Head Chef - Busy Hotel & Events Operation
Reading, Berkshire | £40,000-£45,000 + Benefits
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for an experienced Head Chef to take the lead in the kitchen of a busy and well-established hotel in the Reading area.
This is a varied and commercially focused operation, combining simple hotel dining, conferences, corporate events, weddings and private functions . We are looking for a confident Head Chef who enjoys leading from the front, developing people and delivering consistently across a busy kitchen.
This is an excellent opportunity for a Head Chef who wants to join a well-established operation and make a genuine impact on both the food offering and the kitchen team.
The Role
You will take overall responsibility for the day-to-day kitchen operation, ensuring that food quality, consistency, presentation and service standards are all on point whilst maintaining and health, safe and positive working culture.
Key responsibilities will include:
Leading, motivating and developing the kitchen brigade
Taking ownership of the hotel's food offering across restaurant, banqueting, conferences and events
Managing weddings, private functions and events
Creating and maintaining menus that are commercially viable and reflect current food trends
Ensuring consistently high standards of food quality, presentation and hygiene
Managing food GP, purchasing, stock control and waste
Working closely with the wider management team to maximise the commercial performance of the F&B operation
Recruiting, training and developing chefs at all levels
Managing rotas and labour costs in line with business levels
Ensuring full compliance with food safety, HACCP and health & safety requirements
Building strong relationships with suppliers and maintaining excellent product standards
Being a visible, hands-on leader within the kitchen
About You
We are looking for an established Head Chef or an experienced Senior Sous Chef ready to take the next step , ideally with a background in a busy hotel, conference, events or high-volume hospitality environment.
You will be:
A passionate chef who takes genuine pride in the food you produce
An experienced and confident kitchen leader
Comfortable managing both restaurant and high-volume banqueting operations
Commercially aware, with a good understanding of GP, labour and stock control
Highly organised and able to remain calm under pressure
Passionate about developing and retaining a strong kitchen brigade
Hands-on and happy to lead by example
Creative enough to develop the offering, whilst understanding the importance of consistency and commerciality
A strong communicator who works well with other departments
The Package
£40,000-£45,000 basic salary , depending on experience
Excellent company benefits
Career development opportunities
Staff benefits and discounts
Supportive management environment
The opportunity to take ownership of a varied and busy kitchen operation
This is a great opportunity for a people-focused, commercially minded Chef who enjoys the variety that comes with hotel, conference, wedding and events catering.
Interested? Apply in confidence for further information.
TPBN1_UKCT
Head Chef in Reading employer: James Webber Recruitment
As an Interim Operations Manager at our prestigious 4-star hotel, you will be part of a dynamic team that values excellence and innovation in hospitality. We offer competitive salaries, opportunities for career advancement within a thriving company, and exclusive benefits such as discounted room rates for you and your friends, all within a supportive and collaborative work culture that prioritises employee growth and satisfaction.
