Chef de Partie / Sous Chef
Unique Wellness Retreat | Northamptonshire | Cottage Accommodation Available
Salary TBC | Full-Time | 1-Bedroom Cottage Available
A genuinely different opportunity has arisen for a talented Chef de Partie or Sous Chef to take a leading role within the kitchen of a transformational wellness retreat in the Northamptonshire countryside.
Having moved away from traditional boutique hotel operations, the property now specialises in retreats centred around physical and mental wellbeing, operating with a small team and a much more focused guest experience.
The successful chef will take responsibility for managing the kitchen and preparing menus for the property's wellness retreats, making this an interesting opportunity for a chef looking for greater ownership, creativity and independence.
The Retreat
Set within the Castle Ashby Estate in Northamptonshire, the operation has been completely repositioned from its previous life as a traditional boutique hotel.
Today, the focus is on providing transformational retreats centred around physical and mental wellbeing, with food forming an important part of the overall guest experience.
The team is now deliberately small, creating a very different environment from a conventional hotel kitchen and offering the successful chef the opportunity to have genuine influence over the food operation.
The Role
The business is flexible between Chef de Partie and Sous Chef level, with the right person and their capability more important than a rigid job title.
You'll take significant responsibility for the day-to-day kitchen operation, including:
- Managing the kitchen during wellness retreats
- Planning and preparing menus for retreat guests
- Organising daily preparation and service
- Producing consistently high-quality food
- Maintaining excellent kitchen organisation
- Ensuring food hygiene and safety standards are maintained
- Working effectively as part of a small retreat team
- Taking ownership and responsibility for the food operation
- Adapting menus and preparation to the requirements of individual retreats
Further details around guest numbers and the extent of menu-development autonomy are currently being confirmed.
The Package
- Salary – TBC
- Full-time permanent opportunity
- One-bedroom cottage available
- Cottage located within walking distance of the property
- Discounted accommodation
- All household bills included
- Final accommodation rental cost currently being confirmed
- Opportunity to take significant ownership of a small kitchen operation
- Unique countryside wellness-retreat environment
Contracted hours and working pattern are currently being confirmed.
The Ideal Candidate
This could suit either a strong Chef de Partie ready to step into a more responsible position or an established Sous Chef looking for greater independence.
You'll ideally have:
- A strong professional chef background
- Experience within quality restaurants, hotels or similar hospitality environments
- Confidence working with a high degree of independence
- Excellent organisation and kitchen-management skills
- Strong menu-planning and preparation ability
- Consistently high standards
- Excellent food hygiene knowledge
- An adaptable approach suited to a smaller operation
- An interest in producing food as part of a broader wellness-focused guest experience
Why This Role?
This isn't another conventional hotel CDP or Sous Chef vacancy.
The successful chef will have the opportunity to take genuine ownership of a small kitchen and create menus for dedicated wellness retreats, within a business that has deliberately moved away from traditional hotel operations.
For someone who enjoys independence and wants their next move to offer something different from the usual restaurant brigade structure, it could be a particularly interesting opportunity.
There's also the significant benefit of a private one-bedroom cottage within walking distance, offered at a discounted rate with all bills included.
Chef de Partie / Sous Chef in Northampton employer: Knekt Hub
Join our dynamic team as a Pastry Chef in Hook, Hampshire, where you'll have the opportunity to showcase your culinary skills in a 2AA Rosette standard kitchen. We pride ourselves on fostering a supportive work culture that encourages creativity and professional growth, offering benefits such as gym access, swimming pool facilities, and generous discounts. With a focus on teamwork and excellence, we provide a rewarding environment for passionate chefs looking to make their mark.
