Sous Chef: Lead Kitchen Ops & Innovative Menus (OTE £46k) in Witney

Estelle Manor is a rural retreat set on an 85-acre estate in Oxfordshire. The manor has four restaurants, an extraordinary 3,000 sq metre Roman-inspired spa - Eynsham Baths, 108 bedrooms and a gym with class studios and padel courts. Plus, there’s a kids’ club for the little ones and a workspace.

We are looking for a talented Sous Chef to join our incredible Culinary team within our Armoury kitchen. The on target earning potential for this Sous Chef role is £46,611.96 per annum based on a 45 hour contract - comprising a base salary of £37,512.96 plus a qualified estimate of £9,000 in gratuities and service charge. Please note this role is paid hourly so this is a projected salary and OTE.

Here's a bit more detail on what we see you doing in this role:

• Assisting the Head Chef to oversee and manage the daily operations within The Armoury kitchen.
• Delivering on the food concept vision and helping to develop innovative menu ideas, identifying new culinary opportunities within Estelle Manor.
• Updating briefs across departments on menu items, communicating all relevant provenance, allergens, nutritionals and other distinctive information.
• Overseeing budget and operations, assisting and engaging with the kitchen's senior leadership team to manage all food health & safety standards.
• Standing in for the Head Chef in absence, feeling empowered to make managerial decisions within the kitchen's operations, ultimately being responsible for the quality of all items leaving the kitchen.

Who we are looking for:

• A team orientated, positive, driven, organised and solution focused leader.
• Excellent communication and training skills.
• Ability to perform under pressure and deliver results to deadlines.
• Experience managing the daily operations, set up, standards, operating procedures.
• Someone who takes responsibility and initiative to explore issues and to generate new ideas with creative thinking.
• Excellent interpersonal, time management and organisational skills.

What’s in it for you?

At Estelle, we prioritise your well-being and growth, offering a range of perks to enrich your experience. Enjoy exclusive staff rates, biannual socials, and Estelleversary surprises. Nurture your well-being with stocked colleague spaces. Engage in forums shaping The Estelle Way. Utilise the provided uniforms and onsite seamstress support. Join us for a fulfilling journey where you are valued, supported, and celebrated.

Here at Estelle, we want to create a unified culture and sense of belonging throughout. We have a range of perks and benefits at your fingertips:

• Biannual company socials plus smaller social and sports groups.
• Exclusive staff rates and F&B discounts across sister properties.
• Estelleversary gifting for all employees.
• Colleague spaces stocked with food, drinks and a selection of juices, teas and coffees.
• Goes without saying but we will feed you during your shift.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Added protection of our pension, health cash plan and life assurance schemes.
• 28 days holiday, inclusive of bank holidays, which increases with length of service.
• Colleague Forums and Sustainability Committees to help create The Estelle Way.
• Recommend-a-friend bonus scheme.
• Uniform provided, cleaned, and pressed.
• Onsite seamstresses to ensure your uniform is fitted and repaired.

About gratuities & service charge: Gratuities (tips) are paid on a pro-rata basis regardless of your role. It is estimated that in 2026, our full-time employees can expect to receive in the range of £9,000 in addition to their annual salary.