Head Chef

Location: Darrington, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom; onsite kitchen role

Salary: £31,000–£35,000 per year plus bonus

Company

A hospitality business operating a 28-bedroom hotel and food-led pub focused on British food, guest accommodation, family occasions, events, and genuine hospitality.

What you will do

• Take ownership of the kitchen operation and lead the team during service.
• Build, recruit, coach, and develop the kitchen team as recruitment continues.
• Set clear standards, improve kitchen processes, and ensure smooth and efficient service.
• Maintain food quality, presentation, food safety, hygiene, and health and safety standards.
• Manage stock takes, ordering, stock rotation, wastage, food GP, and kitchen costs.
• Work with the General Manager and wider management team to support pub, hotel, restaurant, and event operations.

Requirements

• Proven experience managing a busy kitchen, ideally in a pub, hotel, or similar food-led operation.
• Experience recruiting, training, coaching, and developing kitchen colleagues.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, allergens, health and safety, and kitchen compliance.
• Understanding of stock control, ordering, wastage, food GP, and commercial kitchen performance.
• Ability to organise and prioritise effectively during busy services while remaining hands-on and calm under pressure.
• Strong communication skills and confidence working with the wider management team.

Culture & Benefits

• Career development opportunities across the business.
• Training and development at every level, including apprenticeships.
• Employee discounts across pubs, restaurants, inns, hotels, and retail partners.
• Employee Assistance Programme covering mental health, wellbeing, and financial or legal advice.
• Enhanced family-friendly maternity and paternity policies, plus a menopause-friendly workplace.
• Refer a Friend scheme and access to earned pay through Wagestream.