Head Chef
Salisbury
Salary: circa £40,000-£42,500 + Benefits
Lead the kitchen. Champion great ingredients.
Are you a passionate Head Chef who loves creating exciting, seasonal food, building and developing a team and taking real ownership of a kitchen?
We're looking for an ambitious and commercially minded Head Chef or Senior Sous to lead the kitchen operation at a stylish, contemporary hotel in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside, just outside the historic city of Salisbury.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a chef who wants the freedom to put their own stamp on a food offering, combining modern British cooking with quality ingredients, seasonal inspiration and a genuine commitment to delivering memorable dining experiences.
The opportunity
You'll take the lead in shaping and delivering a food offering that reflects the best of modern British cuisine, making the most of fresh, seasonal produce and building strong relationships with local and regional suppliers.
With a varied hotel operation catering for residents, restaurant guests, private dining, meetings and events, this is a role that offers plenty of scope to be creative while maintaining a strong focus on consistency, quality and commercial performance.
We want someone who can bring personality to the plate, structure to the kitchen and energy to the brigade.
What you'll be responsible for
Create inspiring menus: Develop seasonal menus with a modern British influence, showcasing quality ingredients and keeping the offering fresh, relevant and exciting.
Manage suppliers: Build and maintain excellent supplier relationships, negotiate effectively, control purchasing and ensure quality, value and consistency.
Lead the kitchen brigade: Manage, motivate and develop a small team, creating a positive working environment where everyone takes pride in their contribution.
Own the kitchen operation: Take responsibility for day-to-day kitchen management, preparation, service standards and efficient kitchen organisation.
Drive commercial performance: Manage food costs, GP, stock control, wastage and labour budgets, balancing creativity with profitability.
Deliver exceptional food: Maintain consistently high standards across restaurant dining, hotel guests, functions and events.
Maintain compliance: Ensure excellent food hygiene, health and safety standards and robust kitchen procedures.
Keep improving: Bring fresh ideas, embrace seasonality and continually look for ways to enhance the guest experience.
What we're looking for
You'll be an accomplished chef with experience in a quality hotel, restaurant or gastro-pub environment, comfortable taking responsibility for a kitchen and leading a small but dedicated brigade.
You'll ideally bring:
Proven experience as a Head Chef or an established Sous Chef ready to take the next step.
A genuine passion for modern British cuisine and seasonal menu development.
Strong supplier management and negotiation skills, with the ability to source quality ingredients at the right price.
Experience managing food costs, GP, purchasing, stock and kitchen budgets.
The ability to lead, motivate and develop a small kitchen team.
A hands-on approach, leading from the front during busy services.
High standards of food quality, presentation, consistency and hygiene.
Creativity, organisation and the commercial awareness to run an efficient kitchen.
Above all, we're looking for someone who takes ownership, enjoys developing their own food offering and understands that a successful kitchen is about much more than what's on the plate.
What's in it for you?
Salary circa £40,000-£42,500.
Additional benefits.
The opportunity to shape and develop a seasonal, modern British food offering.
Genuine ownership of supplier relationships, purchasing and menu creativity.
The chance to lead and build a small, close-knit kitchen brigade.
A varied hotel environment with opportunities to develop your culinary reputation.
Ready to make your mark?
If you're a creative, commercially aware chef who wants the opportunity to lead a kitchen, develop exciting seasonal menus and build a team you can be proud of, simply apply in confidence
Bring your creativity. Champion great produce. Make your mark on the menu.
Apply now and take the next step in your culinary career.
TPBN1_UKCT
Head Chef in Salisbury 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.
