Sous Chef F&B · York Racecourse

Utilita Arena; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 Days Annual Leave

Life Assurance

5% Pension Contribution

Healthshield Cover

Employee Assistance Programme

Eye Care Support

Cycle to Work Scheme

Employee Referral Scheme

Recruitment Process Outlined

Job summary

York Racecourse is seeking a Sous Chef to support the Head Chef and Senior Management in delivering exceptional culinary experiences across all food operations. You will lead kitchen teams, ensure top quality, food safety, and financial performance.

The role requires hands-on leadership, a passion for food innovation, and strong budgeting and cost-control acumen, with opportunities to influence menus for hospitality, banqueting, and retail events.

Qualifications

• Significant senior-level experience in hospitality or food & beverage.
• Excellent culinary knowledge and understanding of margins and cost control.
• Proven leadership, communication and organisational abilities; proficient in Excel.

Responsibilities

• Support Head Chef in creative menu development across Hospitality, Banqueting and Retail operations, including tastings and bespoke client menus.
• Lead and manage food production and kitchen brigades across all business areas and Conference & Banqueting events, ensuring quality, staffing efficiency, waste reduction and adherence to in-house standards.
• Manage kitchen teams in line with rotas, coordinate porter and cleaning support while maintaining budget controls and hygiene standards.
• Deliver GP targets, monitor performance and ensure compliance with Food Safety, Health & Safety, Allergens and Calorie Labelling requirements.
• Deputise for the Head Chef, stay informed of industry trends and undertake additional duties as required by Senior Management.

Skills

Senior-level experience

Hospitality sector

Culinary knowledge

Menu development

Food presentation

Cost control

Leadership

Communication

Organisational skills

Excel

IT skills

Tools

Kitchen equipment

Job description

The Venue

Located on the historic Knavesmire, York Racecourse is one of the most prestigious and well‑loved racecourses in the UK, set in the heart of Yorkshire. Renowned for its wide, sweeping track and vibrant atmosphere, the venue has been hosting world‑class flat racing for over 280 years and is home to some of the sport’s most iconic fixtures, including the internationally acclaimed Ebor Festival.

Beyond racing, York Racecourse is a versatile events destination, offering a wide range of indoor and outdoor spaces suitable for conferences, exhibitions, hospitality, large‑scale events, and celebrations. The venue combines historic charm with modern facilities, providing high‑quality production, flexible layouts, and excellent transport links, just minutes from York city centre.

The Role

The Sous Chef plays a pivotal role in supporting the Head Chef and Senior Management team to deliver exceptional culinary experiences across all food operations. You will lead, motivate and develop kitchen teams while ensuring the highest standards of food quality, presentation, food safety, and financial performance. This role requires a hands‑on leader who is passionate about food innovation, operational excellence, and creating memorable experiences for clients and customers.

The Responsibilities

• Support the Head Chef in creative menu development across Hospitality, Banqueting and Retail operations, including annual menu reviews, tastings and bespoke client menus.

• Lead and manage food production and kitchen brigades across all business areas and Conference & Banqueting events, ensuring exceptional quality, efficient staffing, minimal waste and adherence to in‑house production standards.

• Manage kitchen teams in line with agreed rotas and work closely with Operations to ensure adequate porter and cleaning support while maintaining budget controls and kitchen hygiene standards.

• Deliver GP targets, monitor performance, and ensure full compliance with all relevant legislation, policies and procedures, including Food Safety, Health & Safety, Allergens and Calorie Labelling requirements.

• Deputise for the Head Chef as required, stay informed of industry trends and best practice, and undertake any additional duties assigned by the Senior Management team.

What We’re Looking For

• Significant senior‑level experience within the hospitality or food & beverage sector, with a proven record of operational success in a similar environment.

• Excellent culinary knowledge, including current food trends, menu development, food presentation and commercial awareness, with a strong understanding of margins and cost control.

• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to lead by example, build relationships and develop talent within a team.

• Excellent organisational and practical skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

• A proactive, positive and responsive approach, combined with strong IT skills, including a good working knowledge of Excel.

What We Can Offer

25 Days Annual Leave – Work hard, rest well.

Life Assurance – Peace of mind knowing your loved ones are protected.

5% Pension Contribution – Helping you prepare for a bright future.

Healthshield Cover – Support with dental, physio, counselling and more for you and your children.

Employee Assistance Programme – AXA Health support whenever you need it.

Eye Care Support – Vouchers and contributions towards glasses.

Cycle to Work Scheme – A greener, healthier commute.

Employee Referral Scheme – Recommend great people and get rewarded.

Recruitment Process Outlined:

• 1st Stage – Introductory call with Talent Team

• 2nd Stage – Interview with Venue Team

Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory pre‑employment checks. These may include verification of identity, proof of address, right to work, employment history, qualifications, and—where relevant to the role—a basic or enhanced DBS check. All checks will be carried out in line with data protection law and we will only request information that is necessary for the role.

Inclusive Workplace

At Legends Global , we are committed to leading the entertainment industry towards a greener, faster, and more innovative digital future. There’s never been a better time to join our team. We aim to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers, and suppliers. Join us and make a significant impact from day one.

We are committed to active inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunities. This commitment begins with our recruitment and selection process. We welcome discussions about flexible working arrangements.

If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of our recruitment process, please let us know in your application. We are dedicated to providing a fair and transparent assessment process and will do our utmost to accommodate your needs.

If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to ensure it is considered. We will continue to review applications on a rolling basis and may close the advert before the closing date.