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- Tasks: Lead a passionate kitchen team, creating 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 discounts, paid breaks, and 28 days holiday.
- Why this job: Make a real impact with your culinary skills in a fun, dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Head Chef, Kitchen Manager, or Sous Chef with strong kitchen skills.
- Other info: Great opportunities for personal development and career progression await you!
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ 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 or @life.at.loungers on TikTok and Instagram.
Head Chef in Christchurch employer: Lounges
Contact Detail:
Lounges Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef in Christchurch
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company culture! Before your interview, check out their social media and website. This will help you understand what they value and how you can fit in with their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your cooking skills! If you're applying for a Head Chef role, be ready to showcase your culinary talents. Maybe even prepare a signature dish to impress them during the interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or follow them on Instagram. Engaging with their content can give you insights and might even get you a referral!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to 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 joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef in Christchurch
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 for food!
Highlight Your Leadership Skills: As a Head Chef, you'll be leading a team, so make sure to showcase your leadership experience in your application. Talk about how you've trained and managed kitchen staff before, and how you lead by example. We’re looking for someone who can inspire others!
Be Specific About Your Experience: Don’t just list your previous roles; dive into the details! Mention specific kitchen environments you've worked in, the metrics you've managed, and any KPIs you've hit. This helps us understand how your background aligns with our high standards.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we love seeing applications come through our own channels!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lounges
✨Know Your Ingredients
Make sure you’re well-versed in the fresh ingredients you’ll be working with. Be ready to discuss your favourite dishes and how you source quality produce. This shows your passion for real cooking and aligns with the company’s values.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Head Chef, you’ll be leading a team. Prepare examples of how you’ve successfully managed kitchen staff in the past. Highlight your approach to training and motivating others, as this will demonstrate your ability to lead from the front.
✨Understand the 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 show that you can manage the business side of the kitchen effectively.
✨Emphasise Cleanliness and Safety
Since maintaining a clean and safe kitchen is crucial, be ready to talk about your hygiene practices and how you ensure compliance with food safety regulations. This will reassure them that you take these responsibilities seriously.
