At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a passionate kitchen team to create fresh, high-quality dishes that delight customers.
- Company: Join a vibrant hospitality group known for its real cooking and supportive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy overtime pay, staff meals, 50% off food, and a fun staff party!
- Other info: Great opportunities for personal development and career progression in a fast-growing business.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic kitchen while developing your culinary skills.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Head Chef, Kitchen Manager, or 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. We also love our real people who run Lounges. The person who runs these brilliant people has to be super-brilliant, and that'll be you. Your standards will be as high as ours, but exactly how you do it will be unique to you.
You'll be doing it your way. You'll be part of a dedicated, supportive team, working from our flexible all-day menu to give people food that'll make their day. It'll be your responsibility to make each dish to spec, in a clean and safe kitchen, and to make sure all prep and par is completed for each shift. You'll be helping every customer leave happy. Which they tend to do. Thanks to your great food.
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 Head Chef, Kitchen Manager or Sous Chef looking for your first step into a Head Chef role.
- 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.
- Familiar with managing through clear KPIs and making decisions considering labour; stock; food safety requirements plus others.
- You will have worked in kitchen environments where you're required to report on various metrics including GPs; labour/house; food preparation.
- 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.
Head Chef - Shirley in Solihull employer: Lounge Café Bars
At our Shirley location, we pride ourselves on fostering a vibrant and supportive work culture that celebrates real cooking and high-quality ingredients. As a Head Chef, you'll enjoy competitive benefits such as overtime pay, generous staff discounts, and opportunities for personal development in a fast-growing business. Join us for the most talked-about staff parties in hospitality and experience a workplace where your culinary creativity can truly shine.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef - Shirley in Solihull
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the culinary world, whether it's through LinkedIn or local chef meet-ups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you can, organise a tasting event or a pop-up kitchen to showcase your cooking style and creativity. This not only gets your name out there but also gives potential employers a taste of what you can bring to their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job postings to appear. Reach out directly to restaurants or lounges you admire and express your interest in working with them. A personal touch can make all the difference!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing passionate chefs who are eager to join our team. Make sure to highlight your unique approach to cooking and how you can contribute to our fresh, customer-led philosophy.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef - Shirley in Solihull
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Real Cooking:When you're writing your application, let your love for real cooking shine through! Share your experiences with fresh ingredients and how you create dishes that make customers happy. We want to see your personality and passion reflected in your words.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to fit the Head Chef role. Highlight your relevant experience, especially in managing kitchen teams and maintaining high standards. We appreciate when candidates take the time to connect their skills with what we’re looking for.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your achievements and skills. We love a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see why you’d be a great fit for our team!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our fantastic team at Shirley!
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 how they contribute to real cooking. Be ready to discuss your favourite dishes and how you source quality produce. This shows your passion for cooking and aligns with the company's values.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head Chef, you'll be leading a team, so prepare examples of how you've successfully managed kitchen staff in the past. Talk about your approach to training and mentoring junior chefs, as well as how you maintain high standards in a busy environment.
✨Understand the Business Metrics
Familiarise yourself with key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to kitchen management. Be prepared to discuss how you've used metrics like GP and labour costs to make informed decisions in previous roles. This will demonstrate your business acumen and readiness for the role.
✨Emphasise Teamwork and Culture Fit
The company values a supportive team environment, so highlight your experience working collaboratively. Share stories that showcase your ability to foster a positive kitchen culture and how you contribute to making every customer leave happy with their meal.
