Head Chef, Premium Country Gastropub

COREcruitment Ltd; Royal Tunbridge Wells; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Live-in accommodation

Job summary

COREcruitment Ltd. is seeking a hands-on Head Chef for a premium country gastropub near Tunbridge Wells. Lead a busy, from-scratch kitchen serving around 200 covers on Saturdays and up to 400 on Sundays; live-in accommodation is available above the pub.

You will oversee a brigade, manage food costs and ensure top-quality seasonal dishes while maintaining standards under busy service.

Qualifications

• Experience as Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef aiming for Head Chef role.
• Background in pubs, gastropubs or fresh-food restaurants.
• Passionate about seasonal produce and proper cooking techniques.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen and deliver a fresh, seasonal gastropub menu.
• Cook from scratch with stocks, sauces and jus made in house.
• Run a brigade of around three chefs plus KP midweek, rising to five or six on weekends.
• Manage ordering, stock control, food costs and GP.
• Keep standards consistent from prep through to high-volume service.
• Lead food safety, hygiene and kitchen compliance.
• Work closely with front of house to deliver an excellent guest experience.

Skills

Team leadership

From-scratch cooking

Food safety

Menu development

Planning & budgeting

Job description

Head Chef - Premium Country Gastropub - Tunbridge Wells 40-45k plus bonus

A hands-on Head Chef role leading a busy, from-scratch kitchen at a well-regarded country pub, with live-in available.

A well-regarded country gastropub near Tunbridge Wells is looking for a Head Chef to lead its kitchen.The pub has a strong local reputation for fresh, seasonal food and proper cooking, and trades busily all week, building to around 200 covers on a Saturday and 300 to 400 on a Sunday.

This Head Chef role suits a chef who leads from the pass, cooks from scratch and holds standards when it is busy.Live-in accommodation is available above the pub, making it a strong option for a Head Chef relocating to Kent.

The Head Chef role

• Lead the kitchen and deliver a fresh, seasonal gastropub menu.
• Cook from scratch, with stocks, sauces and jus made in house.
• Run a brigade of around three chefs plus KP midweek, rising to five or six chefs at weekends.
• Manage ordering, stock control, food costs and GP.
• Keep standards consistent from prep through to high-volume Sunday service.
• Lead food safety, hygiene and kitchen compliance.
• Work closely with front of house to deliver a great guest experience.

About you

• An experienced Head Chef, or an established Senior Sous Chef ready for a first Head Chef role.
• A background in quality pubs, gastropubs or good fresh-food restaurants.
• Passionate about seasonal produce and proper cooking techniques.
• Calm, organised and in control during big services.
• Confident with food costs, ordering and kitchen management.
• A leader who trains and develops a team.

The package

• 40-45k basic salary, depending on experience.
• Bonus on top.
• Live-in accommodation available above the pub.
• The chance to lead a busy Head Chef kitchen with an established reputation for quality food.