Head Chef - York

Lounge Underwear Ltd.; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-known hospitality brand is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead a dedicated kitchen team in York. Responsibilities include preparing high-quality dishes and managing kitchen operations while maintaining food safety standards. This role offers competitive benefits including staff discounts and opportunities for personal development.

Benefits

Staff food on every shift

50% off food and drinks

Paid breaks

28 days holiday pro rata

Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

Company pension scheme

Long service awards

Achievable bonuses

Tips shared across the team

Qualifications

• Proven track record in a kitchen environment.
• Strong leadership and work ethic.
• Ability to report on kitchen KPIs.

Responsibilities

• Prepare each dish to specification in a clean kitchen.
• Ensure prep and par are complete.
• Maintain high food quality standards.

Skills

Experience with fresh ingredients

Strong kitchen skills

Ability to lead a kitchen team

Management through KPIs

Knowledge of food safety

Training and recruitment skills

Job description

Overview

You are probably an existing Head Chef, Kitchen Manager or Sous Chef looking for your first step into a Head Chef role.

Responsibilities & Qualifications

• Experience of working with fresh ingredients and be able to demonstrate good chef/kitchen skills (food prep hot and cold, cleaning, knife skills, good hygiene practices).
• Your work ethic is rolling your sleeves up and getting stuck in and leading from the front; playing an active role in delivering excellent kitchen and food standards as part of a high performing team.
• Familiar with managing through clear KPIs and making decisions considering labour; stock; food safety requirements plus others.
• Worked in kitchen environments where you’re required to report on various metrics including GPs; labour/house; food preparation.
• Demonstrated successful delivery of training and recruitment for kitchen teams including Apprentices, KPs, Chefs, Junior Sous Chefs and Sous Chefs.
• You love real cooking. We love real cooking. Customers love real cooking.
• You will be doing it with us—fresh, customer‑led, and with high‑quality ingredients.
• Overtime pay for every hour worked over contracted hours.

You’ll be part of a dedicated, supportive team, working from our flexible all‑day menu to give people food that’ll make their day. It’ll be your responsibility to make each dish to spec, in a clean and safe kitchen, and to make sure all prep and par is completed for each shift. You’ll be helping every customer leave happy, which they tend to do. Thanks to your great food.

Benefits

• Staff food on every shift.
• 50% off food and drinks (including alcohol) from day one at all three of our brands—Lounge, Cosy Club and Brightside.
• Paid breaks.
• 28 days holiday (inclusive of Bank Holidays) pro rata.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay after 2 years service.
• The most talked‑about staff party in hospitality—Loungefest!
• Competitions and incentives (like jetting off on an all‑expenses‑paid trip with one of our suppliers).
• Company pension scheme.
• Long service awards.
• Power over your pay with Wagestream.
• Emotional and practical support via the Licenced Trade Charity.
• Great opportunity for personal development and career progression in a fast growing business.
• Achievable bonuses.
• Tips shared equally across the team, based on hours worked.
• Christmas and Boxing Day off.