WRITE YOUR NEXT CHAPTER AT WAXY O’CONNOR’S IN LONDON’S WEST END London’s biggest and best Irish bar sells more Guinness at any other in the UK. The team here serve up a warm welcome with a distinct Irish accent. So, the vibe is laid back – except when we’re watching the big games in Rugby, Hurling and Gaelic Football or hosting a traditional music session. Our team are enthusiastic about sharing their love of all things Irish and building on our reputation for warm hospitality and traditional, wholesome food. If you share our passion and are up for the craic, you’ll be made most welcome too. ABOUT THE ROLE As Sous Chef you’ll work closely with the Head Chef to design and deliver menus that meet both customer satisfaction and our bottom line. This will include placing orders, helping to minimise wastage and serving up consistently high-quality dishes. You’ll also help to recruit, train and develop the kitchen team, ensuring skills are up to date and opportunities for development are taken advantage of. WE ARE PROUD TO OFFER: - Some of the best Career Growth Opportunities in the industry. - Flexible Shift Patterns – to fit around the other important things in life. - A Competitive and Progressive salary - A monthly variable share of the venue service charge, paid through a Tronc scheme in line with the Tipping Act 2023. 100% of our Service Charge goes to our employees and is distributed in its entirety on a monthly basis. The lower figure is the hourly salary and the higher figure is the average hourly income across a year including tronc distribution for the role advertised. - Wage Stream – giving you direct access to your wages when you need them. - Private Medical Cover on completion of one year’s service. - Access to Professional Mental Health Resources and an Employee Assistance Programme on completion of one year's service. - 28 days paid Holiday per annum, inclusive of Bank Holidays. - 25% Discount at all Glendola Leisure Venues. - Annual Staff Events - Opportunities to innovate and contribute to the growth of your business GLENDOLA LEISURE GROUP - A LEADING FAMILY-OWNED PRIVATE HOSPITALITY COMPANY Glendola Leisure operates many different bars, pubs and restaurants across the UK in London, Glasgow, Belfast & Edinburgh. In your City, you will be part of a small team supported by our wider group and open to all the opportunities that come with that. What we all share as part of the Glendola Family is a passion for our customers, being experts in our products, providing exceptional service and a commitment to being better every day. If you can offer friendliness, a ‘can-do’ attitude and willingness to become an expert in your products and want a role that is as individual are you are then you’re the one for us. It is time you stopped going to work and started coming to life. Are you ready to be part of one of the hospitality industry’s biggest success stories? – It’s time to apply.
Job Title: Head Chef Location: South London About Us: Located in a picturesque riverside setting in South London, our pub is a vibrant hub of the local community — known and loved for its warm, welcoming atmosphere, carefully curated beer and wine list, and hearty, comforting food. We blend traditional pub charm with a forward-thinking attitude, and we’re now looking to elevate our food offering to match the quality and soul of our venue. This is more than just a kitchen — it’s a chance to lead, innovate, and take ownership of a food operation with real creative freedom, in a business that values and invests in its people. ⸻ The Role: We’re on the hunt for a passionate, creative, and experienced Head Chef to lead our kitchen and inspire a small team with energy and ambition. This is an exciting opportunity for a chef who wants to put their own stamp on a well-loved, high-potential food pub — and build a reputation for food that’s fresh, seasonal, and unpretentious, but packed with flavour and finesse. As Head Chef, you’ll take full ownership of the kitchen — from designing menus and managing budgets to training your team and upholding the highest standards of food quality, cleanliness, and consistency. ⸻ Key Responsibilities: • Menu Creation & Development: Design and deliver fresh, seasonal menus that strike a balance between comforting classics and exciting specials, with scope to evolve the offering throughout the year. • Hands-On Leadership: Be a visible, motivating presence in the kitchen, setting the pace and tone for a positive, professional culture that supports learning, creativity, and consistency. • Kitchen Operations: Oversee day-to-day operations including prep, service, stock control, supplier management, and compliance with health & safety protocols. • Team Building: Hire, train, mentor and retain a small, reliable team that takes pride in their work and strives to improve. • Hygiene & Food Safety: Maintain strict standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and food safety, ensuring full compliance with HACCP and EHO requirements. • Budget & Cost Control: Take responsibility for food margins, portion control, ordering, waste reduction and labour costs to hit financial targets. • Collaboration: Work closely with the General Manager and FOH team to ensure smooth service, effective communication, and great customer experiences. • Innovation & Improvement: Always look for ways to improve — whether it’s a new supplier, a better prep system, or a dish that wows our guests. ⸻ Who You Are: • A confident and experienced Head Chef or ambitious Sous Chef, with at least 2 years leading or co-leading a busy kitchen (pub experience a plus). • A passionate cook who genuinely enjoys what they do — from sourcing ingredients to plating up. • Creative and confident in your palate, with a flair for developing appealing dishes that balance customer appeal with kitchen efficiency. • A calm and organised leader, capable of managing people, pressure, and priorities with professionalism. • Strong on systems: able to manage budgets, suppliers, health and safety and stock with a keen eye for detail. • A natural team player who works well with FOH and sees the bigger picture. • Enthusiastic about food trends and pub culture, and eager to contribute ideas and energy to a growing venue. • Level 2 Food Safety as minimum; Level 3 and formal culinary training a bonus. • Full right to work in the UK. ⸻ What We Offer: • Competitive Salary – £38,000 to £45,000 depending on experience. • Creative Freedom – Full input on menus and food direction. • Supportive Culture – You’ll work in a positive, respectful environment where your input is genuinely valued. • Career Growth – Whether you want to stay long-term or step up to something bigger in time, we support progression. • Perks – Staff meals, family & friends discount, opportunities for training and development. • Flexibility – 8h/10h/12h shift options, with weekend availability required but fair scheduling.