Head Chef - Royal Opera House
Set within the iconic Royal Opera House, Cicoria is an Italian restaurant and terrace bar created in partnership with Angela Hartnett. The food is seasonal, ingredient led and rooted in the clarity and restraint of Italian cooking, delivered with consistency, confidence and care.
We are looking for a Head Chef to take ownership of the Cicoria kitchen, leading restaurant service, terrace dining, pre and post theatre trade, and selected events in one of London's most unique hospitality settings.
This is a role for a chef who combines strong technical standards with calm leadership and commercial grip. Someone who takes pride in doing simple things exceptionally well, every time.
The Head Chef Role
You will lead the Cicoria kitchen day to day, taking responsibility for food standards, kitchen performance and team culture in a fast paced, high profile environment.
As Head Chef you will:
Deliver food that reflects the standards and ethos of Angela Hartnett's kitchens, with real consistency
Lead, develop and retain a strong kitchen team, setting clear expectations and holding people to them
Run a kitchen that can flex across busy restaurant services, terrace dining, theatre led peaks and event menus
Take ownership of food cost, labour, productivity, waste and overall kitchen performance
Work closely with the Senior General Manager, front of house team and wider Royal Opera House stakeholders
Maintain excellent standards of organisation, hygiene, allergens and food safety
Contribute to seasonal menu development, terrace offers and event menus within Cicoria's established Italian style
About You:
You are currently a Head Chef, or a strong Senior Sous Chef ready to step into a bigger role
You have experience in a quality focused, high volume restaurant or hospitality environment
You understand ingredient led Italian cooking and have the discipline to deliver it with precision
You are calm, structured and organised under pressure
You are commercially aware and understand how food cost, labour and productivity affect kitchen performance
You are a confident leader who builds motivated, accountable and consistent teams
You are comfortable working with senior operators, front of house teams and partners across a wider venue
Why This Head Chef Role Is Different:
This is a rare opportunity to lead a kitchen within one of London's most prestigious cultural institutions.
You will be working in a restaurant created in partnership with Angela Hartnett, with a clear food identity and high standards.
The role brings variety, from restaurant service and terrace dining to pre theatre demand, post theatre trade and selected events.
It is a platform to shape, develop and elevate a growing restaurant within a landmark London setting.
Our Head Chef Company Benefits
Competitive salary + tronc, targeted earnings £70-75k per annum 33 days paid holiday
Staff dining provided daily
Employee dining discounts
Access to industry events and professional development opportunities
Central London location with excellent transport links
We also offer:
Personal Development and Training opportunities
Life assurance scheme
Pension scheme
Holiday allowance
Eye care
A great wellbeing strategy - including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance
Access to Healthcare Support App which includes Annual health check, Digital GP, Mental Health Consultations, Nutritional Consultations, Second Medical Opinion
Family friendly support
A holiday purchase scheme
Regular social events and communication with our leaders
Volunteering days
Recognition schemes and people awards
Long service awards
Access to some great high street discount vouchers
Apply
If you are a chef who cares about great ingredients, calm leadership and doing the basics brilliantly, we would love to hear from you.
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