Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a vibrant kitchen, create innovative menus, and inspire your team.
- Company: The Bear Hotel, a lively community-focused pub in Esher.
- Benefits: Full menu autonomy, culinary masterclasses, discounts, and 28 days holiday.
- Why this job: Make your mark in a growing pub with fresh, seasonal ingredients.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Head Chef or Sous Chef with strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Join a supportive team and enjoy excellent career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We’re looking for a passionate and creative Head Chef to lead the kitchen, as we embark on an exciting new chapter. This is a brilliant opportunity for a Sous Chef who is ready to take the next step in their career, or an early career Head Chef looking to make their mark. We’re evolving our food offering with a new vision, modern, social dining built around small plates, sharing plates and picky bits, whilst still upholding classic pub offer. All perfect for a vibrant Surrey pub that’s full of life.
The Bear Hotel, Esher is a community-focused High street pub with rooms in the affluent town of Esher. We’re ambitious and growing, with food playing a big part in our plans. This is a great opportunity for a Head Chef who wants to help build momentum and shape what we become.
You’ll have the freedom to bring your ideas to the table, help shape the menu, and work with a supportive management team as the Bear Hotel continues to evolve and grow. Tracy & the Team look forward to meeting you!
Being a Head Chef at Young's
We believe every pub should be different. This means that you’ll be writing your own recipes that match the food vision of your business using fresh seasonal ingredients. The food vision could be all about showcasing local produce, country pub classics, seafood, small plates and sharers, dry‑aged meat - each pub is different and it’s up to you as head chef to put your own creative stamp on that vision. We work with fresh, seasonal produce, so the menu should constantly evolve to showcase these fantastic ingredients when they are at their best. Premium fresh food crafted by skilled chefs in Premium Pubs.
What we offer our Head Chefs
- Full autonomy to create their own menus and specials
- Access to our Apprenticeship Scheme and Development Programmes
- Access to regular culinary masterclasses covering topics such as Game, Butchery and Shellfish
- Access to inspirational food trips with our top quality suppliers
- Regular Chef Forums with other Head Chefs to inspire and develop
- Free meals
- 20% discount in all Young's Pubs and 30% discount on overnight stays in our Pubs with Rooms
- Share save Scheme
- Enhanced Company Pension Scheme
- 28 Days Holiday per year
What we look for in a Head Chef
- Someone that can inspire a team, to bring out the potential and lead by example whilst being able to develop, cost and produce fresh seasonal menus for the variety of revenue streams within the business.
- Experience championing excellent service through quality food either as a Head Chef or in the position of Sous Chef
- A passion for leading and developing a team
- An active hands-on team player with excellent communication skills
- Responsible and able to manage the kitchen staff rota, training and all health and safety effectively at all times
- Ability to demonstrate creativity and design and deliver new dishes for our menus and daily specials
- Great planning and organisational skills, necessary to maintain effective controls with regard to both GP and labour
- A pro-active approach to driving sales and delivering growth, through engagement with both kitchen and front of house teams
Head Chef in Esher employer: Young's
Contact Detail:
Young's Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef in Esher
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with other chefs and industry folks. Attend local food events or culinary workshops to meet people who might know about job openings before they even hit the market.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your creativity! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, bring some of your unique dish ideas to the table. This will not only showcase your skills but also demonstrate your passion for evolving menus.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t be shy about following up! After an interview or meeting, drop a quick message to thank them for their time and reiterate your excitement about the role. It keeps you fresh in their minds and shows your enthusiasm.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for talented chefs like you. Plus, it’s a great way to show you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team at The Bear Hotel.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef in Esher
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for food and cooking shine through. Share your culinary journey and what excites you about leading a kitchen. We want to see your creativity and enthusiasm for the role!
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with our vision at The Bear Hotel. Highlight any relevant experience in creating menus or working with seasonal ingredients. We love seeing how you can contribute to our unique food offering!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you're the perfect fit for the Head Chef role. Be specific about your ideas for the menu and how you plan to inspire your team. We’re excited to hear your thoughts on modern, social dining!
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, it shows you’re keen to join our team at The Bear Hotel!
How to prepare for a job interview at Young's
✨Know Your Ingredients
Familiarise yourself with seasonal ingredients and local produce. Be ready to discuss how you would incorporate these into your menu. Show your passion for fresh, quality food and how it can elevate the dining experience.
✨Showcase Your Creativity
Prepare to share some of your own recipes or dish ideas that align with the pub's vision of modern, social dining. This is your chance to demonstrate your culinary flair and how you can put your unique stamp on the menu.
✨Team Leadership Skills
Be prepared to talk about your experience in leading a kitchen team. Highlight specific examples where you've inspired others, managed staff effectively, or resolved conflicts. They want to see that you can motivate and develop your team.
✨Understand the Business Side
Brush up on your knowledge of cost control and menu pricing. Be ready to discuss how you would manage food costs while still delivering high-quality dishes. Showing that you understand the financial aspects of running a kitchen will set you apart.
