Head Chef — Donington Park Farmhouse (Derby DE74 2RN)
Join a friendly team at our eco‑focused, independent barn wedding and events venue with 20 bedrooms, set in beautiful countryside near Castle Donington.
Donington Park Farmhouse is looking for an energetic and hands-on Head Chef to lead it's small kitchen team.
The Role
Lead a small team (you + 2 chefs) delivering:
* Banqueting & Event Catering across our venues, the Barn and the Stackyard. Hotel breakfasts, hotel dining (20 bedrooms).
* 3+ weddings/week in peak season: 3-course wedding breakfasts plus evening hog roasts/buffets
* Catering for our own festivals, ticketed dinners, family fun days, and winter Sunday Lunches
We serve crowd‑pleasing food with gastro pub quality taste and presentation. We're exclusively events based; no public restaurant service—predictable shifts and we're rarely slammed.
You'll work closely with the Operations Manager and owners, focusing on:
* Customer‑first service and leading from the front with enthusiasm
* Consistently great‑looking, great‑tasting dishes
* Showcasing wild venison from our Estate's ancient Deer Park
* Minimal food waste and sharp GP control
* Smart sourcing and rock‑solid compliance/food hygiene
About You
* 2+ years as a Head Chef (ideally independent venues)
* Proven small‑team leadership and department ownership, including rotas
* Comfortable working solo or with one other chef
* Highly organised in stock purchasing and event planning
* Driven and motivated, with a passion for food & continual improvement
* Strong GP management; waste reduction mindset
* Clear communicator with Event Coordinators (weekly and on‑the‑day)
* High standards of cleanliness and compliance
* Positive, can‑do attitude and weekend/evening/school‑holiday availability
* Full driving licence and your own car (no bus route)
Pay, Perks & Details
* Highly competitive salary
* Generous & achievable performance bonus
* 30 days holiday per year
* Get Christmas off (Closed for 12 days over Christmas this year)
* Job type: Full‑time, permanent
* Benefits: Company events, pension, discounted/free food, on‑site parking
* Friendly family-run business
* Must reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting
Apply
Send your CV with 2 employment references, or call and speak to Jack.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Benefits:
* Company events
* Company pension
* Discounted or free food
* On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
* Derby DE74 2RN: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
* Head Chef : 1 year (required)
Work Location: In person