Head Chef

Job post summary

Pay: £36,000.00-£45,000.00 per year (Tips in Addition equiv to ~£2k/annum)

Job Description:

HEAD CHEF
Simonstone Hall Hotel, Hawes, North Yorkshire, DL8 3LY

Full-time | Approx. 48 hours per week | Excellent salary, negotiable | Accommodation available

Simonstone Hall is a beautiful 20-bedroom country house hotel in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, with restaurant, bar, outdoor grills, lounges, terrace and a small number of exclusive-use weddings and events.

We are surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, exceptional farms and food producers, and a landscape which should naturally shape what appears on the plate.

We are now looking for an experienced and ambitious HEAD CHEF to lead our kitchen team and help define the next chapter of food at Simonstone Hall.

OUR FOOD DIRECTION

Our ambition is simple: Fresh. Local. Seasonal. Delicious.
We want to create food that feels completely at home in an upbeat, contemporary Yorkshire country house hotel — informal and generous, but delivered with real skill, consistency and care.
We believe our menus should reflect where we are and what surrounds us.

That means making the most of exceptional local ingredients such as:

Estate-shot game and venison from neighbouring land
Yorkshire lamb reared on surrounding farms
Milk and cheeses from local dairies
Fresh eggs, herbs, fruit and vegetables from local growers and our own kitchen garden
Seasonal produce from across Wensleydale and the wider Yorkshire Dales

HONEST, SIMPLE, EXCELLENT FOOD — with a contemporary take on Yorkshire classics and the best produce available to us.

We want guests to recognise what they are eating, understand where it has come from and leave wanting to return.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is not simply a Head Chef vacancy.

We are looking for someone who wants to shape a restaurant, build a reputation and put their own stamp on the food at Simonstone Hall.

You will have genuine influence over menus, suppliers, kitchen culture and the future direction of our food offering.

Simonstone Hall already has an established kitchen team, loyal returning guests and a strong reputation for consistent food. We now want to build on that foundation and make the restaurant an increasingly desirable destination in its own right.

We have very exciting plans for future growth and development, both at Simonstone Hall and within the wider business, creating significant scope for the right person to grow with us.

We believe awards and reputation should be the consequence of consistently excellent food, strong leadership and a kitchen full of people who genuinely care about what they are cooking.

We are looking for a practical cook as much as a creative chef.

Someone who can develop ideas, lead a team and maintain standards, while still enjoying being on the stove and involved in service.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

You’ll ideally have:

Proven experience as a Head Chef, Senior Sous Chef or equivalent senior kitchen leader
Strong restaurant and hotel kitchen experience
A genuine passion for local produce, provenance and seasonality
Excellent culinary skills and strong practical cooking ability
Confidence developing and costing menus
Strong kitchen management, organisation and stock-control skills
Experience managing suppliers and food purchasing
The ability to train, motivate and retain a positive kitchen team
Excellent understanding of food safety and hygiene requirements
Commercial awareness and an understanding of kitchen margins
Creativity without unnecessary complication
Calmness, consistency and strong leadership during service
A collaborative approach with the wider hotel and front-of-house team

Most importantly, we want someone who is enthusiastic, grounded and enjoyable to work with.

We take the guest experience seriously, but we want Simonstone Hall to remain a friendly, positive and enjoyable place to work.

RESPONSIBILITIES

As Head Chef, you will take responsibility for the overall operation and direction of the kitchen, including:

Developing seasonal menus and the overall Simonstone food direction
Leading and motivating the kitchen team
Maintaining consistently high standards of food and presentation
Managing food costs, margins and kitchen budgets
Supplier relationships, ordering and stock management
Kitchen rotas and staffing
Recruitment, training and development of chefs
Maintaining excellent food hygiene and health & safety standards
Working closely with the hotel management and front-of-house team
Delivering restaurant, bar, lounge, breakfast and event food consistently
Helping develop new food concepts and opportunities as the business grows

A BETTER WORK-LIFE BALANCE

We know senior kitchen roles can become all-consuming, and we want to build something more sustainable.

The role is approximately 45 hours per week, and where operations allow we aim to offer:

Four-day working weeks through the summer 2027, creating additional days away from the kitchen.

During the quieter winter months, we aim for three consecutive nights off each week.

We want a Head Chef who can build a strong kitchen operation without needing to work excessive hours simply to keep it functioning.

WHAT WE OFFER

Excellent salary — negotiable depending on experience
Approx. 45-hour working week
Four-day weeks through summer where possible
Three consecutive nights off through winter where possible
Share of guest tips
33% staff discount on food and drink
Family & Friends discounts, including hotel stays
Accommodation available
Established and supportive kitchen team
Excellent local supplier network
Genuine creative control and influence
Opportunity to develop the Simonstone Hall restaurant identity
Stunning Yorkshire Dales lifestyle and location
Significant scope for progression as the business grows
Long-term position with an independent owner-operated hotel

THE FUTURE

There are some genuinely exciting plans ahead for Simonstone Hall and the wider business.
We are looking for a Head Chef who wants to be part of that journey rather than simply take another kitchen job.

For the right person, there is the opportunity to help shape not only the restaurant but a growing food and hospitality business, with new ideas, concepts and opportunities being developed for the future.

ARE YOU A CHEF LOOKING FOR A FRESH CHALLENGE?

We would love to meet you, show you Simonstone Hall and talk through where we are heading.

Immediate start available for the right candidate, although we are happy to wait for the right person
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed