Sous Chef

The Whippet Inn; Willesden; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff meals

Discounts across pubs

Training and development

Career progression

Team events

Cycle to work

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Referral scheme: up to £1000 per hire

Birthday day off

Job summary

The Whippet Inn in London is seeking an outstanding Sous Chef to join our busy gastro-pub team in Kensal Rise. You will lead the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence and help deliver fresh seasonal menus with pride and consistency.

We offer a competitive salary with bonus, structured training and career progression, staff meals, generous discounts across our pubs, regular team events, cycle-to-work and an Employee Assistance Programme to support you.

Qualifications

• Ability to lead a kitchen team and maintain service standards.
• Passion for training and developing staff.
• Collaborate with the Head Chef to uphold menu and quality.
• Support commercial goals by identifying opportunities.
• Commitment to high standards of food presentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen team in busy service and ensure top standards.
• Train staff to deliver outstanding food and customer experience.
• Work with Head Chef to maintain agreed standards.
• Assist GM and Head Chef to spot opportunities and boost sales.
• Prepare and present dishes to a high standard for varying dayparts.
• Contribute to menu development and periodic reviews.

Skills

Team leadership

Training

Menu development

Food presentation

Opportunity identification

Job description

We are looking for an outstanding and talented Sous Chef to join our the team at the The Whippet is a local pub in the heart of Kensal Rise, dedicated to producing fantastic food and delivering great service. We pride ourselves on creating an atmosphere that reflects our vibrant neighbouring communities of Kensal Rise, Queens Park and Willesden. With the best producers and suppliers on our side, we offer modern seasonal food, complimented by an excellent range of local and continental craft beer with a wine list to match. Our heated, all-weather garden space is a mecca for alfresco drinking, dining and private hire, and our pub is the perfect place to meet friends and family for a drink, a bite, or both. Join us seven days a week for lunch or dinner, grab a coffee or just roll in for a few pints.

Welcome to London's biggest independent pub company !

Urban Pubs & Bars was founded in 2014 and has since expanded to an estate of over 67 pubs, bars and restaurants across London.

In 2018, Urban Pubs & Bars was ranked number 28 in the Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 list, recognising Britain's private companies with the fastest-growing sales. We were then nominated for 2 Publican Awards in 2020, winning the award for 'Best Managed Pub Company - 2-50 sites' on the night. In 2021, Urban was awarded 'Best Food-led Pub Company 2021' at the R200 awards, Urban once again won 'Best Managed Pub Company - 2-50 sites' in 2023 and most recently won 'Best Managed Pub Company - 2-50 sites' and Best food offering in 2026 and In 2025 & 2026 we were recognised by Sunday Times in the Top 100 Companies to work for.

This amazing opportunity is ideal for someone who loves working with fresh premium and seasonal products and preferably experience within gastro pubs; loves working in a busy kitchen; understands and delivers a perfect service with or without the Head Chef present; can lead the kitchen team to success consistently and is excited by innovation and change to secure outstanding results for the business.

You Are:

• Able to take responsibility for our kitchen team in absence of the Head Chef to ensure service, safety and security expectations are all met to the the highest of standards
• Passionate about training our team to ensure they have the knowledge needed to excite our customers and deliver outstanding food
• Able to work with the Head Chef to train and uphold the agreed standards
• Able to assist the General Manager and Head Chef in identifying potential opportunities and products to maximise sales and enhance the customer experience
• Able to prepare and present all our food dishes to an outstanding standard of presentation as appropriate for the day of the week and time of day
• Able to support the Head Chef in the development, implementation and review of the menu to maximise sales in line with pub vision and business plan

What's in it for me:

• Competitive salary + bonus
• Be part of a brand new opening
• Training and development
• Career progression and promotion opportunities with regular new openings around the corner
• Get out and about, you automatically get discounts across all our pubs, bars and restaurants
• Team trips, regular incentives and socials - a fun, family atmosphere
• Goes without saying, but we'll feed you during your shift
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support you across those tough times
• Good people know good people - an awesome referral scheme where you can earn up to £1000 per successful referral
• Birthdays are for celebrating, so have the day off on us
• Cycle to work scheme