Sous Chef

Houston & Hawkes; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Birthday off every year

Free meals on duty

Contributory pension scheme

Life assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

CODE Hospitality membership

Summer Awards Party

Job summary

Houston & Hawkes is recruiting a Sous Chef for a Central London kitchen, offering a four-day week and a strong work-life balance. You will lead hands-on prep, create fresh daily offerings and supervise a small team to maintain high standards.

The role focuses on fresh, simple dishes, with salads, soups and grab-and-go items, while ensuring food safety and quality throughout service.

Qualifications

• Experience as a Sous Chef or a strong Chef de Partie ready for the next step.
• Passion for fresh, simple and well-prepared food.
• Confident preparing salads, soups and modern workplace dining.
• Good organisation and ability to own workload.
• Hands-on approach and strong team mentality.
• Creativity for new menu ideas and strong knowledge of food safety.

Responsibilities

• Support the smooth day-to-day running of a small, well-organised kitchen.
• Prepare fresh salads, soups, sandwiches and seasonal dishes.
• Bring new ideas and creativity to the daily food offer.
• Ensure food is consistently fresh, well prepared and presented.
• Keep preparation and service organised throughout the day.
• Support ordering, stock control, portion control and waste management.
• Work closely with the wider catering team to deliver a great daily service.
• Maintain excellent food safety, allergen, hygiene and compliance standards.
• Keep the kitchen clean, organised and operating to a high standard.

Skills

Sous Chef exp

Food safety

Menu planning

Team player

Creativity

Job description

SOUS CHEF

Houston & Hawkes | Central London | £38,000 per annum | Monday to Thursday

Fresh food, a welcoming kitchen and a genuine four-day working week - a fantastic opportunity for a Sous Chef looking for a role with great balance.

Houston & Hawkes is looking for a talented Sous Chef to join a small, well-managed kitchen within a Central London workplace. The food is fresh, simple and full of quality, with a daily offer including seasonal salads, homemade soups, sandwiches and delicious grab-and-go dishes.

This is a brilliant role for a chef who enjoys being hands-on, likes bringing fresh ideas to the menu and takes pride in producing great everyday food. With a Monday to Thursday working pattern, it also offers an exceptional work-life balance.

THE ROLE

• Support the smooth day-to-day running of a small, well-organised kitchen
• Prepare fresh salads, homemade soups, sandwiches and seasonal dishes
• Bring new ideas and creativity to the daily food offer
• Ensure food is consistently fresh, well prepared and beautifully presented
• Keep preparation and service organised throughout the day
• Support ordering, stock control, portion control and waste management
• Work closely with the wider catering team to deliver a great daily service
• Maintain excellent food safety, allergen, hygiene and compliance standards
• Take pride in keeping the kitchen clean, organised and operating to a high standard

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• Experience as a Sous Chef or a strong Chef de Partie ready for the next step
• A genuine passion for fresh, simple and well-prepared food
• Confidence preparing salads, soups, sandwiches and modern workplace dining
• Good organisation and the ability to take ownership of your workload
• A positive, hands-on approach and strong team mentality
• Creativity and enthusiasm for bringing new ideas to the menu
• Good knowledge of food safety, allergens and kitchen compliance
• A calm, reliable and professional approach
• Strong attention to quality, consistency and presentation

WHY JOIN HOUSTON & HAWKES?

• £38,000 per annum
• Monday to Thursday
• A genuine four-day working week
• A small, well-managed kitchen with a fresh food offer
• 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 workplaces.

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.

If you love fresh food and are looking for a Sous Chef role with responsibility, a great working environment and an exceptional Monday-to
Thursday schedule, we would love to hear from you.