At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the kitchen at Cicoria, delivering exceptional Italian cuisine and managing a talented team.
- Company: Join the Royal Opera House, a prestigious cultural institution in London.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 33 days holiday, staff dining, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Enjoy a dynamic environment with excellent transport links and regular social events.
- Why this job: Shape a growing restaurant with a clear food identity in a landmark setting.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Head Chef or strong Senior Sous Chef with Italian cooking expertise.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 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.
- As Head Chef you will:
- 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 in London employer: Chartwells Independent
At Cicoria, located within the iconic Royal Opera House, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values culinary excellence and team development. Our vibrant work culture fosters creativity and collaboration, offering competitive salaries, generous holiday allowances, and numerous professional growth opportunities in one of London's most prestigious settings. Join us to lead a passionate kitchen team while enjoying a range of employee benefits, including daily staff dining and access to industry events.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef - Royal Opera House in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to fellow chefs, restaurant owners, and industry contacts. Attend culinary events or workshops to meet people who can help you land that Head Chef role at Cicoria.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you can, organise a tasting session or a pop-up event showcasing your Italian cooking. This is a great way to demonstrate your passion for ingredient-led dishes and your leadership style.
✨Tip Number 3
Research the Royal Opera House and Cicoria! Understand their ethos and what makes them unique. Tailor your approach to show how you can contribute to their vision and maintain those high standards.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team and ready to take on the challenge of leading the kitchen.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef - Royal Opera House in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Italian Cooking:When writing your application, let us see your love for Italian cuisine shine through! Share your experiences with ingredient-led cooking and how you’ve delivered exceptional dishes in the past. We want to know what makes you tick in the kitchen!
Highlight Your Leadership Skills:As a Head Chef, strong leadership is key. Make sure to include examples of how you've built and motivated teams in previous roles. We’re looking for someone who can lead with calmness and confidence, so don’t hold back on showcasing your management style!
Be Specific About Your Experience:Tailor your application to reflect your experience in high-volume, quality-focused environments. Mention specific achievements related to food cost management, kitchen performance, and team culture. We want to see that you understand the commercial side of running a kitchen!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get to know you better. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity at the Royal Opera House!
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 approach that defines Italian cooking. Be ready to discuss your favourite ingredients and how you would use them in a menu at Cicoria. This shows your passion and understanding of the cuisine.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to talk about your leadership experience and how you’ve built strong kitchen teams in the past. Think of specific examples where you set clear expectations and motivated your team, especially in high-pressure situations.
✨Understand the Business Side
Brush up on your knowledge of food costs, labour productivity, and waste management. Be prepared to discuss how you would manage these aspects effectively in a busy kitchen environment, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Emphasise Consistency and Quality
Be ready to explain how you ensure consistency in food quality and standards. Share examples from your previous roles where you maintained high standards under pressure, as this aligns perfectly with the ethos of Angela Hartnett’s kitchens.
