Sous Chef

Doddington Farms LLP; England; Remote; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff tips

Discounted food

Employee discount

Company events

Free parking

Long service rewards

Extra leave after 5 years

Job summary

Doddington Hall is seeking a strong, organised Sous Chef to support our banqueting operation, delivering high-quality food across weddings, corporate events, afternoon tea and production kitchen output.

You will work closely with the Executive Head Chef and Head Chef to lead service, supervise junior staff, and ensure consistency, efficiency and exceptional ingredients across high-volume events, in a fast-paced kitchen environment.

Qualifications

• Experience as a Sous Chef or strong Junior Sous in high-volume environments
• Experience in banqueting, events or large-scale service
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple services
• Calm under pressure with a hands-on approach
• Understanding of pastry and afternoon tea

Responsibilities

• Supporting weddings, corporate events, and private functions
• Leading kitchen service during busy event periods
• Overseeing prep and production for multiple events
• Supporting afternoon tea and patisserie production
• Maintaining consistency in food quality, presentation and portioning
• Supervising junior chefs and kitchen staff
• Ensuring smooth communication between kitchen and front of house teams
• Managing stock, reducing waste, and supporting cost control

Job description

We’re looking for a strong, organised Sous Chef to support the delivery of high-quality food across our busy banqueting operation.

This is a fast-paced, varied role covering weddings, corporate events, afternoon tea service and production kitchen output, including patisserie.

Working closely with the Executive Head Chef and Head Chef, you’ll play a key role in ensuring every event runs smoothly, every plate meets our standards, and the kitchen operates efficiently under pressure.

This is a key position in the kitchen. Success comes down to organisation, leadership and consistency - especially during high-volume events.

If you enjoy structured, fast-paced service and take pride in cooking with exceptional ingredients, this role will suit you.

Our Ethos

At Doddington, our food is driven by provenance, seasonality, and a close connection to the estate.

We work closely with our kitchen garden, using hyper-seasonal produce grown just metres from the kitchen, and champion estate-reared Doddington beef and game across our menus.

This is a kitchen where ingredients lead the offer. Simplicity, quality and respect for produce are at the heart of everything we do.

We’re looking for a chef who values this approach and takes pride in cooking with fresh, local ingredients.

Key Responsibilities

Supporting the delivery of weddings, corporate events, and private functions

Leading kitchen service during busy event periods

Overseeing prep and production to ensure readiness across multiple events

Supporting afternoon tea and patisserie production

Maintaining consistency in food quality, presentation, and portioning

Supervising and developing junior chefs and kitchen assistants

Ensuring smooth communication between kitchen and front of house teams

Managing stock, reducing waste, and supporting cost control

What We’re Looking For

Previous experience as a Sous Chef or strong Junior Sous in a high-volume environment

Experience in banqueting, events or large-scale service

Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple services at once

Confidence leading a team during busy service

A genuine passion for seasonal, estate-led produce

A good understanding of pastry and afternoon tea

Calm under pressure with a hands-on approach

Share of staff tips

Discounted or free food

Employee discount across retail areas

Company events

Free on-site parking

Long-service rewards

Additional two days’ annual leave after five years’ service

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