Job Description

Job Title: Head Chef - RELAUNCH/NEW OPENING

Location:

The Cock & Pheasant, Bollington

About Us:

Having opened our doors on August Bank Holiday Weekend, we're now looking for a Head Chef to Lead our Kitchen Team.

We've not just relaunched a pub--we're reigniting a feeling. The Cock & Pheasant is being rebuilt around nostalgia, belonging, and the kind of hospitality that makes people feel seen. We want our food to reflect our purpose: To foster a sense of belonging and community spirit so that everyone has a place to unwind and solcialise.

Job Overview:

I'm looking for a Head Chef who sees the kitchen not just as a workplace, but as a stage for connection. This is a demanding role--long days, key dates like Christmas and Mother's Day, and a relentless commitment to doing things properly, even when no one's watching. You'll be the heartbeat of our food offering, leading with integrity, precision, and a deep respect for the stories our dishes tell.

This isn't just about cooking--it's about people. It's about unreasonable hospitality, about knowing when a guest needs comfort food and when they need a celebration on a plate. If you read this and feel like it's describing the kind of job you'd love every day, I want to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead the kitchen team with empathy, clarity, and high standards. Engineer and execute a menu that balances nostalgia, seasonality, and operational efficiency. Own batch prep systems, portion control, and allergen compliance with precision. Collaborate on strategic planning, cost control, and supplier relationships. Ensure every dish served reflects our values: quality, care, and community. Maintain rigorous food safety standards and HACCP compliance. Mentor junior chefs and build a culture of pride, accountability, and joy.

Skills & Qualifications:

Proven experience as a Head Chef or Senior Sous in a quality-focused kitchen. Deep understanding of batch cooking, prep sheets, and costed recipes. Strong leadership and team-building skills--especially under pressure. Familiarity with allergen tracking, HACCP, and compliance systems. Ability to scale recipes and maintain consistency across shifts. Emotional intelligence and a genuine love for making people smile through food.

What We Value:

Personality:

Warm, grounded, and approachable. We don't have an open-door policy. There is no door.

Passion for Unreasonable Hospitality:

It's not up to us to tell a guest that when they said medium-rare what they actually wanted was medium. It's up to us to get them the steak they want!

Belief in Our Vision:

If you get a kick out of seeing someone's shoulders drop when they taste something that reminds them of home, you're our kind of chef.

Why Join Us?

Be part of a place that's about more than food--it's about feeling. Work in a kitchen where you have a real say in how we bring our vision to life. Grow personally and professionally in a team that values heart as much as skill.

How to Apply:

If this sounds like the kind of kitchen you'd be proud to lead, apply now or send your CV and a cover letter telling me why to joinus@happyvalleyhospitality.co.uk

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 35,000.00-38,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Discounted or free food Employee discount Free parking Health & wellbeing programme On-site parking
Application question(s):

Do you have a UK bank account or are you able to open one? Do you have any criminal convictions that are unspent under the Rehabilitation of
Offenders Act 1974 (including drink driving offences)?

Are you of school leaving age? How many years experience do you have in a senior kitchen role?
Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person