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 venues.
- Other info: Enjoy a supportive environment with ongoing training and development opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a passionate team that values great cooking and supports your growth.
- 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 - Weekends Only employer: Country Creatures
Contact Detail:
Country Creatures Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Sous Chef - Weekends Only
✨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! If you get the chance, bring a dish you've created that highlights seasonal ingredients. This will not only impress but also demonstrate your passion for ingredient-led cooking.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to talk teamwork! Share examples of how you've supported and developed junior chefs in your previous roles. We love to see a natural leader who can motivate others and maintain a calm kitchen environment.
✨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 our team at The Wild Duck and being part of something special.
We think you need these skills to ace Sous Chef - Weekends Only
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 or dishes that highlight your culinary creativity and commitment to quality.
Highlight Leadership Skills: As a Sous Chef, you'll be leading a team, so make sure to emphasise your leadership experience. Talk about how you've motivated others in the kitchen and maintained a calm environment, even during busy service times.
Be Organised and Detail-Oriented: We value high standards and attention to detail, so in your application, mention how you manage kitchen operations, stock control, and food safety. Show us you're the organised type who can keep everything running smoothly.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to see your application and get you on board with our fantastic team at The Wild Duck!
How to prepare for a job interview at Country Creatures
✨Know Your Ingredients
Familiarise yourself with seasonal British produce and be ready to discuss your favourite ingredients. Show your passion for ingredient-led cooking by sharing examples of dishes you've created that highlight these flavours.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Prepare to talk about your experience in leading a kitchen team. Think of specific instances where you motivated junior chefs or maintained a calm environment under pressure. This will show that you're ready to step into the Sous Chef role.
✨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 roles, as this is crucial for maintaining high standards.
✨Show Your Passion
Let your enthusiasm for cooking shine through during the interview. Share stories about your culinary journey, what inspires you, and how you keep up with food trends. A positive attitude can make a lasting impression!