Head Chef - Mediterranean Restaurant

Hoar Cross Hall Ltd; Stafford; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free parking

Spa day benefits

Free staff meals

Pension

Job summary

Hoar Cross Hall Ltd is recruiting a Head Chef for a brand-new Mediterranean restaurant at Hoar Cross Hall in Staffordshire. You will lead the kitchen from day one and shape the offering, delivering exceptional seasonal dishes with Mediterranean identity.

We seek an experienced chef with strong leadership, Rosette-level thinking and a passion for consistent quality. This pre-opening role offers ownership and close collaboration with the Executive Head Chef and Restaurant Manager.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a quality kitchen, Rosette-level experience valued.
• Strong understanding of Mediterranean cuisine and seasonal ingredients.
• Excellent team leadership and mentoring skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop seasonal Mediterranean menus that excite guests and drive sales.
• Lead pre-opening activities, menu trials, tastings and service rehearsals.
• Create recipes, plating standards, portion controls and dish costings.
• Direct the kitchen brigade with a positive, professional environment.
• Recruit, train and coach a talented team of chefs.
• Monitor food GP, purchasing, stock and waste control.
• Ensure food safety, hygiene and allergen standards across services.
• Collaborate with Restaurant Manager to align kitchen and front-of-house.

Skills

Leadership

Menu development

People development

Food safety

Commercial awareness

Job description

Head Chef - New Mediterranean
RestaurantLocation: Hoar Cross Hall,
StaffordshireAnnual 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 andlaunch, 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

People say you can't choose your family, well we
choose you to be part of ours