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- Tasks: Lead a passionate kitchen team, crafting exceptional seasonal dishes and ensuring top-notch food quality.
- Company: Join Upham Inns, a growing collection of premium pubs with a focus on quality and hospitality.
- Benefits: Earn up to £45,000 plus bonuses, enjoy flexible shifts, and access exclusive discounts.
- Why this job: Be part of an exciting journey, creating memorable dining experiences in a vibrant kitchen environment.
- Qualifications: Proven Head Chef experience, excellent culinary skills, and a passion for mentoring your team.
- Other info: Dynamic work culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
The Winning Post at Winkfield is the flagship, premium pub and restaurant within our collection — a place where exceptional food, genuine hospitality, and meaningful relationships with our guests sit at the heart of everything we do. Our menus champion the very best seasonal produce, including outstanding game from the Royal Estates, with all dishes cooked fresh on site. This is a kitchen that takes pride in craft, provenance, and delivering food that feels both refined and welcoming.
We’re looking for a Head Chef with an absolute passion for food and people. This is a hands-on leadership role, guiding and inspiring an exceptional team of chefs, setting standards, and creating a positive, energetic kitchen culture where motivation and fun go hand in hand with excellence. You’ll care deeply about developing your team, delighting guests, and playing a key role in delivering the warm, memorable experiences that define The Winning Post.
What’s in it for you?
- Up to £45,000 of Tronc (this can be up to £12,000 per year)
- Achievable bonus scheme
- Flexible shift patterns
- Up to 33% off meals taken off duty for you and up to 6 guests
- 33% off our hotel accommodation & 20% for Friends and Family
- Development program with a clear pathway
- Access to the lifestyle card – which will provide you with instant access to over 5,000 discounts across all aspects of their lifestyle.
- Service Awards
- Refer a friend and Chef recruitment incentives of up to £1,000
Head Chef Requirements
- Excellent Culinary and presentation skills
- Minimum 1 years experience as a Head Chef
- Excellent Communication and Interpersonal skills
- Energetic with passion to do a great job
- Able to manage staff in a calm, inspirational manner
- A forward-thinker that can manage stock with minimal wastage
- Demonstrates a passion for food
- Team Player
- Excellent organisation skills
- An understanding of profit margins and food stock controls.
- The Right to Work in the UK
Head Chef Responsibilities
- Plan, organise and direct the preparation and cooking of food ensuring that the company's reputation for quality is enhanced
- Preparing high quality food for our guests quickly and efficiently
- Maintaining food hygiene and safety standards
- Responsibility for ordering and stock controls, reduction of waste
- Overseeing day to day kitchen operations in a proactive and hands-on way
- Leading a team of chefs and KP's, Train, Coach and mentoring is a must
- Maintaining a clean and organised kitchen
- Adhere to allergen laws and respect for dietary requirements producing rotas and cleaning schedules for kitchen staff
We are looking to recruit a passionate and dedicated Head Chef who is a natural born leader to join us on our very exciting Journey. We are very passionate about what we do and the quality of the ingredients we cook with, so we need a Head Chef who loves to cook with raw ingredients as well as having the ability to coach and educate their team. If you have previous Head Chef experience, a strong team approach, a real passion for delivering service excellence, and the strong desire to work within a progressive and expanding company – then we want to hear from you!
This is not for the faint hearted as we are busy and going to get busier, so we need an experienced high class operator to lead and manage our Kitchen whilst executing great food quality. It goes without saying that 5 star food hygiene standards come before everything.
We own a collection of beautiful and individual premium pubs across Southern England. Our pubs are in idyllic settings in country villages and towns, where we are proud to be the quality local of the area, serving high quality fresh pub food in a cozy pub ambience. Most of our pubs have some Charming Bedrooms as well. New to our growing family is Harper’s Steakhouse, a new premium American Steakhouse brand that we started rolling out last year. It’s an exciting time to join us!
Upham Inns is growing, and we want you to grow with us and be part of our success. We’ve been busy investing in our business and we are seeing some great results. So, we want to continue to grow our pub family and we are looking to recruit passionate people into our team. Our company is big enough to support you but small enough to care about your individual needs. We are a friendly, hands-on team who have a passion for running great pubs. We are always on the lookout for like-minded people who have the desire to work and grow with us.
Head Chef – Lead Seasonal Kitchen, Flexible Shifts & Bonus employer: Upham Inns
Contact Detail:
Upham Inns Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef – Lead Seasonal Kitchen, Flexible Shifts & Bonus
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the restaurant's vibe! Before your interview, pop in for a meal or a drink. This way, you can chat with the staff and get a feel for the atmosphere. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for food! During your interview, share stories about your culinary journey and what drives you in the kitchen. Let them see that you’re not just about cooking but also about creating memorable experiences for guests.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to demonstrate your leadership skills! They want a Head Chef who can inspire a team. Think of examples where you've successfully led a kitchen or mentored junior chefs, and be prepared to discuss how you handle challenges.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to ask questions! Show your enthusiasm by asking about their seasonal menu, sourcing practices, or team culture. It’s a great way to engage and also helps you figure out if this is the right fit for you.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef – Lead Seasonal Kitchen, Flexible Shifts & Bonus
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food: When writing your application, let your love for food shine through! Share your culinary journey and what inspires you to create exceptional dishes. We want to see that you’re not just a chef, but someone who truly cares about the craft.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills: As a Head Chef, you’ll be leading a team, so make sure to showcase your leadership experience in your application. Talk about how you’ve inspired and developed your team in the past. We’re looking for someone who can create a positive kitchen culture!
Be Specific About Your Experience: Don’t just list your previous roles; dive into the details! Mention specific achievements, like how you managed stock effectively or reduced waste. This will help us see how you can contribute to our kitchen’s success.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we love seeing applications come in through our own platform!
How to prepare for a job interview at Upham Inns
✨Know Your Ingredients
Make sure you’re well-versed in seasonal produce and the specific dishes you might be preparing. Research the restaurant's menu and be ready to discuss how you would enhance it with your culinary skills.
✨Show Your Leadership Style
As a Head Chef, you’ll need to inspire your team. Be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully led a kitchen before, focusing on your coaching and mentoring abilities.
✨Demonstrate Passion for Hospitality
This role is about more than just cooking; it’s about creating memorable experiences. Share your thoughts on what exceptional hospitality means to you and how you plan to instil that in your team.
✨Discuss Waste Management Strategies
With a focus on stock control and minimising waste, come prepared to discuss your strategies for managing food costs effectively while maintaining quality. This shows you understand the business side of running a kitchen.
