Sous Chef

Lympne Castle; Hythe; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

A historic medieval castle in Hythe is seeking a talented Sous Chef to lead its culinary team. You will craft exquisite dishes for various events and retail outlets while managing kitchen operations. The ideal candidate will have at least 2 years of fine dining experience, exceptional leadership skills, and a passion for culinary creativity. This full-time position offers a competitive salary of £35-37k with benefits, including pension and employee discounts. Weekend and evening work is required.

Benefits

Company pension

Discounted or free food

Employee discount

On-site parking

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of experience as a Sous Chef in fine dining or 3 years in culinary leadership.
• Passion for delivering outstanding culinary experiences.
• Extensive knowledge of classical and contemporary cooking techniques.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the execution of menus for events incorporating seasonal ingredients.
• Manage and supervise kitchen staff while fostering a positive work environment.
• Prepare dishes ensuring excellent taste and presentation.

Skills

Leadership skills

Organizational skills

Time management

Communication skills

Ability to work under pressure

Culinary creativity

Teamwork

Education

Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate

Job description

Are you a talented and passionate chef with a flair for creating extraordinary culinary experiences? Are you able to bring the best out in those you work with?

We are seeking positive, engaging, service-oriented and results driven people to work with us. If you want to take the helm of multiple atmospheric kitchens at one of England’s most storied medieval castles, this may be the job for you!

You should be able to work well within a creative and dedicated team to prepare food that leaves a lasting impression on our guests. Come prepared to shine in an environment that will truly enable you to showcase your culinary leadership skills!

• Company Name : Lympne Castle Management Limited
• Position : Sous Chef (Deputy Culinary Knight)
• Job Type : Full Time, Permanent
• Location : Lympne Castle, Hythe
• Compensation : Salary : From £35-37k annually (DOE), + monthly Bonus
• Job description : Working closely with our Culinary Knight (Head chef), this position will be responsible for leading the talented culinary team at Lympne Castle covering retail outlets as well as events. Together, you will be crafting exquisite and innovative dishes that reflect the rich heritage and elegance of our historic castle and surrounding area. You will be capable of leading a team to prepare exceptional menus for our valued retail outlets and to cater to a variety of events, including but not limited to weddings, corporate gatherings, private dinners and public dining experiences.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the co-development & execution of menus for various events and dining experiences, incorporating seasonal and locally sourced ingredients;
• Help lead a passionate team with discipline, flair and inspiration ensuring all food is high quality;
• Manage and supervise kitchen staff, providing training, mentorship & guidance while fostering a positive work environment;
• Provide leadership within culinary operations from pig roasts to haute dogs to vegan delights to fine dining;
• Assist with ordering and management of food and kitchen supplies; manage stock levels and minimize waste;
• Prepare and present dishes of the highest quality, ensuring excellent taste, texture, and presentation;
• Maintain clean and organized kitchens, adhering to food safety and hygiene standards;
• Work closely with other departments within the Castle to ensure all guest requirements are met;
• Fulfill event and retail shifts as needed;
• Stay up to date with culinary trends, techniques, and innovations to continuously enhance the castle’s dining offerings;
• This is a 7-day / week hospitality operation. As such, weekend and evening work will be required.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of experience as a Sous Chef, preferably in fine dining for events and restaurants, or a minimum of 3 years of other culinary leadership experience;
• Passion for delivering outstanding culinary experiences;
• Exceptional leadership, organizational and time management skills;
• Extensive knowledge of classical and contemporary cooking techniques;
• Self-motivated and disciplined;
• Solutions-oriented;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work well under pressure and multitask in a fast-paced environment;
• Flexibility to work weekends and evenings as required;
• Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate;
• Have a safety-first mind set.
• A reliable method of transport is recommended due to the remote location and shift work.

We practise a diverse and inclusive recruitment process that ensures equal opportunity for all we work with irrespective of race, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age, or gender. As an organisation we encourage applications from all backgrounds and will ensure measures are met when required, to allow a fair process throughout.

Please note: We can only consider applications from candidates who have the right to work in the UK.

Please send your covering letter and CV to [e-mail] with “Sous Chef” in the subject line. Please note that obtainable references will be required.

Job Types : Full-time, Permanent

Pay : £35,000.00-£37,000.00 per year

Benefits :

• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount
• On-site parking

Ability to commute / relocate :

• Hythe CT21 4LQ: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Work Location : In person