a talented kitchen team.
• Own food quality and consistency across all services.
• Lead the pass during key services to ensure peak kitchen performance.
• Maintain exceptional food safety, hygiene and allergen standards.
• Collaborate with Restaurant Manager to align kitchen and front-of-house operations.
• Manage food GP, purchasing, stock, waste, labour, overtime and agency costs.
• Utilize guest feedback and performance data to continually refine the offering.
• Champion seasonal ingredients and responsible sourcing, reducing waste.
• Develop signature dishes that reinforce a distinct Mediterranean identity.

Skills

Leadership

Menu development

Food safety

Allergens knowledge

Team development

Commercial awareness

Job description

Head Chef – New Mediterranean Restaurant

Location: Hoar Cross Hall, Staffordshire

Annual salary: £60,000 per annum

Estimated Start Date: 14 December 2026

An exciting opportunity to lead the kitchen of a brand-new 60-cover Mediterranean restaurant and shape its food offering from day one

We’re looking for an experienced and passionate Head Chef to take ownership of an exciting new restaurant concept at Hiddenwell

This is more than a role running an established kitchen. You’ll be involved from pre-opening and launch, working closely with our Executive Head Chef and Restaurant Manager to develop a distinctive Mediterranean food offering built around outstanding seasonal ingredients, confident cooking and consistently high standards

Our ambition is clear: to create a restaurant with its own identity and reputation, delivering and maintaining a minimum Two AA Rosette standard

What you’ll be doing

As Head Chef, you’ll have real ownership of the kitchen and culinary direction of the restaurant

• Developing creative, seasonal Mediterranean menus that excite our guests and perform commercially
• Helping shape the restaurant through pre-opening, menu trials, tastings and service rehearsals
• Creating recipes, specifications, plating standards, portion controls and dish costings
• Leading the kitchen brigade from the front, creating a positive and professional environment
• Recruiting, training, coaching and developing a talented team of chefs
• Taking ownership of food quality and consistency across every service
• Leading the pass during key services and ensure the kitchen performs at its best
• Maintaining exceptional food safety, hygiene and allergen standards
• Working closely with the Restaurant Manager so the kitchen and front-of-house teams operate as one
• Managing food GP, purchasing, stock, waste, labour, overtime and agency costs
• Using guest feedback, menu performance and sales trends to continually develop the offering
• Championing seasonal ingredients, responsible sourcing and reducing food waste
• Develop signature dishes while maintaining a clear Mediterranean identity

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who combines culinary creativity with excellent leadership and commercial awareness

You’ll be a confident kitchen leader who enjoys developing people, setting high standards and being hands-on during service. You’ll understand that a successful restaurant isn't just about exceptional food – it's about consistency, teamwork, excellent controls and creating an experience that makes guests want to return

Experience within a quality restaurant or rosette-level environment would be particularly valuable, alongside an excellent understanding of food safety, allergens, kitchen financials and team leadership

Most importantly, we’re looking for someone excited by the opportunity to build something – developing the food, the team and the reputation of a new restaurant from the very beginning

Why this role?

This is a fantastic opportunity for a Head Chef who wants genuine ownership and the chance to put their stamp on a new restaurant

You’ll have the support of the Executive Head Chef and wider Food & Beverage leadership team, while having the autonomy to lead your brigade, develop the menu and continually evolve the restaurant
Success will mean creating a kitchen known for excellent Mediterranean food, talented and engaged chefs, strong standards and memorable guest experiences

Additional Information

• Full-time position – 45 hours per week working evenings
• Working 5/7 days per week including weekends and bank holidays
• Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship now or at any point in the future for this role.
• Salary: £60,000 per annum

Why Join Us

• Work in a picturesque, historic estate with a focus on luxury and high standards in hospitality
• Complimentary Spa Day on work anniversaries at any of our company spas
• Free meal provided daily through our staff canteen
• Complimentary use of leisure and spa facilities
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program
• 30% discount on overnight stays and spa days
• Discounts on food, drink and retail across our venues
• Pension scheme
• Free Parking
• Refer-a-Friend scheme
• Excellent Induction and training programme
• Perkbox Online benefits and discounts
• On-line Doctor support (appointments/prescriptions)
• A fun, supportive and inclusive work environment with loads of development opportunities

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