Head Chef in Royal Tunbridge Wells

Head Chef - Up to £48,000 plus performance bonus at a leading gastropub near Tunbridge Wells.
Are you a confident kitchen leader who can balance creativity with consistency? This Head Chef opportunity near Tunbridge Wells offers a £40,000 basic salary, approximately £8,000 tronc and the chance to lead an ambitious gastropub serving fresh, seasonal food.
What's in it for you?
£40,000 basic salary
Approximately £8,000 per year in tronc
Package worth around £48,000 before bonus
£4000 Performance bonus per year
Bonus paid every 13 weeks when targets are achieved
Birthday off guaranteed, plus a birthday treat
60% discount on food while working
50% food discount when visiting with friends and family
25% discount on bedrooms
Internal training and development supported by the executive team
Staff reward events, incentives and recognition trips
Recruitment referral incentives
Long-service rewards, including additional holiday
Company pension
Your new role
As Head Chef, you'll take ownership of the kitchen operation and lead the brigade from the front. Based near Tunbridge Wells, you'll deliver a broad à la carte offering combining traditional favourites, modern dishes and seasonal food trends.
The food is prepared fresh within an established menu framework, so you'll need the discipline to deliver specifications consistently while also bringing the creativity required for menu development, specials and future dishes.
You will:
Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team
Maintain consistently high standards during busy services
Develop seasonal menus, specials and new dishes
Balance traditional cooking with modern food trends
Ensure recipes and specifications are followed accurately
Manage ordering, stock rotation and supplier relationships
Control food costs, labour, wastage and gross profit
Recruit, train and retain kitchen team members
Maintain excellent food safety, HACCP and allergen standards
Work closely with front of house to deliver a strong guest experience
What we're looking for
The successful Head Chef will have proven experience leading a busy fresh-food kitchen. A background within a quality gastropub, bistro or high-volume à la carte operation would be ideal.
You'll also need:
Complete confidence working with fresh ingredients
Strong menu-design and dish-development skills
Knowledge of traditional and modern cooking styles
The ability to follow specifications without losing creativity
Strong commercial awareness and cost-control experience
A hands-on leadership style
Excellent organisation and communication skills
A calm, consistent approach under pressure
Sound food-safety and allergen knowledge
The existing right to work in the UK
If this Head Chef role near Tunbridge Wells sounds like the right next step for you, apply today.
Please contact Bradley Baxendale at Platinum Recruitment for more information.
Job Number: 49233 / INDCHEFS
Platinum Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
Platinum Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

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