Sous Chef

Houston & Hawkes; Greater London; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meals at work

Contributory pension

Life assurance

Enhanced family-friendly benefits

Day off on your birthday

Membership of CODE Hospitality

Company events and awards

Training and development opportunities

Job summary

A leading catering firm in London is seeking an experienced Sous Chef for their Farringdon site. This role offers an exciting opportunity to work in a busy staff restaurant, delivering varied dishes while maintaining the highest culinary standards. The ideal candidate will have proven experience as a Sous Chef or a strong Senior Chef de Partie, hands-on cooking experience, and a genuine passion for great food. The position offers a salary of £40,000 per annum with no weekend work required.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Sous Chef or strong Senior Chef de Partie.
• Knowledge of food safety and allergen management.
• Versatile in different cooking styles.

Responsibilities

• Support the Head Chef in managing a staff restaurant.
• Deliver menu items with consistency and quality.
• Deputize for the Head Chef when necessary.
• Maintain food safety and hygiene standards.

Skills

Experience as a Sous Chef

Allergen management knowledge

Food safety expertise

Experience in varied cookery styles

Leadership and team management

Organizational skills

Passion for food

Job description

Overview

Houston & Hawkes | 25 Farringdon Street, London | £40,000 per annum | Monday to Friday

A standout opportunity for a passionate, creative chef who wants to do exceptional work — without giving up their weekends. Houston & Hawkes are looking for a talented Sous Chef to join our team at our Farringdon site, working within a busy staff restaurant that also delivers hospitality services. This is a varied, hands-on role covering a wide range of cookery styles — from hot dishes and soups to a fresh salad bar and grab-and-go offer — where quality, consistency and care are non-negotiable.

We don’t do ordinary. We push for exceptional food and exceptional standards — every single service. If that’s the environment you want to work in, and you’re ready to bring your skills and ambition to a kitchen that will truly back you, this is the role for you.

£40,000 per annum. Monday to Friday. No weekends. Just great food.

The Role

Working closely with the Head Chef, you will help lead the kitchen across a varied and high-quality operation — driving standards, supporting the team and deputising confidently when needed.

• Supporting the Head Chef in the day-to-day running of a staff restaurant and hospitality operation
• Delivering a varied menu of hot dishes, soups, salad bar and grab-and-go with consistency and quality
• Deputising for the Head Chef in their absence and taking full ownership of the kitchen
• Maintaining exceptional food safety, hygiene and allergen management standards at all times
• Keeping thorough, accurate due diligence and safety records — always audit-ready
• Managing prep, production and service across multiple menu formats with precision
• Supporting with stock management, ordering and waste control
• Coaching and developing junior chefs and helping to build a strong kitchen culture

About You

You’re a versatile, well-rounded chef with a strong technical foundation and the confidence to lead. You take food safety as seriously as you take your food — and you’re ready to step up and own a kitchen.

• Proven experience as a Sous Chef or strong Senior Chef de Partie ready to step up — essential
• Sound allergen management knowledge and food safety expertise — essential
• Experience across a variety of cookery styles and cuisines — hot dishes, soups, salads and grab-and-go
• Confident deputising for a Head Chef and managing a kitchen independently
• Meticulous with due diligence, safety records and compliance documentation
• A calm, organised approach to busy service and changing priorities
• A team player who leads by example and brings the best out of those around them
• A genuine passion for great food and the Houston & Hawkes standard of excellence

What We Offer

• £40,000 per annum
• Monday to Friday — no weekends
• Free meals at work every day
• Contributory pension, life assurance (2× salary) and Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced family-friendly benefits and a day off on your birthday
• Membership of CODE Hospitality
• Company events, recognition schemes and people awards
• Training, development and genuine career progression within an award-winning independent

About Houston & Hawkes

Houston & Hawkes is an award-winning independent caterer — ranked among the Top 30 Best Companies to Work for in Hospitality and a certified B Corp. We are known for vibrant, creative and sustainable food experiences, and we invest seriously in the chefs and teams who make it happen.

Our kitchens are places where talent is nurtured, ideas are welcomed and the food is always something to be proud of. If you want to cook at your best, this is where you do it.