£38000–£45000 yearly
Full-time
London
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.