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- Tasks: Lead and innovate culinary operations at a historic venue, creating diverse menus for visitors.
- Company: Join Restaurant Associates, a premium hospitality provider with iconic venues across the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, free meals, staff parking, and access to events.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact in a dynamic environment while showcasing your culinary creativity.
- Qualifications: 3+ years as a Head Chef in high-volume settings; strong leadership and organisational skills.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive culture with growth opportunities in a fun, inclusive team.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 54000 £ per year.
Location: Hatfield House
Salary: Up to £45,000 per annum + paid overtime
Contract: Full-Time 40-hour contract, Permanent, 5 out of 7 days with occasional evenings for events
Are you an experienced Head Chef who is looking for a new challenge, and wanting to work in an environment that offers variety? Are you keen to utilise your current experience at a historic visitor attraction that allows you to be a culinary creative? We’re looking for a Head Chef to lead and manage the culinary operation at Hatfield House, with a strong focus on delivering a high-quality food offer for a diverse visitor audience.
About the Role:
As Head Chef at Hatfield House, you will be joining this renowned historic visitor attraction to lead and develop the on-site culinary offering. This role is responsible for the food provision across a multi-outlet catering operation, based within the Coach House Kitchen Restaurant, Riding School Events, and Old Palace Events. The catering operation includes a combination of visitor dining and large-scale events, requiring a Head Chef with strong experience in high-volume, high-quality food delivery. You will oversee kitchen teams across all areas, ensuring consistent standards, efficient operations, and full compliance with food safety requirements, while maintaining a strong commercial focus. Success in this role will be reflected in positive visitor feedback, well-run kitchens, and effective collaboration with the client. The Head Chef will play an important role in ensuring the catering offer enhances the overall visitor experience and supports the continued success of Hatfield House.
What We Offer:
- 20 days holiday + bank holidays
- Free staff parking
- Free staff meals whilst working on site
- Free access to Hatfield House and discounted events
- Compass reward scheme
- A supportive, values-driven culture within cohesive teams
- Opportunities for growth and development within a national business
- A chance to make a meaningful impact in a continuously growing sector
Key Responsibilities:
- Menu Development & Innovation - Create and adapt menus that appeal to a broad visitor base, including family-friendly options, dietary requirements, and seasonal specials.
- Operational Excellence - Oversee all kitchen operations, ensuring compliance with food safety legislation, company policies, and contractual obligations.
- Leadership & Team Development - Recruit, train, and inspire a motivated kitchen team, fostering a positive and professional working culture.
- Cost Control & Profitability - Manage budgets, control wastage, and achieve GP targets without compromising quality.
- Collaboration - Work closely with front-of-house teams, site management, and the client to deliver a consistent and memorable food experience.
- Event Catering - Plan and deliver high-quality catering for large-scale events across the venue, ensuring operational efficiency and visitor satisfaction.
The Ideal Candidate:
- Minimum 3 years’ experience as a Head Chef in high-volume, high-quality environments, including both restaurant and events catering.
- Experience within visitor attractions and contract catering is highly desirable.
- Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to lead by example.
- Excellent organisational skills, especially during peak periods.
- Sound knowledge of food trends, allergens, and dietary requirements.
- Demonstrated ability to achieve financial targets while maintaining high quality.
- Good IT and Microsoft Office skills.
- Passionate about food and hospitality with a strong customer focus.
- Adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.
- Creative, commercially aware, and results driven.
- Committed to sustainability and responsible sourcing.
About Us:
Restaurant Associates is a leading premium hospitality provider with an ethos drawn from our history of fine and high-quality dining in London and New York. Within our venues team, we provide catering and hospitality services to some of the most iconic visitor attractions and destinations in the UK including the Imperial War Museum London, Glyndebourne Opera House, Knebworth House, Design Museum, Whipsnade Zoo and many more. Within these amazing venues we operate a host of bespoke cafés and restaurants, as well as delivering private events ranging from small meetings to large-scale ground events of up to 1000 people. You can find a full list of our venues on our website. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive, diverse, fun, and dynamic place to work with opportunities to collaborate with a wide range of teams plus a commitment to putting our people first. Restaurant Associates is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. As a business, we are committed to sustainability led practices and are proud to have achieved 3 stars with the Sustainable Restaurant Association’s Food Made Good Programme.
Head Chef in Hatfield employer: Compass Group UK
Contact Detail:
Compass Group UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef in Hatfield
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to fellow chefs, industry contacts, or even friends who might know someone at Hatfield House. A personal connection can make all the difference in landing that Head Chef role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your culinary creativity! When you get the chance to chat with the hiring team, share your ideas for innovative menus or event catering. They want to see your passion and vision for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by researching Hatfield House and its dining offerings. Knowing their style and audience will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate that you're the perfect fit for their team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our fantastic team at Restaurant Associates.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef in Hatfield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Culinary Creativity: When you’re writing your application, don’t hold back on showcasing your culinary skills and creativity. We want to see how you can bring fresh ideas to the table, especially in menu development and innovation!
Highlight Your Leadership Experience: As a Head Chef, leading a team is key! Make sure to include examples of how you've successfully managed kitchen teams in high-pressure environments. We love to see candidates who inspire and motivate their teams.
Be Specific About Your Achievements: Quantify your successes where possible! Whether it’s improving customer satisfaction scores or managing budgets effectively, we want to know how you’ve made a positive impact in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of success. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and get back to you quickly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Compass Group UK
✨Know Your Menu Inside Out
As a Head Chef, you’ll need to showcase your culinary creativity. Make sure you’re familiar with the types of dishes you’d like to create and adapt for the venue. Prepare to discuss how you would cater to diverse dietary requirements and seasonal specials.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
This role requires strong leadership and team development. Be ready to share examples of how you've successfully led kitchen teams in the past. Highlight your experience in training staff and fostering a positive working culture, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Showcase Your Operational Excellence
Discuss your experience in managing high-volume catering operations. Be prepared to talk about how you ensure compliance with food safety legislation and maintain quality standards while managing costs. This will show that you can handle the pressures of a busy kitchen.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions about how you would handle specific situations, such as planning for large-scale events or dealing with unexpected challenges in the kitchen. Think through your strategies for maintaining efficiency and visitor satisfaction, as these are key to success at Hatfield House.
