Chef Manager Garden Centre Restaurant & Outdoor Café
While professional experience and qualifications are key for this role, make sure to check you have the preferable soft skills before applying if required.
Location: Hockley
Overview
Were working with one of the UKs leading garden centre groups, ranked 7th nationally and known for combining quality horticulture with exceptional leisure and dining experiences. Due to continued growth, were looking for an experienced Head Chef / Chef Manager to lead the kitchen and food service operations across a popular 150-cover restaurant, coffee shop, and outdoor dining area.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a hands-on culinary leader who thrives in a fast-paced catering environment, values fresh and locally sourced ingredients, and enjoys motivating a loyal, dedicated team.
The Role
As Head Chef / Chef Manager, you will oversee the day-to-day running of all food service areas, ensuring consistently high standards of food quality, presentation, and customer experience. Youll lead from the front, managing kitchen operations, supporting front-of-house teams, and maintaining a smooth, efficient service throughout the day.
Key Skills & Experience
* Proven catering management experience, ideally within a retail or high-volume environment
* Level 3 certificate in Food Safety & Hygiene
* Background in delivering high-quality dishes at scale
* Strong understanding of stock control, GP management, cost control, budgeting, and waste reduction
* Excellent leadership, organisational, and communication skills
* Passion for fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced produce
Whats on Offer
Alongside a competitive salary and daytime working hours (no late nights), youll enjoy:
* Salary inline with experience
* 15% staff xsngvjr discount across all brands
* Contributory pension scheme
* An additional day off for your birthday
* 32 days holiday (including Bank Holidays) increasing with length of service
* Opportunities for career progression within the group
* A 45-hour working week over 5 days, with no late nights & alternate weekends off
* On-site parking
Come and join the Team
If youre an enthusiastic, motivated chef who loves leading a team and delivering great food in a vibrant, customer-focused setting, wed love to hear from you.