Sous Chef

Sous Chef

Full-Time 30000 - 40000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
Country Creatures

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a dynamic kitchen, ensuring quality and consistency in every dish.
  • Company: Join The Wild Duck, a beloved pub known for its character and seasonal British cuisine.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, TRONC, bonuses, and 25% staff discount across all venues.
  • Other info: Enjoy ongoing training in a supportive environment with high-quality ingredients.
  • Why this job: Be part of a passionate team that values great cooking and personal development.
  • Qualifications: Experience as a Sous Chef or strong Junior Sous ready to step up.

The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.

We’re looking for a talented and driven Sous Chef to join the team at The Wild Duck, one of the Cotswolds’ most loved and characterful pubs. Set in the heart of Ewen, just outside Cirencester, The Wild Duck is known for its relaxed atmosphere, beautiful setting, and a food offering that celebrates seasonality, simplicity, and bold, honest flavours.

This is an exciting opportunity to step into a key leadership role within a kitchen that values quality ingredients, thoughtful cooking, and a calm, focused team culture.

About Country Creatures

Country Creatures operates a collection of standout pubs, inns and restaurants across the Cotswolds, known for exceptional hospitality and a strong food and drink offering rooted in quality and consistency.

The Role – Sous Chef

As Sous Chef, you’ll work closely with the Head Chef to lead the kitchen day-to-day — ensuring standards are maintained, the team is supported, and the food consistently delivers. You’ll be hands-on, organised, and commercially aware, with a genuine passion for great cooking and developing others.

What You’ll Be Doing

  • Supporting the Head Chef in running a high-performing kitchen
  • Leading service with confidence, ensuring quality and consistency
  • Driving standards across prep, hygiene, and organisation
  • Supporting stock control, ordering, and GP management
  • Training and developing junior chefs
  • Maintaining a calm, professional environment, even under pressure

What We’re Looking For

  • Previous experience as a Sous Chef or strong Junior Sous ready to step up
  • A passion for seasonal, ingredient-led cooking
  • Strong understanding of kitchen operations, cost control, and food safety
  • A natural leader who can motivate and support a team
  • High standards, attention to detail, and pride in your work
  • A positive, hands-on attitude and strong work ethic

What We Offer

  • Competitive salary (dependent on experience)
  • TRONC and bonus opportunities
  • Work with high-quality, locally sourced ingredients
  • A supportive and ambitious kitchen team
  • Ongoing training and development
  • 25% staff discount across all Country Creatures venues

Location: The Wild Duck, Ewen, Cirencester

Full-time, permanent role

If you’re a Sous Chef who cares about food, team culture, and delivering something genuinely special, we’d love to hear from you.

Sous Chef employer: Country Creatures

At The Wild Duck, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values quality, creativity, and teamwork. Located in the picturesque Cotswolds, our supportive kitchen environment fosters personal and professional growth, offering ongoing training and development opportunities alongside a competitive salary and staff discounts. Join us to be part of a passionate team dedicated to delivering outstanding seasonal British cuisine in a relaxed and characterful setting.
Country Creatures

Contact Detail:

Country Creatures Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Sous Chef

✨Tip Number 1

Get to know the venue! Before your interview, pop into The Wild Duck for a meal or a drink. This way, you can chat about the atmosphere and the food during your interview, showing your genuine interest in the place.

✨Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Bring along a portfolio of your best dishes or even a few photos of your previous work. This will help us see your passion for seasonal, ingredient-led cooking and how you can contribute to our kitchen.

✨Tip Number 3

Be ready to talk teamwork! We want to hear how you've led a team before or supported junior chefs. Share specific examples of how you maintained a calm environment under pressure – it’s all about that positive attitude!

✨Tip Number 4

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 The Wild Duck!

We think you need these skills to ace Sous Chef

Leadership Skills
Kitchen Operations Management
Food Safety Knowledge
Stock Control
Cost Control
Attention to Detail
Team Development
Culinary Skills
Organisational Skills
Ability to Work Under Pressure
Passion for Seasonal Cooking
Communication Skills
Positive Attitude
Work Ethic

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion for Cooking: When writing your application, let your love for seasonal and ingredient-led cooking shine through. Share any experiences that highlight your culinary journey and how you connect with the ethos of The Wild Duck.

Highlight Leadership Skills: As a Sous Chef, you'll be leading a team, so make sure to emphasise your leadership experience. Talk about times you've motivated others or maintained a calm environment under pressure – we want to see your natural leadership qualities!

Be Organised and Detail-Oriented: In your application, mention your organisational skills and attention to detail. We value high standards in our kitchen, so share examples of how you've ensured quality and consistency 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 review your application and get to know you better, so don’t hesitate!

How to prepare for a job interview at Country Creatures

✨Know Your Ingredients

Make sure you’re well-versed in seasonal British produce and can discuss your favourite ingredients. The Wild Duck values ingredient-led cooking, so be ready to share how you’ve used local produce in your previous roles.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills

As a Sous Chef, you’ll need to lead the team effectively. Prepare examples of how you’ve motivated and developed junior chefs in the past. Highlight your ability to maintain a calm environment under pressure.

✨Understand Kitchen Operations

Brush up on your knowledge of kitchen operations, cost control, and food safety. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve managed stock control and ordering in previous positions, as this is crucial for the role.

✨Emphasise Your Passion

Let your passion for cooking shine through during the interview. Talk about what drives you in the kitchen and how you ensure quality and consistency in your dishes. A positive attitude goes a long way!

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