Sous Chef

Sopwell House; St Albans; On-site; GBP 26,400 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free staff meals

Parking

Discounted food & beverage

Accommodation and spa discounts

28 days holiday + birthday day

Job summary

Sopwell House in Hertfordshire invites applications for a Banqueting Sous Chef. This full-time role (48 hours) offers up to £44,000 per annum plus service charge.

You will support the Executive Head Chef in delivering exceptional banqueting experiences for weddings, conferences and gala dinners, while leading a busy kitchen team and ensuring top-quality dishes and compliance with safety standards. You will drive menu implementation, cost control and staff development, working closely with the

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Sous Chef.
• Experience delivering high-volume banqueting events (weddings, conferences, gala dinners).
• Excellent knowledge of modern cooking techniques with a passion for consistently outstanding food.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop a busy kitchen team.
• Strong understanding of kitchen operations, stock control, food costing and labour management.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to remain calm under pressure with multiple priorities.
• Proactive, hands-on leader in a fast-paced environment.
• Food Safety Level 3 qualification.

Responsibilities

• Support the Executive Head Chef in delivering banqueting experiences for weddings, conferences and events.
• Lead and inspire the kitchen team, deputising for senior chefs and ensuring smooth day-to-day operation.
• Prepare and present exceptional dishes with high standards of quality and presentation.
• Coach, train and develop the team through leadership by example.
• Assist with menu implementation, recipe consistency, food costing and stock management.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene and health & safety standards.
• Collaborate with the wider Food & Beverage team to deliver guest experiences.
• Drive continuous improvement through innovation and operational excellence.

Skills

Team leadership

High-volume events

Food safety

Organisational skills

Hands-on leadership

Education

Food Safety Level 3

Job description

Banqueting Sous Chef

Full‑Time position (48 hours) - Up to £44,000 per annum plus service charge.

Your country home away from home, nestled within 12 acres of picturesque Hertfordshire countryside. Sopwell House is a luxurious, family‑owned Georgian country house hotel offering timeless elegance and modern comfort. We’re proud to be a place where exceptional service is delivered with warmth, pride and purpose.

We’re currently looking for a passionate Banqueting Sous Chef to join our dedicated team.

Your role in our family:

• Support the Executive Head Chef in delivering exceptional banqueting experiences for weddings, conferences, gala dinners and special events.
• Lead and inspire the kitchen team, deputising for senior chefs in their absence and ensuring the smooth day‑to‑day operation of the Banqueting Kitchen.
• Prepare and present exceptional dishes while maintaining the highest standards of quality, consistency and presentation.
• Supervise and develop the team through coaching, training and leading by example.
• Assist with menu implementation, recipe consistency, food costing and stock management.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, hygiene and health & safety standards.
• Work collaboratively with the wider Food & Beverage team to deliver memorable guest experiences.
• Drive continuous improvement through innovation, attention to detail and exceptional operational standards.

What would make you the perfect fit?

• Previous experience as a Sous Chef.
• Experience delivering high‑volume banqueting events, including weddings, conferences and gala dinners.
• Excellent knowledge of modern cooking techniques with a passion for producing consistently outstanding food.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop a busy kitchen team.
• Strong understanding of kitchen operations, stock control, food costing and labour management.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to remain calm under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
• A proactive, hands‑on leader who thrives in a fast‑paced environment.
• Food Safety Level 3 qualification.
• Passionate about delivering exceptional guest experiences while maintaining the highest culinary standards.

The Best Bit:

• Wide range of training and development opportunities.
• Free staff meals and parking.
• Discounted food and beverage, accommodation and spa.
• 28 days holiday and 1 extra holiday day on your birthday.
• 30% discount on Spa treatments and Spa days.
• 10% discount on Spa products.
• Introduce a friend at work bonus.
• Free uniform.
• Preferred Hotel Group discounted global hotel rates.

All applicants must have the right to live and work in the UK.

If this sounds like your dream job, we would love to hear from you!