Sous Chef – Daytime Hours

Haddenham Garden Centre; Haddenham; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An established family-run garden centre is seeking a passionate Sous Chef to join their team. This role offers sociable daytime hours and the opportunity to work in a vibrant kitchen environment focused on homemade, locally sourced food. As a Sous Chef, you will support the Head Chef in managing kitchen operations, ensuring high standards of food quality, and training staff. If you thrive in a fast-paced setting and have a drive for excellence in culinary arts, this is the perfect opportunity to make a significant impact in a beloved local establishment.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

Share of Gratuities

Employee Discounts

Contributory Pension Scheme

Flexible Holiday

Christmas Day Off

Boxing Day Off

New Year’s Day Off

Qualifications

• Outstanding culinary skills and experience in a high-volume restaurant.
• Ability to organize, delegate, and maintain high standards.

Responsibilities

• Deputize for the Head Chef and manage kitchen operations efficiently.
• Assist with menu planning and ensure high food quality and presentation.
• Train and develop staff to achieve high standards in food production.

Skills

Culinary Skills

Communication Skills

Teamwork

Organizational Skills

Job description

Your local, family-run, independent garden centre, restaurant and shop.

Haddenham Garden Centre is a family owned business which has been established for 45 years. Our popular restaurant “The Gardener’s Retreat” has a state of the art kitchen and focuses on homemade, locally sourced food and drink.

We are currently looking to recruit an experienced Sous Chef who drives for standards and results as well as having a passion for serving great food.

The role offers sociable daytime hours and one weekend off per month. The working hours will be an average of 42.5 hours per week.

Are you the Sous Chef we are looking for?

As our Sous Chef, you would:

• Deputise for the Head Chef in their absence ensuring the kitchen is managed efficiently and professionally.
• Ensure daily work areas are allocated to staff in the most hygienic, efficient and cost-effective way to achieve quality results.
• Assist in the ordering, storage and management of all food and kitchen sundries items ensuring compliance with current legislation.
• Assist with menu planning and food preparation, ensuring the consistency of a high standard of food quality and presentation at all times.
• Help maintain budgets and financial control within the area by purchasing food/kitchen items in line with agreed budgets and by ensuring effective wastage control.
• Help plan and implement daily specials, promotions and events in conjunction with the Head Chef and Restaurant Manager.
• Help train and develop staff in achieving consistently high standards of food production and cleanliness in the workplace and to encourage a continual improvement process.
• Accurately co-ordinate and manage all office admin functions associated with kitchen employees in the absence of the Head Chef, including updating of training records, preparation of rotas, completion of timesheets for staff payroll, absence reviews and management of staff holidays.
• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety and food safety regulations.

Do You have?

• Outstanding culinary skills.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, high-volume restaurant at a similar level.
• The ability to organise, delegate and get things done in a timely manner.
• Team player attitude – able to work closely with the Head Chef.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Personal drive to help us develop the business.

You will also be a great communicator, calm under pressure and be driven by creating high quality, seasonal fresh food. With us you’ll help train, motivate and inspire the team to help grow our successful food operation.

What can we offer you?

• Competitive Salary plus share of gratuities.
• Sociable daytime hours with one weekend off per month.
• Attractive employee discounts following successful completion of probationary period.
• Contributory Pension scheme.
• Flexible holiday and Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day off.

If this sounds like the position for you, please submit your CV and a Cover Letter explaining why you are suitable for this role, highlighting any relevant experience to David Nesbitt at email address [e-mail].

We’re sorry but it is not possible for us to respond to applicants who are not successful.