Sous Chef - Food Led Country Pub in Rickmansworth

About us

We are looking for a passionate Sous Chef who wants to develop their career and showcase their skills. At Craft Locals, we give our chefs the platform to grow, with clear progression to running their own kitchen in the future.

The Rose & Crown is a new addition to Craft Locals, currently undergoing renovations and set to open March 2026. Located in the outskirts of Rickmansworth, a short walk from the Aquadrome and Bishop's Wood Country Park, it is a welcoming country pub with deep local roots and a bright new chapter ahead. Perfectly placed for locals, walkers and visitors alike, it’s a pub designed for relaxed pints, great food and good company.

Inside, you’ll find a proper pub atmosphere, a curated range of real ales and thoughtfully chosen wines, supported by fresh, seasonal food and excellent, friendly service. The Rose & Crown is a place where traditional pub values meet modern standards of hospitality.

Our kitchen delivers fresh, seasonal menus built around classic pub favourites, using quality ingredients and contemporary touches. On Sundays, we’re all about exceptional roasts with perfectly cooked meats, crisp unlimited roast potatoes, seasonal veg and rich gravies worth coming back for.

With outdoor seating for warmer days, a strong sense of community and a passion for great hospitality, The Rose & Crown is a pub where locals return time and again — a place to eat well, drink better and feel at home.

This is your chance to join a growing independent pub group, take on responsibility in a fresh-food kitchen, and build your career in a supportive environment.

What’s in it for you

• Pay: £14.50–£16.10/hr (equivalent to £33,200–£37,600/year)
• Tips: Share of card tips
• Perks: 50% off food & 20% off drinks across the group, 28 days holiday, staff discount, team socials
• Training: Supplier visits, brewery trips, leadership development and menu design opportunities
• Autonomy: Input into specials and menus, with the freedom to showcase your skills
• Progression: Clear pathway to Head Chef

What you’ll be doing

• Leading the kitchen team in the absence of the Head Chef
• Guiding, supporting and training junior chefs
• Assisting in menu development and creating specials
• Managing stock, ordering and food margins effectively
• Maintaining HACCP and all food safety compliance
• Helping to manage labour costs and kitchen financial performance

What we’re looking for

• Experience in fresh-food pubs or restaurants at Sous level or strong Junior Sous ready to step up
• A creative chef with good organisation and planning skills
• Skilled in costing dishes and managing margins
• Knowledgeable and trained in HACCP and food safety
• A leader with a positive attitude who motivates the team
• Ambitious and eager to progress to Head Chef in the future

This is your chance to take on real responsibility, influence the menu, and grow your career in a food-led, independent pub group.

Apply today and join the team.

Craft Locals is a growing group of people-focused pubs, dedicated to delivering exceptional food, well-kept cask ale, and memorable guest experiences. We believe great pubs start with great teams, and we invest in our people — giving them the support, training, and tools they need to shine. We’ve built systems that make running a pub straightforward and compliant, so our teams can focus on what really matters: welcoming guests and delivering an outstanding experience. From reservations to stock, scheduling to events, we use a suite of best-in-class tools — including AllGravy, MarketMan, Harri, S4Labour, Lightspeed, Trail, FoodAlert and SevenRooms — to simplify operations and keep everything running smoothly.

At Craft Locals, we’re proud to combine a love of people, food, and drink with smart systems and strong support — creating pubs that teams enjoy working in and guests love visiting.