Head Chef - Live In in Wakefield

Company Description

The Darrington Hotel is a welcoming 28-bedroom hotel and food-led pub with a strong reputation for great-value food, family occasions and genuine hospitality. This is a kitchen with plenty of opportunity. The team is currently small, with a new Kitchen Team Leader joining soon and further kitchen recruitment underway. We're looking for an experienced leader who can take the reins, build the team and put strong kitchen standards and processes in place.

Job Description

The Darrington combines a traditional pub atmosphere with a busy hotel operation. With 28 en-suite bedrooms, food-led sales and weekly takings of around £26k–£30k, there's plenty happening across the business. Food is a big part of the operation, accounting for around 40% of overall sales, with the pub serving hearty portions of classic British dishes and great-value pub favourites. There's also a large beer garden and children's play area, live sport and regular events including Tuesday quiz nights, giving the team plenty of different occasions to prepare for. With food service currently running until 8pm Sunday–Thursday and 9pm Friday & Saturday, this is a great opportunity for someone who wants to lead a kitchen operation while still having a strong focus on quality, consistency and team development.

Qualifications

As Kitchen Manager / Head Chef, you'll take ownership of the kitchen and play a key role in building the team, improving processes and driving standards forward. You’ll:

• Take ownership of the kitchen and lead from the front.
• Build and develop a strong kitchen team as recruitment continues.
• Work closely with the Kitchen Team Leader and wider management team to create a well-organised kitchen operation.
• Set clear expectations and make sure everyone understands their role and responsibilities.
• Maintain consistently high standards across food quality, presentation and service.
• Ensure every service runs smoothly, efficiently and safely.
• Lead, coach and develop the team, helping people build their skills and confidence.
• Manage stock takes, ordering, stock rotation and wastage effectively.
• Maintain excellent food safety, hygiene and health & safety standards.
• Monitor food GP and costs, helping to deliver a commercially successful kitchen.
• Ensure the kitchen is properly prepared for busy services, weekends and key trading occasions.
• Work closely with the General Manager and wider management team to achieve the pub's food and commercial goals.
• Help maximise opportunities across the hotel, pub, restaurant and events.
• Bring ideas and energy to improve the kitchen operation and customer experience.
• Build a positive kitchen culture where people know what's expected and take pride in what they deliver.

This is more than a role where you'll simply run a kitchen. It's an opportunity to build one. With a relatively small kitchen team currently in place, you'll have the opportunity to shape how the kitchen operates, develop your people and establish strong standards from the ground up.

What we’re looking for

We're looking for an experienced Kitchen Manager / Head Chef who:

• Has proven experience managing a busy kitchen, ideally within a pub, hotel or similar food-led operation.
• Is confident taking ownership and leading a kitchen team.
• Has experience recruiting, training, coaching and developing kitchen colleagues.
• Is a strong people leader who knows how to bring a team together.
• Can set clear expectations and maintain high standards.
• Has strong knowledge of food safety, allergens, health & safety and kitchen compliance.
• Understands stock control, ordering, stock rotation, wastage and food GP.
• Is commercially aware and understands how the kitchen contributes to the wider business.
• Can organise and prioritise effectively during busy services.
• Is calm, hands-on and confident when the pressure is on.
• Takes genuine pride in delivering great-quality, well-presented food.
• Has strong communication skills and works well with the wider management team.
• Isn't afraid to get stuck in and lead by example.
• Wants to make a real impact and develop their career with Greene King.

More than a kitchen. An opportunity to build something. Darrington is already a busy, food-led pub and hotel — and we're looking for someone who can take the kitchen forward. You'll have the opportunity to build your team, establish strong processes, develop your people and help shape the next chapter of the kitchen. If you're an experienced Kitchen Manager or Head Chef who is ready to take ownership, lead from the front and make your mark, we'd love to hear from you.

Additional Information

And there’s plenty in it for you:

• Career development opportunities across Greene King.
• Training and development at every level, including apprenticeships.
• 33% employee discount and 15% discount for loved ones across Greene King brands.
• 50% employee and 25% loved ones discount at Greene King Inns and hotels.
• Employee Assistance Programme supporting mental health, wellbeing and financial/legal advice.
• Enhanced family-friendly maternity and paternity policies.
• Menopause Friendly Employer.
• Refer a Friend scheme – earn up to £1,500.
• Wagestream – access to your pay as you earn.
• Retail discounts, including up to 30% at Superdrug and Three Mobile.

CREATING PLACES WHERE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME, SAFE AND THAT THEY BELONG. We aim to embed inclusion into every decision we make – across our people, customers, communities, suppliers, and operations. We want to create a culture where everyone feels welcome, valued, and able to thrive.

Bring your experience. Build the team. Take Darrington's kitchen forward.