At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a passionate kitchen team, creating fresh, high-quality dishes daily.
- Company: Join Loungers, a vibrant hospitality brand known for real cooking and a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy overtime pay, staff meals, 50% off food, paid breaks, and a fantastic staff party!
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team, make customers happy, and grow your culinary career.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Head Chef, Kitchen Manager, or Sous Chef with strong kitchen skills required.
- Other info: Christmas and Boxing Day off, plus opportunities for personal development and bonuses!
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\’s your responsibility to make each dish to spec, in a clean and safe kitchen, and to ensure all prep and par are completed for each shift. You\’ll help every customer leave happy — 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 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 involves rolling up your sleeves, 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, and others.
- You will have worked in kitchen environments where you\’re required to report on various metrics including GPs, labour/house, and 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.
If you want to find out more about us, follow us on LinkedIn or @life.at.loungers on TikTok and Instagram
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Head Chef employer: The Lounges
Contact Detail:
The Lounges Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with our menu and cooking style. Understanding the fresh, customer-led approach we take will help you demonstrate your passion for real cooking during any discussions or interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your leadership skills by preparing examples of how you've successfully managed kitchen teams in the past. Highlighting your experience in training and recruitment will set you apart as a candidate who can lead our dedicated team.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to discuss your experience with KPIs and metrics. We value candidates who can make informed decisions based on labour, stock, and food safety requirements, so come prepared with specific examples from your previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Engage with us on social media! Following our accounts on LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram can give you insights into our culture and values, which you can reference in your conversations with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities of a Head Chef. Familiarise yourself with the job description and think about how your experience aligns with their requirements.
Tailor Your CV: Craft your CV to highlight relevant experience in kitchen management, food preparation, and team leadership. Use specific examples that demonstrate your skills with fresh ingredients and your ability to maintain high standards.
Write a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for real cooking and how it aligns with the company's values. Share your vision for leading a kitchen team and how you plan to ensure customer satisfaction through quality food.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Emphasise your experience in training and managing kitchen staff. Provide examples of how you've successfully led teams and improved kitchen operations, as this is crucial for the Head Chef role.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Lounges
✨Show Your Passion for Real Cooking
Make sure to express your love for cooking with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Share specific examples of dishes you've created that reflect your culinary style and how you prioritise customer satisfaction in your cooking.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a Head Chef, you'll be leading a team. Be prepared to discuss your leadership style and provide examples of how you've successfully managed kitchen teams in the past, including training and mentoring junior staff.
✨Know Your KPIs
Familiarise yourself with key performance indicators relevant to kitchen management, such as food costs, labour efficiency, and safety standards. Be ready to discuss how you've used these metrics to improve kitchen operations in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Practical Questions
Expect questions about food preparation techniques, hygiene practices, and how you handle kitchen challenges. Think of scenarios where you've had to solve problems quickly and effectively, and be ready to share those experiences.