Head Chef

Head Chef - Up to £48,000 plus performance bonus at a leading gastropub near Tunbridge Wells.

Are you a confident kitchen leader who can balance creativity with consistency? This Head Chef opportunity near Tunbridge Wells offers a £40,000 basic salary, approximately £8,000 tronc and the chance to lead an ambitious gastropub serving fresh, seasonal food.

What's in it for you?

£40,000 basic salary

Approximately £8,000 per year in tronc

Package worth around £48,000 before bonus

£4000 Performance bonus per year

Bonus paid every 13 weeks when targets are achieved

Birthday off guaranteed, plus a birthday treat

60% discount on food while working

50% food discount when visiting with friends and family

25% discount on bedrooms

Internal training and development supported by the executive team

Staff reward events, incentives and recognition trips

Recruitment referral incentives

Long-service rewards, including additional holiday

Company pension

Your new role

As Head Chef, you'll take ownership of the kitchen operation and lead the brigade from the front. Based near Tunbridge Wells, you'll deliver a broad à la carte offering combining traditional favourites, modern dishes and seasonal food trends.

The food is prepared fresh within an established menu framework, so you'll need the discipline to deliver specifications consistently while also bringing the creativity required for menu development, specials and future dishes.

You will:

Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team

Maintain consistently high standards during busy services

Develop seasonal menus, specials and new dishes

Balance traditional cooking with modern food trends

Ensure recipes and specifications are followed accurately

Manage ordering, stock rotation and supplier relationships

Control food costs, labour, wastage and gross profit

Recruit, train and retain kitchen team members

Maintain excellent food safety, HACCP and allergen standards

Work closely with front of house to deliver a strong guest experienceWhat we're looking for

The successful Head Chef will have proven experience leading a busy fresh-food kitchen. A background within a quality gastropub, bistro or high-volume à la carte operation would be ideal.

You'll also need:

Complete confidence working with fresh ingredients

Strong menu-design and dish-development skills

Knowledge of traditional and modern cooking styles

The ability to follow specifications without losing creativity

Strong commercial awareness and cost-control experience

A hands-on leadership style

Excellent organisation and communication skills

A calm, consistent approach under pressure

Sound food-safety and allergen knowledge

The existing right to work in the UKIf this Head Chef role near Tunbridge Wells sounds like the right next step for you, apply today.

Please contact Bradley Baxendale at Platinum Recruitment for more information.

Job Number: 49233 / INDCHEFS

Platinum Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Platinum Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy