Head Chef - Pre-Opening Gastropub & Chop House Lead

COREcruitment Ltd; Camden Town; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

COREcruitment Ltd is seeking a Head Chef to lead a brand-new gastropub and upstairs chop house at King's Cross. The role involves shaping menus from day one, building a brigade, and delivering high-quality seasonal British cooking with in-house production.

Openings are planned for Spring 2027 with a Christmas pre-start. You will manage costs, staffing and systems to ensure a successful launch and ongoing 7-day operations.

Qualifications

• Experience as Head Chef or strong Sous Chef ready to step up.
• Solid fresh food background from gastropubs, chophouses, grills or similar.
• Confident with butchery, grilling and cooking prime cuts.
• Opening or pre-opening experience is a real advantage.
• Hands-on leader able to train and build a brigade.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full kitchen operation across downstairs pub and upstairs chop house.
• Write and develop seasonal menus built on fresh British produce, cooked from scratch.
• Play a key part in the pre-opening, including kitchen set-up, suppliers, systems and launch menus.
• Recruit, train and develop a new brigade, building kitchen culture from the start.
• Run busy services across a 7-day operation, including a strong Sunday lunch trade.
• Manage GP, food costs, labour, ordering and stock control.
• Keep food safety, health and safety and allergen standards at the highest level.

Skills

Head Chef

Hands-on leadership

Butchery

Menu development

GP cost control

Job description

COREcruitment Ltd is seeking a Head Chef to lead a brand-new gastropub and upstairs chop house at King's Cross. The role involves shaping menus from day one, building a brigade, and delivering high-quality seasonal British cooking with in-house production.

Openings are planned for Spring 2027 with a Christmas pre-start. You will manage costs, staffing and systems to ensure a successful launch and ongoing 7-day operations.