Head Kitchen Gardener

THE PIG Hotel | B Corp; Combe Raleigh; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff stays – free B&B.

35% discount on food, beverages &

Meals on duty

Annual holiday increase (up to 33 days

Take home goods – cost price.

Free access for you and your family to

A range of learning & development

Anniversary vouchers – dinner withWine

Job summary

THE PIG at Combe is seeking an experienced, passionate Head Gardener to lead our gardens and wider grounds. This hands‑on role involves caring for plants, managing seasonal planting, pruning, and day‑to‑day maintenance while guiding a small grounds team.

You will work closely with guest-facing staff, share knowledge about sustainable garden care, and contribute to animal husbandry when needed. RHS Level 3 (or similar) is desirable, with the chance to develop further through our training

Qualifications

• Experience leading a garden or grounds team.
• Strong knowledge of plant health and seasonal care.
• Desirable RHS Level 3 qualification.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day garden operations and long-term development.
• Oversee planting, pruning, and maintenance tasks.
• Coordinate the garden team and external support.
• Engage with guests to share details about the space and its plants.
• Support animal husbandry activities as part of the grounds.

Skills

Team leadership

Garden maintenance

Plant health

Sustainability

Education

RHS Level 3 qualification

Job description

Location: THE PIG-at Combe, Honiton, EX14 3AD

Salary: £34,000 - £36,000 per annum (OTE £37,066 - £39,066 per annum including tronc)

Hours: 40 hours per week, over 5 days

THE PIG is seeking an experienced, passionate and collaborative Head Gardener.

At THE PIG, our gardens are at the heart of everything we do. As Head Gardener, you will take the lead in caring for and developing our gardens and wider grounds, ensuring they are beautifully presented and maintained to the highest standard throughout the year. This is a hands-on role, working closely with our established garden and grounds teams, supporting our garden spaces and ornamental areas to create something truly special.

You will be responsible for the day-to-day organisation of the gardens, from seasonal planting and pruning to ongoing maintenance and long-term development, while also overseeing a small team and coordinating additional support when needed. A strong understanding of plant health, sustainability, and garden care will be key to keeping everything thriving across the seasons.

As our gardens are open for guests to explore, you will also be a welcoming and knowledgeable presence, happy to engage with guests and share your passion for the space. We are also home to chickens and quails, so some involvement in animal husbandry will be part of the role.

It is desirable that you hold an RHS Level 3 qualification (or similar); however, with the right experience and passion, we are happy to support further training and development.

We Are Dedicated To Making THE PIGs An Inspiring, Exciting, And Fun Place To Work And In Return For Your Hard Work You Can Expect Something a Little Different

• Staff stays – free B&B.
• 35% discount on food, beverages & treatments.
• Meals on duty.
• Annual holiday increase (up to 33 days)
• Take home goods – cost price.
• Free access for you and your family to an on-demand GP, Physiotherapy, and counselling services through Help@Hand.
• A range of learning & development courses.
• Anniversary vouchers – dinner with wine for 2.

To view our full range of perks, visit our ‘What we can do for you’ section on our career’s webpage: jobs.thepighotel.com

Home Grown Hotels is committed to encouraging equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against candidates based on any of the protected characteristics set out in the Equalities Act 2010.