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 work environment with excellent career growth and wellbeing support.
- Why this job: Shape a unique dining experience in a landmark setting with a renowned chef.
- 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
- 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.
Additional Benefits
- 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 employer: Company of Cooks
At Cicoria, located within the iconic Royal Opera House, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values culinary excellence and employee growth. Our vibrant work culture fosters creativity and collaboration, offering competitive salaries, generous holiday allowances, and a range of professional development opportunities, all set against the backdrop of one of London's most prestigious cultural venues. Join us to lead a passionate kitchen team and elevate your career in a unique hospitality environment that celebrates Italian cooking and community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef - Royal Opera House
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with other chefs, restaurant owners, and industry folks. Attend events, join culinary groups, and don’t be shy about sharing your passion for Italian cooking. You never know who might have the perfect opportunity for you!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills in person! If you can, arrange a trial shift or a tasting session at Cicoria. This is your chance to demonstrate your technical standards and calm leadership under pressure. Plus, it gives us a taste of your style and how you fit into our kitchen culture.
✨Tip Number 3
Research, research, research! Familiarise yourself with Angela Hartnett’s ethos and the seasonal menu at Cicoria. When you know the ins and outs of what we do, you can speak confidently about how you’d contribute to our kitchen and elevate our offerings.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at one of London’s most iconic venues. Let’s make it happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef - Royal Opera House
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Italian Cooking:When writing your application, let us see your love for ingredient-led Italian cooking shine through. Share specific examples of how you've delivered exceptional dishes and maintained high standards in your previous roles.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills:We want to know about your experience leading a kitchen team. Talk about how you've developed and motivated your team, set clear expectations, and created a positive kitchen culture. This is key for us!
Be Clear About Your Commercial Awareness:Make sure to mention your understanding of food costs, labour, and productivity. We’re looking for someone who can manage these aspects effectively, so give us examples of how you've done this in the past.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and get you into the process smoothly. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Company of Cooks
✨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 dishes 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’ve motivated your team or handled pressure during busy service times. This will demonstrate your calm and structured approach.
✨Understand the Business Side
Brush up on your knowledge of food costs, labour productivity, and waste management. Be ready to discuss how you’ve successfully managed these aspects in previous roles. This will show that you have the commercial grip needed for the Head Chef position.
✨Be Ready for Menu Development Ideas
Think about how you can contribute to seasonal menu development and event menus. Prepare a few ideas that align with Cicoria’s established Italian style. This will highlight your creativity and commitment to maintaining high standards in the kitchen.
