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- Tasks: Lead daily operations, inspire your team, and create memorable guest experiences.
- Company: Join the creative and collaborative Artfarm hospitality group.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days holiday, free meals, health benefits, and tailored career development.
- Why this job: Work in a stunning setting and make a real impact on guest experiences.
- Qualifications: Passionate about food, strong leadership skills, and experience in hospitality.
- Other info: Be part of a forward-thinking team with opportunities for growth.
The predicted salary is between 25000 - 42000 ÂŁ per year.
Join us at Gordon’s Tearooms, where tradition meets creativity in the heart of the Cairngorms. As one of the village’s oldest establishments, we proudly serve delicious home‑cooked meals, snacks, teas, and coffees. Our opening hours—Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.—provide fixed days off and guaranteed shift patterns. We are looking for a talented and driven Chef–Café Manager to lead the daily operations of our much‑loved tearoom—overseeing both the kitchen and front of house, inspiring your team, and ensuring outstanding guest experiences.
About the Role
As Chef–Café Manager, you will be responsible for the smooth, efficient, and profitable running of Gordon’s Tearooms. This is a hands‑on role that blends culinary expertise, operational leadership, and a passion for great hospitality. You’ll work closely with our Culinary Director and Head of Food & Beverage to shape our recipe collection, develop your team, and collaborate with the wider Artfarm community to deliver exceptional quality across all aspects of the tearooms.
Key Responsibilities
- Culinary & Operational Leadership
- Manage day‑to‑day operations across both kitchen and front‑of‑house.
- Prepare and serve dishes consistently to the highest standard.
- Develop and maintain an inspiring recipe book in collaboration with the Culinary Director.
- Maintain stock levels, place orders, and complete monthly food, beverage, and CCG stocktakes.
- Work with the Food Control & Compliance Manager to ensure accurate recipe costings and achievement of GP targets.
- Uphold all food, health, safety, and welfare standards.
- Lead café set‑up and breakdown and support wider operational needs.
- Deliver warm, attentive, and professional service in line with SOPs.
- Serve guests directly during busy periods and confidently carry out all front‑of‑house roles.
- Continuously look for ways to enhance our products, service, and guest journey.
- Lead, inspire, train, and support your team to deliver exceptional hospitality.
- Implement competency checklists and develop team members to achieve their individual objectives.
- Conduct quarterly OpenBlend sessions and ensure all staff complete Health & Safety inductions.
- Monitor training compliance, SOP adherence, and guest journey standards.
- Build weekly rotas in line with business needs and working time guidelines.
- Ensure accurate cash handling, reconciliation, and banking.
- Work with the General Manager to achieve weekly and monthly sales, cover targets, and profitability goals.
- Act as the Premises Licence Holder for Gordon’s Tearooms.
- Adhere to all legislation, company policies, and internal procedures.
- Comply with all Health & Safety standards and procedures.
- Maintain full knowledge of fire procedures and statutory responsibilities.
- Use operating systems confidently, including Mapal One, Food Alert, Adaco, Harri, OpenBlend, and COSHH requirements.
About You
We’re looking for someone who is:
- Passionate about food, hospitality, and creating memorable guest experiences.
- A strong leader who can motivate and develop a diverse team.
- Organised, proactive, and confident managing both kitchen and front‑of‑house operations.
- Experienced in cost control, rota planning, and achieving business targets.
- Committed to high standards, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
Why Join Artfarm?
At Artfarm, you’ll be part of a creative, collaborative, and forward‑thinking hospitality group. You’ll work in a stunning setting, develop strong relationships across our award‑winning teams, and enjoy meaningful opportunities for growth. Artfarm is an independent hospitality company known for transforming distinctive sites into cultural destinations, with locations across Braemar, Ballater, London, Somerset, Los Angeles, New York, Menorca, and Switzerland. Art, community, education, and place are at the heart of everything we do.
What We Offer
- 30 days’ holiday
- Enhanced pension scheme
- Free meals and drinks while on shift
- Generous Artfarm‑wide discounts across the Scottish Highlands, Somerset, London, Los Angeles, Menorca, and Switzerland
- Sports and social events
- Life Assurance
- Health benefits, including a health cash plan
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Tailored career development opportunities
Ready to join the Artfarm family? Apply today!
Chef Cafe Manager in Ballater employer: Gordon's Tearoom (Top Level)
Contact Detail:
Gordon's Tearoom (Top Level) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chef Cafe Manager in Ballater
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the café scene in Braemar! Visit local cafés, chat with staff, and understand what makes them tick. This will not only give you insights but also help you connect with the community.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Attend local events or food festivals where you can meet other chefs and café managers. Building relationships can lead to job opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your culinary skills! Consider hosting a pop-up event or a tasting session to showcase your cooking style. This is a great way to get noticed and demonstrate your passion for food and hospitality.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Chef Cafe Manager in Ballater
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food: When writing your application, let your love for food and hospitality shine through. Share any experiences that highlight your culinary skills or memorable guest interactions—this is your chance to show us why you're the perfect fit for Gordon’s Tearooms!
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the key responsibilities and skills mentioned in the job description. Highlight your experience in managing kitchen operations and leading teams, as we want to see how you can inspire and develop our staff at the tearoom.
Be Authentic: We appreciate authenticity! Don’t be afraid to let your personality come through in your written application. Share your unique approach to hospitality and how you plan to create memorable experiences for our guests.
Apply Through Our Website: For a smooth application process, make sure to apply directly through our website. This helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. We can't wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Gordon's Tearoom (Top Level)
✨Know Your Menu Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you’re familiar with the types of dishes served at Gordon’s Tearooms. Be ready to discuss your culinary style and how you can contribute to their recipe collection. This shows your passion for food and helps you connect with the team.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Chef–Café Manager, you'll need to inspire and lead a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed a kitchen or front-of-house team in the past. Highlight your training methods and how you’ve developed team members to achieve their goals.
✨Demonstrate Your Guest Experience Focus
Gordon’s Tearooms values exceptional guest experiences. Think of specific instances where you went above and beyond for customers. Be ready to share how you would enhance the guest journey and maintain high service standards during busy periods.
✨Understand Operational Excellence
Familiarise yourself with key operational aspects like stock management, cost control, and health & safety standards. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve successfully managed these areas in previous roles and how you plan to uphold these standards at Gordon’s Tearooms.
