Restaurant Chefs

Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve & Howletts Wild Animal Park; Hythe; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A unique dining and wildlife conservation venue in Kent is seeking chefs for various roles. You'll be responsible for managing a kitchen section, following recipes, and ensuring cleanliness. Experience in fast-paced kitchens is essential. Enjoy competitive pay, service charge, and a range of employee benefits including annual leave, training, and discounts. Join a passionate team committed to conservation.

Benefits

Service Charge (TRONC)

28 days annual leave

Comprehensive training opportunities

Enhanced Sickness Policies

Unlimited free entry to parks

Discounts on food and accommodation

Company Pension

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a busy kitchen is essential.
• Confident working independently and with clear instruction.
• Ability to manage and rotate stock efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Set up kitchen section and follow recipes.
• Complete ordering at end of service.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of kitchen.

Skills

Experience in fast-paced kitchen

Ability to follow recipes

Stock management

Teamwork

Job description

Overview

Closing date: 3rd October 2025

Salary: Up to £13.50 Per Hour DOE, Plus Service Charge & Desirable Benefits

Seasonal & Permanent Positions Available

Full-time and Part-time Roles

At Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, we are looking to expand our team of Chefs within our beautiful, historic hotel & Garden Room Restaurant, Bear Lodge Restaurant & Babydolls Wood-Fired Pizza Restaurant.

Our seasonal changing menu includes fresh and robust flavours, championing local ingredients and produce from local suppliers, and our kitchen garden. Whether our guests are in the mood for classic family favourites, authentic Italian cuisine or something a little more fancy for a special evening, Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve offers dining choices for all occasions in the heart of the Kent countryside.

Responsibilities

• Ensuring your section is set and that you are following set recipes and specifications on dishes and functions.
• Ensuring all ordering for your section is completed at end of service and mise en place is written for following day.
• Ensure the kitchen is cleaned and closed down at end of service, ensuring your section fridge is tidy and organised and also ensuring fridges are labelled correctly.
• Managing stock and rotation.
• Assist the kitchen with prep, cooking, and cleaning tasks, along with the upkeep of the kitchen.
• Previous experience of working within a fast-paced kitchen will be essential and you will need to be confident working on your own and able to give clear instructions to supporting staff.

Contract Details

Various positions available, including full-time and part-time positions. Working hours are up to 45 hours per week depending on occupancy, with job share considered. Permanent and seasonal positions available. Seasonal positions are through to the 3 January 2026, with a possibility of extension dependant on the business needs.

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.

• Service Charge (TRONC) in addition to salary.
• 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.
• Company Pension
• And many more length or service-related rewards and Benefits.

Your adventure awaits

#joinourpride

To apply: If you want to work in an exciting and unique environment where no two days are the same, email your C.V. and covering letter to [e-mail]