About Chestnut Group
Chestnut Group is a collection of pubs with rooms and hotels across the East of England. Each of our sites has its own character and its own place in its community, from village pubs to coastal hotels. What they share is a commitment to great food, warm hospitality and looking after the people who work for us.
We’re a growing group, and we invest in our teams as much as in our places. We want people to build careers with us, and our kitchens are at the heart of that.
The role
We’re looking for an experienced Head Chef to join us as our Roaming Head Chef. You’ll move between our pubs with rooms and hotels, stepping in where a kitchen needs a steady hand. That might be covering a Head Chef vacancy, supporting a team through a difficult spell, or getting a kitchen back on track while we recruit a permanent leader.
You’ll go into a site, take charge quickly, and leave it stable. That means a settled brigade, tight systems and a menu that’s running well. Then you’ll move on to the next one.
What you’ll be doing
- Leading kitchens at different sites, stepping in as Head Chef on a temporary basis
- Quickly assessing each kitchen and putting in place the basics: ordering, GP control, rotas, prep and consistency
- Steadying and motivating the brigade, and developing the Sous Chefs and wider team so they’re ready to take the kitchen forward
- Keeping food standards, food safety and compliance to a high level
- Handing over cleanly to the permanent Head Chef when they arrive
- Working closely with the Operations Manager and Kitchen Operations Manager
About you
- Proven experience as a Head Chef, ideally across more than one site
- A calm, confident leader who can walk into an unfamiliar kitchen and win a team over quickly
- Strong on cost control, ordering, rotas and food safety
- Flexible and adaptable, and happy to work at different sites
- A full driving licence and your own transport
Why Join Us?
- Team and individual incentives, including staff days out
- Flexible working patterns to support work-life balance
- Guaranteed tronc on top of competitive pay, with access to Wagestream
- Accommodation covered when you’re working away from home
Perks of Working with Us
- Be part of a supportive, collaborative team across the Chestnut Group
- Food and room discounts for you and your friends
- Access to the Chestnut Hub with hundreds of high street discounts
- High-quality staff food provided
- Industry-recognised training and development opportunities
- Employee recognition and reward schemes
- Referral bonus of up to £1,500
INDCP
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Bury Saint Edmunds - Holding Head Chef Chestnut Group Bury Saint Edmunds Up to £45,000 OTE in Bury St Edmunds employer: Le Strange Arms
Chestnut is an exceptional employer, offering a warm and welcoming work environment at The Weeping Willow in East Anglia. With flexible hours to accommodate personal commitments, employees benefit from accredited training courses, generous staff incentives, and unique rewards like wine discounts and affordable overnight stays across our properties, making it a truly rewarding place to grow your career in the hospitality industry.
