At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the kitchen at Cicoria, delivering exceptional Italian cuisine in a vibrant setting.
- Company: Join the Royal Opera House and work with renowned chef Angela Hartnett.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, daily staff dining, discounts, and 33 days holiday.
- Other info: Enjoy personal development opportunities and a supportive team culture.
- Why this job: Shape a unique dining experience in one of London's most iconic venues.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Head Chef or strong Senior Sous Chef with Italian cooking expertise.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 75000 € per year.
Set within the iconic Royal Opera House, Cicoria is an Italian restaurant and terrace bar created in partnership with Angela Hartnett. The food is seasonal, ingredient led and rooted in the clarity and restraint of Italian cooking, delivered with consistency, confidence and care. We are looking for a Head Chef to take ownership of the Cicoria kitchen, leading restaurant service, terrace dining, pre and post theatre trade, and selected events in one of London’s most unique hospitality settings. This is a role for a chef who combines strong technical standards with calm leadership and commercial grip. Someone who takes pride in doing simple things exceptionally well, every time.
The Head Chef Role
- You will lead the Cicoria kitchen day to day, taking responsibility for food standards, kitchen performance and team culture in a fast paced, high profile environment.
- Deliver food that reflects the standards and ethos of Angela Hartnett’s kitchens, with real consistency.
- Lead, develop and retain a strong kitchen team, setting clear expectations and holding people to them.
- Run a kitchen that can flex across busy restaurant services, terrace dining, theatre led peaks and event menus.
- Take ownership of food cost, labour, productivity, waste and overall kitchen performance.
- Work closely with the Senior General Manager, front of house team and wider Royal Opera House stakeholders.
- Maintain excellent standards of organisation, hygiene, allergens and food safety.
- Contribute to seasonal menu development, terrace offers and event menus within Cicoria’s established Italian style.
About You:
- You are currently a Head Chef, or a strong Senior Sous Chef ready to step into a bigger role.
- You have experience in a quality focused, high volume restaurant or hospitality environment.
- You understand ingredient led Italian cooking and have the discipline to deliver it with precision.
- You are calm, structured and organised under pressure.
- You are commercially aware and understand how food cost, labour and productivity affect kitchen performance.
- You are a confident leader who builds motivated, accountable and consistent teams.
- You are comfortable working with senior operators, front of house teams and partners across a wider venue.
Why This Head Chef Role Is Different:
This is a rare opportunity to lead a kitchen within one of London’s most prestigious cultural institutions. You will be working in a restaurant created in partnership with Angela Hartnett, with a clear food identity and high standards. The role brings variety, from restaurant service and terrace dining to pre theatre demand, post theatre trade and selected events. It is a platform to shape, develop and elevate a growing restaurant within a landmark London setting.
Our Head Chef Company Benefits
- Competitive salary + tronc, targeted earnings £70-75k per annum.
- 33 days paid holiday.
- Staff dining provided daily.
- Employee dining discounts.
- Access to industry events and professional development opportunities.
- Central London location with excellent transport links.
We also offer:
- Personal Development and Training opportunities.
- Life assurance scheme.
- Pension scheme.
- Holiday allowance.
- Eye care.
- A great wellbeing strategy – including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance.
- Access to Healthcare Support App which includes Annual health check, Digital GP, Mental Health Consultations, Nutritional Consultations, Second Medical Opinion.
- Family friendly support.
- A holiday purchase scheme.
- Regular social events and communication with our leaders.
- Volunteering days.
- Recognition schemes and people awards.
- Long service awards.
- Access to some great high street discount vouchers.
If you are a chef who cares about great ingredients, calm leadership and doing the basics brilliantly, we would love to hear from you.
Head Chef - Royal Opera House NEW Company of Cooks Posted today £65,000 per year London Chefs employer: Chartwells Independent
As a Head Chef at Cicoria within the Royal Opera House, you will be part of a prestigious cultural institution that values culinary excellence and creativity. The company fosters a supportive work culture with a focus on personal development, offering competitive salaries, generous holiday allowances, and a range of employee benefits including daily staff dining and access to industry events. This role not only provides the opportunity to lead a talented kitchen team but also allows you to shape a unique dining experience in one of London's most iconic settings.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef - Royal Opera House NEW Company of Cooks Posted today £65,000 per year London Chefs
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to fellow chefs, restaurant owners, or anyone in the industry. Attend culinary events or workshops to make connections that could lead to job opportunities. Remember, it’s not just about what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you can, create a portfolio of your best dishes or even host a pop-up event. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can bring to their kitchen. Plus, it’s a great way to demonstrate your passion for ingredient-led cooking.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job postings to appear. Reach out directly to restaurants you admire, like Cicoria at the Royal Opera House. Express your interest and share how you can contribute to their team. You never know what opportunities might arise!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Tailor your approach to highlight your experience in high-volume environments and your understanding of Italian cooking. Let’s get you into that kitchen!
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef - Royal Opera House NEW Company of Cooks Posted today £65,000 per year London Chefs
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Italian Cooking:When writing your application, let us know why you love Italian cuisine! Share your experiences with ingredient-led cooking and how you’ve delivered exceptional dishes in the past. We want to see your passion shine through!
Highlight Your Leadership Skills:As a Head Chef, strong leadership is key. In your application, give examples of how you've built and motivated kitchen teams. We’re looking for someone who can lead with calmness and confidence, so make sure to showcase your style!
Be Specific About Your Experience:We want to know about your journey! Detail your experience in high-volume restaurants and any specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to manage food costs and kitchen performance. The more specific, the better!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at the Royal Opera House. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chartwells Independent
✨Know Your Ingredients
Make sure you’re well-versed in the seasonal and ingredient-led Italian cooking that the restaurant prides itself on. Be ready to discuss your favourite ingredients, how you source them, and how they can elevate a dish. This shows your passion and knowledge, which is crucial for a Head Chef role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to talk about your leadership approach and how you build and motivate a kitchen team. Think of specific examples where you've successfully led a team under pressure, especially during busy service times. This will demonstrate your calmness and structure, which are key traits for this position.
✨Understand the Business Side
Brush up on your knowledge of food costs, labour management, and productivity metrics. Be ready to discuss how you’ve managed these aspects in previous roles and how you plan to maintain high standards while being commercially aware. This will show that you can run a kitchen effectively and profitably.
✨Engage with the Venue's Culture
Familiarise yourself with the Royal Opera House and its ethos. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to the unique dining experience they offer, especially in terms of pre and post-theatre dining. Showing that you understand the venue’s culture will set you apart as a candidate who truly fits the role.
