Sous Chef

Wells and Co.; Stratford-upon-Avon; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

£34,000 - £38,000 + Bonus

28 days holiday

Company Pension scheme

Retail and beer discounts

50% off food on shift

Employee Assistance programme

Benefits portal

Career development programme

Fun culture surrounded by a supportive

Job summary

Cox’s Yard in Stratford-upon-Avon is seeking a Sous Chef to support the Head Chef in managing kitchen operations, maintaining quality, and leading a fast-paced team. You’ll oversee stock control, food preparation, and safety, while driving profitability and guest satisfaction in a thriving riverside venue.

We’re looking for 18+ months’ sous chef experience, a passion for quality, and leadership skills to mentor the kitchen and front-of-house teams.

Qualifications

• At least 18 months’ experience as a Sous Chef in a busy operation.
• Passion for delivering high standards of food quality.
• Strong leadership to motivate and develop the kitchen team.
• Ambition to grow within a well-known hospitality venue.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with head chef to control stock and food GP to maximise profitability.
• Ensure all food production is prepared to an exemplary standard.
• Maintain hygiene and health and safety within the kitchen.
• Train and develop kitchen staff on storage, rotation and waste management.
• Manage food and labour costs to achieve strong margins within budget.
• Recruit, train and coach the kitchen team to deliver quality and guest satisfaction.
• Coach front-of-house staff to ensure knowledge of menu items for service excellence.
• Ensure policies and procedures are followed with daily food safety checks.
• Complete daily and weekly stock checks and process invoices accurately.

Skills

Sous Chef experience

High-volume service

Food quality focus

Leadership

Career development

Job description

A once thriving timber yard, Cox’s Yard has grown into something far more intriguing. Our ruggedly handsome riverside building now welcomes locals and travellers as a vibrant Taproom, a place where history, character, and great hospitality meet.

Set on the banks of the River Avon, in the heart of the stunning Warwickshire countryside, Cox’s Yard sits proudly within buzzing, medieval Stratford‑upon‑Avon. It’s an area steeped in culture and charm, drawing literary enthusiasts, food lovers, and curious visitors from around the world.

Today, the old yard hums with new energy: fresh food, live music, flowing pints, and a team who genuinely love what they do. It’s a venue with stories in its beams, personality in every corner, and a future we’re excited to shape.

If you’re looking for a place with soul, pace, and plenty of opportunity, Cox’s Yard is worth a closer look.

Position

Your role as Sous Chef

• Work closely with your head chef to effectively control stock and food GP, and identify opportunities to maximise profitability
• Responsible for all food production ensuring that food is prepared to an exemplary standard
• Overall accountability for hygiene and health and safety within the kitchen
• Ensuring all team members are fully trained and aware of how food is stored, rotated and disposed of and monitoring their adherence
• To ensure that food and labour costs are effectively managed in order to achieve a strong food margin and labour within budget
• Responsible for the recruitment, training, coaching and development of the kitchen team to ensure the delivery of excellent food quality and guest satisfaction
• To train and coach the front of house team to ensure that they have a good knowledge of all menu items to so that our guest service is of the highest standards
• Ensure that company policies and procedures are followed by checking Food Safety and Health & Safety daily and Business Due Diligence on a weekly basis
• Complete daily and weekly stock checks and ensure that all invoices are processed daily and accounted for

Requirements

If you’re a Sous Chef who thrives in a busy kitchen, loves great food, and enjoys being part of a team that’s pushing forward, you might want to take a closer look at what we’re doing at Cox’s Yard.

We’re recruiting a Sous Chef to support the Head Chef in managing kitchen operations, maintaining food quality, and leading the team through fast-paced services. It’s a role for someone organised, consistent, and ready to grow within a well‑established hospitality venue that’s evolving and investing in its future.

If you take pride in your craft and want to be part of a strong, forward‑thinking team, we’d love to hear from you.

What We’re Looking For

• At least 18 months’ experience as a Sous Chef within a busy, high‑volume food operation
• A passion for food quality and delivering excellent standards under pressure
• Leadership qualities – motivating your team, running engaging briefs, and setting the tone for great service
• A role model mindset with the ability to inspire and support the kitchen team
• Ambition to develop your career within a well‑known and expanding company

Other Information

We will provide you with a great package including:

• £34,000 - £38,000 + Bonus
• 28 days holiday
• Company Pension scheme
• Retail and beer discounts
• 50% off food on shift
• Employee Assistance programme
• Benefits portal
• Career development programme
• Fun culture surrounded by a supportive team

If the above sounds like you we’d love to hear from you.