Sous Chef

Houston & Hawkes; City Of London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Birthday off every year

Enhanced maternity/paternity leave

Free meals on duty

Contributory pension

Job summary

Houston & Hawkes in London is seeking a talented Sous Chef to join an exceptional kitchen team within a premium London contract. This is a fantastic opportunity for a strong chef with a genuine fine dining background who also understands the pace, variety and commercial awareness required within a high-quality retail food operation.

Fine dining is a significant part of this role; you’ll work closely with the Head Chef to deliver beautifully executed menus, elegant lunches and bespoke events

Qualifications

• Strong leadership experience in a kitchen environment.
• Proven fine dining background with high-quality standards.
• Excellent culinary skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage busy services and maintain quality.
• Experience developing menus and ideas while upholding style of operation.

Responsibilities

• Deliver exceptional food across fine dining hospitality and premium retail service.
• Lead and support Chef de Parties and junior chefs.
• Produce refined, beautifully presented dishes with seasonal ingredients.
• Support ordering, stock control, food cost, portion control and waste management.
• Collaborate with front-of-house for polished hospitality service.
• Maintain food safety and hygiene standards.

Skills

Leadership

Fine dining background

Culinary excellence

Organisational skills

Menu development

Job description

SOUS CHEF

Houston & Hawkes | London | £43,000 per annum | Monday to Friday

Exceptional food, refined hospitality and the opportunity to work alongside a highly talented Head Chef at one of our most prestigious London client sites.

Houston & Hawkes is looking for a talented Sous Chef to join an exceptional kitchen team within a premium London contract. This is a fantastic opportunity for a strong chef with a genuine fine dining background who also understands the pace, variety and commercial awareness required within a high-quality retail food operation.

Fine dining is a significant part of this role. You’ll work closely with an experienced Head Chef whose food standards are outstanding, helping to deliver beautifully executed hospitality menus, elegant lunches and bespoke events alongside a fresh, high-quality retail offer. With excellent ingredients, a supportive team and the freedom to produce food you can genuinely be proud of, this is a Sous Chef role with real quality at its heart.

THE ROLE

• Work closely with the Head Chef to deliver exceptional food across fine dining hospitality and premium retail service
• Take a leading role in the kitchen, supporting the team through preparation and service
• Produce refined, beautifully presented dishes using high-quality seasonal ingredients
• Support fine dining lunches, hospitality menus, events and bespoke requirements
• Contribute to a fresh, creative and high-quality daily retail food offer
• Help develop menus and bring new ideas while maintaining the standards and style of the operation
• Lead and support Chef de Parties and junior chefs, sharing knowledge and developing the team
• Maintain exceptional consistency, flavour and presentation across every service
• Support ordering, stock control, food cost, portion control and waste management
• Work closely with the front-of-house team to ensure polished and seamless hospitality service
• Support the Head Chef with the day-to-day organisation and smooth running of the kitchen
• Maintain excellent food safety, allergen, hygiene and health and safety standards

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• Strong experience as a Sous Chef or an exceptional Senior Chef de Partie ready for the next step
• A strong fine dining background is essential
• Experience within premium contract catering, a Michelin-level restaurant, five-star hotel or another high-quality kitchen would be highly desirable
• Experience across both fine dining hospitality and retail food would be a real advantage
• Excellent culinary skills and a genuine passion for refined, beautifully presented food
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to support, motivate and develop a kitchen team
• Excellent organisation and the ability to maintain high standards during busy service
• Good commercial awareness, including food cost, stock and waste control
• A calm, professional and hands-on approach
• Creativity, attention to detail and real pride in the food you produce

WHY JOIN HOUSTON & HAWKES?

• £43,000 per annum
• Monday to Friday
• A prestigious London client site with a strong fine dining focus
• The opportunity to work alongside and learn from a highly experienced Head Chef
• Excellent ingredients and exposure to both refined hospitality and premium retail food
• Birthday off every year
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Free meals on duty
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• CODE Hospitality membership
• Foodie Socials bringing our chefs together to explore new flavours, techniques and ideas
• Ongoing learning, development and genuine career progression
• Summer Awards Party celebrating our people and achievements
• An unforgettable Christmas Party at one of London’s outstanding venues

ABOUT HOUSTON & HAWKES

Houston & Hawkes is an award-winning independent caterer creating vibrant, creative and exceptional food and hospitality experiences across some of the UK’s most prestigious client sites.

We’re a Certified B Corp, recipient of the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development 2026 and proud to be ranked No. 14 in The Caterer’s Best Places to Work in Hospitality.