Are you a passionate, experienced Chef looking for a better work-life balance in a friendly, family-run business? Silvermere Softplay and Cafe in Dorking is looking for a reliable and enthusiastic Chef to join our team. This is a great opportunity to bring your skills to a welcoming, family-focused environment, take pride in great food, and help shape the future of our café offering, with opportunities to grow and develop along the way! Cooking & Food Preparation – Prepare and serve delicious, consistent food to a high standard across our café menu. Busy Service Management – Keep the kitchen running smoothly during busy periods, working efficiently while maintaining quality and presentation. Batch Cooking & Menu Development – Prepare food in batches where appropriate, help develop our menu and contribute ideas for new dishes and specials. Food Safety & Hygiene – Maintain excellent food hygiene standards and ensure compliance with all relevant food safety legislation and procedures. Allergen Management – Maintain accurate allergen information, prevent cross-contamination and ensure food is prepared and served safely for customers with allergies. Cleaning & Kitchen Organisation – Follow daily and weekly cleaning schedules, keeping all kitchen equipment, work surfaces and storage areas clean, tidy and hygienic. Stock Control & Ordering – Monitor stock levels, place orders, check deliveries and ensure ingredients are available when needed. Waste & Cost Control – Minimise food waste, manage portion sizes and use ingredients efficiently to help keep kitchen costs under control. Food Storage & Temperature Monitoring – Ensure food is stored correctly, fridge and freezer temperatures are monitored, and cooking, cooling and reheating procedures are followed. Kitchen Equipment & Safety – Use equipment safely, report maintenance issues and maintain a safe working environment. Teamwork & Communication – Work collaboratively with the wider café team to deliver a great customer experience. Taking Ownership – Take pride in the kitchen, maintain high standards and help identify opportunities to improve the food offering and day-to-day operations. We're looking for a reliable, enthusiastic Chef with previous professional kitchen experience, a positive attitude and a genuine pride in producing great food. You'll be organised, comfortable working in a busy kitchen and confident managing food hygiene, safety, allergens and day-to-day kitchen operations. You don't need to be a fine-dining chef, but you do need a good understanding of kitchen fundamentals, a willingness to get stuck in and the ability to work independently, manage your time and maintain high standards without constant supervision. Above all, we're looking for someone dependable who takes ownership of their kitchen, enjoys being part of a friendly team and wants to help our café continue to grow. If that sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you! Join our close-knit, family-run business where you'll find a friendly, supportive team ready to welcome you Grow and evolve with us as you have the chance to enhance and creatively shape our food offerings Find your ideal work-life fit—enjoy your evenings without late-night restaurant shifts Experience a welcoming, family-oriented atmosphere that makes work feel like a second home TPBN1_UKCT
Contact Details:
Silvermere Softplay and Cafe Recruitment Team
