Junior Sous Chef - New Site Opening

Loungers plc; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 19,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tips

Paid breaks

Staff meals

50% off food & drinks from day one

Opening team

Job summary

Loungers plc is hiring a Junior Sous Chef for Varo Lounge, a brand-new site. You will support the Head Chef and Sous Chef to deliver great shifts and dishes that are prepared to spec.

Ideal for someone stepping up from Chef de Partie or Senior Chef, with real cooking passion. You will work in a growing hospitality group offering a supportive career path, plus up to £13.30/hr + tips, paid breaks, staff meals, and 50% off food & drinks from day one.

Qualifications

• Experience working with fresh ingredients and strong kitchen skills.

Responsibilities

• Support Head Chef and Sous Chef to deliver great shifts and ensure dishes are ready to spec.
• Maintain a clean, well-organised kitchen and uphold high food standards.
• Take ownership of your section, manage prep and hygiene, and ensure safety.
• Follow allergen processes and keep the kitchen compliant and safe.
• Support and mentor newer chefs and develop team confidence.
• Ensure every plate leaves the kitchen with pride.

Job description

We're hiring a Junior Sous Chef to be part of the kitchen team at Varo Lounge, a local café bar. Part of Loungers, proudly named Casual Dining Group of the Year 2026. Offering up to £13.30/hr + tips, paid breaks, staff food every shift, and 50% off food & drinks from day one. This is a great next step for an experienced Chef de Partie, Senior Chef, or line chef ready to take on more responsibility.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the opening team at Varo Lounge, our brand-new site, and become part of one of the UK's most successful restaurant groups.

About the Junior Sous Chef Role

Lounges are pretty special places, and what makes them so special is the brilliant people who work in them.

As Junior Sous Chef you'll be a key part of the {account name} kitchen; supporting the Head Chef and Sous Chef, helping the team deliver great shifts every week, and making sure every dish that leaves the pass is something to be proud of. If you love real cooking, care about the people around you, and want to grow into a senior kitchen role, you'll fit right in.

We're a growing hospitality brand across England and Wales with over 300 sites and plenty of opportunity to grow with us.

What's in it For You?

• Hourly pay + tips. Tips are shared equally across the team, based on hours worked
• Hourly paid flexible contract. Ideal for part-time, full-time, or flexible work seekers. This role is likely to include evening and weekend work.
• Free meal on every shift no matter the length
• Christmas and Boxing Day off
• Genuine career development with our career pathways and bitesize training courses
• 50% discount on food and drinks from day one. Including alcohol across all our brands (Lounge, Cosy Club, & Brightside) from day one
• The most talked-about staff party in hospitality - Loungefest!
• Long service awards - Vouchers/Extra money
• Early access to your pay with Stream
• Emotional and practical support via the Licensed Trade Charity

What you'll Do

• Support the Head Chef and Sous Chef to deliver great shifts, ensuring the prep is done for each day and every dish goes out to spec
• Help maintain a clean, well-organised kitchen and uphold high food standards every single shift
• Take ownership of your section, keeping on top of prep & par, cleanliness, hygiene and food safety at all times
• Follow allergen processes at all times and ensure the kitchen is compliant and safe
• Support and work alongside the wider kitchen team, helping newer chefs develop their skills and confidence
• Know the dish specs inside out and make sure every plate that goes out is something to be proud of

What You'll Bring

• You are probably an existing Junior Sous Chef, or an experienced Chef de Partie or Senior Chef looking to take the next step in their career
• Someone the team can count on - you show up, you're on time, and you give it everything when you're there
• Experience working with fresh ingredients and able to demonstrate strong kitchen skills (food prep hot and cold, cleaning, knife skills, good hygiene practices)
• A natural team player who rolls their sleeves up, leads from the front, and genuinely cares about the food that goes out
• Self-motivated and able to work at pace with limited supervision
• Strong knowledge of best practice when it comes to allergens, kitchen essentials, and food safety