Head Chef

As Head Chef, you'll play a central role in launching and leading the culinary vision for a vibrant, multi-outlet catering operation at one of the region's most exciting new destinations. Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the kitchen operations across all food outlets, including the Farmshop, Café Restaurant, Barista Coffee Bar, Playbarn Café, Concessions, and Events & Hospitality spaces
• Designing and delivering seasonal, locally inspired menus that reflect the farm's ethos and appeal to a wide range of visitors
• Recruiting, training, and managing a skilled kitchen team, fostering a culture of excellence, creativity, and collaboration
• Overseeing food preparation, presentation, and service to ensure consistent quality and customer satisfaction
• Managing stock control, supplier relationships, and procurement of fresh, local ingredients
• Ensuring compliance with food safety regulations, allergen management, and hygiene standards (including HACCP)
• Supporting the wider farm team with catering for school visits, private functions, and seasonal events
• Driving innovation and continuous improvement in food offerings, responding to visitor feedback and emerging trends
• Maintaining cost control and kitchen efficiency while upholding high standards of sustainability and waste reduction, We work together as a team to lead by example, protecting the planet and supporting local communities.
Interested? Even if you don't meet all requirements, we'd like to hear from you. If you are motivated and hungry to learn, we can work together to develop your potential. We are proud to be an inclusive employer and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We celebrate individuality and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from people of all ages, abilities, gender identities, sexual orientations, races, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds. BaxterStorey is committed to encouraging equity, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I) among our workforce and aim for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To support our commitment to this we have set ourselves an ambition to 'set the standard and to be recognised for having the most inclusive culture in hospitality'.

Experienced Head Chef (multi-outlet or high-volume preferred) Strong leader and motivator who builds high-performing teams Passion for fresh, seasonal, locally sourced food Able to manage volume, consistency, and standards under pressure Hands-on and solutions-focused Fully flexible - must be available to work weekends and peak periods,
• Proven experience as a Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef in a multi-outlet or high-volume, quality-focused kitchen
• Strong background in event and function catering, with the ability to deliver exceptional food under pressure
• Demonstrated ability to lead, train, and inspire kitchen teams, fostering a positive and productive working environment
• Financially astute, with experience in menu costing, stock control, and managing kitchen budgets
• Excellent coaching, delegation, and communication skills
• Highly organised, detail-oriented, and calm under pressure
• Empathetic and solution-focused, with a collaborative approach to team and stakeholder relationships
• Strong strategic thinking and creative problem-solving abilities
• Flexibility to work 5 out of 7 days, including weekends and evenings as required
  
  £36-38k salary
28 days holiday 3 volunteering days + 3 grandparent leave days 24 weeks enhanced maternity leave Ongoing training & career development ️ Free meals on shift Perkbox discounts (retail, travel, cinema & more) Wellbeing hub & employee assistance ️ Pension & life insurance