Head Chef jobs in United Kingdom

Head Chef - Glenart Castle
Glenhart Castle
£34,827 per annum
5 days over 7
Small, friendly kitchen team of 5

ESS, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, is looking for a talented and passionate Head Chef to lead our small and friendly team at Glenhart Castle. In this role, you’ll be responsible for delivering a wide variety of seasonal and private functions — from relaxed buffet-style dining to elegant silver service banquets — all while creating exceptional experiences for our guests in a welcoming, customer-facing environment.

• Lead and motivate a team of 5, creating a supportive and collaborative kitchen environment
• Prepare and present a range of dishes to consistently high standards
• Deliver food for seasonal events, private functions, and banquets, from buffets to silver service
• Work directly with customers to ensure their dining experience exceeds expectations
• Oversee ordering, stock control, and waste management
• Maintain the highest standards of food hygiene, health, and safety compliance
• Manage kitchen schedules and ensure smooth day-to-day operations

• Hold relevant professional catering qualifications (e.g., NVQ or City & Guilds)
• Have proven experience leading a small kitchen team in a similar environment
• Be confident delivering both buffet and silver service dining
• Thrive in a customer-facing role, with excellent communication skills
• Be creative, organised, and passionate about seasonal, high-quality food
• Demonstrate strong leadership and a hands-on approach

• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

Part of Compass Group UK&I, ESS is the Defence, Government, and Energy services sector of Compass Group UK & Ireland. We support 250+ UK military establishments, high profile police, secure environments and government sites, along with a range of onshore and offshore facilities including platforms, drilling rigs, floatels and offices for the energy sector. We know that a friendly face makes all the difference, so we look for people who are passionate about delivering excellent customer service, at all levels, to join our teams.

Job Reference: com/1812/94338001/52781860/SU #Defence

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!