Head Kitchen Gardener

THE PIG; Honiton; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff stays – free B&B

35% discount on food, beverages &

Annual holiday increase (up to 33 days

Take home goods – cost price

Help@Hand health services

Learning & development courses

Anniversary vouchers – dinner withwine

Job summary

THE PIG-at Combe, Honiton, EX14 3AD is seeking an experienced Head Gardener to lead our gardens and grounds to the highest standard. You will manage seasonal planting, pruning, and day-to-day garden care while guiding a small team and engaging with guests who explore our spaces.

The role includes hands-on garden work, knowledge of plant health and sustainability, and occasional animal husbandry with chickens and quails.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to manage day-to-day garden operations and seasonal care.
• Strong understanding of plant health and sustainable garden practices.
• Experience leading a team and coordinating support for garden projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop THE PIG gardens and wider grounds to the highest standard.
• Oversee seasonal planting, pruning, and ongoing maintenance throughout the year.
• Manage a small garden team and coordinate additional help as needed.
• Engage with guests and share passion for the space, including animal husbandry elements.

Skills

Garden management

Plant health

Team leadership

Education

RHS Level 3 qualification (desirable)

Job description

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

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.
• 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.