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- 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, 50% off food, paid breaks, and 28 days holiday.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic kitchen while developing your culinary career.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Head Chef, Kitchen Manager, or Sous Chef with strong kitchen skills.
- Other info: Great opportunities for personal development and fun staff events like Loungefest!
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.
Head Chef employer: Lounges
Contact Detail:
Lounges Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company culture! Before your interview, check out their social media and website. This will help you understand their vibe and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of 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 whip up 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 just get you noticed before you even apply.
✨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
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.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills: As a Head Chef, you'll be leading a team, so make sure to showcase your leadership experience. Talk about how you've trained and managed kitchen staff in the past, and how you lead by example. We’re looking for someone who rolls their sleeves up and gets stuck in!
Be Specific About Your Experience: Don’t just say you have kitchen experience; give us the details! Mention specific skills like food prep, hygiene practices, and any metrics you've managed. This helps us understand how you can contribute to our high standards and customer satisfaction.
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, it shows you’re keen to join our team!
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, which is a big deal for the company.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Head Chef, you’ll need to lead a team. Think about examples from your past where you’ve successfully trained or managed kitchen staff. Share these stories during the interview to demonstrate your ability to inspire and maintain high standards.
✨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 show that you can manage the kitchen efficiently.
✨Emphasise Your Work Ethic
The company values a hands-on approach, so be ready to talk about times when you rolled up your sleeves and got stuck in. Highlight your commitment to maintaining cleanliness and safety in the kitchen, as well as your dedication to delivering excellent food standards.
