Are you a culinary leader with a passion for high-quality food, efficient operations, and a truly unique setting? We are seeking an exceptional Kitchen Manager to take the reins of our dynamic kitchen, nestled within a stunning 14th-century converted barn. This is more than just a restaurant, it's a premier venue serving everything from daily brunch and popular sourdough pizzas to bespoke menus for large-scale weddings and lively festivals.
About the Role
As Kitchen Manager, you will be the heart of our culinary operation. You will be responsible for maintaining our high standards of food quality and consistency across all aspects of the business, ensuring profitability, and leading a motivated and skilled kitchen team.
Key Responsibilities
Culinary Excellence:
Oversee all food preparation and cooking, focusing on our core offerings of brunch items and authentic pizzas, while also developing and executing high-volume, quality menus for weddings, festivals, and private events.
Team Leadership:
Recruit, train, mentor, and manage the entire kitchen brigade, fostering a positive, professional, and efficient working environment.
Operational Management:
Control stock levels, manage supplier relationships, negotiate pricing, and minimise waste to ensure excellent profitability.
Compliance & Safety:
Ensure strict adherence to all food safety, hygiene, and health and safety regulations, maintaining impeccable standards in a demanding, high-pace environment.
Menu Development:
Collaborate with the Venue Manager to refine and innovate menus, keeping up with seasonal trends and customer demand while managing food costs.
What We're Looking For:
Proven experience as a Head Chef or Kitchen Manager in a fast-paced environment, ideally including experience with both high-volume daily service and large-scale catering/events.
Expert knowledge of food safety and hygiene practices (Level 3 qualification is a plus but will be provided).
Demonstrable skills in inventory management, cost control, and financial reporting for the kitchen.
A creative flair for food, coupled with a strong understanding of operational efficiency.
A resilient, calm, and motivational leader who can thrive under the unique pressures of managing a diverse, event-driven calendar.
Experience with wood-fired pizza ovens or similar cooking equipment is highly desirable.
Why Join Us?
This is a rare opportunity to apply your skills in an absolutely unique and beautiful heritage setting. You will have the creative freedom to shape our food offering and the professional challenge of running a kitchen that transforms its output from casual dining to high-end catering, often on the same week.
The role starts on the 1st February 2026 and runs until November 2026. We are a seasonal venue so flexibility is key.
Opening days: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Including Bank Holiday Mondays.
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Job Type: Fixed term contract
Contract length: 10 months
Pay: From 14.25 per hour
Expected hours: 40 - 48 per week
Work Location: In person
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