Sous Chef

The Zetter; Greater London; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted Food & Drink in all Zettert

Friends & Family Hotel Rates – 50% off

Birthday paid day off

Growth opportunities

Job summary

The Zetter in London invites applications for an experienced Sous Chef to join its intimate, boutique kitchen. You will support the Head Chef, lead service, and uphold high kitchen standards in a fast-paced, quality-driven environment.

Join a leadership team dedicated to exceptional food, sustainable sourcing, and team development. You will manage stock, menu development, and training, with a focus on safety, hygiene, and efficient operations.

Qualifications

• Proven experience at Sous Chef level and readiness to step up.
• Strong leadership, organisation and service execution skills.
• Confident with stock, ordering, and training.
• Passion for great food and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily kitchen operations and service execution.
• Ensure food quality meets high standards.
• Run shift briefings and drive communication between kitchen and FOH.
• Manage feedback to improve standards and guest experience.
• Lead, inspire, and develop the kitchen team.
• Support recruitment, training and development of chefs.
• Set clear expectations and maintain discipline and teamwork.
• Support menu development and costing.
• Build relationships with suppliers; sustainable sourcing.
• Support stock taking, ordering and stock movement controls.
• Ensure daily H&S and HACCP checks.
• Maintain hygiene and cleaning rotas.
• Ensure safe working practices and waste procedures.
• Ensure full handovers at shift end.

Skills

Leadership

Stock management

HACCP compliance

Team development

Service execution

Job description

The Zetter is a quiet celebration of intimate spaces, timeless imperfection, and unapologetic British eccentricity. With our collection of boutique hotels, townhouses, and parlours nestled in London’s most characterful neighbourhoods, we offer more than a stay — we curate experiences brimming with thoughtful details, curated charm, and stories layered into every corner.

Our food and drink are an extension of this ethos — carefully crafted menus, perfectly poured cocktails, and service that feels warm, attentive, and never scripted. We believe that dining and drinking at The Zetter should be as memorable as sleeping under our roofs.

Nestled in a townhouse on one of London’s oldest squares, our Clerkenwell home is fuelled by a passion for super cocktails, sensational parties & the perfect slumber.

The Role

As Sous Chef, you are a key operational leader within the kitchen, responsible for supporting the Head Chef in delivering outstanding food quality, team performance, and kitchen standards. You will lead service, oversee preparation, uphold compliance, support menu development, and ensure the kitchen runs safely, efficiently, and sustainably.

This is a leadership role requiring strong technical ability, calm authority, and a commitment to developing a high-performing kitchen team.

Key Responsibilities

Service Leadership & Food Quality

• Lead daily kitchen operations and service execution, ensuring consistency and excellence.
• Ensure food quality meets the highest standards of flavour, freshness, and presentation.
• Run shift briefings and drive effective communication between kitchen and FOH.
• Manage feedback professionally, using it to improve standards and guest experience.

Team Leadership & Development

• Manage, inspire, and support the kitchen team, leading by example.
• Support recruitment, training, and development of chefs and KPs.
• Set clear expectations and maintain strong discipline, pride, and teamwork across the kitchen.

Menus, Suppliers & Costing

• Support menu development across the year, aligned with company standards and seasonality.
• Assist with dish costing, specifications, and methods of production.
• Build relationships with suppliers and local producers; support sustainable sourcing.
• Support stock takes, ordering, and stock movement controls.

Compliance, Safety & Hygiene

• Ensure daily H&S and HACCP checks are completed, logged, and corrective actions recorded.
• Maintain high standards of hygiene and cleanliness through robust cleaning rotas and daily checks.
• Ensure safe working practices across the kitchen, including waste and recycling procedures.

Operations & Handover

• Ensure full handovers at shift end and strong readiness for upcoming services/events.
• Support department targets and objectives, contributing to operational improvement.

About You

• Proven experience at Sous Chef level (or strong Junior Sous ready to step up).
• Strong leadership, organisation, and service execution skills.
• Confident with stock, ordering, compliance, and training.
• Passion for great food, great teams, and continuous improvement.

What Awaits You at The Zetter:

• Discounted Food & Drink in all Zetter Parlours
• Friends & Family Hotel Rates – 50% off for your favourite people
• A paid day off on your birthday
• A culture that values individuality, celebrates effort, and supports growth

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristics by law.