Head Chef Tillingham Winery & Estate
East Sussex | Full Time
Tillingham is a working vineyard, farm, winery, and hospitality destination set in the East Sussex countryside. Our food offering is deeply connected to the land around us seasonal, produce-led, and designed to sit naturally alongside our wines.
We are looking for an exceptional Head Chef to lead our kitchen and shape the next chapter of the Tillingham dining experience.
This is a role for a creative culinary leader someone who believes great food starts with great ingredients, who enjoys working closely with growers and producers, and who can build a strong kitchen culture that consistently delivers outstanding food and hospitality.
The Role As Head Chef, you will lead the kitchen team to deliver a distinctive and memorable dining experience that reflects the spirit of Tillingham. Working closely with the estate, vineyard, and front-of-house teams, you will develop seasonal menus rooted in the produce of the estate and the surrounding region.
This role combines creative leadership, team development, and operational discipline. You will oversee kitchen service, events, tastings, and guest experiences while maintaining the highest culinary standards.
Key Responsibilities - Culinary Leadership & Kitchen Excellence Lead the kitchen with creativity, clarity, and high culinary standards.
Develop and deliver seasonal, ingredient-led menus that reflect the estate, local producers, and Tillingham wines.
Ensure every dish leaving the kitchen is consistent, beautifully presented, and of exceptional quality.
Maintain strong kitchen organisation, cleanliness, and professionalism.
Train, mentor, and develop the kitchen team to deliver confident and consistent service.
Ensure food quality, flavour, and presentation exceed guest expectations.
Estate & Produce Integration Champion a farm, vineyard, and local produce-led approach to menu development.
Work closely with the estate team to incorporate produce grown on site wherever possible.
Build strong relationships with local farmers, fishermen, and suppliers.
Adapt menus seasonally based on availability, sustainability, and quality.
Create dishes that pair naturally with and celebrate Tillingham wines.
Team Leadership & Kitchen Culture Recruit, train, and develop a talented and motivated kitchen brigade.
Build a positive, professional kitchen culture grounded in respect, discipline, and pride in the craft.
Lead daily kitchen briefings and ensure clear communication before service.
Mentor senior chefs and nurture internal talent.
Maintain high morale while upholding clear standards and accountability.
Service & Collaboration Work closely with the General Manager and Front of House team to ensure smooth, aligned service.
Support wine tastings, pairing experiences, and special events with thoughtful menus.
Ensure the kitchen is prepared for restaurant service, events, and seasonal programming.
Maintain strong communication between kitchen, restaurant, and events teams.
Lead the pass during service and support the team on the floor when needed.
Cost Control & Operational Discipline Maintain control of food costs while protecting creativity and quality .
Manage supplier relationships, ordering, and stock control effectively.
Monitor waste and implement strategies to reduce it.
Contribute to budgeting and financial targets with management.
Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene, and health regulations.
What Success Looks Like Consistently exceptional food quality and presentation.
Guest feedback of 4.8+ across review platforms for the dining experience.
Seasonal menus that showcase estate produce and complement our wines.
A stable, motivated kitchen team with strong retention and clear standards.
Efficient purchasing and stock control that meet GP and wage targets.
Successful delivery of events, tastings, and seasonal dining experiences.
Food safety, hygiene, and audit standards consistently maintained.
About You We are looking for someone who brings both culinary vision and leadership strength .
You will likely be:
A highly skilled chef with a passion for seasonal, produce-led cooking .
A strong leader who can build and inspire a committed kitchen team .
Organised, disciplined, and calm during service.
Passionate about wine, food pairing, and estate-driven dining .
Creative, curious, and committed to continuous improvement.
Collaborative and comfortable working closely with vineyard, farm, and FOH teams.
Why Join Tillingham This is an opportunity to shape the culinary identity of one of the UKs most exciting wine and food destinations .
You will work with exceptional produce from the estate and surrounding region, collaborate closely with our wine team, and lead a kitchen that values creativity, sustainability, and craftsmanship.
The Head Chef plays a key role in our ambition to continue building a dining experience that is authentic, thoughtful, and deeply connected to place .
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