Head Chef – Kinsbrook Vineyard, West Sussex
Start date: April–June 2026
Salary: Range between £42 000- £50 000 per annum + service charge
We're looking for a Head Chef to lead our small kitchen team at Kinsbrook Vineyard. This is a genuinely exciting opportunity to be part of a growing food and wine destination—shaping menus, working closely with the land, and building something that's evolving.
This competitive role would suit an experienced Head Chef, but we're also very open to Experienced Sous Chefs—especially those coming from high-quality kitchens (Michelin, Green Star, Bib Gourmand, 3 Rosette or similar) who are looking for more input, balance, and creative freedom.
Why This Role is Special
We're not a large, rigid operation. We're a small, progressive team, which means you'll be involved in everything—menu design, team development, working with the garden, shaping the direction of this exciting food destination.
We're also expanding our market gardens this year, so you'll have the rare opportunity to influence what's grown and cook directly from it—closing the loop between soil and plate. To make this a true farm restaurant.
The Role
* Lead and develop a small, close-knit kitchen team
* Create seasonal, produce-led menus
* Work closely with the garden
* Oversee all food across the site (restaurant, café, events, seasonal offerings)
* Manage kitchen operations, stock, food costs, and ordering
* Maintain high standards across food, service, and kitchen organisation
What We're Looking For
* Head Chef experience or a strong Senior Sous
* A genuine love of seasonal, produce-led cooking
* Someone who enjoys working across different styles of service
* Calm, organised, and positive leadership style
* Curious, creative, and excited by working with homegrown produce
* Comfortable in a rural setting and a growing business
What You'll Get
* A proper work-life balance (not crazy hotel hours)
* Creative freedom and real input into menus and direction
* The chance to work closely with on-site, regeneratively grown produce
* A supportive, relaxed, and ambitious working environment
* The opportunity to grow with the business as we expand
About Us
Kinsbrook started as a vineyard just outside Thakeham, West Sussex. In 2022, we opened Kinsbrook Farmhouse—a Sussex barn-style space that's now home to our food offering.
Upstairs, we run breakfast (on selected days), lunch, and dinner services, alongside private hire and experience-led evenings.
Downstairs, we operate a café, deli, and wine bar open seven days a week. In summer, we expand outside with pizza ovens, BBQ, and a more relaxed patio offering.
It's a varied, evolving setup—and the Head Chef plays a key role across all of it.
Explore more:
https://www.kinsbrookvineyard.com/
https://www.instagram.com/kinsbrookvineyard/
Benefits
* Service charge
* Company clothing
* Staff discounts (15% retail, 30% wine, 50% restaurant)
* Free food on shift + unlimited coffee
* Free event tickets
* Pension scheme
* Free onsite parking
* Career progression as we grow
Application Process
We're open for applications and would love to chat.
* Phone call
* Face-to-face meeting
* Trial shift
* Job offer
Send us your CV and a short note—we'd love to hear from you.