Head Chef – Restaurant & Events

Collins King; Greater London; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

£75,000+ earnings package

45–50 hours per week

Mix of shifts

Growing events trade

Job summary

Collins King is seeking an ambitious Head Chef to lead a well-established kitchen. You will drive a quality-led dining offer, balancing all-day dining with refined evening service and growing events. You’ll manage a 10-15 chef brigade across restaurant, bar and events, delivering exceptional standards and a positive kitchen culture.

You’ll contribute creatively to menu development, control costs, and mentor junior chefs while maintaining compliance with HACCP and health & safety requirements.

Qualifications

• Proven Head Chef with quality-led restaurant experience (2AA Rosette or higher).
• Experience creating and developing seasonal menus.
• Strong leadership to manage a 10-15 chef brigade.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety, HACCP, health & safety and compliance.
• Skilled in food costing, GP management, labour control, stock and rota planning.
• Ability to mentor and develop junior chefs.
• Ability to deliver both restaurant and events operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen operations across restaurant, bar and events.
• Maintain exceptional food standards and consistency.
• Develop and refine seasonal menus.
• Mentor and develop junior chefs.
• Manage cost controls and scheduling.
• Drive a positive kitchen culture.

Skills

Leadership

Menu development

Food cost control

GP management

Labour planning

HACCP & safety

Mentoring

Organisational skills

Job description

We’re seeking an ambitious and talented Head Chef to lead the kitchen of a well-established, highly regarded operation with an excellent reputation. This is an opportunity to take ownership of a quality-led food offering, working with exceptional seasonal ingredients to deliver a modern menu that balances relaxed all-day dining with more refined evening service. You’ll have the scope to contribute creatively to menu development while maintaining the standards that have already been set. Leading a brigade of 10-15 chefs, you’ll oversee food operations across the restaurant, bar and a growing events and functions business. You’ll be responsible for maintaining exceptional food standards, driving consistency, developing your team and ensuring a positive, professional kitchen culture.

Package & Benefits

• Earnings package of £75,000+
• 45-50 hours per week
• Mix of shifts
• Well-established business with a strong existing customer base
• Growing events trade offering variety and creativity

The Person

We’re looking for a proven Head Chef with experience in quality-led restaurants, ideally operating at 2AA Rosette standard or above. You’ll be a strong leader who is equally comfortable inspiring a team, driving standards and managing the commercial performance of the kitchen.

• Experience creating and developing seasonal menus.
• A passion for quality ingredients and modern cooking.
• Strong organisational skills to deliver restaurant and event operations simultaneously.
• A sound understanding of food costing, GP management, labour control, stock management and rota planning.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety, HACCP, health & safety and compliance.
• A commitment to mentoring and developing junior chefs.

Most importantly, you’ll bring energy, creativity and leadership, with the ambition to build on an already successful operation and take it to the next level.