Head Chef - Royal Opera House in London

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.