Head Pastry Chef

As Head Pastry Chef at Cambridge House you will join a team shaped by care, character and a strong sense of belonging. Our kitchens are places of creativity, collaboration and pride, where craftsmanship and generosity are equally valued. This role offers a rare opportunity to shape and establish the pastry identity of Cambridge House from opening and beyond. Working in close partnership with the Executive Chef, you will create refined, innovative, and exciting desserts and baked goods that reflect the spirit of the house and elevate the guest experience across all outlets.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead the pastry vision for Cambridge House, creating a distinctive signature style that reflects the heritage, character and modern spirit of the property.
• Continually evolve the pastry offering in line with culinary trends and guest expectations, ensuring it remains relevant, desirable and memorable.
• Curate and oversee all pastry offerings across the house, including the restaurant, bars, afternoon tea, private dining, special events and in-room dining.
• Ensure each experience feels refined and cohesive, balancing creativity and elegance with operational efficiency.
• Collaborate closely with the Executive Chef and wider culinary team to deliver harmonious, seasonal menus that align with our broader food philosophy.
• Play an active role in tastings, menu development sessions and special events, contributing ideas that elevate the overall guest journey.
• Play a central role in the pre‑opening, shaping and establishing systems that support consistency, quality and excellence from day one.
• Build and nurture strong relationships with suppliers and producers, sourcing exceptional ingredients that support the pastry vision.
• Ensure reliable supply, consistent quality and alignment with both creative and operational needs.
• Set and uphold clear standards of preparation, presentation and service across all outlets, ensuring pastry offerings are consistently executed to the highest level and reflect the refinement, attention to detail and luxury positioning of Cambridge House.
• Lead, inspire and develop the pastry team through fostering a positive, inclusive and high‑performing kitchen culture where creativity is encouraged, standards are clear and team members feel supported to grow.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, hygiene, allergen management and health & safety standards, maintaining accurate records and upholding best practice in line with UK legislation and company policies at all times.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Head Pastry Chef in a luxury hotel or high‑end restaurant environment.
• A strong creative identity combined with a refined, disciplined approach to execution and consistency.
• Sound financial awareness, with experience managing food costs, budgets and stock.
• A natural leader who enjoys developing team members and leading by example.
• Highly organised, detail‑oriented and comfortable working in a dynamic, opening environment.
• Strong knowledge of classical and modern pastry techniques, with an appreciation for seasonality and ingredient‑led cooking.
• A collaborative mindset and the ability to work closely with wider kitchen and hotel teams.
• Up‑to‑date knowledge of food safety, allergen management and UK health & safety requirements.