Vacancies

Head Chef

Head Chef – Café

Full-time | Weekend availability required.

Hours: 40 hours per week. Daytime shifts only – typically around 7am–4pm, including weekends on a rota basis. There may occasionally be evening events where your presence is required, but this is not the norm.

We’re looking for a Head Chef to lead our kitchen at Stubbings Café. This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys being in the kitchen with their team, not managing from the sidelines. You’ll spend the majority of your time (around 90%) cooking alongside the team, setting standards, and keeping service running smoothly.

You’ll need to be confident leading the team and setting standards, but we’re looking for someone who does this in a supportive, respectful way rather than through pressure or confrontation.

The kitchen is fast-paced, food is cooked to order, and the environment can be high volume and at times stressful. It’s also a relatively small workspace, so teamwork, communication, and organisation are key.

Set in a beautiful glasshouse overlooking an 18th-century walled garden, we are a well-established 70-cover café known for fresh breakfasts, seasonal lunches, homemade cakes, and a relaxed atmosphere.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading the day-to-day running of the kitchen during your shifts
• Being hands-on in service – cooking, plating, and supporting the team
• Preparing for service at the start of the day and managing close-down at the end
• Maintaining high standards of food quality, consistency, and presentation
• Creating a positive, supportive kitchen culture where people can perform at their best
• Managing performance, rotas, and basic kitchen admin
• Following and applying HR processes confidently when needed (e.g. performance issues, absence, conduct)
• Ensuring food safety, hygiene, and compliance standards are always met
• Working closely with front of house to ensure smooth service

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or strong Sous Chef ready to step up
• Experience working in a high-volume, fast-paced kitchen
• A natural leader who can support, develop, and motivate a team
• Able to be firm and make decisions, while still being approachable and fair
• Comfortable handling people management issues and following processes properly
• Strong organisational skills and ability to stay calm under pressure
• Hands-on approach – willing to lead from the front, not just delegate
• Passion for fresh, well-prepared food
• Level 3 Food Hygiene

What We Offer

• Daytime hours – genuine work-life balance compared to typical chef roles
• Competitive pay (to be discussed based on experience)
• Supportive working environment with a stable team
• Beautiful countryside location

This Role Would Suit You If

• You’re ready to step into a leadership role but still enjoy being on the tools
• You prefer leading through support and standards, not shouting
• You’ve worked in busy kitchens and know what “properly busy” actually feels like
• You want a long-term role where you can shape a team and make an impact