Head Chef

We are hiring for a busy, three-level waterfront venue in Bowness-on-Windermere, serving fresh food and drinks to guests who are genuinely on holiday and enjoying themselves. The employer is proud to be a Cumbria Tourism Awards finalist and winner of the Best Beer Garden award.

As Head Chef, you will take real ownership of the kitchen, lead your team with confidence, and consistently deliver high-quality food throughout busy services. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading the kitchen team day-to-day, setting standards and driving performance
  


• Delivering consistent, high-quality dishes across busy services
  


• Managing stock, ordering, and supplier relationships
  


• Controlling GP margins and minimising waste
  


• Ensuring food safety, hygiene, and compliance at all times
  


• Training and developing the kitchen team to maintain consistency and standards
  


• Working closely with the wider management team to ensure smooth service operations
  

Requirements

We are looking for someone who is:

• Experienced as a Head Chef, or a strong Sous Chef ready to step into their first Head Chef role
  


• Comfortable leading a team in a busy, high-volume environment
  


• Strong on standards, consistency, and kitchen discipline
  


• Confident managing stock, costs, and GP margins
  


• Knowledgeable in food safety and hygiene (Level 2 minimum)
  


• Able to take ownership of day-to-day back-of-house operations
  


• Available to work evenings, weekends, and peak trading periods
  


• Hands-on and willing to lead from the front during busy services
  

Ideally, candidates will also have:

• A passion for delivering consistently high-quality food in a fast-paced environment
  


• A technology-focused approach to kitchen management and stock systems
  


• Experience managing, mentoring, and developing kitchen teams
  


• Strong communication skills with both kitchen and front-of-house teams
  


• Strong spoken and written English skills
  


• Confidence being on camera, as they regularly celebrate their teams and showcase what they do on social media
  

Benefits

• £40.000 per annum, 45h a week
  


• Monthly staff tips
  


• Free meals on shift
  


• Discounts across all Hargreaves Enterprises venues
  


• Burnt Chef Project Supporters
  


• Annual end-of-year staff party