Closing date: 10 March 2026
Salary: Up to £13.50 Per Hour DOE, Plus Service Charge & Desirable Benefits
Permanent Position
Full-time and Part-time Roles Available
Join the team at Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve as a Restaurant Chef at our vibrant Italian wood-fired pizza restaurant, Babydolls.
At Babydolls, our open kitchen is the heart of the action, where our team crafts fresh sourdough pizzas, pasta dishes, and seasonal salads with care and flair. We’re on the lookout for an experienced chef with a passion for quality ingredients and bold, simple flavours.
Our pizza dough is something we’re proud of - made from scratch on-site and left to prove for 24 hours before being topped with the finest Italian olive oil, rich tomato sauce, and creamy buffalo mozzarella.
Who are we looking for:
We’re looking for someone with proven experience in a fast-paced kitchen or restaurant environment - if you’ve worked in an Italian or wood-fired pizza setting, even better! In this role, you’ll take ownership of your section, ensuring it’s set up and ready to go, while confidently following established recipes and dish specifications for day-to-day service. You’ll also support the team with food prep, cooking, cleaning, and helping to keep the kitchen running smoothly and efficiently.
Contract details:
Service charge is in addition to salary and pro-rated to working hours. We have various permanent positions available, including full-time and part-time positions. Working hours are flexible hours, up to 45 hours per week depending on occupancy.
The location:
Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is a world-renowned wild animal park set within 600 acres of Kentish savannah. The Reserve is home to some of the world’s most rare and endangered animals and offers luxury short breaks accommodation, free roaming animal safaris, once-in-a-lifetime animal encounters and exquisite dining experiences. Most importantly, every one of our employees is part of real conservation in action and their efforts have contributed to animals such as black rhino and western lowland gorillas being returned to their natural habitats in collaboration with our partners at The Aspinall Foundation.
Why you should join us:
We’re on a mission to create memorable experiences that matter, and our Core Values ‘One Team’, Customer’ and ‘Pride’ are what drive us each day to become part of something extraordinary. As well as walking to work surrounded by the calls of Howler monkeys and the roars from our pride of Lions, you will join a supportive team who are passionate about their place of work.
Be part of the Port Lympne and Howletts family and join our pride.
You can also expect a host of other roarsome benefits including:
1. 28 days of holiday, rising with length of service (pro-rated to start date and working hours)
2. Service Charge (TRONC) in additional to salary.
3. Comprehensive training and development opportunities, including workshops and e-learning.
4. Enhanced Sickness, Maternity and Paternity Policies.
5. Unlimited free entry for you and a person of your choice into both of our parks as well as friends and family tickets.
6. Exceptional discounts on food, retail and accommodation at our parks.
7. Numerous retail discounts and access to a 24-hour counselling line through our Healthy Extras Scheme.
8. Company Pension
9. And many more length or service-related rewards and Benefits.
Your adventure awaits
#joinourpride
To apply: If you want to work in an exciting and unique environment where no two days are the same, email your C.V. and covering letter to leee@portlympne.com