Sous Chef

National Trust; Henley-on-Thames; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 10%

Free entry to NT places

Rental deposit loan

Season ticket loan

EV car lease

Discounts (gym/shopping/cinema)

Holiday allowance up to 32 days + buy‑

Flexible working

Employee assistance programme

Free parking

Job summary

National Trust is seeking a Sous Chef for Greys Court in Henley-on-Thames. The role involves supporting daily kitchen service, preparing seasonal dishes, and following the National Trust Cookbook framework.

You will join a friendly Food & Beverage team delivering a welcoming visitor experience. The position offers a full-time, 37.5-hour week with weekend work and a local rural setting.

Qualifications

• Must love good food and have a friendly attitude.
• Confident about following recipes and batch-cooking, and willing to learn.
• Aware of health and safety compliance.

Responsibilities

• Assist in delivering daily service through prep, baking and some cooking from scratch.
• Prepare ingredients and receive deliveries; maintain high food safety and cleanliness.
• Follow the National Trust Cookbook framework and seasonal menus.
• Participate in induction and ongoing training to grow in role.

Skills

Food enthusiasm

Follow recipes

Batch cooking

Health & safety awareness

Job description

Summary

Do you have a passion for food? The National Trust is renowned for its food and hospitality. We run 185 cafes all over England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and we'd love you to be a part of it.

We’re looking for a Sous Chef to join us. Because we are in a rural area, please think about how you’d be able to get here for work, before applying for the job.

Internally you'll be known as 'Cook'.

Benefits

We want to help you look after the things that matter to you, such as saving for your future, getting a discount on your weekly shop, or encouraging you to find a work-life balance. Please read our package, below, to see what benefits we offer you.

Hours

37.5 per week, 5 days a week including Weekends and Bank Holidays - No split shifts

Salary

£25,837.50

We don’t work split shifts, just consistent working patterns in a welcoming and collaborative environment.

There is no public transport directly to the property so you will need your own means of transportation.

For this role, you’ll need to complete our online assessment instead of using a C.V. or online application form. This will help us understand more about your strengths and give you more information on the role.

What it's like to work here

Greys Court is a beautiful property located in Henly-on-Thames with a wonderful Tearoom that offers a variety of seasonal menus. We are looking for someone to be part of our friendly and supportive Food & Beverage team who take pride in delivering a great experience for all our visitors. Our kitchens follow the National Trust Cookbook, celebrating sustainably sourced produce.

What you'll be doing

This is a great opportunity to join a welcoming team where food is at the heart of every visitor experience. As a Sous Chef, you'll help bring fresh, seasonal ingredients to life, supporting the delivery of daily service through preparation, baking and some cooking from scratch. You'll take pride in creating and presenting delicious dishes that help make every visit memorable.

Working within the National Trust Cookbook framework, you'll play an important role in the smooth running of the kitchen, from preparing ingredients and receiving deliveries to maintaining high standards of food safety and cleanliness. With a tailored induction, ongoing training and opportunities to develop your skills, we'll support you to grow in your role while working as part of a friendly team dedicated to delivering great food and warm welcomes.

You can view the full role profile for this role in the document attached. You don't need to have all of the knowledge, skills and experience listed in the role profile; this is just to provide a full picture of what’s possible in this role.

Who we're looking for

• someone who loves good food and has a friendly and positive attitude.
• confident about following recipes and batch-cooking, and willing to learn.
• aware of health and safety compliance.

The package

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places

National Trust place

Greys Court, Rotherfield Greys, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 4PG

Documents

Cook - Career Level A2.pdf

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Closing Date

30th August 2026

Interview Date

TBC

Equal Opportunities Statement

The National Trust celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a fair and equal society, free from discrimination. You can read more about our commitment to inclusion and diversity here.

Safeguarding Statement

The National Trust is committed to a safe recruitment processes to help the organisation attract and appoint the right staff/volunteer for the role and responsibilities as set out in the vacancy advert. We will not accept applicants who are not suitable to work with children, young people or adults at risk. If you have any questions around your suitability for this vacancy, please contact the people service centre.