Sous Chef - Christchurch

Sous Chef - Christchurch

Christchurch Full-Time 30000 - 40000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Lounge Café Bars

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the kitchen team, ensuring high-quality food and safety standards.
  • Company: Join a vibrant hospitality group known for real cooking and fresh ingredients.
  • Benefits: Enjoy overtime pay, staff meals, discounts, and 28 days holiday.
  • Other info: Great opportunities for personal development and exciting staff events.
  • Why this job: Be part of a passionate team and elevate your culinary career.
  • Qualifications: Experience as a Sous Chef or Junior Sous Chef with strong kitchen skills.

The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.

You love real cooking. We love real cooking. Customers love real cooking. It's a no-brainer so you wonder why so many other places don't do it. We do it, and you'll be doing it with us - fresh, customer led, and with high-quality ingredients.

As Sous Chef, you'll be the Head Chef's go-to for support, leading and engaging the kitchen team to deliver 14 great shifts week in, week out. You'll be leading shifts, making sure the kitchen runs effectively and safely. You're as relentless as us about the detail, so you'll be all over things like stocks, Health & Safety and Hygiene, manning the pass to ensure our food goes out on-spec and on-time, and always upholding 5* kitchen standards.

The Good Stuff

  • Overtime pay for every hour worked over contracted hours!
  • Staff food on every shift
  • 50% off food and drinks (including alcohol) from day one at all three of our brands - Lounge, Cosy Club and Brightside
  • Paid breaks
  • 28 days holiday (inclusive of Bank Holidays) pro rata
  • Enhanced maternity and paternity pay after 2 years service
  • The most talked-about staff party in hospitality - Loungefest!
  • Competitions and incentives (like jetting off on an all expenses paid trip with one of our suppliers)
  • Company pension scheme
  • Long service awards
  • Power over your pay with Wagestream
  • Emotional and practical support via the Licenced Trade Charity
  • Great opportunity for personal development and career progression in a fast growing business
  • Achievable bonuses
  • Tips shared equally across the team, based on hours worked
  • Christmas and Boxing Day off!

What you'll bring

  • You are probably an existing Sous Chef, or perhaps a Junior Sous Chef/Assistant Kitchen Manager that is looking to take the next step in their career.
  • You will have experience of working with fresh ingredients and be able to demonstrate good chef/kitchen skills (food prep hot and cold, cleaning, knife skills, good hygiene practices).
  • Your work ethic is rolling your sleeves up and getting stuck in and leading from the front; playing an active role in delivering excellent kitchen and food standards as part of a high performing team.
  • Extremely driven and relentless at deconstructing the can't mentality.
  • Familiar with KPIs and making decisions in the absence of the Head Chef considering labour; stock; food safety requirements plus others.
  • Epic communication skills with the ability to manage stakeholders and build rapport and trust (that would be with our Ops Chefs and Ops Managers).
  • Strong knowledge of best practice around rota scheduling, sales and labour forecasts, reporting, recruitment, HR etc.
  • You will have demonstrated successful delivery of training and recruitment for kitchen teams including Apprentices, KPs, Chefs, Junior Sous Chefs and Sous Chefs.

If you want to find out more about us, follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram @thelounges.

Sous Chef - Christchurch employer: Lounge Café Bars

Join a vibrant and passionate team in Christchurch where real cooking is celebrated and high-quality ingredients are at the heart of everything we do. As a Sous Chef, you'll enjoy a supportive work culture that prioritises personal development, offers competitive benefits like overtime pay, generous discounts, and a lively staff party, all while working in a fast-growing business that values your contributions and encourages career progression.

Lounge Café Bars

Contact Details:

Lounge Café Bars Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Sous Chef - Christchurch

Tip Number 1

Get to know the kitchen culture before you apply! Follow us on social media to see what we're all about. It’ll help you understand our vibe and show that you're genuinely interested in joining our team.

Tip Number 2

Network like a pro! Chat with current or former staff if you can. They can give you insider tips on what it’s really like working with us and might even put in a good word for you!

Tip Number 3

Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your culinary skills and knowledge of fresh ingredients. We love real cooking, so be ready to discuss your passion for quality food and how you maintain high standards in the kitchen.

Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about wanting to join our team and be part of something special.

We think you need these skills to ace Sous Chef - Christchurch

Leadership Skills
Kitchen Management
Food Preparation
Hygiene Practices
Knife Skills
Health & Safety Compliance
Communication Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion for Cooking:When you're writing your application, let your love for real cooking shine through! Share your experiences with fresh ingredients and how you’ve contributed to a high-quality kitchen environment. We want to see that you’re as passionate about food as we are!

Highlight Your Leadership Skills:As a Sous Chef, you'll be leading the kitchen team, so make sure to showcase your leadership experience in your application. Talk about times you've supported your team or taken charge during busy shifts. We’re looking for someone who can engage and motivate others!

Be Detail-Oriented:We’re all about the details, from hygiene practices to food safety. In your application, mention specific examples of how you maintain high standards in the kitchen. This will show us that you’re relentless about upholding our 5* kitchen standards!

Apply Through Our Website:Ready to take the plunge? Make sure to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to get your application and for you to learn more about what we do. We can’t wait to hear from you!

How to prepare for a job interview at Lounge Café Bars

Know Your Ingredients

Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of fresh ingredients and cooking techniques. Be ready to discuss how you source quality produce and how you maintain high standards in food preparation. This shows your passion for real cooking, which is key for the role.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills

As a Sous Chef, you'll be leading a team, so prepare examples of how you've successfully managed kitchen staff in the past. Talk about how you motivate your team and ensure everyone is working effectively and safely. This will demonstrate that you're ready to step up.

Be Prepared for Practical Questions

Expect questions about health and safety, hygiene practices, and how you handle busy shifts. Think of scenarios where you've had to make quick decisions or solve problems in the kitchen. This will highlight your ability to uphold 5* kitchen standards under pressure.

Communicate Like a Pro

Epic communication skills are a must! Prepare to discuss how you build rapport with your team and manage relationships with Ops Chefs and Managers. Being able to articulate your thoughts clearly will show that you can lead effectively and contribute to a positive kitchen environment.