Kitchen Porter

The Aspinall Foundation; Folkestone; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 18,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Service Charge

Free park entry for employee and guest

28 days annual leave inclusive of bank

Comprehensive training and development

Job summary

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is seeking Kitchen Porters to support our historic hotel and Garden Room Restaurant, as well as Babydolls Italian & Bear Lodge Restaurant. You will wash pots and pans and keep the kitchen and surrounding areas clean to ensure smooth service for both day visitors and guests.

Shifts cover weekdays, weekends, evenings until 11pm, bank holidays and school holidays. Candidates should stay calm under pressure, work independently, and deliver high-quality service.

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar role is desirable, however full training will be provided.
• The successful candidates must have availability to work weekends.
• Aged 17 or over.

Responsibilities

• Washing pots and pans and general cleaning.
• Maintaining the kitchen and floor areas during service.
• Help ensure a smooth operation for day visitors and accommodation guests.
• Shifts across weekdays, weekends, evenings up to 11pm, bank holidays and school holidays.

Job description

Closing Date: Monday 20 July 2026

Earnings of £10.85 - £12.71 per hour, Plus Service Charge and Desirable benefits

Seasonal & Permanent Flexible Hours Contracts Available

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is fast on its way to becoming Europe’s first animal focused holiday destination and we’re currently seeking Kitchen Porters to work in our beautiful, historic hotel & Garden Room Restaurant, as well as our Babydolls Italian & Bear Lodge Restaurant.

The successful candidate will be responsible for washing pots and pans, general cleaning, and maintaining the kitchen and floor areas during service, helping to ensure a smooth operation for both our day visitors and accommodation guests. The role requires flexibility, with shifts across weekdays, weekends, evenings (up to 11pm), bank holidays, and school holidays.

Who we are looking for:
You will be calm under pressure, able to work on your own initiative, and able to deliver a high standard of service. Experience in a similar role is desirable, however full training will be provided. The successful candidates must have availability to work weekends.

Please note: Due to the nature of working within a commercial kitchen environment, applicants must be aged 17 or over.

Contract details:
Rate of pay is £10.85 for under 21-year-olds and £12.71 for over 21-year-olds, plus, Service Charge. Permanent and Seasonal roles available. We are offering flexible hour positions, where working hours may vary depending on business needs, and will require availability throughout the week as well as weekends, evenings until 11pm, bank holidays and school holidays. A reliable form of transport is recommended due to the remote location of Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve. All applicants must have right to work in the UK.

The location:
Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is a world-renowned wild animal park set within 600 acres of Kentish savannah. The Reserve is home to some of the world’s most rare and endangered animals and offers luxury short breaks accommodation, free roaming animal safaris, once-in-a-lifetime animal encounters and exquisite dining experiences. Most importantly, every one of our employees is part of real conservation in action and their efforts have contributed to animals such as black rhino and western lowland gorillas being returned to their natural habitats in collaboration with our partners at The Aspinall Foundation.

Why you should join us:
We’re on a mission to create memorable experiences that matter, and our Core Values ‘One Team’, Customer’ and ‘Pride’ are what drive us each day to become part of something extraordinary. As well as walking to work surrounded by the calls of Howler monkeys and the roars from our pride of Lions, you will join a supportive team who are passionate about their place of work.
Be part of the Port Lympne and Howletts family and join our pride.

You can also expect a host of other benefits including:

• Share of TRONC (Service Charge)


• Beautiful restaurants located in the heart of a Wild Animal Park


• 28 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays (pro-rata to start date and working hours), rising with length of service.


• Comprehensive training and development opportunities, including workshops and e-learning


• Enhanced Sickness, Maternity and Paternity Policies.


• Unlimited free entry for you and a person of your choice into both of our parks as well as friends and family tickets.


• Exceptional discounts on food, retail, and accommodation at our parks.


• Numerous retail discounts and access to a 24-hour counselling line through our Healthy Extras Scheme.


• Cycle to Work Scheme


• And many more length or service-related rewards and Benefits.

Closing Date: Friday 6 November 2026