Sous Chef - Epping

Lounge Underwear Ltd.; Epping Forest; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Overtime pay

Bonus scheme, twice a year

Tips shared across the team

Free meal on every shift

Christmas and Boxing Day off

Career development with in-house培训

Food & drink discount from day one

Loungefest staff events

Support from Licensed Trade Charity

Job summary

Carpino Lounge is seeking a passionate Sous Chef to lead the kitchen team and support the Head Chef in delivering consistently high-quality dishes. You will ensure smooth service from prep to plating and set a tone of excellence on the pass.

You'll own shift routines, manage stock and waste, and coach chefs to develop skills. This full-time role offers progression within the growing Loungers brand across England and Wales.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a kitchen team as sous chef or senior chef.
• Proven track record in delivering high-quality meals.
• Ability to own a shift in the Head Chef's absence.
• Strong punctuality and reliability.
• Willingness to coach junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen shifts and ensure smooth service from prep to plating.
• Assist Head Chef and cover duties in their absence.
• Maintain high standards of quality, cleanliness, hygiene and safety on the pass.
• Own routines: prep, par, stock, waste, orders, handovers.
• Coach and develop chefs to improve skills and performance.

Skills

Team leadership

Reliability

Punctuality

Food quality control

Stock management

Mentoring / coaching

Job description

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen shifts with confidence, keeping service smooth, organised and on spec from prep through to the final plate
• Be the Head Chef's right hand - supporting day-to-day operations, stepping up in their absence, and helping the kitchen deliver consistently strong results
• Set the tone for high standards on the pass, with a sharp eye for food quality, pace, cleanliness, hygiene and safety
• Take ownership of key kitchen routines including prep and par, stock control, waste, orders and effective shift handovers
• Coach and support the team around you, helping new and existing chefs build confidence, grow their skills and deliver great food every shift

What You'll Bring

• A passionate cook who takes real pride in fresh ingredients, clean specs, and food that goes out right every single time
• Someone the team can count on - you show up, you're on time, and you give it everything when you're there
• Someone who leads by example in the kitchen - setting the standard on the pass, supporting the team, and never cutting corners
• Confident taking ownership of a shift in the Head Chef's absence, from prep and par to stock management and shift handovers
• A team player who helps coach and develop the chefs around them and genuinely wants to see them improve
• Experience as a Sous Chef, Junior Sous Chef, or a talented Chef de Partie ready to take their next step. Lounges are pretty special places, and what makes them so special is the brilliant people who work in them.

As Sous Chef you'll be right at the heart of the Carpino Lounge kitchen; supporting your Head Chef, leading the team through each service, and making sure every dish that leaves the pass is something to be proud of. If you love real cooking, care about the people around you, and take pride in doing the small things brilliantly, you'll fit right in. We're a growing hospitality brand across England and Wales with over 300 sites and plenty of opportunity to grow with us. This could be the start of something really good.

We're hiring a full-time Sous Chef to be part of the kitchen team at Carpino Lounge, a local caf bar. Part of Loungers, proudly named Casual Dining Group of the Year 2026. With competitive salary, plus bonus, paid overtime and real progression opportunities, this is a great next step for an experienced hospitality sous chef, second chef or junior sous chef,

Benefits

• Competitive base salary + bonus + overtime
• Permanent full-time role; 48-hour contract (40-hour contract option available)
• Overtime pay for every hour worked
• Achievable bonus scheme, paid twice a year
• Tips shared equally across the team, based on hours worked
• Free meal on every shift no matter the length
• Christmas and Boxing Day off
• Genuine career development with our in-house training courses and 'Step-Up' to GM/HC development programmes
• 50% discount on food and drinks from day one. Including alcohol across all our brands (Lounge, Cosy Club, & Brightside) from day one
• The most talked-about staff party in hospitality - Loungefest!
• Long service awards - Vouchers/Extra money
• Early access to your pay with Stream
• Emotional and practical support via the Licensed Trade Charity