Head Chef – Hertfordshire – Busy Gastro Inn – £40k – Flexible Working (4 or 5 day working week)

We’re recruiting a Head Chef to lead the kitchen at a popular, food-led country inn in Hertfordshire, near Royston, offering an excellent opportunity for an experienced chef to take the reins of a busy kitchen while enjoying a genuine focus on work-life balance should you wish to work a 4 day week.

Please note: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role and candidates must have the right to work in the UK without visa sponsorship. If you require Sponsorship please do not apply, thank you.

This is a well-established country inn with a lively food operation, serving around 200 covers a day. There’s a varied menu, a loyal customer base and plenty going on throughout the week, making this an ideal opportunity for a Head Chef who enjoys a busy service and takes pride in delivering good-quality food consistently.

You’ll be taking charge of an established kitchen team, with around five chefs working during service alongside two Kitchen Porters. There’s already a solid structure in place, so this is about leading from the front, keeping standards high and bringing your own ideas and personality to the kitchen.

One of the real attractions of this role is the approach to working hours. The inn is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and the business is genuinely open to discussing a flexible working pattern with the right person. The current Head Chef has been working a four-day week, so there’s scope to explore a similar arrangement.

What’s on offer?

• Tronc shared equally across the team, typically around £1.50–£2 per hour
• Flexible working pattern, with shifts open to discussion
• Potential for a four-day working week
• Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
• Established kitchen team with around five chefs and two Kitchen Porters
• Free on-site parking
• The opportunity to take ownership of a busy, established food operation

As Head Chef, you’ll have responsibility for the day-to-day running of the kitchen, leading the brigade and ensuring the food offering remains consistent, well organised and commercially successful. You’ll be hands‑on during service, working closely with your team and making sure everyone understands what’s expected of them.

As Head Chef, you will:

• Take full responsibility for the day-to-day running of the kitchen
• Lead, organise and motivate the kitchen brigade
• Oversee food preparation and service, maintaining consistent quality and presentation
• Develop and maintain menus that appeal to the inn’s varied customer base
• Manage ordering, stock control, gross profit and kitchen costs
• Organise rotas and manage labour effectively
• Train, support and develop members of the kitchen team
• Maintain excellent food hygiene, cleanliness and health and safety standards
• Work closely with the wider management team to ensure the smooth running of the business

We’re looking for an established Head Chef or an experienced Sous Chef ready to take the next step. You’ll need a strong fresh‑food background, good kitchen management skills and the confidence to lead a busy operation without losing sight of the details that make a difference.

Just as importantly, we’re looking for someone who enjoys developing a team and wants to build a positive kitchen environment. You’ll be organised, approachable and commercially aware, with the ability to keep standards high while managing the demands of a busy service.

A full driving licence and access to your own transport are strongly preferred, as the location makes driving the most practical way to get to work.

If you’re looking for a Head Chef role with a £40k salary, an established team and genuine flexibility around your working week, this is well worth exploring. With the business closed two days a week and an openness to a four-day pattern, there’s a real opportunity to find a working arrangement that suits both you and the business.

Company Registration Number: 06694061
VAT Number: 939 6931 67

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