Head Chef- New Opening Company of Cooks £65,000 per year London Operations

Chartwells Independent; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading hospitality company as a Head Chef for a new rooftop restaurant in Covent Garden, London. You will lead a talented team, design seasonal menus focused on seafood and produce, and be part of an exciting culinary project that pairs great food with crafted beers. This role offers significant opportunities for professional growth and development while working in a dynamic environment with exceptional produce.

Benefits

Personal Development and Training opportunities

Life assurance scheme

Pension scheme

Holiday allowance

Private medical eligibility

Eye care

Wellbeing strategy access

Family friendly support

Regular social events

Holiday purchase scheme

Volunteering days

Professional subscriptions

Recognition schemes

Long service awards

High street discount vouchers

Qualifications

• Experience leading a high-quality kitchen.
• Understanding of fish and seafood preparation.
• Ability to create menus with seasonal ingredients.

Responsibilities

• Lead all kitchen operations for a busy restaurant.
• Design and develop seasonal menus.
• Manage and inspire a team of chefs.

Skills

Leadership

Creativity

Communication

Organization

Passion for food

Job description

Craft, Creativity and Community – we are Company of Cooks! These are our values, and they go far beyond corporate waffle. In fact, they set the tone for everything we do. Company of Cooks have been working with some of the UK’s most cherished venues since 1996, delighting customers and clients alike with great food and drinks, brilliant service and an absolute focus on the details that make good restaurants, cafes and bars, great ones. In October 2019 the company was brought into the CH&CO family. The completion of the deal saw Company of Cooks become the group’s go-to operators in heritage and performance venues, art galleries and destinations. We are excited to be recruiting for a Head Chef for a new opening.

Job Title: Head Chef

Location: Rooftop Restaurant - Covent Garden

Reports To: Executive Chef

Team: 12 Chefs

Overview We’re looking for an experienced, passionate, and creative Head Chef to lead the kitchen of our standout seafood and vegetable restaurant in central London.

With stunning views and an open, lively atmosphere, this unique restaurant will celebrate the best of British waters and the freshest seasonal produce, cooked simply and beautifully. Think oysters, day boat fish, vibrant vegetables, and clever plant-based dishes - all designed to pair perfectly with the beers brewed on-site.

You’ll lead a team of 12 chefs in one of the most exciting food and drink projects in the city. This is a role for a chef who thrives in busy, high-energy environments and brings a modern, thoughtful, and clean style of cooking to the table.

The Role:

• Lead all kitchen operations for the 5th floor restaurant, delivering consistent, high-quality food during busy daily service
• Design and develop menus that reflect the seasons, the sea, and the land-rooted in flavour, elegance, and simplicity
• Create dishes that pair with brewed beers, from briny oysters and grilled fish to roasted veg and fermented elements
• Manage, train, and inspire a team of 12 chefs, setting the tone for a positive and professional kitchen culture
• Ensure standards of consistency, cleanliness, organisation, and communication are kept high at all times
• Work in collaboration with the Executive Chef, Head Pastry Chef, and other Head Chefs on-site as part of a cohesive leadership team
• Manage kitchen stocks, ordering, GP, training plans, and rota efficiency.

What were looking for:

• Proven experience leading a high-quality, high-volume kitchen, ideally with a seafood or produce-led focus
• Deep understanding of fish and seafood preparation, with a love for seasonal British ingredients and plant-led cooking
• A calm, clean, and organised chef who can balance refinement with pace
• Someone who cooks with passion and precision, flavour, taste, and product first.
• A strong communicator and leader who builds fun, inclusive, learning-forward teams
• Someone who’s excited by beer and food pairings and wants to help shape a restaurant with a unique point of view.

Join us and...

• Lead a rooftop kitchen in one of London’s most exciting hospitality launches.
• Work with exceptional produce, in a forward-thinking business
• Help define a new style of food and beer experience
• Be part of a tight-knit team of senior chefs with shared goals, support, and creativity

What's in it for you?

Working with Company of Cooks has its perks! People are at the heart of everything we do, so we've developed a range of benefits to keep you happy.

• Personal Development and Training opportunities

• Life assurance scheme
• Pension scheme
• Holiday allowance
• Private medical eligibility
• Eye care
• A great wellbeing strategy – including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance
• Family friendly support
• Regular social events and communication with our leaders
• A holiday purchase scheme
• Volunteering days
• Professional subscriptions
• Recognition schemes and people awards
• Long service awards
• Access to some great high street discount vouchers